The Dragon's Triangle - Chapter 3

Sound was the first thing Angel became aware of.

The babbling sound of water mixed with turbulent dreams of dark green water and fast-moving shadows. It was the bird song as a counterpoint to the running water that even her subconscious could not reconcile with the dreamscape that set her on the path back to reality. After the happy warbling of bird, she began to recognise the sounds of wind through trees, distant voices, hammering, children playing and the soft ringing of a chime.

A strange sound somewhere between a chittering and a purr that her mind couldn’t link to anything in particular held her attention. Every other sound she heard she was able to associate with an animal, object or action, but not this sound. It varied in speed and pitch but sounded nothing like any animals she knew of and niggled at her. Now though, other senses were coming into focus.

The surface beneath her was beautifully soft, while over the length of her body lay a comforting weight. Dappled light shifted over her face feeling warm and highlighting red through her eyelids. She wasn’t ready to move yet, but she had always had a sixth sense about her surroundings. The space around her felt open, not fully enclosed but only a hint of a breeze. So a large room with an open window maybe. Outside her immediate area of the room felt...... vast. Open and not crowded. But it wasn’t the room or the open spaces around them that her proprioception honed in on. Her senses told her she wasn’t alone. Maybe it was Daniel? Before she could make up her mind about whether the presence was friend or foe, foot falls sounded on wood outside the room and a polite gentle tap on the door reached her ears.

“Come in.” Daniel’s voice bought immediate comfort to her, so much so that the tone he used escaped notice initially.

A sliding sound and more foot steps.

“Good Morning, Daniel.” A woman’s voice, melodious and light, addressed Daniel from across the room. “I have brought a meal for you.”

“Thank you Emi, I appreciate it.”

The sound of something being placed on a table top and things moved around in what seemed like a moment of strained silence before she spoke again.

“Her breathing pattern has changed. She will wake up soon.”

“Really?” Daniel’s tone lifted and sounded hopeful.

“Yes. There is a fresh pitcher of water for her when she wakes. Make sure she sips it, if she drinks too quickly, she may feel sick. I have to let the elders know.” Angel couldn’t tell if it was her imagination or if the woman, Emi, sounded regretful.

“OK.” Daniel paused before adding, “ Thank you for your kindness, Emi.” Why did it sound like he was saying goodbye?

Emi said nothing as she left, sliding the door closed behind her again. The strange animal chittered again, sounding in part like a bird, part like a throaty chuckle.

Angel needed answers and the only way to do that was to wake up. She shifted a little on her mattress, feeling stiff and sore in places like she had put in a hard all round work out at the gym yesterday. She groaned and heard Daniel inhale sharply before he was at her side.

“Take it steady, you’ve been out of it for about three days.” He gently helped her sit up and lifted a small cup of water up for her. She hadn’t realised in her semi-conscious state that her mouth was so dry. When she tried to speak her voice cracked and Daniel shushed her.

“Water first, talk soon. Actually, maybe you should listen and then ask the multitude of questions I know you are going to have.” He smiled playfully at her as he gently helped her lift the water to her parched lips. He knew her all too well.

“I don’t want you to panic, but I want to prepare you and I’m not sure how long I have to do that.” He gathered his thoughts for a moment and forged ahead. “The research vessel sank and we are the only survivors. It’s a bit of a story and I’ll tell you everything if we get the chance. Right now though, we seem to be in a little trouble. Our life-raft beached near a settlement in an off-limits area, we are currently considered trespassers and are under arrest.”

Angel coughed, her mouthful of water spraying over Daniel’s shoulder and onto the lovely silken bed cover that had been her cocoon until moments ago. Daniel grabbed a towel from nearby and dried Angel’s lips and chin before doing the best he could with the cover and his own clothes. She wasn’t sure if the cough had been a reaction to drinking too fast or shock at hearing she was under arrest.

Encouraging her to take small sips, Daniel continued.

“Emi, the woman who appears to be the village Doctor has been taking care of you, says we are outside of the jurisdiction of the Japanese government here. I’m not sure how, we appear to be on a Japanese island. She was very clear though, there is no lawyer or any one we can call. She has said that the local law enforcers have agreed to provide us with some information on the process, but that is all.” Daniel’s eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed. “I’ll admit, I don’t like this.”

Angel’s voice croaked as she spoke. “Neither do I. But surely, trespass isn’t that serious a breach, especially since we didn’t know we were trespassing? We had no control over where we landed. I wasn’t even awake.”

“I had hoped that might be taken into consideration too, but I’m not confident. Something feels off about the entire situation.”

A light tap at the door alerted the confined friends to a visitor who waited only a heartbeat before gently sliding the double door open to make way for a group of people to file into the room.

They first carried a large wooden tub that was set down to one side of the room, followed by a simple though elegant privacy screen quickly assembled around the tub, a small wooden bench laid out with soft towels, soap and what looked to be clothes. A mirror image bathing area was being assembled on the opposite side of the room. Finally, a line of people filed through with steaming buckets of water they emptied into the large wooden tubs before exiting again. This was all done with grace and efficiency and in silence. Angel watched in fascination, the entire scene gave the impression of choreography and precision. She glanced at Daniel, his face set in a stoic mask with his lips pressed into a thin pale line. His expression gave her with the impression he had already seen this dance and was not impressed.

Most of the workers kept their heads down, eyes focused on the task at hand. Occasionally though, she would catch the eye of a worker stealing a glance in her direction before quickly looking away again, bending to their task with a little more vigor than before. There was little time to contemplate what this meant before the tasks were all finished and the workers filed out the way they had come, leaving three behind in the room. As the tallest of the women slid the doors shut, Angel noticed men standing either side of the opening, armed with swords.

But this all seemed so civilised. The room, the treatment, the impression of respect. None of it shouted incarceration. None of it except the armed guards.

The tall woman turned to them when the doors were closed. Clasping her hands in front of her, she inclined her head towards them in a small bow.

“My name is Emma,” the woman addressed them politely, “I’ve come to get you both ready to meet with the council. You will bath and put on the fresh clothes provided. I suggest you both eat also.”

Daniel stood. “Emma, thank you for this. But when will we receive the information on how the meeting will proceed?” A note of anxiety tinged his tone. She could understand that, her own stomach filled with butterflies at the mention of the meeting.

“After you’ve bathed and had something to eat, I will fill you in on the proceedings and the rules.”

Daniel took a breath in ready to speak again. Before he could, Emma beat him to it.

“Please. I promise to answer all of your questions. I will give you all the advice I can on how best to get through the meeting. This is necessary however. If you want to..... beat these charges, you will need to be well presented. I know you don’t have a lot of reasons right now to be overly trusting, but I’ve been given the task of helping you prepare and I will, to the best of my ability.”

Daniel clearly considered arguing before thinking better of it. He nodded and turned to help Angel to her feet.

“Take it easy. Lean on me, I’ll support you.” He crouched and wrapped his arms around her back to help her stand. She stumbled a little and would have fallen if he hadn’t been caught her. “I gotcha. Steady.”

Angel took a moment. Once the vertigo passed, she took her time walking across to the closest bath. A young lady dressed in a plain cotton robe (she recalled was called a yukata) of a cream colour with a dark brown obi belt politely took over from Daniel. He reluctantly released her into the woman's care and made his way to the second bath.

The screens were tall enough to give them each their privacy as they prepared for their baths. Angel was self conscious, she had never had someone help her get ready for a bath before. Her helper did not speak English but was capable of making her meaning understood. When Angel was ready, she provided a stepping stool for her to climb into the tub. Taking it slowly, she lowered herself into the perfectly warmed water from the steps on the inside and settled onto a ledge along one side. For what appears to be an old wooden tub, this is a wonderful bath! she mused, for the moment forgetting the tension of their current predicament. The water wafted with the scent of lavender and something else. Maybe rose? The lady helping her used a bamboo ladle to pour water over her hair before rubbing a beautifully scented soap through her long strands. Angel almost giggled when a mental image of Daniel in the other tub, grumpily putting up with someone doing the same to his short hair, rose unbidden.

Daniel, who was rarely in a bad mood. Daniel, who was only in a bad mood only because they were in uncharted territory and in trouble with the law. She took a deep breath and sighed. Sitting in the bath, she just didn’t feel anything threatening in the situation, but she trusted Daniel with her life. If he was scared, surely there was reason to be.

Her helper towel dried her hair before running a comb dipped in oil through while Angel tried not to feel too pampered and remember the undercurrent of menace that was so easily overlooked right now.

Getting out of the tub reminded her how weak she felt at the moment especially after feeling nearly weightless in the water. Her attendant helped her down the stepping stool and held open a soft towel for her to dry herself with before taking a scented cream and beginning to rub it into her skin.

“Ah, thank you. Um, arigato. But I’ll do it myself.” She gestured to the tub the small woman held. “Mmmm, please? Kaduasai?” She gestured again to the tub and then back at herself remembering that it was considered rude to point in Japanese culture. The woman bowed her head and held the moisturising cream out to her. Angel massaged it into her skin on her limbs and chest but struggled to reach her back. The woman spoke and gestured to the cream and mimed rubbing it in circles. Angel bobbed her head and handed the tub back to her helper.

The rest of dressing was no more independent than bathing. The woman dressed her in a soft light robe of undyed fabric before adding a yukata in an hombre blue and a midnight blue obi with gold embroidery, using a strip of fabric matching the obi to tie back her hair. To top off her ensemble the woman slipped toe socks onto her feet followed by dainty looking dark blue slippers. Toe socks had always kind of creeped her out. They just looked wrong and many of her friends at home were of the same opinion. Joe had even given a pair to Bea as a gag Christmas present once. But Angel doubted this was the right crowd to joke with about how wrong toes socks were.

Done with her task, the little woman pulled back a section of the screen and bowed to Angel. She bowed back and walked awkwardly out into the rest of the room. The yukata were a spring and summer version of a kimono if she remembered correctly, but like a kimono, the layers and the way they were wrapped tended to restrict the female wearer to smaller steps where men usually remained unrestricted even when wearing the same garment. Emma had set a low table with plates of food and a cast iron tea pot on a small stand with glowing coals, keeping it warm. Her stomach growled loudly. If she had been able to take full strides, she would have run over to the table. As she approached, Emma poured tea into a beautifully painted yunomi tea cup made of glazed pottery, no less elegant for the humble material it was made from.

Emma smiled at Angel's attempts to imitate the graceful way her host sat with her legs tucked underneath as she finished pouring tea and placed the pot back on its warmer.

“It’s quite alright Angel, you are not expected to sit the same way. It takes practice. If you curl your legs beside your cushion, it is acceptable.”

“Thank goodness for that, I was not going to make that look graceful in the slightest.” She smiled and picked up her tea. The aromatic steam filled her nose with delicate jasmine and for a moment she forgot about feeling hungry. “Your accent. Is it British?”

“Yes, I was born in Blackpool and studied languages. I went on to qualify as an interpreter. I was in Japan on a work trip when I ended up here and never left.”

There was a sound behind her as Daniel approached. “Ah, so not everyone faces charges of trespass when they come here? Or did you beat the charges?”

“I know this is a difficult. I chose to come help you both prepare for this meeting because I can help and I want to. I want to see you beat this charge.”

“I don’t understand. It sounds as though this charge is really serious. But it’s just trespass. Surely if we explain we were in a serious accident and we had no choice about where we went, they will drop the charges?”

Daniel and Emma were both silent for a moment. Emma placed food on the plate in front of Angel before breaking the increasingly uncomfortable silence.

“Normally I’d agree. Things are different now to what they were even a couple of years ago. There has been a change in our laws recently and it’s now a far more serious charge. Even the definition of trespass has changed.”

Daniel remained silent. Angel chose a piece of meat from her plate and chewed slowly, thinking through the issue.

“How serious is it? Are we talking trespassing in a cemetery at night or trespassing on the grounds of Buckingham Palace?” The food was delicious but she hardly noticed what she was tasting. She had been feeling like they were avoiding telling her something and she was sure this was it. The silence in response told her she was about to find out something they had been avoiding.

Emma lifted her eyes to meet Angel’s. “Try, trespassing in Area 51.”

If it weren’t for the serious expression on her face, Angel would have laughed.

The reality of the situation was setting in. The small amount of food and fluid in her stomach stared to sour.

“But..... Area 51....if it existed.....” Her voice trailed off. Her train of thought was moving quickly now. “You don’t..... Sorry, I mean they don’t....” She took a deep breath and forced her racing mind to focus on what she wanted to know.

“Do they have capital punishment here?”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Daniel’s head drop. Oh God! She thought. They could put us to death?

Emma nodded in silence.

Angel stared at her plate. So what was all of this for then? Why nurse her back to health, feed them, bath them, dress them? They survived the sinking of the ship only to potentially be put to death for something out of their control?

“I’m here to help you as much as I can.” Emma sounded more confident than she looked. “There are a number of people in the village who want to see you avoid the worst. They organised everything to get you ready for the meeting. Clothing and all. It may seem so small, but for those who will pass judgement on you, seeing you meet some of their social expectations in terms of hygiene and clothing will help.”

The three sat in silence for a moment, the gravity of the situation sinking in for Angel, who suspected she had been the only one unaware of what they faced. The thought crossed her mind that Danial had been facing this alone for the last three days. Angel’s mind refused to accept that this was happening, no matter how she tried. Somewhere in the deep recesses of her brain, she had joined the dots and come to the rational conclusion that everyone they had been on the research vessel with was unlikely to still be alive. No one knew where she and Daniel were. And now they were facing the death penalty. Never in a million years would she ever have thought she would find herself in a situation like this and her brain seemed determined to refuse to accept it as reality. But refusing to accept it didn't make it go away. Her best chance of coming out the other side unscathed was to follow the advice of this stranger who knew what she should do.

“Maybe you should show me how you sit down properly in this thing.”

The silence broken, the tension seemed to spur them on and renew motivation. Daniel squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. Until that point, Angel hadn’t been able to pin point what it was that had made Daniel seem different. He had been despondent. She reached across and squeezed his hand reassuringly.

“There are a few things you should avoid. Public displays of affection is one of them.” Emma sounded apologetic. “Right now, you need to make yourselves seem less foreign to the people who will ultimately be the decision makers.”

As Angel took her hand back, Daniel looked disappointed, but stayed focused. “Who will they be?” He asked, his voice sounding more animated now, as if he had found some hope deep down.

“They are the Elders of the village. There are three. Shocho Nagada is the Elected Chief.”

“Like a president? Or the ruler?”

Emma hummed, thinking about Daniel’s question. “Mmmmm, not exactly. More like a General. He doesn’t have complete control and he is elected to the position by the residents of the island. An election is held every three years though a Shocho can be re-elected. He has held the seat for five years currently.”

“OK. And the other two? How does the dynamic work?”

“The second is Fumi. Her name literally means history. It’s a name that became a title. There was a well educated woman who arrived here with the first settlers who kept a detailed history, named Fumi. Her granddaughter kept going when she was no longer able to maintain the records. The girl was named Fumi in honor of her grandmother. Every generation since, one daughter from any family has been educated to take over the task and becomes the record keeper when the previous is no longer able to continue. Regardless of the name she is given by her parents, she becomes known as Fumi also.”

“The third is The Sentinel. His name is Sean.” Emma paused a moment, appearing to collect her thoughts about Sean. “His role in our community is hard to explain. Where Shocho Nagada and Fumi both have roles that are more or less centered around our people, Sean’s role is.... more environmental. He... represents the best interests of the non-human inhabitants of the island. He is actually more likely to be our ally than the other two.”

Daniel frowned. “Why would an environmental activist, for want of a better term, be interested in our charge of trespass? Other than being on the Council and it being his duty to make a decision?”

“The Council is guided by the opinions and needs of our populace. If they decide against what our people want without being able to justify why, the repercussions can be very detrimental. Civil unrest on our island can be disastrous. Unfortunately, your biggest opponent is Shocho Nagada. And he has had three days to push his agenda. He has the gift of the gab. He was voted in despite other choices possibly being more suited to the position because he has an uncanny ability to read people and say the right thing in the right place.”

“Ok, so we have one vote for us and one definite vote against. What about Fumi? Where is she likely to lean? And why would Nagada be so set against us? He doesn't even know us.” Angel wanted to dig for more information. Emma seemed to be hiding something and the entire situation reeked of deceit.

She had hit the right question, however, the answer left her curiosity less than satisfied. Emma's perfect posture dropped a fraction and she looked downcast.

“I want you both to beat this. I really do. But my hands are tied. Unless I want to face my own trial, there is only so much I’m allowed to tell you. Please, I know it’s difficult, but trust that I will tell you everything that I can and I am fighting for you alongside others who feel the same way.” Emma met Angel’s eyes as she pleaded, leaving her feeling all the effort was for her and her alone. None of it was for Daniel.

Angel took a deep breath and nodded.

Emma nodded once and continued.

“Shocho is a honored role. It is important to remember to use both his title and his name.” Angel acknowledged the polite reprimand and made a mental note to remember that. “The Shocho role has become challenging in the last few years. Threats to our community have increased and people are scared. If he doesn't do everything he can to mitigate the threats, the results could be disastrous. He sees you as an embodiment of those threats. And that is how he is presenting you to our people. He says you are a threat to our way of life and everything we hold dear.” She paused again, as if debating whether or not to say more.

“Your presence is also a threat to his future election to the role. Someone ignored a standing order to circumvent a recent change in law and he is displeased at being defied. He aims to make an example of the situation. Fumi, I can’t be sure of. I doubt she will have made up her mind about guilt or innocence. She will wait until both sides are presented at the trial to make a decision.”

“Is there anything we can do to sway her?”

Emma nodded in response to Daniel’s question. “She is an Elder in the village and fairly traditional. She is one of the people you need to appear... less foreign to. She doesn't dislike outsiders, but she needs to see you aren't the threat you are being made out to be.” Emma looked back and forth between Daniel and Angel as she spoke, trying to highlight the importance of what she was saying. “Do not speak unless spoken to, do not speak over anyone else no matter how much you may want to. It will not be easily forgiven in the meeting hall. Resist the urge to look around when you walk in, it’s best to keep your eyes down. You can look up when speaking. You will be given an opportunity to speak. This is very important. Do not defend being here. Apologise sincerely for being in violation of our laws and ask for mercy and forgiveness.” She met their eyes in turn. “I cannot stress this enough. Do. Not. Ask. To. Go. Home. Do not look to get sympathy by mentioning loved ones or jobs or what is waiting for you at home.” Emma raised her hand as Daniel made to speak.

“Please. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I need you to trust me on this.”

Daniel sighed and nodded. “OK.”

Angel wanted badly to reach out and comfort her friend, but resisted the urge. Might as well get some practice in, she thought. The chittering purr sound came again, dragging her focus away from the room she sat in. She turned her attention to the door as a wave of apprehension washed over her, bringing back the dizzy feeling.

“Angel? Are you OK?” Emma enquired, sounding concerned.

Without consciously meaning to, she answered. “Someone’s coming.” Why on earth did I say that?

Emma and Daniel both frowned and looked at the door, listening intently for a long moment.

Daniel sounded worried. “Mmmm, maybe it’s just the wind. I don’t hear anything.”

No sooner had he finished than there were heavy foot falls outside and a loud rapping on the door. Daniel and Emma both glanced at her as the door slid open again, this time to admit a man in a dark coloured yukata and armed with a Samurai sword in a beautifully crafted black scabbard at his side.

The furrow on Emma’s brow suggested she hadn’t expected an interruption. She flipped the sleeve of her robe up to reveal a delicate wrist watch.

“I’m here to take the prisoners to the meeting hall.” His tone was respectful, but firm.

“I was told I’d have two hours with them. I still have forty-five minutes.”

“I am under instructions to bring them. With or without you.” Waiting at the door behind the newcomer stood another two armed men speaking quietly to the guards at the door.

Emma gave a curt nod and gestured to the friends to stand and follow. Daniel seemed to have a handle on moving in the long garments they were wearing while Angel had to concentrate on her movements and take it slowly. It was possibly to her advantage, the level of concentration required left little room to think about what this development meant.

Following the man and Emma to the door where they took her lead when she paused to remove her house slippers and replace them with wooden sandals over her socks. The group formed a procession with the man who had cut their time short at the head followed by the two guards from the door, then Emma, the prisoners and the two new guards at the back.

The group started up a pathway from the room Daniel and Angel had been held in, through what looked like a traditional Japanese house built in a square around a wide formal garden, towards a tall stone archway supporting a double gate that stood open. As the group passed through the arch, the path wound through other houses constructed in a similar way with wide avenues between, planted with beautiful trees crowned with late spring leaves and decorated with stones, both sculpted and natural. The layout of the village left Angel with the impression of a stream winding its way around rocks or small islands. She stumbled but managed to keep her balance, a timely reminder to keep her attention on the task at hand: staying upright.

Daniel’s elbow caught her on the side of her arm and she glanced sideways at him, catching a subtle jerk of his chin in the direction of Emma and one of the guards walking in front of her. The young man had dropped back out of step with his fellow guard a little and had his head turned slightly. It took Angel a moment to work out he was talking to Emma.

“It’s been done on purpose. I have doubt there was ever any intention of allowing you the full time to prepare them.”

“It’s not your fault Ren. You did your best. We just have to have faith that we have done everything we can with what we’ve been given.” She paused a moment before adding, “And maybe say a prayer.”

“This is too important to leave to chance. She cannot be harmed. Emma, it would be a disaster.”

“I’ve done what I can and I’ll be there to help in the hall. There is still a chance .... “ Her voice trailed off.

“I wish I had your faith. I think we might all benefit from a little help from outside.”

“Ren, please be careful. I don’t want to see you in any more trouble.”

The young guard looked at Emma over his shoulder with a tight lipped smile. “I will never be forgiven as it stands. The only way to absolve myself is to prove I was right.”

Angel caught the deepening frown in Daniel’s brow. Something about this conversation appeared to bother him. At least I’m not alone there, she thought. Was he referring to her when he said ‘she must not be harmed’? Normally she would have brushed the thought off as paranoid and a little too self involved, but some deep instinct was telling her this was not just paranoia. The furtive looks from the people who had set their baths and Emma's seeming to address her directly about the importance of the outcome of their trial added to the impression there was something about her, a secret about herself that she was unaware of and no one who knew would share.

The odd purring-chittering animal sound she had been hearing caught her attention and she raised her head to look around for the mystery animal. Instead of discovering the source of the sound, she realised there was no more time to dwell on either mystery.

Their little precession had arrived at the Meeting Hall.

While you wait patiently for Chapter 4, why not read a Hidden Worlds/Dragon's Triangle Origin story? Read Kindred Here