Daring Do
and
The Mystery of the lost city
chapter 3
It had been almost three days since Daring do had seen any sign of civilisation. She had taken the train all the way to Appaloosa and after stocking on food and drink she had to fly, for the rest of her journey as the train didn't go into the Gryphon Kingdom. The desert was drying her throat and making her pack and clothes feel hot and sticky. As she looked around all she could see was sand, sand and more sand. On the second day she saw a Camel train crossing the desert and decided to ask the Camels for directions. They pointed to the south saying she was half a day away from Oasis.
The sun was high in the desert sky as Daring Do soared towards the city. Even travelling at speed the heat was getting to Daring Do and sweat was pouring down her face.
“Come on wings, don't fail me now”
She saw below the layout of the griffon city with all its temples, churches and other buildings spreading far around. She suddenly saw in the centre of the city the reason for its name. It was a huge blue lake surrounded by palm trees and thick grass and without a second thought she went strait into a nosedive heading strait for the middle of the lake.
“PEEGGAASSUUSS BOOMB” she said with a giant splash into the water, sending a small wave in all directions.
It was a couple of seconds before her head broke the surface and gave a sigh of relief as she was finally able to cool down from her long flight across the desert. She swam to the shore and shook herself till she was dry, then made her way into the streets. She had never seen this many gryphon's in one place before they were all larger than her and their wings were huge in comparison.
Doctor latitude had told her that Charter could be found in the eastern side of the city at the cartographers Guild. She walked down the wide streets with their shops and stalls andwas amazed at the number of fountains and squares, with their beautiful marble statues of Dragons, Griffins and Seaponies.
After asking for directions from a Gryphon who was selling pet Parasprites in the market place, she was directed to a street with tall wooden buildings which seemed to loom over Daring Do and block out suns light. She looked at the signs which hung from the buildings and was surprised at what some of them were saying.
“Stone Guild, Thieves Guild, Mythology Guild and Guild of Guilds?????”
she was starting to get confused at the signs, but finally she came to the one she was looking for. Cartographers Guild, with the symbol of a sextant and a compass hanging next to the door. She pushed it open and walked into a room filled with Gryphon's sitting at desks drawing out maps of the world. She walked to the closest one and gave him a slight nudge on the shoulder. He pretended not to notice her, until she coughed loudly. He turned around with a un impressed look on his face.
"Pardon me. Which one of you guys is Charter?" The Gryphon looked back down at his work and spoke.
“Ohh him, he's up the stairs, first office on the left”. He pointed to the back of the room with a taloned claw.
As she went up the stairs she herd voices coming from the office with a nameplate which “Charter”.
“Look buddy. We will ask you this for the last time to give us a map of the cities underground tunnels and we will be on our way.”
“And I've told you, I won't give you that without written authority from the Chancellor. They have delicate information on them!”
“We have permission. it here.”
“You think I'm stupid enough to take a Bribe! Get the hell out, before I send for the town guard and have you arrested”
With that the door swung open and Daring Do was knocked aside as two large Gryphon's walked out of the office. One was grey with light brown feathers whilst the other was completely Black with steel tipped talons.
“Watch where your going pony!” Said the Grey Griffin
“Your the one who should be careful feather Brain” She retorted
The Black one stepped forward with a raised talon ready to strike, but the claw of the other stopped him.
“this is not the time or place for this. Lets go” The pair turned away and went down the stairs
Daring Do dusted her self off, straitened her hat and knocked on the door.
“Come in!”
She walked into the room and was surprised to see a Blue Pegasus wearing a red bow-tie sitting at the desk which was covered in partchments.
“Can I help you at all Miss?”
“Do, Daring Do." she replied
“Please take a seat Miss Do. Now what can I do for you?” Daring sat in the opposite chair and looked at Charter with a smile.
“ I was told by Doctor Longitude, that you were the one to speak to about finding where sompony would be buried here over a thousand years ago.
“Hang on! did you just say a pony? Buried here in Oasis?”
“That's right. He was found out in the middle of the ocean and his body was brought to this city for a proper burial in the temple over a thousand years ago.” Charters brow furrowed as he got up and walked over to a filing cabinet. He opened a drawer and pulled out a thick book labled Oasis Temple' and churches. A refrence guide. He dropped on his desk with a thud and started flicking through the pages. He stopped at one page and his face lit up in triumph.
“There was only one place the Gryphon's buried people back then. The Temple of Grypguard the Great, there are deep catacombs which run for miles underground.”
“so what are we waiting for then. Lets go and find him! She said rushing to her hoofs and the door.
“Theirs a problem. We don't know where the entrance is any more. It was lost hundreds of years ago”
“Oh that won't stop me. Come on!” Surprised at the confidence of this visitor, Charter Quickly followed and told a Gryphon downstairs he was having the rest of the day off.
The two set off through the streets till soon they were standing in front of one of the largest temples in the city. Its huge dome was covered in silver plate which shone brightly in the sunlight and the columns at the front stood over forty foot tall. As they walked through the doors they were met with statues which showed all the different Gryphon deities. In the centre was the largest statue of all. Grypguard the Great who founded the city when his people had been exiled from their homeland and force into the desert. All around the walls were covered in murals and stain-glass windows which filled the place with multicoloured light.
“this place is amazing” Exclaimed Daring Do in a excited voice. She was like a child in a sweet shop. Desperate to touch and look into everything
“it gets me every time” smiled Charter.
They walked around the temple looking for some sign of a door or passage that might lead to the catacombs. But after an hour of searching they had found nothing! they sat in front of Grypguards statue and sighed.
“There is something were missing” Daring Do said to Charter.
She looked around at the statues and had a sudden burst of inspiration.
Charter, What do these smaller Statues represent?
He looked around. “Well that one is justice, she is inspiration, he's agriculture and she's wisdom.”
Daring looked at the statue of wisdom and noticed the the Griyphon's hand was pointing towards a mural painted onto the wall. The mural had something written in Gryphon tongue at the top. But Daring Couldn't read it. she had Flunked Gryphon languages whilst in school.
“what's this say Charter?”
He looked over the words and gave Daring Do a confused look.
“For those who wish to walk in the steps of the dead, must first search for the light to lead the way. What do you suppose that means?”
Daring was looking over the mural, thinking about the riddle.
“search for the Light. Light. LIGHT!”
With that she pressed her hoof onto the symbol of the sun and found it sunk into the wall with a sharp click. Their was a rumbling noise and when they turned around the saw the Statue of wisdom was turning on its base to reveal a hole in the floor with a flight of steps going into the blackness.
“Wow. You are good Miss Do” smiled Charter”
“Now the fun really begins. You coming Charter. Its more exciting than making maps every day and I could do with a partner to come with me.”
“Are you kidding! Of course I'm coming, this is the most fun I've had in ages.
With that the two ponies headed into the catacombs and suddenly the Statue moved again closing the entrance on our intrepid heroes, sealing them down with the dead.
End of chapter 3