John slept well into the morning the next day and slept again on the plane to Los Angeles. That was their destination because they were picking up all the work that had been handled in Phoenix. Emura offered to let him keep flying all the way back to Seattle if he wanted, but he said he didn't mind waiting another day or two.
It was a short flight though, and he didn't nap long before Emura asked him to come to her office.
"Good morning, John," she said, "Since you will be visiting the Los Angeles office after all, I have some work for you."
"I'm listening," he said.
"I want you to compile a dossier of everything you can find about wendigos, along with your own experience," she said.
"We're finally going after that monster?" He asked with anticipation.
"We're closing in," she said, "It can't hide forever, so I want the other knights to be ready when it strikes. Speak with Vasra. You met her in Phoenix, remember?"
"Oh yeah the cobra who came on to me really hard," he said.
"Yeah that would definitely be her," Emura said, "She's my archivist and diviner. I've ordered her to help us track the beast, and she probably has some dusty old tome that can use in your research. Also this: your training schedule." He took the pamphlet and read through it. Most of it wasn't too surprising: working out, marksmanship, sparring, but then there was "magic studies" which he couldn't wait to begin.
They finally touched down in LA at Emura's private airfield at Dragonguard's headquarters. Another one of her mansions overlooked the sprawling facility from cliffs, and John's jaw dropped at the size of the entire compound. Emura dismissed her entourage and ordered Clancy to take John to the archive to see Vasra.
"Alright!" the Texan marine slapped his shoulder, "You've got a date with Vas! Careful though, she bites."
Clancy also gave a brief tour during their drive across the compound.
"There's the main building where the war room is, and that bunker dug into the cliffside is the armory and vault. Emura's hoard is there, if you ever care to see it," Clancy said, but his expression turned sour when they drove by what looked like a second mansion.
"That's the vampire embassy. Whatever you do, stay away from there."
"Vampires?" John said, "Lovely."
"They're monsters every bit as dangerous and disgusting as wendigos," Clancy said, "They're just good at wearing disguises. Don't trust them."
John gulped nervously and shivered. Suddenly, the vegetation grew thick and green, like a jungle.
"Here we are, Vasra's estate," Clancy said.
"She has her own estate on the compound?" John asked.
"Vasra's a queen in her own right," Clancy explained, "She swears allegiance to Emura, but she has her own followers and servants."
John looked up in awe as they approached a huge stone wat. It was smaller than Ankhor, but was clearly the biggest single building on the compound. He certainly didn't expect to see an Asian temple in Southern California.
But the surprises kept coming. When they got of the car, they were immediately greeted by a giant humanoid creature or being with the head of an elephant and a fifteen foot long spear. Clancy bowed to it and motioned for John to do the same.
"Mighty one," Clancy said, "May I present John Doe? By orders of Emura he has business with your queen."
The elephant man nodded then trumpeted toward the temple. Two more just like him emerged followed by Vasra.
"John!" she said, "You made it!"
"Hello again," he said, "I'm... oh wow!" She was clothed this time, but that was far from the only difference. Instead of legs, her lower body was a long sinuous tail which slithered over the grass. She caught him staring and bent her body in an elegant and alluring s-curve.
"You like it, or are you more into dragons?" she joked. One of the elephant men whispered in her ear.
She playfully rolled her eyes and said, "I AM showing hospitality. John, if you'll please follow me. Thank you Clancy that will be all." He nodded and drove away as Vasra led John by the hand into the temple.
"So which way to your, I assume you have a library," he said.
"Follow me," she said, "I have the material you need. Then while you read, I'll make us a delicious luncheon."
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