So you know I can do Ranma, you know I can do Sailor Moon, you know I can do
BGC2040. Now, what you're probably wondering is: "Can the man do anything
else? Sure he did Tatoon, but what about something more mainstream?"
You know what I say?
"How about a serving of Slayers?"
That's right, here's parts 1-14 of a fanfic I call; An Untitled Slayers
Fanfic, Or: Last Train To Oblivion.
Please Comment and Criticize.
--Komodo
Chris: "You didn't straighten up the place did you?"
Mitch: "No."
Chris: "Good. Because all my filth is in alphabetical order.
This, for example, was under 'H', for, toy."
-Real Genius
**************
Part 1
The afternoon winter sun cast its pale light over the Port city of Sailoon.
Snow had fallen last night and the slushy remains squished under the boots of
Sergeant Major Nic Eybos, a thirty year member in good standing of the
Sailoon City Guard as he marched down Goose Street towards the city square.
At his side marched Private Janyce Iberuven, a 10 minute veteran of the Guard.
Compared to Nic's slightly rotund build, Janyce stood tall, with attractive
features and a body that stirred long buried memories of youth inside Nic's
brain. Fortunately, Janyce wore the standard issue breastplate and her thick,
crimson brown hair had been cut short and then stuffed under the standard
issue conical helmet with its utilitarian nosegaurd and heavy cheek plates so
it was fairly easy for a man of Nic's limited imagination to imagine her as a
fresh faced young man.
Nic you see, was not entirely comfortable with Queen Ameila's recent
proclamation that interested women were allowed to join the City Guard. He
was a traditionalist and despite that he knew that times were changing, a
deep rooted sense of machismo insisted that what women like Janyce were doing
was wrong and went against the entire purpose for which the Universe had been
designed.
"Sir?" Nic was jolted out of his reverie by Janyce's soft spoken question.
"What is it girl?" He said in his gruffest tones.
"You were telling me about how nothing happens in Sailoon and then you
trailed off."
"Ah." Nic huffed as he pulled his fur-lined standard issue cloak about him
and shifted the standard issue pike to a more comfortable position in the
crook of his arm. "As I was saying, and I know these things, and I can safely
say, that unless Lina Inverse is in town, nothing happens here in Sailoon.
We're a peaceful city and we of the city guard do our best to keep it that
way."
"Yes Sir." Janyce replied as they entered the City Square.
Part 2
The square was sparsely populated, as most of those with the good sense that
the Gods gave them were indoors next to the fire and the slight breeze that
blew across port cities the world over carried with it the smell of burning
wood, baking bread, and roasting meat from the restraunts and Inns that
ringed the square.
Grunting, Nic reached beneath his breastplate to scratch at his ribs.
"Gotta have the wife let my doublet out." He grunted, removing his hand and
pulling the cloak back about him. Janyce looked as though she was about to
say something when she turned to look beyond the fountain.
Wondering what had captured her attention, Nic turned to see a whirling,
flashing vortex of energy. As they watched, the vortex seemed to convulse and
a dark blob appeared within, which gradually resolved into the shapes of
people.
"What is that?" Janyce asked.
"Dunno." Nic answered, taking a firm grip on his pike as he
loosened his sword in its sheath. "But I think we're about to find out." As
the words left his mouth, the Vortex gave one last shudder and then
collapsed, revealing a group of people.
Vaguely, Nic registered a group of people of various heights in armor of
various styles before there was a bright flash and the fountain exploded.
"Koume!" Someone shouted as debris rained down on the square. Nic was faintly
aware of something pinning him down.
"Stay down Sir!" Janyce yelled in his ear. "There's still falling debris!"
After about another minute or so, Janyce pulled Nic to his feet. The once
tidy Sailoon Town Square now looked as though the Mazoku had been here.
The fountain, once a work of art, was now so much rock and debris. Turning,
he became aware that there was an argument within the group of people.
A woman, at least the shape of the armor suggested a woman, was arguing with
another woman, who was protectively clutching a large tube. Between them,
another man, glasses hanging half off of his nose, was apparently trying to
make peace without much success.
Off to one side, a massive figure and red and black armor was conferring with
man in a tan cloak of some kind as a third man, his orange skin glowing in
the afternoon sun, looked on.
Nearby, the rest of the group stood, looking a bit dazed. Summoning all his
dignity, Nic straightened his cloak and approached. Before he could speak, a
member of the third group of people, a woman dressed in orange and white
armor approached, trailed closely by a young man in strange clothes.
"Excuse me Sir." She said, pulling off the helmet, revealing the face of a
young girl, her short blond hair seeming to glow with a radiance all its own.
"My name is Mina Anio and this is Damon Thompson. My friends and I appear to
be lost." She gave him a big smile. "Could you tell us where we are?"
For some reason, Nic suddenly felt as though the proverbial rug had just been
yanked out from under him and he was falling towards a very painful landing.
Part 3
Ameila, Queen of Sailoon, Champion of Justice, Captain of the Western
Islands, Governor of the Brodaboon Territories, and Boon Companion to Lina
Inverse, the Dragon Slayer had a headache.
Not because of some recent diplomatic entanglement, or blow to the head, but
because she was pregnant.
Seven months pregnant in fact, and tongues were wagging as to who the father
was.
Most suspected that the guilty party was one Zelgadis Greywers, a chimera
skilled at Shamanistic Magic who had been hanging around the palace for the
past few months and had returned with Ameila after their latest adventure
with Lina Inverse.
For her part, Ameila refused to name names and Zelgadis refused to speak of
it.
And so, the Queen lay in her bed, her swollen stomach rising above the bed
like a hill and a cold, wet cloth laying across her forehead.
"Ohhhhh." Ameila groaned. "Is this baby ever going to be born?"
"Now now dear." Clucked her nurse, a plump, matronly woman named Cordelia.
"Pregnancy's one of the great joys in life and in another few months, the
child will be born and the kingdom will rejoice!"
"Except for the fact that he or she will be born out of wedlock." Ameila
grunted.
Maturity and the notion of impending motherhood had brought a curious change
to Ameila. Well known for her single-minded pursuit of Justice, and tendency
to go off in pursuit of it on a moments notice, she had instead been settling
down and working on being a good queen. She spent her days dealing with
citizens, looking over the Kingdom's books, and instituting a number of
reforms. Ameila was proving to be a good ruler, and was slowly winning
respect from those who had been her worst critics.
Of course, success may have also been due in part to the scowling visage of
Zelgadis, who often stood at her right shoulder and had been seen giving the
Queen advice.
"Well if you married the Father. . ." Cordelia ventured.
"Oh Gods no." Ameila moaned. "If they like the idea of a unmarried mother on
the throne, they'll love him."
"Any particular reason dear?"
"I doubt he believes in marriage." Ameila replied. "Its not exactly common
among his people."
"So he's not human?"
"What?" Ameila screeched, sitting up quickly in bed, an action which caused
the cloth to fall from her head and onto the covers. "I didn't say what he
was!"
"Now now." Cordelia said, gently pushing her young charge back onto the bed
and laying a fresh cloth on her head. "There's nothing wrong with falling in
love with someone who's not like everyone else."
"There is with this one." Ameila said, closing her eyes. "Believe me."
Part 4
The west gate of Sailoon ushered visitors into the worst of the city. Here,
small houses and even smaller minds contended for space alongside artists,
struggling families and despite the Guard's best efforts, a small sample of
the population insisted on making their living via good old fashioned larceny.
Such was the case of the trio of young men that had been partaking of a
bottle of ale they had acquired in a recent bisnuess encounter with a
merchant.
Positioned as they were by the gate, they witnessed the arrival of the pair
on horses. While there was nothing too remarkable about the travelers save
that both wore hooded robes that obscured their features, the horses were a
pair of matched stallions. Jet black, with bright, intelligent eyes, smooth,
strong muscles beneath their shiny coats.
"Name and Bisnuess in Sailoon." Belched the gate guard. He was half drunk and
his food splotched cloak, once apple green, hung loosely off one shoulder.
In answer, each of the new arrivals reached beneath their robes and withdrew
a heavy silver pendant. The guard's eyes widened.
"My Lord and Lady! I'm sorry!" The guard attempted to stand up straight. "Is
there anything I can do for you?"
"No." Said the shorter of the two, the voice that of a woman. "But thank you
all the same." The guard managed to hide a belch as he stepped aside.
"Yes Your Grace. Welcome back."
At this point, the trio mentioned earlier at this point in the tale had
gotten up and, by combined power of their intellect, reasoned that the Lord
and Lady were going to the palace, had slipped through the alleyways and were
waiting on the street corner under the lamp.
Night was beginning to fall and a chill was in the air as the travelers
approached.
Stepping out into the cobblestone streets, the leader, a stocky, bearded
individual, with flat, vicious eyes raised his hand, gesturing for them to
halt, which they did.
"Good evening. My friends and I represent the Sailoon Wealth equalization
society. It is our goal to see an equal amount of wealth among the entire
citizenry of Sailoon. To that end, I must insist upon a small donation from
each of you." The taller of the two gently nudged his horse forward until he
was side by side with his companion. But it was the smaller one who spoke.
"We're not in the mood gentlemen." She said, as the taller one opened his
cloak and laid his hand suggestively on his sword hilt. "Why don't you go
play elsewhere?"
At that point, the second of the trio, a tall, thin, emaciated individual
raised his arms as though he was drawing a bow and arrow, causing a small,
glowing nimbus to form where the arrow would be.
"My friend here is a sorcerer of some skill." Said the leader. "Really, it is
in your best interest to make the donation and then we can all go about our
bisnuess." It was a blatant lie, the second man knew only the spell known as
Flare Arrow. However, it had worked far too many times to count before,
causing the fat terrified merchants and nobles that were their usual targets
to quickly hand over their purses, begging for their meaningless lives all
the while.
A gloved hand emerged from the smaller one's cloak and made a peculiar
gesture before speaking two words.
"Explosion Array."
Part 5
Ameila was in her rooms attempting to knit a baby bootie while listening to
her chief of staff recite the latest economic figures for the Brodaboon
Territories. It was a trifling matter, the Territories had an highly
efficient and rigid economy and always turned a profit of exactly two hundred
thousand gold, sixteen hundred silver, and three copper.
Sick of the numbers, Ameila cut her chief off with a gesture.
"Bottom line. The territories can complete all their financial obligations to
Sailoon for the fiscal year?"
"Yes Highness."
"Then that's all I need to know."
"But-"
"But nothing." Ameila snapped, jabbing her knitting needle in his direction.
"The territories governed themselves as a sovereign nation for two thousand
years before their monarch got completely plastered and signed the entire plac
e over to my grandmother. Considering that ninety percent of the population
spit nails whenever my name is mentioned, and the other ten scowl, I'd rather
adopt as much of a hands off policy towards them as I can. The Brods can take
care of themselves."
"Yes Highness."
"Good." Ameila said, and begun to attempt knitting once more. "Now, what
about plans for the Solstice celebration?"
"All on schedule highness. Lord Davyd has come up with several ideas for
decorating Sailoon as well as the floats."
"I'll look at his plans first thing tomorrow."
"Begging your pardon highness, but first thing on your schedule tomorrow is a
meeting with Baron Jerrwell."
"Oh Gods." Ameila groaned, feeling physically ill. The Baron was the leader
of a small group of Nobles who saw themselves as the Moral leaders of
Sailoon. They were also complete and total asses. "Let me guess. Its about my
impending motherhood."
"That is the rumor Highness." Ameila pinched the bridge of her nose.
"I'd have him killed if I didn't need him." She muttered.
"Pardon me highness." The chief ventured. "But do you really need him?"
"Of course I do!" Ameila snapped. "His fields supply Sailoon with the bulk of
its wheat products!"
"Yes Highness. But something has come to my attention." The chief pawed
through the stack of papers on a desk. "The writ which created the Jerrwell
Barony was contingent on not only the new wheat production method, but a
minor clause which states that to prove the method's cost effectiveness, the
Barony must also turn a profit of at least three hundred gold per month."
Straightening, he turned and handed her some papers. "In the past two years,
the Barony's profits have dropped to almost nothing. The wheat production has
remained plentiful so your father didn't see any reason to act."
"And father was too nice to do anything." Ameila said, tapping a knitting
needle against her chin as she stared thoughtfully at the ceiling. "If the
Barony was dissolved, who does the land revert to?"
"Duke Varis."
"Who happens to be my cousin." Ameila mused. "Send him those figures and
'suggest' he inspect the wheat production. Lots of bluster and noise." Varis
was a political animal and his disgust for Jerrwell was well known. He would
enjoy this and Ameila liked to do nice things for her family.
"Yes Highness." Said the chief as he gathered up the papers and headed for
the door, only to have the papers go flying as the door was thrown open by a
gaurd.
"Queen Ameila!" The gaurd shouted, snapping to attention, slamming the butt
of his pike into the floor. "I beg leave to report that a band of sorcerers
have arrived in Sailoon and that one of their number have been charged with
the destruction of the town sqaure's fountain!"
"Where are they now?" Ameila said, throwing aside the covers as Cordelia came
around the bed holding a beautifully embroidered robe.
"In the throne room highness!"
"Then that's where I'll see them. Dismissed."
"Yes Highness!" The gaurd said and ran out. Ameila sighed as she remembered
the days when she ran with Lina. When she was free. . .
But I have responsibilities now. She thought. If not to myself, then to the
people of Sailoon. She put her hand on her stomach. And to the people of
Sailoon who are yet to come. . .
Banishing such melancholy thoughts, Ameila fastened the robe around her and
set the gold circlet that was her crown on her head.
"Come along Sendar." Ameila said cheerfully to her chief of staff. "Let's go
have a trial!"
Part 6
The young man standing next to the accused was named Conrad. His last name is
irrelevant to this account and need not be given. He was a tall, lanky youth,
only sixteen years old, with dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. But
perhaps his most striking feature was his eyes, there was something odd about
them. He tended to go through life with a slight smile on his face, as though
there was some private joke that only he understood. He was dressed in black
from head to foot, and the black coat he wore reached to the floor, moving
gently in the slight draft.
Beside him, the woman named Koume rattled the shackles about her wrists,
scowling at the heavy chains.
"We still coulda taken them." She muttered, eyeing the two guardsmen standing
nearby. The taller of the two, a woman, held a large tube that was Koume's
prize weapon.
"We could have yes, but how far do you think a group of strangers in odd
clothing could have gotten?" Koume's brows furrowed. "In any case, Conrad
continued, they seem to be more surprised that the fountain blew up then at
what was used. That means that they're used to stuff like this, and that
makes me curious."
"That's what you said on the Starship with the pointy eared guy." Koume
muttered. "And look what happened."
"Well how was I supposed to know that would happen?" Any reply Koume might
have made was cut off by the blat of a poorly tuned trumpet and the bellowing
of the herald.
"Her Majesty, Ameila, Queen of Sailoon, Champion of Justice, Captain of the
Western Islands, and Governor of the Brodaboon Territories!"
The curtains parted, revealing a short woman, her stomach protruding before
her. Her face was tanned and framed neatly by her short black hair. Despite
her obvious pregnancy, her build was solidly muscled and her eyes were alert.
Though she waddled, no fault of her own, she still moved in that fashion
peculiar only to trained fighters and warriors. Her eyes were bright, and
alert as they focused on Koume and Conrad.
"What's the charge Magistrate?" She asked. The Magistrate, a tall, fat man
with a bulbous red nose and thick mustache unrolled the scroll.
"The defendant is charged with one count of destruction of public property,"
The Magistrate, said, his deep voice booming throughout the room. "And one
count of resisting arrest! The defendant has legal representation and had
entered a plea of not guilty for both counts."
"Any witnesses?" Asked the Queen.
"Yes your Majesty, Sergeant Major Nic Eybos and Private Janyce Iberuven."
"Are they present?"
"Yes Highness." Said the Magistrate, turning and beckoning.
In response, the two members of the City gaurd stepped forward. "Give your
account of what happened this afternoon." Said the Magistrate.
"Yes your Honor. Said the man. "At approximately the fourth hour past midday,
Private Iberuven and I entered the town square on routine patrol. As we
reached the fountain, Private Iberuven noticed a vortex."
"And that's when they destroyed the fountain?" The magistrate pressed, his
eyes strangely intent.
"In a sense, your honor." Nic said. "As the Vortex dissolved, I heard someone
yell out the defendants name there was a bright flash and a loud roar and
then that's when the fountain blew up."
"So she is responsible for its destruction?"
"I can't swear to that my lord. Private Iberuven tackled me to the ground and
as such, I didn't see the defendant actually destroy the fountain."
And you Private Iberuven," Said the Queen. "What is your account?"
"As Sergeant Major Eybos said, we entered the town square at approximately
the fourth hour past midday on routine patrol and paused at the fountain. At
that point, I noticed the vortex forming. When it dissolved I witnessed the
defendant pointing this tube in my hands at us, so I reacted instinctively
and tackled the Sergeant Major to the ground."
"And is it your wont to tackle people to the ground when someone points a
weapon at you?" The Magistrate asked. "That hardly seems like the proper
behavior for a member of the city gaurd." Janyce's face flushed.
"I can hardly do my job if I make myself a target for every weapon pointed at
me." She said with perhaps more force then she intended.
"So you would never place yourself in danger?"
"That's enough!" The Queen snapped, her voice cracking like a whip. "Now,
what else happened?
"If it please the court Majesty," Conrad said, stepping forward. I believe I
can shed some light on this matter."
"Oh can you?" Asked the Queen, amusement tinting her words.
"Conrad smiled.
"Trust me."
Part 7
"My friends and I are in the bisnuess. . .of shall we say, supernatural
diagnosis and elimination." Conrad began. "Monster hunters, if you will.
However, for reasons that we can best skip over, we're on a journey through
various worlds. Each one we land at, we always seem to find something that we
are required to do before we are allowed to leave. While I deeply regret the
fountain's destruction, Miss Koume was aiming at a monster when the vortex
activated, and I offer our services as a means of atoning for this dreadful
incident."
With that, he bowed, turned on his heel, and walked back to the group.
"We will adjourn for one hour to consider." Ameila announced as she stood,
slowly.
"Nice going Conrad." Mina hissed, punching him in the arm. "Assuming they
don't throw us in the loony bin, what's to keep them from having us executed?
In case you haven't noticed, the Queen's preggers and that means she might
have our heads lopped off because she's feeling sulky!"
"Well its hardly likely she'd buy the truth, and in any case, I think we're
perfectly safe."
"Oh?"
"If you were paying attention Mina-chan, you would have noticed that one; the
city guardsmen and women who arrested us, told us not to try anything
magical. That means there's probably supernatural dealings afoot. Two; We
were advised of the right to remain silent, and that we had the right to
legal representation. Three; The Queen was heralded as the Champion of
Justice. To me, that means this kingdom, or queendom, I should say, is
interested in separating the innocent from the guilty."
"But it was Miss Koume who blew up the fountain." Put in a young girl, hardly
more then fifteen.
"On accident. "Conrad replied. "She'd pressed the trigger to fire at the
Aragami when the Vortex activated and we were all put into a state of stasis.
When it dispersed, the missile was free to launch and by the time Koume
realized that there was no longer an Aragami to fire at, the missile was
already on its way and its sort of hard to recall a bazooka missile once it
has launched."
Mina hmphed.
*****************
"So what do you think?" Ameila asked.
"I think he's lying." Zelgadis replied, blunt as always.
"Explain."
"He's not telling us everything. Oh the fountain destruction was an accident,
that much is certain, but he's lying about who they are, and why they're
here."
"I disagree, my Lord Zelgadis." Said the Earl of Seyrun, an elderly gentlemen
who had been Advising Ameila's family since before she was born. "When you've
been in politics as long as I have, you learn to read people fairly
accurately. The fountain's destruction was an accident, that much is a given.
As for why they're here, I imagine that what he told us is only half true.
Quite frankly, your highness," He said, focusing his attention on Ameila.
"I'm more curious about his claim of them being Monster Hunters. Ceiphed
knows we need capable ones and Salioon has it's share of monsters in the
Northern Woods."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Send the entire group into the northern woods to eliminate the monsters that
have been plaguing the trade routes. If they're successful, then they're
telling the truth. If not. . ." The earl left it hanging, a small smile on
his face.
"I like it." Ameila mused. "Zelgadis, take a dozen of the Seyrun Knights and
escort them to the woods. You and your men will engage the monsters only as
nessacary to defend yourselves and no more." Zelgadis nodded.
"As you wish."
Part 8
Part of the reason behind the troubles that Ameila faced when she first took
the throne was that people were stupid. It seems to be a universal law that
intelligence decreases with the amount of people gathered. This does not hold
true nessacarily for military units as they become disordered only when their
plans that look so good on paper fall apart.
As it was, the notion that the heir to the throne was so stupid that there
was only room for one thought in her head, was so widespread that the nobles
had been ready to pounce on her and try to make her their puppet. They were
surprised when she summoned them to the throne room and a legion of Zakath
Mercenaries was there to greet them.
The Queen may have been single minded and perhaps even obsessed, but no moron
can achieve any real skill with magic without intelligence and Ameila was
among the foremost white magicians in the world when she assumed the throne
and one of the few living White Magi who had any skill in Black Magic or the
Shamanistic arts.
The first week came to be known as "Blood Week" as Ameila took the throne
back from the vultures who had stolen it as the disease known as Skylers
Syndrome slowly stole first her father's mind, and then his life.
There was no great amount of physical violence, as the name might suggest,
instead, the blood was social in nature as Ameila used first the Zakath and
then the Seyrun Knights, who were the paramount warriors in the world, to one
by one, restore order, and arrest her opponents for high treason.
Surprisingly, she did not have them killed, instead, she stripped them of
their lands and fortunes, then sent them on various diplomatic and trade
missions.
Though it can not be confirmed, legend says that she offered them enrollment
in the Foreign Office, or to be stripped of their rank as well and then
banished from Sailoon. A fate viewed by many of them as worse then death and
accepted by at least two of them.
They had no one to blame for their predicament but themselves. Ameila had
spent the previous years roaming the world with the Sorceress Lina Inverse. A
minor legend already, Ms Inverse took the girl under her wing, training her
and molding her for her future role.
Indeed, destiny had brought them together.
-History of Sailoon, Professor Ingals, Author.
Zelgadis snorted as he marked his place in the leather bound book. Lina's
acceptance of Ameila had been anything but gracious and the training had been
more in the form of their various acts along the way.
The coup had also been more violent then the way history saw it.
Ameila had the capability to be completely ruthless when the situation called
for it and she had demonstrated it on that day.
************
Ameila, Queen of Sailoon for barely an hour sat in her throne. Faintly, she
could hear the sounds of her coronation party. A party she should be
attending, but she wanted to get this out of the way.
So it was that she sat in the throne room. Across from her, stood twenty men,
mostly barons, and several Sailoon Knights, hook pointed lochaber ax in hand,
stood among them to discourage any thoughts of mischief.
"And that's my offer gentlemen." Ameila said, trying to sound as smooth and
urbane as she could. "I will enroll you in as agents with the Sailoon Foreign
Office and you can at least be of some service by carrying out different
tasks that must be done. Or, you can be stripped of your rank and turned out
the city gates where you can survive by your wits."
"What's the difference?" One baron called.
"The difference, gentlemen, is that you have some hope of redeement with one,
provided you serve faithfully. The other leaves you with no hope of
redeement."
"Better to die then to be humiliated!" One of the lords called and ran
forward, followed by two barons.
Swearing, Zelgadis went for his sword, but Ameila was quicker.
"FIREBALL!" She cried, as two burning balls of flame leapt from her
fingertips, roasting the lord and one of the barons, obliterating them in
white hot flame. The other baron stopped cold, staring in shock at the
charred remains that lay before the throne.
Quite calmly, Ameila leaned back in her throne, hooked one leg over the arm
and smiled beatifically at the survivor, who's face was very pale.
"So what'll be old boy?" Ameila asked him in that same smooth, urbane tone.
"The Foreign office, the front gate, or would you like to try your luck
against my rock faced friend here? He's not very friendly, but I'm sure you
two would play very nice together." At that point, Zelgadis, responding to
some nameless prodding, slowly drew his sword, the sound of metal against
leather somehow ugly in the stillness of the room, but it left no doubts as to
the type of playing Ameila was thinking off.
"If it please you Majesty." The Baron said. "I think I'd like to try my luck
at a trade mission."
"Smart Man." Ameila observed and then adressed the other seventeen. "Anyone
else?" Nobody answered.
"Good." Ameila stood up. "Captain Gorl here will escort you back to your
cells. Good Evening gentlemen." With that, she turned and marched through the
curtains behind the throne.
When Zelgadis got through the curtains, he found her pale and shaking, on her
hands and knees, the contents of her stomach spread out on the stone floor.
"Gods, I can't believe I did that." Ameila quavered as Zelgadis gave her some
water from the small flask he carried and then held her as she latched onto
him. "Cold Blood Zel! I murdered them in cold blood!"
"You did what you had to do." Zelgadis said, wishing that didn't sound so
cold. "Rulers occasionally have to do unpleasant things, it's part of the
job."
"Why does it have to be like that?"
"It's part of the Job of being a leader. If you tell someone to do something,
knowing that they know that you would never ask them to something you
wouldn't do yourself, it inspires loyalty.
That's why so many kings led their armies to war in the Old days. Because the
soldiers knew that their king was right there beside them, taking the same
risks they were."
"I don't know if I can do this."
"You can." Zelgadis said softly, putting his finger under her chin and
raising her eyes to meet his. "You have to. You have responsibilities now
Ameila. If not yourself, then to the people of Sailoon who have gone before
you, to the ones that are still here," He laid a hand on her belly, which was
only slightly swollen. "And to the ones who are yet to come. To them
especially, you have the responsibility to be the best you can be so your
descendants have an example to follow."
"I-is that what I'm doing now? Setting an example?" Zelgadis nodded.
"Exactly that, along with every other leader. Now let's get you cleaned up,
there's still a coronation party going on, and you're the guest of honor."
************
Grumbling, Zelgadis dragged his pack from its space under the bed and began
to pack.
He had never told Ameila where the notion to draw his sword had come from,
nor where the words of wisdom he had given her in the hallway had been born.
Privately, he suspected he had been used that day by a higher power.
Something wanted Ameila to be the best she could be, and he didn't think it
was L-sama.
At that, his thoughts drifted to the one called Conrad. He had accepted
Ameila's decision far to calmly for Zelgadis's peace of mind. The boy smelled
like an unholy union between Mazoku and one of L-Sama's creatures of pure
chaos.
Zelgadis made a mental note to keep a close eye on him.
But then again, Zelgadis kept a close eye on everyone.
Part 9
The Seyrun knights were part of the reason Sailoon had kept its sovereignty.
At some point in the distant past, a Sailoon king had realized that the army
was simply not enough to fend off all the kingdoms that wanted Sailoon's
resources. And so, the Knights were founded.
Each Knight was at least a level one or two sorcerer/sorceress, possessed a
degree from the University, and had at least four years experience in the
Army.
Training for a Knight was harsh. In addition to receiving combat training
that went beyond the Army's, a Knight was trained in wilderness survival,
espionage, blacksmithing, and a host of others. Ninety-Five percent washed
out.
Those that remained were the best of the best. The elite.
There was an old story that the Brodaboon Territories once had a riot by a
minor faction dedicated to the overthrow of the entire Sailoon Government and
the Brodaboon territorial Governor had asked Sailoon for help. Facing an
invasion attempt by the Mazoku worshipping Nap'artha Empire, the King could
only afford to send one Seyrun Knight.
When the Knight arrived, the terrified Governor protested that the knight was
only one man. The knight had looked at him and replied.
"Well, ya got only one riot."
<It was an amusing story.> Zelgadis thought as he descended the stairs
towards the dining hall. <But it was only a story.>
Of course, that's what many people had said about his legendary battle with
Lina and Gourry against Shabirnigdo.
***************
Ameila looked with distaste at the red liquid in the goblet before her.
"Do I have to drink this?" She asked.
"Yes Dear." said Cordelia. "Its for the baby."
"Somehow, I doubt the baby's health is the least of his worries." Ameila
muttered, draining the goblet and then making a face.
"The least of who's worries dear?"
"Never you mind." Ameila replied as she reached for the roasted hen on the
plate before her. "Everyone will find out soon enough."
At that moment, the doors to the dining hall opened. Standing there was a
page and two figures, one drastically shorter then the other, both wearing
hooded black robes, their faces hidden in the shadows of the heavy fabric.
"Her Grace," Bellowed the page at the top of his lungs. "The Duchess of
Taranal, and her bodyguard, the Baron of Vormol!"
"Thank you." The shorter of the two replied, stepping into the room and
pulling her hood down.
Her orange hair was lighter now and streaked with gray. Her eyes held that
slight deadness of one who has been in the presence of Gods and demons and
lived to tell about it.
Her fair face was weather-beaten, but Lina Inverse, age twenty-seven, was
still beautiful.
Behind her, her companion also removed his hood. His long blond hair, graying
slightly, reached down his back and three scars, a souviener of a battle with
some beast, cut diagonally across his face.
Like Lina, his eyes too were slightly dead, and the shape of his face, along
with the slightly vacant expression he wore, were a mute testament to the elf
blood that lay somewhere in Sir Gourry Gabreiv's ancestry.
"Your Grace." Ameila said, rising to her feet as a sly smile spread across
her face. "What brings you by?"
"Just dropping in for a visit." Lina said, crossing the room and clasping Amei
la's hand warmly. "Oh, here." She dropped a bag on the table, which clinked
with the sounds of coins.
"And what part of Sailoon have I lost now?" Ameila asked dryly, sitting down.
"The street in front of the Sword and Dagger on Rose Street." Lina replied,
taking a goblet from the tray of a passing servant and drinking deep. "You
might want to let the Gaurd know about three wannabe toughs calling
themselves "The Sailoon Wealth Equalization society. One of them had magic."
"Magic?" Lina nodded.
"He threatened me with a Flare Arrow."
"Did he now?" Asked Zelgadis as he too arrived and clasped Lina's hand
warmly. For a moment, Sorceress and Chimera stared into each other's eyes and
then both looked away.
"Yeah." Lina said. "Gourry and I checked him out. No Tattoo. That means he's
either somehow managed to avoid being marked, or he's a natural."
"Not a very good one if he's mugging travelers." Zelgadis noted as he took
his seat at Ameila's right.
"He might be new at it too." Lina replied, walking around the table and
sitting in the first vacant chair she came to.
"Tattoo?" Ameila asked.
"Because of its inherent dangers and the fact that its very nature comes from
aggression, anger, and other negative emotions, all practitioners of Black
Magic are required to be marked by a magical tattoo." Lina pulled down her
left glove, revealing an intricate series of lines, loops, and runes that
started just above her wrist and covered about half her forearm. "Its
actually a form of Identification dating back to the founding of the
Professional Magicians Society. Back then, it was widely held belief that
practitioners of Black Magic should skulk through alleyways, have intricate
passwords, and secret meetings."
"Those meetings invariably descended into drunken binges." Zelgadis
commented, taking a bite of fruit.
"Anyway." Lina continued, flicking a grape at the Chimera. "The PMS
eventually suffered a schism of ideals in thirty nintey two and large numbers
of its members split off into various splinter factions, each of which
evolved into its own society with its own rules and requirements. About the
only constant is that each and every one requires its members to be marked."
Lina shrugged. "Personally, I think Mother just likes to be able to keep an
eye on us."
"I'm never going to get used to you calling her that." Zelgadis muttered."
Part 10
Up in the Castle's South Tower, dinner was also being served. In one of the
rooms, the group who had so recently arrived in the town square was feasting
on a simple meal of beef, cheese, and bread.
"I still don't see how you can be so complacent about this!" Mina shouted,
pacing back and forth. Conrad, who had just finished making a sandwich, set
his food down.
"At the moment, they think we're monster hunters, as long as they think that,
they won't ask us too many questions."
"But what's wrong with the truth?" Asked Momiji, a pretty fifteen year old.
"Let's see," Damon put in. "We're made up of eight princesses, an ex-cop, a
hentai scientist, an orange skinned guy who's part plant and part Aragami, a
guy who's cursed, another guy who cuts up cars and then sticks them on
flagpoles for fun, and a young girl who's death would put all the Aragami to
sleep." He let that hang in the air. "You're right Momiji. We should tell
them the truth." Momiji looked pale.
"All right, all right." Mina said, finding a place to sit and taking a slice
of cheese. "But that still doesn't explain that 'job' the queen said she's
sending us on."
"Yes it does." said the Tall Amazonian brunette who was sitting next to
Conrad. "We're being tested."
"Tested?" Asked the Raven Haired girl who sat opposite her. "Tested for what?"
"Our claim of course." Said the aforementioned orange skinned man from where
he was reclining under the window, basking in the remains of the swiftly
fading sunlight. "Our glorious tactician there made a claim and now we have
to back it up."
"We will. This is how." Conrad said. "Damon, Lita, and I will take point.
Rei. You and Mina will you cover our flanks if we're up against a group, and
rake the target's flanks if it's solo. Amy, you will cover the rear and try
to find out any weaknesses. Tenoh, you and Michiru will cover her. Setsuna.
You, Bunny, Momiji, and Kunikeda will stay back and protect our ride." He
looked at the young girl curled up by the fire. "If we get overwhelmed, use
the injector and make the jump."
"And what about me?" asked the orange skinned man. "Surely there's someplace
in your grand design for me."
"You do what you were made to do."
*******************
Back in the dining Hall, Lina chewed thoughtfully on a drumstick as she
listened to Ameila's recounting of the afternoon's events.
"Poor you." She grinned at Zelgadis. "Tramping around in the North Woods with
a bunch of knights and mysterious travelers."
Zelgadis hmphed.
"Anyway." Lina continued in a more serious tone. "Gourry and I dragged that
magic user back with us and had the Gaurd confine him in the sorcerer's cell
down in the Dungeon." Lina was referring to a eight by eight cell made
entirely out of Mithril and Cold Iron. Mithril was an alloy that was immune
to Magic for as yet unknown reasons, and Cold Iron caused most of the Farie
races pain and death if they were around it for too long. Between them, there
was very little that the cell could not confine. "In the morning, we'll drag
him over to the local chapter of the PMS."
"Actually," Ameila said. "Could you wait until after my meeting with Baron
Jerrwell?" Lina groaned.
"Haven't you gotten rid of him yet?" The Baron had taken several shots at her
over the years for her methods and her rumored relationship with Gourry.
"Actually." Ameila grinned. "That's exactly what I'm doing tomorrow."
"I'll be there with bells on." Lina promised.
*******************
Meanwhile, in place no mortal could reach without magic, and at the same
time, as close as their own skin, two figures watched a pool, which displayed
Lina and Ameila chatting away.
One of the watchers was a woman of ethereal beauty, with flowing blond hair
and clad in a blue silk dress. The other was a young man, with black hair,
wearing battered leather breeches, old black leather boots and a stained
button down man's shirt with the sleeves cut off over a green short sleeve
tunic that had seen better days.
"Does my Parent know you're here?" Asked the woman.
"Doubtful. I'm sure they're aware of my people, but not of me personally, and
in any case, its not like I'm tampering with anything, this is just a
possibility, a what if, if you will."
"I will not."
"You should." Said the young man with an impudent grin. "That's half the fun."
Part 11
Morning dawned clear and cold and the pale sun shone weakly on Zelgadis as he
saddled his horse, an ex-racing stallion named Ganthet who's stamina on the
track was legendary. There were still a number of years left in the big roan,
and it showed in the way he tossed his mane and snorted, eager to get moving.
Nearby, the knights of Seyrun, under the Command of a Sir Kilmer, also
saddled their horses as their suits waited nearby.
The armor used by the Knights wasn't so much a suit of armor as it was a
golem, controlled by thought. Because of its size, the Horses used by the
Seyrun Knights were among the largest in the world, enhanced by magic and
bred for speed, size, strength and intelligence.
Straightening, Zelgadis looked over at the group of travelers. Some had never
been on a horse before and it showed, others seemed to know a little
something about riding and one or two sat on the horse as though they had
been born there.
Zelgadis hid a smile as he double checked the saddle belt. For some reason,
seeing the one called Conrad look a little unsure of himself on a horse made
his day brighter.
******************
Ameila was practically beaming as she walked to the throne room. She was
decked out in her official robes of state, and try as she might, she could
not keep the smile off of her face.
Close behind her, dressed in their best, came Lina and Gourry.
"Ameila, are you sure this is a good idea?" Lina asked.
"No. But I'll take any opening to get rid of Jerrwell." Ameila replied as the
trumpets blared. Regally, Ameila swept into the throne room and sat.
The Baron of Jerrwell was a stout man with a florid face and beady eyes. His
gray hair was combed to cover his growing baldness and he had no chin to
speak off. His eyes widened as Ameila entered and then he recovered and bowed.
"Your Highness."
"My Lord Baron." Ameila said formally. "What bisnuess brings you before the
throne?" Again, Jerrwell was thrown off balance.
"Your Highness, I am concerned about certain moral blemishes which have so
recently come to my attention and I feel that is my duty to report them to
the crown."
"Such as my pregnancy?" Ameila asked archly. Jerrwell faltered.
"N-No."
"Yes." Ameila said. "To be perfectly honest Baron, I'm getting a little tired
of this and I have a long day ahead. So let's settle this once and for all.
Moral blemish or not, I will have this baby. I have no intention of marrying
the father or anyone. The child is of royal blood and I will raise him or her
as the heir to the crown of Sailoon!"
"But-But Cephied-"
"Somehow I doubt Ceiphed will object. Having met Him I know that Queens
having children out of wedlock is the least of His worries." Ameila said
dryly.
"Blas-Blasphemy!" Jerrwell gasped. "The book-"
"The book of Gena?" Ameila interrupted. "As I recall, Gena received his
religious relevation after three days of fasting in the desert. From a cactus
wasn't it?"
"I think that was it." Lina said archly.
"Lord Ceiphed spoke through the cactus so as not to blind the prophet with
His holy light!"
"Gena was hallucinating." Ameila replied. "A religious relevation that comes
to someone after having their brains baked in the sun for three days of
fasting is hardly credible."
"Gena did it to prove his faith!"
"He did it because he was an idiot!" Ameila snapped. "Do you really think
Ceiphed cares about who we humans marry? Who we share our beds with and what
gender or race they are? He's the God of the Dragons for L-Sama's sake! He's
got bigger things to worry about then that!"
Jerrwell was pasty white by now and visibly trembling.
"You disgust me Jerrwell." Ameila said coldly. "Unfortunately, there's
nothing I can do about that. But there is about this." She tossed a scroll at
him, which he caught by reflex. "That's a copy of the writ which created your
barony, which as of today, exists no longer as you have violated the terms."
"Imp-impossible! My wheat fields are at their highest levels of production
ever!"
"So they are. However," Ameila unrolled her copy and read aloud. "And to
prove the cost effectiveness of this method, the Barony must show a monthly
profit of no less then three hundred gold per month and a yield of no less
then one hundred tons." She rolled the scroll back up and handed it to
Sendar. "According to your financial report Baron, your monthly profit has
been well below the three hundred mark for the past two years. This is well
beyond unacceptable. As per the terms of the writ, I am hereby dissolving the
barony and removing the Jerrwells from the List of Nobility."
Tears shown in Jerrwell's eyes.
"From this day forward, you are no longer counted on the ranks of Nobility."
Ameila smiled and could not quite keep the gloat out of her voice. "Welcome
to the Middle class. Sendar, show Master Merchant Jerrwell out if you would."
"Yes Highness." Sendar said, bowing. Turning, he walked over to the
blubbering Baron, helped him to his feet and escorted him out the door.
"Oh that felt good." Ameila grinned.
******************
"Nicely played sir." Sendar said as he and the former Baron walked through
the halls of the Palace. "My apologies for the loss of your family's title."
"No need for all this 'sir' bisnuess Brother Sendar." Jerrwell said
expansivly. "We who are the Chosen are Brothers and Sisters under Ceiphed's
Holy Guidance. The loss of property is well worth it for the glory we are
about to accomplish."
"As you say Brother Jerrwell." Sendar replied with a smile.
"Yes. And what news from Brother Varis?"
"The arms arrived late last night. All will be ready by tonight."
"Then at Dawn we strike." Jerrwell proclaimed. "That foul witch and her
blasphemy shall be struck from the throne and imprisoned, the sorceress
Inverse and her Mazoku spawned brethren shall be burnt at the stake, and the
fool Gabreiv's so called Sword Of Light shall be exposed for the sham that it
is and Gabriev hanged."
"Praise be to Ceiphed." Sendar replied.
Part 12
There had been one slight modification to the group before they left. Several
of them, pointing out that they were simply administrators, had convinced
Ameila not to let them go. Ameila, too excited over the prospect of taking
Jerrwell down a notch, had agreed.
"And that's the deal." Zelgadis said. It was perhaps two hours past sunrise
and they were just entering the North Woods. "Understand?"
"I think so." Conrad replied. "My group and I stand or fall on our own. You
and the Knights are merely here to keep us from running off."
"Exactly." Zelgadis said. "Now then. The northern woods are a direct route
between here and the Gold mines in the artic. Recently, there's then been a
rise in the amount of ambushes by bandits and monsters. What you will be
doing over the next several days is patrolling the Queen's Highway between
Sailoon and the City of Redlum which cuts directly through the woods."
"In other words, pest control." Put in the young lady in green and white
armor who was riding next to Conrad.
"Never heard it put that way before." said one of Knights to another.
Zelgadis sighed. "I'm surrounded by Comedians."
It was midmorning before they encountered the first gang of bandits.
Actually, trainees might be a more apt term. They were all shabbily dressed
and their weapon handling was less then professional.
"I don't suppose I could persuade one of these Knights to drop an arrow into
their midst?" Conrad asked. Zelgadis shook his head. "Didn't think so. Damon?
If you would?"
"Soitenly." The one called Damon swung off his horse and approached the "bandi
ts".
"You can have one shot gentlemen." He called. They responded by firing an
arrow into his chest. "That's the one." Damon said as he pulled it out.
"Sheesh! Mom's gonna kill me. This was an expensive shirt!"
Zelgadis looked at Conrad, who was no longer there. In fact, all of the
young ladies in armor, and the orange skinned man were no longer on their
horses.
It was then that Damon did something very strange.
Yes, stranger then surviving an arrow in the chest. He placed his hands
together as though praying and bowed.
As he straightened, there was a flash of light and he was replaced by a seven
foot tall reptilian creature.
The bandits looked at each other, then turned and fled into the woods. The
creature turned, looked at Zelgadis and winked.
There was a bright flash of lightning and the sound of men screaming in fear.
Then there was only silence.
Conrad, followed by the ladies in armor, and the orange skinned man emerged
from the woods moments later.
"Now what?" He said with a smile. Zelgadis glared.
Part 13
The next morning, Ameila was awakened by someone knocking loudly at the door.
"Highness! Highness!" Shouted a male voice. "Highness! Please wake up!"
Grumbling, Ameila dragged herself out of bed and over to the door. Standing
in the hallway was a Seyrun Knight in chain mail. A Heavy mace was in his
hand and a cut made a straight line across his right cheek. "Highness!" He
gasped. "Praise be to N'thoth!"
"What is it?" Ameila demanded.
"All of Sailoon has gone mad Highness! The PMS chapter house was set on fire
and everyone within is being burnt at the stake! You must flee!"
"Give me two minutes." Ameila snapped, slamming the door.
When she opened it, she was dressed in a loose shirt, pants and military
boots. Her sword was belted at her side and she wore a hooded cloak. "Let's
go."
"Yes highness." Said the Knight. "Lady Inverse and Baron Gabriev have
established a fortified position near the stable entrance and the Seyrun
knights have secured the gates leading out towards the North gates. Horses
are waiting." Ameila nodded.
"We'll fall back to the Seyrun chapter house outside of town. At that point,
we can dig in and send a message to the Mother house at Daer."
"I think not Highness." Said Sendar. He and Cordelia stood in the hallway.
Both were dressed in mail coats and military style doublets, pants, and
boots. Each one had a sword at the waist.
Ameila's attention was focused however, on the crossbows they held.
Instinctively, she dropped into a fighting stance, her arms positioned so as
to best protect her belly.
"What's going on here Sendar?" She asked.
"You are being removed." Cordelia said, her eyes alight with fanaticism.
"Your child shall be raised in the glory of Ceiphed's holy light and lead us
forth in bringing His holy word to the world!"
"Praise be." Sendar added, his eyes also glowing with the same light.
"Run highness!" The knight said as he started forward at a run, the mace his
hand held high.
He was two steps away when he went down, twin crossbow bolts in his throat.
Sendar and Cordelia drew their swords and found a very angry Ameila, Flare
Arrow ready to go.
"You can't take us both down Ameila." Sendar all but purred. "We're too
close." Ameila's answering smile was cold.
"Maybe, maybe not." She said. "I've spent the past five years using the Flare
Arrow under combat conditions. I'm pretty fast with it. Maybe I can get it
off twice, before you reach me, maybe I can't." Unable to help herself,
Ameila finished with a famous question that haunted people for the past 20
years.
The question was from a play about a City Guardsman who used his crossbow to
solve too many problems.
"So I guess the real question is," Ameila said softly. "Is if you feel lucky?
Well? Do you?"
What they felt would never be known as at that moment, their chests exploded
in a spray of blood as twin bangs rang out. Standing in the hallway junction
behind them was the rest of the sorcerers and the one called Koume. She had a
metallic device in her hand and a thin stream of smoke came out of one end.
"Queen Ameila." Said the tall green haired woman. "We must flee."
"But--" The young Queen started.
"There is nothing we can do. Their souls were already lost when they
approached you." Amelia permitted herself a moment to grieve for her friends
and then put it out of her mind.
"There's an escape route down by the stable entrance." She said.
"Then that is where we will go."
When they arrived, Lina, Gourry and a group of Seyrun Knights had rigged a
small wall out of furniture and were using it as cover.
"Ameila!" Lina called. "You're safe!"
"I got lucky." Ameila said and turned to the nearest knight. "Status report!"
"We have secured the stables and the route leading to the North Gate out of
the city!" The Knight said. "A carrier pigeon has been sent to the Mother
house at Daer, notifying them of your arrival."
"Very good. Who's in charge?"
"Chapter house Governor Sir General Edmund Highness!" Ameila nodded. She had
known Edmund all her life.
"Where is he?"
"Outside in the stables highness!"
"Good. Inform him to prepare to leave and see to it that extra horses are
saddled for my friends.
"Yes Highness!" The knight shouted and ran out.
"I hate this." Ameila muttered. "Its too damn early in the morning for a
coup."
Part 14
It wasn't until they passed through Sailoon's North Gate that Lina relaxed
somewhat. There was no sign of pursuit though, and her instincts were
screaming caution because of it.
"Where are we going?" Gourry called.
"We're going to catch up to Zelgadis." Ameila yelled. "From there, we're
going to Daer, at which point, I intend to get my hands on a certain Mazoku
and wring some answers from him!"
"What makes you so sure he knows?"
"Oh he knows." Ameila growled. "He knows." Lina gulped. Ameila's expression
was one of pure fury and her dark blue eyes were dangerous.
It was midday when they caught up to Zelgadis near the village of Stone's
Roost, three leagues north of Sailoon.
"Mount up!" Ameila called, reining in her lathered horse. "We're going to
Daer!"
"But that's a weeks journey!" said one of the Knights.
"Then we'd better get started." said Zelgadis as he strode for his horse.
******************
That night. . .
"Now. Zelgadis said, setting aside his bowl. "Why are we going to Daer?"
Ameila quickly sketched in the events of the morning.
"But why not go to the chapterhouse?" One of the knights asked, ladling some
stew more into his bowl.
"Whatever's wrong in Sailoon, may have gotten to the chapterhouse. But Daer
is the kingdom's district headquarters for the PMS as well as the Motherhouse
for the Seyrun Knights." Ameila said, absently running her hands over her
belly as someone might give a light backrub. "Whatever happened in Sailoon,
answers, and a solution are in Daer."
******************
They rode hard, changing horses frequently and as often as they could,
covering up to thirty miles a day until one afternoon, they crested the hill
leading down into Daer.
Daer was a city of stone and glass, with tall towers and graceful bridges betw
een them. There was an almost ethereal quality to it and for the sorcerers,
it fairly reeked of magic.
Grimfaced, Ameila reined her horse in at the gates of Seyrun Motherhouse and
kicked at the heavy wood planks with one booted foot.
"Whaddya want?" Demanded the porter, an obvious novice for whom training had
not quite polished off the rough edges.
"I'm Ameila, Queen of Sailoon, here to see the Preceptor."
"Yeah, and I'm Lina Inverse." The porter replied then ducked as a fireball
impacted against the wood over his head.
"No, I'm Lina Inverse." Lina said softly. "And the Queen wants to see the
preceptor." The novice swallowed hard and opened the gate wide.
*******************
"I'm sorry your highness." Said the preceptor, a solidly built white haired
man in his seventies. "But no carrier pigeon has arrived from Sailoon."
"Which means it either got intercepted, or was never sent." Zelgadis said.
"Always with the optimism, hey Zel?" Lina said.
"Its time for some answers." Ameila said, pulling out a heavy dagger and then
ramming it into her thigh.