Disclaimer: I do not own Tenkuu no Escaflowne, or any of the characters, events, or objects therein, and this fanfiction is totally for non-profit enjoyment of myself and other fans of the series. No money is made from this writing, and as such, no money can be made by suing me. Maketto is my own character, albeit a minor one, and he belongs solely to me and anyone who asks to use him (though I can't think of why anyone would)
Author's Note: This story is a prequel to the series taking place approximately 5-6 years before the events of Tenkuu no Escaflowne (Gaea timeline). It is the first part of the first fanfic in the Cult of the Sky Dragon series, which deals primarily with Allen Schezar, Gaddes, and other supporting characters, so bear with me, Van and Hitomi fans! Expect everything here to lead into bigger and better stories to come. Also, for those who don't know, a costa is the Gaean equivalent to a meter or yard.
Escaflowne
Cult of the Sky Dragon
The Slaying Part One
A lone villager strode down the forest path, oblivious to the weight on his shoulders. A long pole rested across his back, and two water-filled buckets swung idly on its ends to the rhythm of his stride. He whistled a verse of a very old tune as he walked, enjoying the moment of solitude.
His gaze moved about as he walked, taking in the sights of the woods. Great trees which had stood since time began lined the path, and lesser forms of flora cluttered about their trunks. Birds sang cheerily from their perches, offering a counter melody to the villager's tune, and the skittering of small animals at his approach added further to the forest rhythm.
The villager briefly considered increasing his gait, as it seemed that he had been gone for quite some time, but he shrugged the notion off. It was not a crime for one to dawdle in the woods. As a point of fact, he was probably still making better time than some of the young people, who frequently snuck out to the woods to meet their lovers under the pretense of fetching water from the well. No, it was not a crime to dawdle, and he felt assured in his decision to prolong the pleasant journey for as long as possible.
As he continued on his journey home, another, unidentifiable noise caught his attention. He stopped in his tracks, tilting his head to the side to better pick up on the faint sound. It was a distant, beating sound, like some far off carpet being pounded clean of dust, only much louder.
The villager's brow furrowed, and he squinted his dark eyes in consternation. The beating sound was oddly familiar, though he was sure that he hadn't heard it before. He seemed to recall another man's description of it. He couldn't place it exactly, but he was confident that it would come to him in time. Frowning slightly, he resumed his walk.
The beating sound persisted, growing louder with each note, and soon overpowered the other sounds of the forest. With an eerie suddenness, the birds ceased their chirping. The villager made note of this, and a feeling of disconcertion grew within him. The drunken rambling of every soldier and vagabond he had ever heard played in his mind, especially those concerning the beasts of Gaea's far-flung corners. His mind was on the right track to identifying the sound, but he need not have troubled himself any further.
A black shadow overtook the forest, and the wind seemed to be gusting with the beats of the approaching sound. With horror, he realized the sound's identity just as it came down at him.
The Great trees which had stood since time began seemed to part their branches to allow a gigantic shape to descend. The villager's jaw went slack and his eyes widened to the size of tea saucers as he saw the gigantic wings flapping overhead, a deafening drum beat accompanying their rise and fall. The serpentine form hovered above him for a second, then craned its prodigious neck down to peer at him. The villager dropped the pole, sending the water buckets spilling onto the dirt path around him as he returned the creature's gaze.
The angular head of the Sky Dragon hung suspended from its neck little over two costa above the hapless man, its hot breath blowing his hair like a sinister breeze. It's snake-like, slitted red eyes squinted at him, studying him. The villager, firmly in the grip of shock, felt a warmth spreading in his pants as he noticed this.
Suddenly, the adrenaline flowing through his blood reached his legs, and a sudden impulse to flee like a frightened rabbit came over him. He turned, slipping in the mud-puddle he had inadvertently created by dropping the water seconds before. The Dragon tilted it's head to the side, a curiously dog-like motion that seemed utterly incongruous with the reptile. It calmly watched, beating its massive wings, as the villager scrambled up from the muck and ran down the path away from it.
Unfortunately for the panic-stricken villager, this triggered a hunting instinct in the dragon which compelled it to give chase. The man yelled at the top of his lungs as he pumped his legs, trying to reach his top speed at the first leg of the run in a vain effort to escape. As if in answer to his terrified outburst, the dragon roared, shaking the whole area to the core. The villager tried desperately to increase his pace as he heard the rhythmic beat of the monster's wings in hot pursuit. Hot air, carried over the costa between them by the creature's massive lungs, pressed his tunic to his back and evaporated the cold sweat running down his neck, an ever-present reminder of what the dragon's breath was famous for.
The Villager tried his best to keep ahead of the monster, and he made every effort his beleaguered brain could come up with to put large trees between him and the beast. He kept this up for several minutes, making a surprisingly good show for the dragon, which was, if anything. only amused by its prey's attempted escape.
Hope surged in the man's heart as he looked ahead, spying the end of the forest path and the beginning of the plain. Only a few more costa and he would be home free, within sight of the high walls of his village. What he failed to realize, however, was that once he was clear of the trees, there would be nothing standing between him and the predator on his tail.
He burst out of the tree-line, screaming at the top of his lungs and waving his arms like a mad-man. Sentries posted at the village gate were drawn to the sound, and saw immediately what the problem was. Both look-outs wore expressions similar to the villager's upon seeing the massive Sky Dragon gliding toward them. Of course, who wouldn't be considering the animal's size and reputation?
They sounded the alarm, a brass gong being struck by a hammer, spurring the local military to action. Footmen grabbed their swords and pikes as they rushed from the barracks, believing themselves ready to take on any threat. Ballistae crews scurried to their posts, loading their massive weapons and rolling them up ramps to the firing platforms on the inner walls of the village. The troops, no matter how confident they were in their own abilities, experienced a wave of fear as they too saw the threat.
The villager was about five costa away from the gate, almost to safety. If he was lucky, he would reach it in mere seconds. Unfortunately for him, today wasn't his lucky day.
The Sky Dragon had grown tired of chasing the pathetic man, and was ready to dispose of him. It reared back its long neck, the glistening white scales shining in the sun like a iridescent serpent about to strike. With a snap of its powerful neck muscles, the head struck forward and down at the man, not unlike the aforementioned snake, but it did not need to bite him. A reddish glow had accumulated in two grey sacs on its underbelly, and now that glow manifested itself as a brilliant flame being expelled from the beast's toothy maw.
The villager screamed one last time as his clothes were set afire, and he fell to the dirt. As the flesh melted away from his body, he thought morbidly that he had been wrong to dawdle in the woods. However, this realization, like most, was far too late in coming.
The soldiers witnessed the poor citizen's demise, and shared looks of horror at the sight. They were all thinking the same thing: "How do we fight something like that?"
Their fears were only slightly allayed by an echoing footstep approaching them from behind. Captain Ezeem, their commander, had come to the front lines, "wearing" a navy blue melef armor suit. The melef was a three costa tall, mechanized armor suit, which was controlled via the pilots movement of mechanisms inside, including an intricate system of pulleys and primitive hydraulics. The pilot's hands and feet rested in the elbow and knee joints respectively, thus increasing his own personal mass and armor while allowing the melef to move in a more human fashion. It was an ingenious marvel of technology, made possible only by the use of Energists, the very same things which allowed their bestial foe to use its breath weapon.
"Load ballistae!" The Captain ordered, raising his melef's right arm and gesturing toward the dragon with the sword it held.
The crews complied, pulling back the band of the giant bow and pushing a two costa long pole tipped with a wicked, metal arrowhead into the firing slot. Five soldiers pushed each wheel-mounted weapon into position, and readied them to fire on the approaching dragon. They watched intently as the white reptile gracefully flew toward them, seemingly more curious than threatening.
As it came into range, the Captain bellowed "FIRE!" In accordance, the ballistae were fired, hurling three giant arrows at the creature. One missed completely, having been hastily aimed, while the other two were narrowly avoided by the agile sky dragon.
No longer curious, the angry dragon sped up, charging the village like an opponent. It let out a piercing shriek that forced the soldiers to duck and cover their ears as it zoomed over the outer wall just above their heads. The furious beast doubled back, swooping down at the terrified men, an eerie red glow emanating from its chest. The dragon's fiery breath poured forth, sweeping the ballistae firing platform. The formidable weaponry erupted like so much kindling, taking the firing crews with it. One man, a new recruit, had only his clothes set aflame, but in his panic, he took a dive from the platform, meeting his end on the ground below.
The dragon however, was not finished. Taking another pass, it fired at the assembled troops, scattering or incinerating the helpless defenders. As the camp fell into a crazed frenzy Captain Ezeem stepped forward with his melef's sword at the ready, confident that his armor would protect him from his foe's breath. "Come on, you Accursed Snake!" he shouted in challenge. "Come down and fight like a man!"
The dragon, understanding the intent if not the words, rushed down at the melef. It lunged at the melef's face plate, snapping its fang-lined jaws close enough to the pilot's face to send him stumbling back. As he swung the sword-arm up, he found that the dragon was far more intelligent than he had given it credit for. Twisting to the side, it avoided the strike, and then reached out with its own limbs to grasp onto the arm. With a beat of its wings, the dragon made for the sky.
Unfortunately, the melef was too heavy to lift, and the stress of the weight ripped the arm off in the reptile's grip. More is the pity, it took Captain Ezeem's arm with it. As the commander screamed in agony, he lost control of the melef, sending it crashing to the dirt. The force of impact knocked the recent amputee out cold, leaving him to bleed to death slowly on the battlefield.
The ballistae, troops, and melef attended to, the spiteful dragon began to burn the village, sending dozens of innocent women and children scurrying for their lives. Flames crackled and burned, babies cried out, and the stench of blood and smoke overwhelmed the village. In moments, the peaceful border village had been reduced to cinders. Satisfied with the destruction, the sky dragon roared in triumph before taking to the skies and flying off to the mountains in the west.
* * *
Maketto stood outside the massive blue and white doors that lead into the throneroom, breathing deeply in an effort to calm himself. He had a message to deliver to King Aston, and he did not intend to be a nervous wreck when he did so. He brushed a hand over his tunic's front, hoping that he had nothing stuck to the blue fabric which would ruin his appearance. First impressions were everything, and never more so than when speaking to the King of one's country.
He straightened his collar, pulled down on the hem of his tunic, and strode toward the massive doors with a front of confidence. A pair of blue-and-white uniformed guards opened the doors for him, giving him entrance to the royal chamber.
The throneroom was over a hundred costa long, with high, vaulted ceilings supported by white columns. Royal blue banners and decorations hung from the walls and columns, keeping with the traditional Asturian color scheme. At the far end of the chamber there was a dais upon which the throne rested, and the King sat slouching slightly in it. The court members stood riveted in Maketto's direction, looking at him from the shadowed areas between the columns.
A cold sweat ran down his back, making Maketto feel even more uncomfortable in the blue formal garb. With a practiced, automatic gait, he strode to within a short distance from the dais, and then reverently sank to his knees and bowed his head.
After a moment, King Aston, an aging man with a massive belly and small brown mustachios, acknowledged him. "Maketto de Gare, what news do you bring?"
"Bad news, your majesty" Maketto stated, glad for once that he did not have the right to look directly at the king at this distance. "I must report to you that the village of Sayta on the Fanelian border has been destroyed."
King Aston sat up straighter in surprise. "How could this happen?"
Maketto cleared his throat. "Reports say that a Sky Dragon attacked, flying over the outer wall and burning the city from the air. When military units responded to the threat, they too were set upon and killed. Even the local commander and his melef were destroyed in short order."
Aston's eyes widened as he settled back in his throne. A murmur of surprised
chatter worked through the court, as the shocked nobles expressed their take on the report. "Maketto de Gare, are you quite sure that this is the case?"
"Yes, sire." Maketto affirmed. "All of the survivors testify that this was the case."
"Has anyone determined the whereabouts of this Sky Dragon's lair?" The country's ruler asked.
"No, your majesty. However, we assume that it is somewhere in the mountains on the Fanelian side of the border." The messenger replied, staring down at the indigo carpet and wishing that it were someone else who had to deliver the message.
"Milord!" Meiden Fassa, the king's most trusted advisor stepped forward from the crowd of nobles to address him. "We cannot allow this creature to continue living. I humbly suggest that we take immediate measures to eliminate it."
"And what would you suggest?" Aston's eyebrow arched in askance. "This dragon is said to have appeared out of nowhere and slaughtered an entire battalion of our troops, including a melef, in mere moments. I find it unlikely that another such effort would prevail."
Meiden seemed unfazed by this. "I understand, milord, but I would like to point out to his majesty that there were no guymelefs present. A lone melef is not nearly a match for such a creature, but several guymelefs would be more than adequate to deal with it."
Aston repositioned his bulk in order to face his counsel. "Guymelefs are not common in Asturia. I must ask where you would find even one, let alone a man brave enough to pilot it against such a formidable foe."
The advisor's lips curved into a smug grin. "I happen to have my own Guymelef at the ready. It is only the pilot that I require. If sufficient reward were offered, many would jump at the opportunity."
Aston snorted. "You are referring to bounty hunters?"
Meiden pursed his lips. "No, I doubt that they have the skill. However...I believe that there is currently a position open in the Knights Caeli. Perhaps if we were to offer that position to the knight who slays the beast, it would inspire the finest in our military to step forward."
The King pondered this for a moment. "A wise judgement, Meiden. I shall take your suggestion into consideration. For the time being, I suggest that we shelve the matter." Returning his attention to Maketto, who was still gazing intently at the indigo carpet, he gestured with his hand for him to leave.
It took a second for the messenger to realize that he had been dismissed, but he stood reverently, and turning smartly on his heel, he strode out of the throneroom. Happy to have survived the experience of delivering such bad news to the king, he left the room in bad need of a soothing glass of vinor.
* * *
Maketto entered the Garusan Restaurant and Tavern with frayed nerves ready for a dose of soothing alcohol. He made his way through the tables filled with dining or drinking patrons to the bar, and choosing a stool, sat down. He gestured to the barkeep, who promptly came over to the messenger. "What can I get for you, sir?"
"A glass of your best vinor" Maketto ordered.
"Right away." the barkeep complied, going into the back room to find the appropriate bottle.
As he waited, Maketto took in the other customers with mild curiosity. An elderly man and woman sat at one table, dining on roast rabbit. A trio of young men sat at another table, eyeing the waitresses approvingly, and getting drunk off cheap booze they had doubtlessly bought with whatever little cash they had left after the work week. Most prominent though, were the four soldiers who occupied the far corner.
One of them was a giant, over two costa tall and almost as broad as a potato barrel. Another was a tiny, scrawny weakling who wore a red bandana around his head. A third was a lanky, bald man with a scar down his pate. The fourth, apparently the leader of the group was a muscular fellow of about average height with coal black hair. Together, they were a motley crew, but they somehow seemed to have a certain similarity about them.
He watched as the bandana wearer carefully aimed a dart at a target on the wall about ten feet away. One eye closed, and his tongue sticking out the side, he appeared rather odd. Finally, he released the dart, which shot across the distance and hit the edge of the bull's-eye. "Hah!" he small man laughed in triumph. "Try and beat that one, Ort!"
The bald man with the scar stepped forward, pulling a small dagger from his belt. With a flick of his wrist, he threw the knife at the board, striking exactly at the center of the bull's-eye. "Done" Ort said smugly as he sat back down to his beer.
The bandana wearer stared accusingly at the knife embedded in the dart board. "You can't do that! The game's called darts for a reason, Ort! No fair throwing knives!"
"Calm down, Reeden." the muscular one with the black hair warned. "If Ort had used a dart, he still would have beaten you."
"But Gaddes!" Reeden protested childishly.
"You lost, pal. Plain and simple." Gaddes stated. "No use getting worked up over it."
"Yeah, Reeden." The giant added. "Go get yourself a drink and calm down, eh?"
The scrawny man sighed miserably. "Okay...fine."
As he walked to the bar, he heard the giant call out. "And hey! See if your ma's got any of that pie left!"
"Ask her yourself, Kio, you overgrown ape!" Reeden shouted back.
"Ape?!" Kio repeated indignantly, rising from his seat. "You insulting me, little man?"
Gaddes sighed, gazing into his stein for answers before intervening. "Would you bums quit picking on one another?!" he shouted. "I've seen more maturity in cat-children!"
"No one ever said Reeden or Kio was mature." A feminine voice stated. The men looked up to see Mrs. Garusan, Reeden's mother and owner of the Tavern, carrying a tray topped with a piece of pie and a flask of beer. "Don't be so hard on the boys, Gaddes."
Gaddes flushed at the sight of the plump little woman. "Uh...sorry ma'am."
"It's all right." She stated as she placed the pie plate before Kio, who immediately dug in. "I know how annoying Reeden can be, I raised him, remember?"
"Mah-am!" Reeden wailed like an embarrassed teenager.
Mrs. Garusan smiled at her son wanly as she handed her son a beer. "Just kidding, dear."
"Oh...fine." The little man put aside his complaints, taking a sip of the beer as his mother returned to the back of the restaurant.
Maketto chuckled to himself, finding the scene to be rather humorous after the day he had been having. He picked up his glass of vinor, sipping the pink liquor slowly, as was the only way to drink it. After the audience with the king, he had been hard pressed to keep his nerves, and even harder to keep the message to himself. Technically, all messages for the king were never to be repeated or spoken of to anyone else, that was the cardinal rule of messenger-hood. However, the news of the Sky Dragon attack was too important to keep secret. Especially since the nobles would have doubtlessly spread the news to others outside the court by now.
With a mental shrug, the messenger decided to join the soldiers and tell them about it. After all, hadn't Meiden wanted a pilot to come forward? How could one hope to do that if none of the willing men knew of the opportunity? Assured that he would be doing no harm, he walked over to the table with a bit of confidence.
"Would you gentlemen mind if I joined you?" the messenger asked, a little too polite considering the nature of the "gentlemen" in question.
The four looked up at him with strange expressions. "Uh...sure." Gaddes replied. "Pull up a chair."
He complied, lifting a chair from the next table over and sitting it between Gaddes and Reeden. "Thanks. By the way, I'm Maketto."
The four nodded and introduced themselves in return. "What brings you to our little corner of the Tavern?" Reeden asked.
"Well..." Maketto began slowly. "I have heard some news that I thought you four might be interested in hearing."
"What kinda news?" Gaddes asked, raising a coal-black eyebrow.
"You ever heard of a village called Sayta? It's on the Fanelian border."
The four shook their heads.
Maketto sighed. "I thought as much. Oh well, it doesn't matter. At any rate...several days ago, that village was destroyed...and you'll never guess by what!"
"You're right, what did it?" Kio urged him to continue.
"A Sky Dragon." Maketto stated, smiling at the expressions on the soldiers' faces.
"A Sky Dragon?! But those things are peaceful, aren't they?" Reeden asked.
"Yeah, that's what I heard. Why would it attack a village?" Kio added.
Maketto played it cool, enjoying the attention. It was not often that a lowly messenger was the center of attention. "I can' t really say why, but I can tell you that the thing killed a whole battalion of footsoldiers, set fire to three ballistae, and ripped the arm off a melef and its pilot before flaming the village itself."
"That's horrible!" Kio observed.
"True."
"What's being done about it?" Gaddes demanded, his expression noticeably darkened.
"Well..." Maketto once again began in a way meant to generate interest. "The King hasn't decided yet. But, I hear that Meiden has a guymelef ready to slay the thing, he just needs a pilot."
"It'd have to be someone brave, strong, and smart enough to deal with the thing." Reeden noted. "That, or some one big, dumb and stupid enough. Hey! Kio, why don't you do it!"
"Hey!" Kio said indignantly.
"What, you chicken?" The smaller man snickered.
"Nah...I just don't wanna fight a dragon is all. I'd rather beat a human opponent." The giant said in his defense.
"Well then..." Reeden thought. "If Kio won't do it...and since Ort and I are too small to pilot a melef...what about you, Gaddes?"
Gaddes nearly spit out his beer. "Me?"
"Sure!" the little man smiled. "You're one of the best swordsmen I know, I'm sure you're more than a match for any dumb flying lizard, especially if you've got a big guymelef to work with!"
"I dunno...The thing's already killed so many others...I don't think I'm qualified." Gaddes replied with a mix of modesty and reluctance.
"I think you'd do well too." Kio added. "And It's rare that Reeden and I agree on anything!"
Maketto grinned as he watched Gaddes squirm under the glare of his subordinates. "That's two votes of confidence. Ort, what about you?"
The bald man stared at the light reflecting off his dagger with a disinterested look. "Why not?"
"That's three." Maketto grinned smugly.
"Well..." Gaddes borrowed the messenger's technique. "I suppose I could apply for the job...I mean...I doubt that I'd be the only person qualified. Hey...was there a reward attached to this thing?"
Maketto's smile broadened. "Yes...I believe so. Word has it that whoever slays the Sky Dragon will be promoted to fill in the empty spot in the Knights Caeli."
Kio whistled in surprise. "That's one heck of a reward."
"Indeed. So, what do you say Gaddes, you willing to take the risk for such a boost in rank?" The messenger and all three other soldiers watched him intently.
Gaddes sighed, weighing his options. Downing the last bit of beer from his stein, he struck it down on the table to punctuate his answer. "Sure. Why the hell not?
* * *
Marlene Aston, eldest of Asturia's princesses, sat at her vanity, combing her long blonde hair with a pearl-incrusted brush. She closed her eyes, enjoying the moment of calm. The court had been wild with rumors regarding the Sky Dragon attack, and many of them had reached her. So many stories of death and destruction wrought by what was normally considered a peaceful animal disturbed the young princess, and she was glad to at last be away from the talk of it.
The silent moment was broken by a soft, gentle sound from outside of her room. She opened her eyes, put the brush down on the vanity's white lacquered surface, and stood to investigate. Her long legs carried her elegant form to the doors leading from her room to the veranda, where she believed the sound was coming from. Pushing aside the white-lace and pink silk of the curtains, she peered into the twilight outside.
Sitting on the veranda's railing was a white owl, hooting in a gentle, soothing tone. She smiled at the sight. The presence of this bird indicated that its owner could not be far off. Unlocking the doors, she stepped onto the veranda. "Good evening, Natal" she addressed the white bird in a sweet voice. "Where is your master hm?"
The owl tilted its head at her, its large yellow eyes gazing at her thoughtfully. With a suddenness, the bird raised its wings and dived from the railing, gliding to the ground two stories below. Marlene went to the veranda's edge, and watched as the owl landed on the outstretched right arm of an elegantly dressed young man of about sixteen.
Marlene's smile widened as her eyes met her beloved's from across the distance. "Allen Schezar!" She spoke his name with adoration. "What brings you and your pet to me at this hour?"
Allen returned her azure gaze with his own, his long blond hair cascading to the shoulders of his blue formal wear. A sheathed sword was clipped to his belt, an ever-present reminder to all of his fighting prowess and position among the Asturian Knights. With a soft, yet strong voice he answered his love's inquiry. "I heard stories circulating that dealt with rather depressing matters, and thought that you might have as well. I am merely here to see if these stories have had a negative effect on your mood, milady."
Her smile stayed firmly in place. "Allen, you're so sweet. I'm flattered by your concern, but I must say that it is out of place."
He inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Indeed, but it has not hurt anything."
"Would you like to come up?" she asked from above. "I could have Eries go let you in through the back door."
His handsome face was graced with a slight smirk. "I don't believe your father would much appreciate my presence in your bedchambers. You are, after all, betrothed to the Duke of Freid."
"Do not remind me." she replied with a twinge of sadness. "However, I must point out that I am not yet married."
Schezar raised a blond eyebrow in interest. "Perhaps later, Marlene. I have something else I must discuss with you."
"What, love?" she inquired, leaning over the veranda railing.
"I have heard that your father has decreed that the person who slays the Sky Dragon will become a Caeli Knight. Is this true?"
"Not that I know of." She answered, somewhat perturbed that her par amour had brought up the creature again. "You aren't thinking of trying to slay the beast?" she added with concern.
"I might be willing." Allen replied.
"But why?" she asked, her voice pleading. "Why risk your life for a promotion?"
"Marlene...as a Knight Caeli I would have more influence in the court. Perhaps, if I can accomplish this, your father might understand our love."
Marlene shook her head in dismay. "But...Allen...what if you fail? What if the dragon...."
"Kills me?" He finished for her. "I don't think that will happen. Besides, death would be preferable to living without you."
She didn't know whether to be mortified or complimented by this. A cold revulsion spread through her at the thought of losing her beloved knight. "Allen...please reconsider."
He shook his head, golden locks reflecting the pale moonlight. "Marlene...I need you to stand by me in this...to help me. I have heard that Meiden Fassa has a guymelef that could be a match for the dragon with the right pilot, and I believe that I am that pilot. However, I am not in a position to jockey for favor in his decision. Could you please direct him to me?"
The revulsion hardened into fear. "No...Allen...I can't do that!"
"Marlene...please!" Allen's blue eyes were full of determination. "I can't do this without your help. Please, just mention it to him."
"Allen..." she trailed off as she met his gaze. The blue orbs, two of fear and two of determination were locked together across the distance, silently conflicting between the young lovers. Finally, one gave. "Alright...I'll do as you ask, Allen."
"Thank you, Marlene." The knight's expression softened. "I should go now."
As he turned to leave, she shouted after him. "Allen...wait..."
He turned to gaze at her once more. "What is it, Marlene?"
"If you do this, if you fight the dragon and lose...I'll never see you again." She almost cried.
His eyes held a mix of compassion and wisdom. "I won't die Marlene, I promise."
"That's not good enough!" She stated.
"What would be enough Marlene?" The knight asked.
"Stay with me. For tonight. Just one night before I am sent to Freid."
Allen was taken aback by his love's forwardness. "Marlene...that would violate my code of ethics...to be with you before we are married..."
Tears flowed down her cheeks as she heard his words. "Which is more important to you, Allen Schezar? You code of ethics, or your love for me?"
Allen considered this for a moment. The two most important things in his life were in opposition in this, and it was not an easy choice. On one hand was the way he wanted to lead his life, and on the other was the woman he wanted to spend that life with. Both were equally important weren't they? Was it worth it to sacrifice one to keep the other? Finally, he reached his decision. "Have Eries meet me at the back door."
Her heart jumped at his reply. Allen had chosen her over his code. She had not expected this from the noble knight, but now, as she watched him make his way to the back of the palace, she realized that despite his noble front, Allen Crusade Schezar was just a mortal man.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
So, what do you think? Is this a good start for an ongoing series? Please review! I need to know if people are interested in this series before I bother to continue it!
Author's Note: This story is a prequel to the series taking place approximately 5-6 years before the events of Tenkuu no Escaflowne (Gaea timeline). It is the first part of the first fanfic in the Cult of the Sky Dragon series, which deals primarily with Allen Schezar, Gaddes, and other supporting characters, so bear with me, Van and Hitomi fans! Expect everything here to lead into bigger and better stories to come. Also, for those who don't know, a costa is the Gaean equivalent to a meter or yard.
Escaflowne
Cult of the Sky Dragon
The Slaying Part One
A lone villager strode down the forest path, oblivious to the weight on his shoulders. A long pole rested across his back, and two water-filled buckets swung idly on its ends to the rhythm of his stride. He whistled a verse of a very old tune as he walked, enjoying the moment of solitude.
His gaze moved about as he walked, taking in the sights of the woods. Great trees which had stood since time began lined the path, and lesser forms of flora cluttered about their trunks. Birds sang cheerily from their perches, offering a counter melody to the villager's tune, and the skittering of small animals at his approach added further to the forest rhythm.
The villager briefly considered increasing his gait, as it seemed that he had been gone for quite some time, but he shrugged the notion off. It was not a crime for one to dawdle in the woods. As a point of fact, he was probably still making better time than some of the young people, who frequently snuck out to the woods to meet their lovers under the pretense of fetching water from the well. No, it was not a crime to dawdle, and he felt assured in his decision to prolong the pleasant journey for as long as possible.
As he continued on his journey home, another, unidentifiable noise caught his attention. He stopped in his tracks, tilting his head to the side to better pick up on the faint sound. It was a distant, beating sound, like some far off carpet being pounded clean of dust, only much louder.
The villager's brow furrowed, and he squinted his dark eyes in consternation. The beating sound was oddly familiar, though he was sure that he hadn't heard it before. He seemed to recall another man's description of it. He couldn't place it exactly, but he was confident that it would come to him in time. Frowning slightly, he resumed his walk.
The beating sound persisted, growing louder with each note, and soon overpowered the other sounds of the forest. With an eerie suddenness, the birds ceased their chirping. The villager made note of this, and a feeling of disconcertion grew within him. The drunken rambling of every soldier and vagabond he had ever heard played in his mind, especially those concerning the beasts of Gaea's far-flung corners. His mind was on the right track to identifying the sound, but he need not have troubled himself any further.
A black shadow overtook the forest, and the wind seemed to be gusting with the beats of the approaching sound. With horror, he realized the sound's identity just as it came down at him.
The Great trees which had stood since time began seemed to part their branches to allow a gigantic shape to descend. The villager's jaw went slack and his eyes widened to the size of tea saucers as he saw the gigantic wings flapping overhead, a deafening drum beat accompanying their rise and fall. The serpentine form hovered above him for a second, then craned its prodigious neck down to peer at him. The villager dropped the pole, sending the water buckets spilling onto the dirt path around him as he returned the creature's gaze.
The angular head of the Sky Dragon hung suspended from its neck little over two costa above the hapless man, its hot breath blowing his hair like a sinister breeze. It's snake-like, slitted red eyes squinted at him, studying him. The villager, firmly in the grip of shock, felt a warmth spreading in his pants as he noticed this.
Suddenly, the adrenaline flowing through his blood reached his legs, and a sudden impulse to flee like a frightened rabbit came over him. He turned, slipping in the mud-puddle he had inadvertently created by dropping the water seconds before. The Dragon tilted it's head to the side, a curiously dog-like motion that seemed utterly incongruous with the reptile. It calmly watched, beating its massive wings, as the villager scrambled up from the muck and ran down the path away from it.
Unfortunately for the panic-stricken villager, this triggered a hunting instinct in the dragon which compelled it to give chase. The man yelled at the top of his lungs as he pumped his legs, trying to reach his top speed at the first leg of the run in a vain effort to escape. As if in answer to his terrified outburst, the dragon roared, shaking the whole area to the core. The villager tried desperately to increase his pace as he heard the rhythmic beat of the monster's wings in hot pursuit. Hot air, carried over the costa between them by the creature's massive lungs, pressed his tunic to his back and evaporated the cold sweat running down his neck, an ever-present reminder of what the dragon's breath was famous for.
The Villager tried his best to keep ahead of the monster, and he made every effort his beleaguered brain could come up with to put large trees between him and the beast. He kept this up for several minutes, making a surprisingly good show for the dragon, which was, if anything. only amused by its prey's attempted escape.
Hope surged in the man's heart as he looked ahead, spying the end of the forest path and the beginning of the plain. Only a few more costa and he would be home free, within sight of the high walls of his village. What he failed to realize, however, was that once he was clear of the trees, there would be nothing standing between him and the predator on his tail.
He burst out of the tree-line, screaming at the top of his lungs and waving his arms like a mad-man. Sentries posted at the village gate were drawn to the sound, and saw immediately what the problem was. Both look-outs wore expressions similar to the villager's upon seeing the massive Sky Dragon gliding toward them. Of course, who wouldn't be considering the animal's size and reputation?
They sounded the alarm, a brass gong being struck by a hammer, spurring the local military to action. Footmen grabbed their swords and pikes as they rushed from the barracks, believing themselves ready to take on any threat. Ballistae crews scurried to their posts, loading their massive weapons and rolling them up ramps to the firing platforms on the inner walls of the village. The troops, no matter how confident they were in their own abilities, experienced a wave of fear as they too saw the threat.
The villager was about five costa away from the gate, almost to safety. If he was lucky, he would reach it in mere seconds. Unfortunately for him, today wasn't his lucky day.
The Sky Dragon had grown tired of chasing the pathetic man, and was ready to dispose of him. It reared back its long neck, the glistening white scales shining in the sun like a iridescent serpent about to strike. With a snap of its powerful neck muscles, the head struck forward and down at the man, not unlike the aforementioned snake, but it did not need to bite him. A reddish glow had accumulated in two grey sacs on its underbelly, and now that glow manifested itself as a brilliant flame being expelled from the beast's toothy maw.
The villager screamed one last time as his clothes were set afire, and he fell to the dirt. As the flesh melted away from his body, he thought morbidly that he had been wrong to dawdle in the woods. However, this realization, like most, was far too late in coming.
The soldiers witnessed the poor citizen's demise, and shared looks of horror at the sight. They were all thinking the same thing: "How do we fight something like that?"
Their fears were only slightly allayed by an echoing footstep approaching them from behind. Captain Ezeem, their commander, had come to the front lines, "wearing" a navy blue melef armor suit. The melef was a three costa tall, mechanized armor suit, which was controlled via the pilots movement of mechanisms inside, including an intricate system of pulleys and primitive hydraulics. The pilot's hands and feet rested in the elbow and knee joints respectively, thus increasing his own personal mass and armor while allowing the melef to move in a more human fashion. It was an ingenious marvel of technology, made possible only by the use of Energists, the very same things which allowed their bestial foe to use its breath weapon.
"Load ballistae!" The Captain ordered, raising his melef's right arm and gesturing toward the dragon with the sword it held.
The crews complied, pulling back the band of the giant bow and pushing a two costa long pole tipped with a wicked, metal arrowhead into the firing slot. Five soldiers pushed each wheel-mounted weapon into position, and readied them to fire on the approaching dragon. They watched intently as the white reptile gracefully flew toward them, seemingly more curious than threatening.
As it came into range, the Captain bellowed "FIRE!" In accordance, the ballistae were fired, hurling three giant arrows at the creature. One missed completely, having been hastily aimed, while the other two were narrowly avoided by the agile sky dragon.
No longer curious, the angry dragon sped up, charging the village like an opponent. It let out a piercing shriek that forced the soldiers to duck and cover their ears as it zoomed over the outer wall just above their heads. The furious beast doubled back, swooping down at the terrified men, an eerie red glow emanating from its chest. The dragon's fiery breath poured forth, sweeping the ballistae firing platform. The formidable weaponry erupted like so much kindling, taking the firing crews with it. One man, a new recruit, had only his clothes set aflame, but in his panic, he took a dive from the platform, meeting his end on the ground below.
The dragon however, was not finished. Taking another pass, it fired at the assembled troops, scattering or incinerating the helpless defenders. As the camp fell into a crazed frenzy Captain Ezeem stepped forward with his melef's sword at the ready, confident that his armor would protect him from his foe's breath. "Come on, you Accursed Snake!" he shouted in challenge. "Come down and fight like a man!"
The dragon, understanding the intent if not the words, rushed down at the melef. It lunged at the melef's face plate, snapping its fang-lined jaws close enough to the pilot's face to send him stumbling back. As he swung the sword-arm up, he found that the dragon was far more intelligent than he had given it credit for. Twisting to the side, it avoided the strike, and then reached out with its own limbs to grasp onto the arm. With a beat of its wings, the dragon made for the sky.
Unfortunately, the melef was too heavy to lift, and the stress of the weight ripped the arm off in the reptile's grip. More is the pity, it took Captain Ezeem's arm with it. As the commander screamed in agony, he lost control of the melef, sending it crashing to the dirt. The force of impact knocked the recent amputee out cold, leaving him to bleed to death slowly on the battlefield.
The ballistae, troops, and melef attended to, the spiteful dragon began to burn the village, sending dozens of innocent women and children scurrying for their lives. Flames crackled and burned, babies cried out, and the stench of blood and smoke overwhelmed the village. In moments, the peaceful border village had been reduced to cinders. Satisfied with the destruction, the sky dragon roared in triumph before taking to the skies and flying off to the mountains in the west.
* * *
Maketto stood outside the massive blue and white doors that lead into the throneroom, breathing deeply in an effort to calm himself. He had a message to deliver to King Aston, and he did not intend to be a nervous wreck when he did so. He brushed a hand over his tunic's front, hoping that he had nothing stuck to the blue fabric which would ruin his appearance. First impressions were everything, and never more so than when speaking to the King of one's country.
He straightened his collar, pulled down on the hem of his tunic, and strode toward the massive doors with a front of confidence. A pair of blue-and-white uniformed guards opened the doors for him, giving him entrance to the royal chamber.
The throneroom was over a hundred costa long, with high, vaulted ceilings supported by white columns. Royal blue banners and decorations hung from the walls and columns, keeping with the traditional Asturian color scheme. At the far end of the chamber there was a dais upon which the throne rested, and the King sat slouching slightly in it. The court members stood riveted in Maketto's direction, looking at him from the shadowed areas between the columns.
A cold sweat ran down his back, making Maketto feel even more uncomfortable in the blue formal garb. With a practiced, automatic gait, he strode to within a short distance from the dais, and then reverently sank to his knees and bowed his head.
After a moment, King Aston, an aging man with a massive belly and small brown mustachios, acknowledged him. "Maketto de Gare, what news do you bring?"
"Bad news, your majesty" Maketto stated, glad for once that he did not have the right to look directly at the king at this distance. "I must report to you that the village of Sayta on the Fanelian border has been destroyed."
King Aston sat up straighter in surprise. "How could this happen?"
Maketto cleared his throat. "Reports say that a Sky Dragon attacked, flying over the outer wall and burning the city from the air. When military units responded to the threat, they too were set upon and killed. Even the local commander and his melef were destroyed in short order."
Aston's eyes widened as he settled back in his throne. A murmur of surprised
chatter worked through the court, as the shocked nobles expressed their take on the report. "Maketto de Gare, are you quite sure that this is the case?"
"Yes, sire." Maketto affirmed. "All of the survivors testify that this was the case."
"Has anyone determined the whereabouts of this Sky Dragon's lair?" The country's ruler asked.
"No, your majesty. However, we assume that it is somewhere in the mountains on the Fanelian side of the border." The messenger replied, staring down at the indigo carpet and wishing that it were someone else who had to deliver the message.
"Milord!" Meiden Fassa, the king's most trusted advisor stepped forward from the crowd of nobles to address him. "We cannot allow this creature to continue living. I humbly suggest that we take immediate measures to eliminate it."
"And what would you suggest?" Aston's eyebrow arched in askance. "This dragon is said to have appeared out of nowhere and slaughtered an entire battalion of our troops, including a melef, in mere moments. I find it unlikely that another such effort would prevail."
Meiden seemed unfazed by this. "I understand, milord, but I would like to point out to his majesty that there were no guymelefs present. A lone melef is not nearly a match for such a creature, but several guymelefs would be more than adequate to deal with it."
Aston repositioned his bulk in order to face his counsel. "Guymelefs are not common in Asturia. I must ask where you would find even one, let alone a man brave enough to pilot it against such a formidable foe."
The advisor's lips curved into a smug grin. "I happen to have my own Guymelef at the ready. It is only the pilot that I require. If sufficient reward were offered, many would jump at the opportunity."
Aston snorted. "You are referring to bounty hunters?"
Meiden pursed his lips. "No, I doubt that they have the skill. However...I believe that there is currently a position open in the Knights Caeli. Perhaps if we were to offer that position to the knight who slays the beast, it would inspire the finest in our military to step forward."
The King pondered this for a moment. "A wise judgement, Meiden. I shall take your suggestion into consideration. For the time being, I suggest that we shelve the matter." Returning his attention to Maketto, who was still gazing intently at the indigo carpet, he gestured with his hand for him to leave.
It took a second for the messenger to realize that he had been dismissed, but he stood reverently, and turning smartly on his heel, he strode out of the throneroom. Happy to have survived the experience of delivering such bad news to the king, he left the room in bad need of a soothing glass of vinor.
* * *
Maketto entered the Garusan Restaurant and Tavern with frayed nerves ready for a dose of soothing alcohol. He made his way through the tables filled with dining or drinking patrons to the bar, and choosing a stool, sat down. He gestured to the barkeep, who promptly came over to the messenger. "What can I get for you, sir?"
"A glass of your best vinor" Maketto ordered.
"Right away." the barkeep complied, going into the back room to find the appropriate bottle.
As he waited, Maketto took in the other customers with mild curiosity. An elderly man and woman sat at one table, dining on roast rabbit. A trio of young men sat at another table, eyeing the waitresses approvingly, and getting drunk off cheap booze they had doubtlessly bought with whatever little cash they had left after the work week. Most prominent though, were the four soldiers who occupied the far corner.
One of them was a giant, over two costa tall and almost as broad as a potato barrel. Another was a tiny, scrawny weakling who wore a red bandana around his head. A third was a lanky, bald man with a scar down his pate. The fourth, apparently the leader of the group was a muscular fellow of about average height with coal black hair. Together, they were a motley crew, but they somehow seemed to have a certain similarity about them.
He watched as the bandana wearer carefully aimed a dart at a target on the wall about ten feet away. One eye closed, and his tongue sticking out the side, he appeared rather odd. Finally, he released the dart, which shot across the distance and hit the edge of the bull's-eye. "Hah!" he small man laughed in triumph. "Try and beat that one, Ort!"
The bald man with the scar stepped forward, pulling a small dagger from his belt. With a flick of his wrist, he threw the knife at the board, striking exactly at the center of the bull's-eye. "Done" Ort said smugly as he sat back down to his beer.
The bandana wearer stared accusingly at the knife embedded in the dart board. "You can't do that! The game's called darts for a reason, Ort! No fair throwing knives!"
"Calm down, Reeden." the muscular one with the black hair warned. "If Ort had used a dart, he still would have beaten you."
"But Gaddes!" Reeden protested childishly.
"You lost, pal. Plain and simple." Gaddes stated. "No use getting worked up over it."
"Yeah, Reeden." The giant added. "Go get yourself a drink and calm down, eh?"
The scrawny man sighed miserably. "Okay...fine."
As he walked to the bar, he heard the giant call out. "And hey! See if your ma's got any of that pie left!"
"Ask her yourself, Kio, you overgrown ape!" Reeden shouted back.
"Ape?!" Kio repeated indignantly, rising from his seat. "You insulting me, little man?"
Gaddes sighed, gazing into his stein for answers before intervening. "Would you bums quit picking on one another?!" he shouted. "I've seen more maturity in cat-children!"
"No one ever said Reeden or Kio was mature." A feminine voice stated. The men looked up to see Mrs. Garusan, Reeden's mother and owner of the Tavern, carrying a tray topped with a piece of pie and a flask of beer. "Don't be so hard on the boys, Gaddes."
Gaddes flushed at the sight of the plump little woman. "Uh...sorry ma'am."
"It's all right." She stated as she placed the pie plate before Kio, who immediately dug in. "I know how annoying Reeden can be, I raised him, remember?"
"Mah-am!" Reeden wailed like an embarrassed teenager.
Mrs. Garusan smiled at her son wanly as she handed her son a beer. "Just kidding, dear."
"Oh...fine." The little man put aside his complaints, taking a sip of the beer as his mother returned to the back of the restaurant.
Maketto chuckled to himself, finding the scene to be rather humorous after the day he had been having. He picked up his glass of vinor, sipping the pink liquor slowly, as was the only way to drink it. After the audience with the king, he had been hard pressed to keep his nerves, and even harder to keep the message to himself. Technically, all messages for the king were never to be repeated or spoken of to anyone else, that was the cardinal rule of messenger-hood. However, the news of the Sky Dragon attack was too important to keep secret. Especially since the nobles would have doubtlessly spread the news to others outside the court by now.
With a mental shrug, the messenger decided to join the soldiers and tell them about it. After all, hadn't Meiden wanted a pilot to come forward? How could one hope to do that if none of the willing men knew of the opportunity? Assured that he would be doing no harm, he walked over to the table with a bit of confidence.
"Would you gentlemen mind if I joined you?" the messenger asked, a little too polite considering the nature of the "gentlemen" in question.
The four looked up at him with strange expressions. "Uh...sure." Gaddes replied. "Pull up a chair."
He complied, lifting a chair from the next table over and sitting it between Gaddes and Reeden. "Thanks. By the way, I'm Maketto."
The four nodded and introduced themselves in return. "What brings you to our little corner of the Tavern?" Reeden asked.
"Well..." Maketto began slowly. "I have heard some news that I thought you four might be interested in hearing."
"What kinda news?" Gaddes asked, raising a coal-black eyebrow.
"You ever heard of a village called Sayta? It's on the Fanelian border."
The four shook their heads.
Maketto sighed. "I thought as much. Oh well, it doesn't matter. At any rate...several days ago, that village was destroyed...and you'll never guess by what!"
"You're right, what did it?" Kio urged him to continue.
"A Sky Dragon." Maketto stated, smiling at the expressions on the soldiers' faces.
"A Sky Dragon?! But those things are peaceful, aren't they?" Reeden asked.
"Yeah, that's what I heard. Why would it attack a village?" Kio added.
Maketto played it cool, enjoying the attention. It was not often that a lowly messenger was the center of attention. "I can' t really say why, but I can tell you that the thing killed a whole battalion of footsoldiers, set fire to three ballistae, and ripped the arm off a melef and its pilot before flaming the village itself."
"That's horrible!" Kio observed.
"True."
"What's being done about it?" Gaddes demanded, his expression noticeably darkened.
"Well..." Maketto once again began in a way meant to generate interest. "The King hasn't decided yet. But, I hear that Meiden has a guymelef ready to slay the thing, he just needs a pilot."
"It'd have to be someone brave, strong, and smart enough to deal with the thing." Reeden noted. "That, or some one big, dumb and stupid enough. Hey! Kio, why don't you do it!"
"Hey!" Kio said indignantly.
"What, you chicken?" The smaller man snickered.
"Nah...I just don't wanna fight a dragon is all. I'd rather beat a human opponent." The giant said in his defense.
"Well then..." Reeden thought. "If Kio won't do it...and since Ort and I are too small to pilot a melef...what about you, Gaddes?"
Gaddes nearly spit out his beer. "Me?"
"Sure!" the little man smiled. "You're one of the best swordsmen I know, I'm sure you're more than a match for any dumb flying lizard, especially if you've got a big guymelef to work with!"
"I dunno...The thing's already killed so many others...I don't think I'm qualified." Gaddes replied with a mix of modesty and reluctance.
"I think you'd do well too." Kio added. "And It's rare that Reeden and I agree on anything!"
Maketto grinned as he watched Gaddes squirm under the glare of his subordinates. "That's two votes of confidence. Ort, what about you?"
The bald man stared at the light reflecting off his dagger with a disinterested look. "Why not?"
"That's three." Maketto grinned smugly.
"Well..." Gaddes borrowed the messenger's technique. "I suppose I could apply for the job...I mean...I doubt that I'd be the only person qualified. Hey...was there a reward attached to this thing?"
Maketto's smile broadened. "Yes...I believe so. Word has it that whoever slays the Sky Dragon will be promoted to fill in the empty spot in the Knights Caeli."
Kio whistled in surprise. "That's one heck of a reward."
"Indeed. So, what do you say Gaddes, you willing to take the risk for such a boost in rank?" The messenger and all three other soldiers watched him intently.
Gaddes sighed, weighing his options. Downing the last bit of beer from his stein, he struck it down on the table to punctuate his answer. "Sure. Why the hell not?
* * *
Marlene Aston, eldest of Asturia's princesses, sat at her vanity, combing her long blonde hair with a pearl-incrusted brush. She closed her eyes, enjoying the moment of calm. The court had been wild with rumors regarding the Sky Dragon attack, and many of them had reached her. So many stories of death and destruction wrought by what was normally considered a peaceful animal disturbed the young princess, and she was glad to at last be away from the talk of it.
The silent moment was broken by a soft, gentle sound from outside of her room. She opened her eyes, put the brush down on the vanity's white lacquered surface, and stood to investigate. Her long legs carried her elegant form to the doors leading from her room to the veranda, where she believed the sound was coming from. Pushing aside the white-lace and pink silk of the curtains, she peered into the twilight outside.
Sitting on the veranda's railing was a white owl, hooting in a gentle, soothing tone. She smiled at the sight. The presence of this bird indicated that its owner could not be far off. Unlocking the doors, she stepped onto the veranda. "Good evening, Natal" she addressed the white bird in a sweet voice. "Where is your master hm?"
The owl tilted its head at her, its large yellow eyes gazing at her thoughtfully. With a suddenness, the bird raised its wings and dived from the railing, gliding to the ground two stories below. Marlene went to the veranda's edge, and watched as the owl landed on the outstretched right arm of an elegantly dressed young man of about sixteen.
Marlene's smile widened as her eyes met her beloved's from across the distance. "Allen Schezar!" She spoke his name with adoration. "What brings you and your pet to me at this hour?"
Allen returned her azure gaze with his own, his long blond hair cascading to the shoulders of his blue formal wear. A sheathed sword was clipped to his belt, an ever-present reminder to all of his fighting prowess and position among the Asturian Knights. With a soft, yet strong voice he answered his love's inquiry. "I heard stories circulating that dealt with rather depressing matters, and thought that you might have as well. I am merely here to see if these stories have had a negative effect on your mood, milady."
Her smile stayed firmly in place. "Allen, you're so sweet. I'm flattered by your concern, but I must say that it is out of place."
He inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Indeed, but it has not hurt anything."
"Would you like to come up?" she asked from above. "I could have Eries go let you in through the back door."
His handsome face was graced with a slight smirk. "I don't believe your father would much appreciate my presence in your bedchambers. You are, after all, betrothed to the Duke of Freid."
"Do not remind me." she replied with a twinge of sadness. "However, I must point out that I am not yet married."
Schezar raised a blond eyebrow in interest. "Perhaps later, Marlene. I have something else I must discuss with you."
"What, love?" she inquired, leaning over the veranda railing.
"I have heard that your father has decreed that the person who slays the Sky Dragon will become a Caeli Knight. Is this true?"
"Not that I know of." She answered, somewhat perturbed that her par amour had brought up the creature again. "You aren't thinking of trying to slay the beast?" she added with concern.
"I might be willing." Allen replied.
"But why?" she asked, her voice pleading. "Why risk your life for a promotion?"
"Marlene...as a Knight Caeli I would have more influence in the court. Perhaps, if I can accomplish this, your father might understand our love."
Marlene shook her head in dismay. "But...Allen...what if you fail? What if the dragon...."
"Kills me?" He finished for her. "I don't think that will happen. Besides, death would be preferable to living without you."
She didn't know whether to be mortified or complimented by this. A cold revulsion spread through her at the thought of losing her beloved knight. "Allen...please reconsider."
He shook his head, golden locks reflecting the pale moonlight. "Marlene...I need you to stand by me in this...to help me. I have heard that Meiden Fassa has a guymelef that could be a match for the dragon with the right pilot, and I believe that I am that pilot. However, I am not in a position to jockey for favor in his decision. Could you please direct him to me?"
The revulsion hardened into fear. "No...Allen...I can't do that!"
"Marlene...please!" Allen's blue eyes were full of determination. "I can't do this without your help. Please, just mention it to him."
"Allen..." she trailed off as she met his gaze. The blue orbs, two of fear and two of determination were locked together across the distance, silently conflicting between the young lovers. Finally, one gave. "Alright...I'll do as you ask, Allen."
"Thank you, Marlene." The knight's expression softened. "I should go now."
As he turned to leave, she shouted after him. "Allen...wait..."
He turned to gaze at her once more. "What is it, Marlene?"
"If you do this, if you fight the dragon and lose...I'll never see you again." She almost cried.
His eyes held a mix of compassion and wisdom. "I won't die Marlene, I promise."
"That's not good enough!" She stated.
"What would be enough Marlene?" The knight asked.
"Stay with me. For tonight. Just one night before I am sent to Freid."
Allen was taken aback by his love's forwardness. "Marlene...that would violate my code of ethics...to be with you before we are married..."
Tears flowed down her cheeks as she heard his words. "Which is more important to you, Allen Schezar? You code of ethics, or your love for me?"
Allen considered this for a moment. The two most important things in his life were in opposition in this, and it was not an easy choice. On one hand was the way he wanted to lead his life, and on the other was the woman he wanted to spend that life with. Both were equally important weren't they? Was it worth it to sacrifice one to keep the other? Finally, he reached his decision. "Have Eries meet me at the back door."
Her heart jumped at his reply. Allen had chosen her over his code. She had not expected this from the noble knight, but now, as she watched him make his way to the back of the palace, she realized that despite his noble front, Allen Crusade Schezar was just a mortal man.
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So, what do you think? Is this a good start for an ongoing series? Please review! I need to know if people are interested in this series before I bother to continue it!