Poisoned Thorns

Prologue

Disclaimer: Ronin Warriors and all related titles do not belong to me. However, I do own Kioko, Sheila, Osiris, Kojiro, the Armor of the Flora, the Armor of the Icefire, the Armor of the Chrono, and of course, Ariel.

Talpa grimaced. He'd spent two years recovering from the Ronin Warriors' last bought. He should have known that the Torrent boy would have his powers heightened faster than the other Ronins, but he'd been a fool. There should have been a great deal more planning. Never mind kidnap the child, kill the boy in his sleep. Of course he was no longer a boy. He was very much a man, but still, he should have gotten him then.

Talpa had rebuilt his armor, his army, and had Kioko and Kayura train the latest bearer of the Venom Armor. That fool, Sehkment. He'd signed his own death sentence by threatening the girl. He knew Ariel's father and evidentially enough, her grandfather, would be on him. Strange that the tiger got him in the end. But it did not matter. He newest Warlord was no fool.

The throne room was cold, despite the many torches that lit the room. They produced a cold, bone chilling sensation rather than a warmth. Before him stood Osiris, Dais, Cale, Kioko, and Kayura. The Venom bearer would appear soon enough. Dais, Cale, and Osiris had yet to seem them.

Osiris stepped forward. He was a tall man with dirty blonde hair blue eyes. "Master Talpa, why had you called us, your mighty Dark Warlords, to see you?"
"Yes, why are we here?" asked Cale.

"Is it having to do with the two year anniversary of Sehkment's death?" asked Dais.

"No, it has nothing to do with the fall of Sehkment," said Talpa. "But you were close, Dais. Very, very close. Kayura, please educate the Dark Warlords on what you and Kioko have been up to these past two years?"

"We searched for a new bearer of the Armor of Venom and found one. We've been training them since then. Trust me, there is no doubt in our mind they'll be perfect," said Kayura. "They can't wait to attack Torrent."

"Master Talpa, when will we see him?" asked Osiris.

Kioko snorted. "Soon enough, Osiris, soon enough, just keep your pants on. Unless you'd like to come to my room later on."

"KIOKO!"
"Yes, Master Talpa," said Kioko, bowing respectfully before her master.

"That's better," said Talpa. "Like Osiris and Kioko, your newest member was also just given immortality a short time ago. However, they have a spunk that none of you had."

"I did some research on our new member, Master Talpa. I just had to say a few names and they were all over this position," said Kioko. "It didn't' take long for them to learn the swords, either."

"Good, very good," said Talpa. "Are they ready to be presented to the rest of the Dynasty yet?"

"Absolutely. OPEN THE WALLS!" cried Kayura. The wall behind Talpa opened into a huge audience of Tin Cans, Nether Spirits, and Warlords sat waiting anxiously for the new Dark Warlord to appear.

"Badamon, bring them in. The whole Dynasty is waiting," said Kioko.

Slowly, the doors creaked open. Badamon floated in followed by the new Dark Warlord. The crowd gasped. "Talpa, I present to you your new Dark Warlord of Venom."

Talpa looked his new Dark Warlord up and down. First off, he noticed that it was a she, not a he, as he had expected. "What makes her such a strong ally?"

"You shall see, Master Talpa," said Kioko. Talpa continued to evaluate her. She had deep, wavy red hair and large green eyes. She was tall and shaped just as well as Kioko. A glint in her eyes said much about her.

"Master Talpa," started Kayura, "and the rest of you, may I present to you all, Sheila, Dark Warlady of Venom."