A Sorrowful Mistake: The Medusa Plague Pt.1
By Mardrena
*Toyama, Japan, 1649*
Fishermen and their families labored away with the morning's catch, carefully extracting fish from their handcrafted nets and singing their praises to the gods for their bounty. The crisp sea air wafted in from the shore, and birds glided overhead, keeping keen eyes open for any scraps left behind. Most of the crews focused entirely on their tasks. A few, however, seemed distracted, or rather interested, in the quarrel occurring further down the beach.
"I'm not askin' ye ta take me clear across th' world! All I'm askin' is that ye go east. T'ain't such a difficult thing ta ask!" The fisherman being addressed frowned and shook his head in refusal. "Ye can take me as far west till ye hit land an dump me off in th' water an I'll swim ta shore! …Whaaat? There's nothin' forbidden about goin' west! What are ye gibberin' about? I *know* ye can understand me! What do I have ta pay fer ye ta give me passage o'er th' sea?"
The fisherman muttered to himself then glanced to either side before leaning towards the woman and placing a hand on her arm, speaking suggestively.
Children and elders squawked in surprise as the man went flying across the beach before crashing into a pile of bundled nets and rope. "Next fool ta try an git intimate wit me, I'll send ye flyin' so hard, th' shark's won't be able ta catch ye!" The observing fishermen eyed the flame-haired European nervously as she turned to look at them. "Is there anyone here wit th' stones ta take me west?!" Mardrena Lockehart demanded.
"Ye won't find any among this sorry lot, I can tell ye that." Mardrena turned around upon hearing the gruff male voice. "Superstitious maids, all of 'em."
"Cap'n Beckett! As I live an breathe, never thought I'd see ye again." Mardrena offered her hand, which the weathered Captain Beckett graciously accepted and kissed after removing his cap and holding it close to his chest. "The Dutch brought me East, but yuir th' only one who had th' spine to take me east of East."
"An it seems I'll be the one ta take ye back, as ye seem interested in. I can hardly believe 'tis been twenty years since I dropped ye off here. Twenty years…" The captain leaned back and took a long look at Mardrena. "An ye look like nary a year has passed."
"Ah, well, th' air here is clean, th' food good. They say 'the age of body reflects th' age of spirit' here. Th' land's treated me well."
"An did ye find what ye were seekin'?"
"Aye…ye could say that," Mardrena replied and glanced sideways in thought. Captain Beckett chuckled heartily and slapped Mardrena on the shoulder.
"In any case, the seas are fair, the wind is strong, an my men only need an hour or two ta restock on supplies 'fore we're on our way. Should give ye time ta gather yuir things."
"I've a few items of trade I've gathered in my travels," Mardrena began rummaging through her knapsack. Captain Beckett waggled a finger at her.
"I'll take not a coin from ye. The mere presence and pleasure of yuir company is payment enough for me. Gather yuir things. I'll wait fer ye."
"I have a mount, she'll need-"
"Room'nuff for her in th' cargo hold. I'll have some of th' crew fix it up for her."
While Beckett's men hauled sacks and rolled barrels into the ship's cargo hold, Mardrena busied herself with fastening saddle bags to her favored mount; a short, black-haired horse she'd dubbed Sakura. A crewman offered to take Sakura to the cargo hold and Mardrena handed him the reins. She started to turn to the side to check her knapsack.
"I must voice my concerns against this venture. Taking the Armor from this land will do little good and potentially much harm." Mardrena jumped in surprise and looked up to where Sakura had been standing just a moment before and saw a man in white and blue robes and a flattened hat covering his eyes. Clean white hair draped down his back and shoulders, and in his hand he held a staff with a gold ornamented head. Mardrena heaved a sigh of relief and shook her head.
"Ancient One, ye worry too much. All I've had to fight th' past month are petty brigands and rogues," she waved her hand dismissively. "I won't be gone forever. I just…" Mardrena shouldered her pack and sighed. "Tis been nearly twenty years…I left much behind when I came here…an at the time I thought I could do witout…but I find now I miss my homeland… 'Tis as much to ease my own soul as those who I left. I have ta do this," Mardrena looked at the monk apologetically. He merely tipped his hat further over his shadowed eyes.
"It is as you say. I will pray for you during your journey, but be cautious, Lady Ronin…" Mardrena glanced to either side to see if any sailors heard the title. "Agents of the Dark Emperor still roam the realm. Be alert for any attempts on your life. When you arrive at your destination, things may not be as you wish they were, but as others have forgiven you, so too must you know when to afford forgiveness. Should you find yourself walking the unclear path, learn to see without seeing." With that cryptic bit of wisdom, the robed man turned and walked away, the rings adorning the top of the staff chiming musically. Mardrena watched him leave and raised an eyebrow skeptically, then shook her head and sighed.
"That man'll always be a mystery ta me."
"Lass! We're ready ta set sail!" Captain Beckett called and waved. Mardrena headed to the ramp and boarded the ship, throwing a glance over her shoulder.
"Stay safe my home…hmm…home…odd I consider this land my home more'n th' place I was born," Mardrena mused and leaned against the rail as the ship pulled away from the shore.
"Gyaagh!" Mardrena sat up straight, nearly tossing the covers off upon hearing the loud crack of thunder, so loud it jolted her from deep sleep. She glanced about the dimly lit room. The captain had graciously lent her use of his bed at night while he stayed above decks to manage things. Judging from the way the wind howled outside and the creaking of the hull, sailing was far from smooth. Mardrena grabbed her tunic and leggings and dressed hurriedly. She walked to the door while buckling her belt and pulled it open to see what was occurring on deck.
"Keep steady lads!" Captain Beckett howled above the roaring winds and pounding waves. Water splashed onto the deck and the ship rocked back and forth. Beckett noticed Mardrena treading out onto the deck, already soaked from the rain and sea spray. "Lass! Git back below, t'ain't no place here fer a woman!"
"What's happened! We had full sail an clear skies jus' a few hours ago!"
"Tempest, that's what happened! Out o' nowhere th' wind picked up and skies clouded o'er. Not even th' lookout can see more'n an arm's length!" Beckett waved up at the crow's nest where only the silhouette of the lookout was visible from sporadic flashes of lighting. "We were makin' good time too! It seemed like the wind itself wanted ye ta get home quickly!"
"Indeed…" Mardrena muttered and hung back by the doorway, hoping the overhang would shelter her from the rain, which it did not. She looked up at the crow's nest again. In the few seconds she saw the lookout shading his eyes with his hand, straining to see into the distance, she saw something else high in the sky, shapes only she would recognize. The lookout apparently hadn't noticed them, engrossed as he was on the horizon, but the shapes descended from the sky slowly, black against black skies, black against lighting-lit clouds.
"Captain, git yuir men below decks now."
"Are ye daft, lass? An leave th' ship adrift?"
"Danger lies not in the sea but in the sky. Do as I say!" Mardrena walked onto the deck again, keeping her eyes to the sky. She glared at Captain Beckett when he didn't move. "DO IT!"
"Were ye another lass, I'd doubt ye…Below decks ya'll! Hurry! You too Kirk!" Beckett roared at the lookout, who seemed thoroughly confused but nonetheless grabbed his failing oil lamp and scrambled down the rope ladder down the mast. The sky exploded with sound and light again, so loud, the boy named Kirk stopped and looked skyward, and in that last second before the light started to fade, saw dozens of shadowy double-prow vessels descending from the clouds. He stood there, dumbstruck by the sight and situation.
"Din waste time lad! Below wit ye!" Mardrena grabbed him by the shoulders and shoved him towards the captain, who threw Mardrena a last worried glance before closing the door. Mardrena pulled her soaked hair over her shoulder and threw it across her back then looked skyward. "I know ye come fer me! Ye made a grave mistake fightin' me at sea!"
With her back to the main mast, Mardrena stood straight and spaced her feet apart. She clenched her fists then held her arms out to the side before swinging her left arm up and right arm downward, drawing a circle in the air with her index fingers. Then she pulled her hands inward towards her chest before moving them out again, this time raising the right arm high and left arm low. *Eye of the Storm*, she'd dubbed the gesture, even though it had no specific name, but it seemed appropriate for the command she would use to summon her power.
"ARMOR OF TYPHOON!! TAO KI-BOU!!" her voice rang clearly above the crack of thunder. The water in Mardrena's hair and clothes started to evaporate. Incoming raindrops changed course, swirling around her in a barely visible pillar. Lighting flashed again then faded, but now small glowing pink petals of light illuminated the deck in place of the rain-smothered lamps. The petals spiraled into a loose globe infront of Mardrena's chest. She gently moved her hands over it, drawing it close and cradling it before throwing it up into the air.
The petals clung to her body, and once touched by them, her clothes glowed bright pink and seemed to disintegrate, revealing thinly-hammered white metal covering her sides, thighs, upper arms, and hands. Thicker metal plates colored pink covered her chest, back, and stomach, as well as her lower arms, backs of her hands, shins, and feet, but the glowing pink petals continued their spiral. Those that remained clung to her shoulders, arms, chest, and legs. Pink-colored metal plate formed from the petals, with long crests jutting up over the elbows and wide, smooth plates curling up over the shoulders. Smooth plates decorated with sharp gold crests formed on the shins and knees. Lighting flashed once more, illuminating the black and gold insignias on the chest and waist, of nine S-shaped curves surrounding a red dot.
Mardrena's fiery hair flagged from the pillar of wind. She held out one hand and the few remaining petals of light settled into her palm, flashing and changing shape, creating a magnificently crafted helmet with a small V-shaped crest on the forehead and long curving crests extending from the sides. Mardrena pinched it by the rim and turned it around, lifting it to her head. Once she fitted the helmet over her hair, the pillar dissipated and the locks of hair dangling down her back from under the helmet became wet once more from the deluge.
By now the ships had reached the water, and long oars dipped in and out, guiding the vessels towards the lone ship. Lighting streaked the sky again, revealing the scores of armored figures crouching in each vessel, weapons drawn and rainwater dribbling from wicked sharp blades. Mardrena turned around, the plate armor creaking as she moved, and crouched. It only took a single spring for her to reach the top of the main mast and land in the rickety crow's nest.
"Th' seas may be Torrent's domain, but t'ain't th' sea which moves th' waves, 'tis th' wind!" Mardrena reached over her shoulders and behind her back. She never liked the placement of the scabbards. Personally she preferred to draw from the hip, but she had no say in the design of the armor, she only wore it. Raindrops touched the gleaming blades only briefly before being flung off as Mardrena drew the two long swords and held them out to the sides. She drew the pommels close, letting the crown-shaped ornaments on each sword lock into one another, joining the swords together. She crouched and leapt into the sky again, rising high above the rocking ship. As she ascended, she started twirling the swords at her side. Just when it seemed like her fingers would tangle from the action, she withdrew her hand, letting the swords spin on their own and holding her flattened palm only an inch away.
"TY-" she swung the wheel to the right. "PHOON!!" she swung the wheel to the left. "BLAST!!" Mardrena swung her arm down towards the mast, and the wheel followed her hand exactly. The sails billowed briefly before going limp in the void created as the unruly gale gave way to almost perfect calm. No rain fell on, in, or around the ship. The waters immediately surrounding the ship stilled almost instantly, yet as if separated by a wall, the waters beyond still churned from the storm. The waves began cresting, moving in a circle around the ship, rising higher and higher, almost rivaling the mast. Then the waves started to spiral outwards and the ship along with the smooth, calm, water rose as if on a pedestal. The shadowy vessels closing in from all sides started rocking violently as waves pounded against their hulls.
Desperately shot arrows halted in their course before veering sideways, gripped by the powerful winds and sent spiraling back towards their senders. The waves started pushing vessels towards each other until finally surges crashed hulls together like delicate pots. Broken wood and weapons joined the storm, with sharp blades ripping through the shadowy armored figures and planks driving through hulls. The winds beyond the lone ship reached almost unthinkable speeds, and what remained of the shadowy vessels all but disintegrated, leaving only fragments of wood floating among the waves, and anything else sank beneath the pounding sea.
The sword wheel stopped spinning and Mardrena gripped it in one hand before she fell towards the mast. She landed on the uttermost top with flawless grace before crouching down and grabbing the rim of the crow's nest. She swung herself down and landed on the now-dry deck. She looked skyward and smirked in satisfaction of seeing the rapidly thinning clouds and sparkling stars. She separated the swords and swung the blades up, neatly inserting the tips into the scabbards and sliding the blades in till they stopped at the spiral-shaped cross-guard. How she'd avoided impaling herself in the neck all those years, she'd never know…
The creaking of wood drew her attention and she turned around to see Captain Beckett holding up a lantern that sent yellow light glinting off the gold crests on Mardrena's armor. He blinked a few times in disbelief before smiling weakly.
"Well lass, looks like ye found more'n yuir destiny in th' East."
"We shouldn't have trouble anymore. I think they know better than ta try that again." Mardrena grinned and placed her hands on her hips, nodding towards the starlit horizon. The crewmembers crowded into the doorway stared at the armored woman with bewildered eyes, but two in particular looked at her with more than a sense of awe.
"Landfall! We've made it witout incident, jus like ye said! Shouldn't take more'n-" Captain Beckett almost lost his balance as Mardrena stalked out of the cabin quickly, fully dressed with her knapsack in one hand. "Wha-Where ye goin' lass? If ye need somethin' from town I can send my crew ta- Why are ye in such a hurry?" Captain Beckett frowned when he saw Mardrena walk over to the doors covering the cargo hold and grabbed the handle with one hand and lifted it with ease where it would have taken two men with both hands. She put her fingers to her mouth and whistled shrilly, summoning her steed from below. The horse clambered up the steps and onto the deck, startling some of the sailors who were either cleaning or securing goods. Mardrena grabbed the reins and began guiding Sakura to the newly extended ramp leading to the dock.
"Lass! Lass, what's wrong!" Mardrena ignored the captain's query and checked the saddle clasps quickly, almost furiously. She looked angry, too. "Murdina!" That got a reaction and she whirled around and glared at him fiercely. "We're barely halfway, and ye look like yuir about ta ride the rest! I promised I'd take ye all th' way."
"I'd rather ride. In fact, it'd be better fer th' both of us," Mardrena snarled and coiled the reins around her hand. She took a step towards the ramp.
"Murdina…" Beckett reached out and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. Mardrena shuddered and paused, glancing at him harshly. "I din understand…"
"Carson…" Mardrena sighed and looked at the deck then back at him. "Yuir a good man, an I'll never forget yuir kindness, but th' same can't be said fer yuir crew. I'd look into getting some new men if I were ye." With that, she led Sakura down the ramp and onto the dock before mounting up and riding away quickly. Beckett scowled and headed for his quarters. He opened the door and almost recoiled upon seeing two of his crew lying on their stomachs on the floor, completely naked save for their own shirts binding their hands and legs together over their backs. They glanced up at him pleadingly, trying to speak through the gags plugging their mouths. Beckett scowled and shook his head before exiting the room, closing the door behind him. He walked back to the rail just in time to see the distant flare of Mardrena's red-orange hair amid the crowd of travelers and traders in the port.
"Yuir truly special lass, Murdina. Lifetimes'll pass ere we see another like ye."
The Lady Ronin continued the rest of her journey on horseback, pushing Sakura to the limit by day and resting by night. She had no sense of time, as her eyes remained only on the horizon. Residents of towns she passed through could only wonder what drove the fiery-haired woman. The lands she passed through may as well have been posts in a fence. After many days and nights they reached the western-most coast of France. It was simple enough to hire a fisherman to take her to the Isles. At least *he* wasn't superstitious about going west.
Sakura barely had the strength to get off the ship, but an unsympathetic Mardrena tugged at the reins and guided her towards the port town. She purchased room and stable for the night, allowing herself a more complete rest than she'd had previously. Sakura ate heartily of the grains provided for her; she'd need the strength for the trip north through the uplands.
She wasn't surprised that little had changed from twenty years ago, when she'd last walked the packed dirt roads. Buildings remained the same, give or take a few clumps of moss and growths of vine. She recognized very few faces, though they didn't seem to recognize her. She led Sakura past small farms. A trio of young men lounged off to the side of the road, chattering amongst themselves before pausing as Mardrena walked past.
"Ahoy there, lass! Ye in need of lodgings? Or company? Or both?" one smiled charmingly.
"I'm a bit old fer ye, lad," Mardrena replied gruffly without pausing a step. The boy blinked in confusion and frowned. She looked no older than twenty…
Mardrena passed a woman carrying a covered basket without so much as glancing at her. She didn't even pause when she heard the woman gasp in surprise and drop her basket. "Heaven help me, I must be drugged! Murdina! Murdina, is that really ye?"
"I stopped goin' by that name long ago, but I haven't forgotten th' voice of a friend! Hannah! Yuir th' first friendly face I've seen thus far!" Mardrena paused and turned around. The middle-aged woman picked up her basket and jogged towards the two travelers.
"I never heard much 'bout ye leavin', only that ye went East! My word! Ye look…pristine!"
"An ye…erm…look healthy," Mardrena managed.
"So what name *do* ye go by?"
"Mardrena. At least that's what they insisted on callin' me o'er there. Each land has its own. I suppose 'tis the same at its core. Hard ta believe I've been known as such fer so long. I was headed fer town, figured I'd hang around a spell. If th' inn still stands I'll likely board there."
"Oh I won't have it! My husband's away on business. I'm certain he wouldn't mind ye borrowin' his bed. Come Mur-eh, Mardrena…that does have a certain ring ta it… I'll have lodgings fer ye an yuir poor beastie far grander than that ol' shack. Ye plan on visitin' Andrew?" Hannah asked while she and Mardrena continued down the path. Mardrena frowned.
"All things in good time…"
"Well, 'tis a long walk. Ye must've experienced so much! Tell me!"
"Merely getting there was an adventure. I wish everyone could share th' gift of travel. Few ever see beyond th' seas, much less think of it…"
Mardrena hummed to herself while she shucked peas by the hearth while Hannah was away fetching water. A famished Sakura gorged herself on the feed normally reserved for the husband's beasts, but as Hannah herself said, he'd be none the wiser. Mardrena had all but forgotten the ominous warnings given her by the monk. She felt a simple tranquility she'd lacked, and all her worries were quite literally half a world away. The door creaked and Mardrena paused. "I've finished this bowl. If there's anything else I can help with, let me-"
It wasn't Hannah who stood in the shadows by the now closed door. Mardrena had forgotten about the worries in her homeland. She set the bowl on the table and calmly rose to her feet.
"I heard rumors…but I had to see for myself, and now I see you here, untouched by time," growled the man with brown hair with strands of gray showing, and cheeks creased with age in what had been a smooth, handsome face decades before.
"I see more'n time has touched ye…hello Andrew."
"Hello, Mardrena…or at least that's what I hear you call yourself now. Did you really think you could just stroll back without me noticing? There is unfinished business between us," Andrew snarled and took a step towards her. Mardrena stood her ground, unfazed.
"Our business concluded when I left fer th' east. I will not stoke old embers," she sniffed and turned around. Andrew stalked towards her and reached for her arm, grabbing it roughly.
"Don't turn your back on me-gurk!" Andrew gagged in surprise when he found himself staring down Mardrena's arm into her smoldering amber eyes. His boot toes dangled several inches off the stone floor, and he scrabbled futilely at the fingers firmly dug around his throat.
"Ye will never touch me like that again! No man will lay his hand upon me an not suffer fer it!" Mardrena growled with a fury that shamed Andrew's. She let Andrew hang in her grip, gurgling pitifully for several moments, before deigning to release him, letting him land on his rump on the stone floor. While Andrew staggered to his feet, anger gave way to disbelief.
"What happened to you over there?" Andrew demanded.
"Th' day I left, I was told by travelers to seek my destiny east, so I did, an I found it."
"Mardrena…I'm not angry that you left, I'm angry because I never knew why! Why? We loved each other! I gave you everything you could ever need or want! Was it so bad, with me?"
"Where should I begin? Ah, yes…ye belittled me, berated me, *beat* me," Mardrena counted off on her fingers. Andrew narrowed his blue-gray eyes.
"You were willful. You needed discipline, to be reminded of your role."
"I have a role now far greater than anything ye'll ever understand. I may have wanted many things, but a leash wasn't one of 'em." Mardrena turned her back on him and grabbed a knife and turnips to slice. "Ye din look any worse for wear, judgin' from yuir garb. I assume ye wasted no time marryin' off Jessie when she came of age." Andrew stiffened before smirking bitterly.
"However long *that* lasted." Mardrena paused mid-slice and turned to the side.
"What's *that* supposed ta mean?"
"You don't know? How silly of me, I forgot. You were too far east, too busy seeking your '*destiny*' to notice what happened to your own daughter." The smugness lasted only a moment before giving way to bitterness. "It will be six years now since I've put Jessie into the ground." Mardrena's eyes widened. "Fever claimed her. She never saw her twentieth year. Ironic, isn't it? She had nearly twenty years taken from her, and you've gained twenty." Mardrena turned back around and stared down at the half-sliced turnip as it started to blur. "I hope it was worth it, finding your destiny. I hope it was worth it, Mardrena, traveling so far and seeing so much, while our daughter withered away from sickness."
"I had nothing but love fer her…I had no love left fer ye," Mardrena croaked and looked at Andrew, tears dribbling down her cheeks. Andrew said nothing and walked out the door.
The knife and turnip tumbled onto the floor, bouncing away just before Mardrena sank to her knees and keeled over. Faint gasps rattled from the back of her mouth and she wrapped her arms around herself, digging her fingers into her sleeves. The gasps became shuddering sobs and Mardrena lifted a shaking hand to her mouth. "ahhhhh hahhh…AUUUUUGH! AAUUUUGH! AHHHH!" she wailed and curled her fingers.
"Mardrena! Mardrena! I just saw him leave! Did he harm ye? Mardrena!" Hannah rushed into the room and knelt beside her. "What happened? Did he touch ye? Did he-" Hannah paused when she saw the tears cascading from Mardrena's eyes, and the grief in her face that only came from a suffering mother. She placed her hands on Mardrena's shoulders, trying to console the inconsolable. "I wanted ta tell ye…but I…Forgive me. I'm sorry ye had ta find out this way," Hannah whispered and pulled Mardrena close.
*"…things may not be as you wish they were…"*She never should have come back. She should have heeded the old monk's warning. Otherwise she never would have found out that she came home only to find she'd outlive her daughter. Hannah whispered to her soothingly while Mardrena continued weeping. She had twenty years worth of tears to shed.
Activity at the inn seemed ordinary enough, as merchants and farmers shared news and strong beverages. Men laughed and sang badly-voiced ballads and enjoyed the company of the two serving girls who brought food and drink. A tall man sat at the counter alone. Brown hair streaked with gray hung around his neck, and gloomy blue-gray eyes stared into the orange-ish liquid sitting in his clayware cup. One of the serving girls giggled as a farmer scooped her into his lap, roaring with laughter. The lone man curled his lips in disgust at their joviality.
No one paused at the sound of the door creaking open or of heavy boots thumping against the floor. The amorous farmer went silent, however, upon seeing the long flame-orange hair. The wench keeping him company also went silent, though more from curiosity. Chatter slowly ceased as the new arrival approached the counter. A slim hand dropped two worn coins on the surface and scooped up the filled clayware cup deposited in their place.
Just as Andrew began to look up, wondering what inspired such silence, a large leather pouch landed barely a fingertip's width from knocking over his cup. He glanced at it then at the person who sat a couple seats away from him as she sipped her drink. "What's this?"
"All th' wealth I've garnered from th' East," Mardrena replied. Andrew raised an eyebrow and reached over, gently working the thong loose and reaching inside with two fingers. He grasped something with his fingertips and pulled out an uncut gem the size of a nut. He thumbed the gem back inside and tugged close the pouch, not wanting any prying or covetous eyes to see the contents. Andrew let the sack remain on the tabletop and stared at it warily. Mardrena glanced at him. "Oh come now, din tell me yuir declinin'? Cap'n Beckett refused, so did Hannah. I'm startin' ta think everyone's humble. If I recall correctly, I left ye fairly high 'n dry." Mardrena took a long swig of her drink and licked her lips. "That's one thing I do miss: a good stiff drink. I'd take this any day o'er that rice swill they have East…"
Andrew glanced from Mardrena to the pouch, humming in concern before slowly grabbing the pouch and placing it into his lap under his coat. "Thank you," he said gruffly.
"Din thank me. Tis only yuir just compensation." Mardrena gulped down the rest of her drink and set the cup on the counter. "I'll be leavin by th' end of th' week. Now our business tis truly-"
"They've found another one!" a hysteric lad ran into the inn waving his arms. The amorous farmer stood up so suddenly the serving girl tumbled out of his lap and onto the floor. Her angry protests went largely unnoticed as patrons rose from their seats and headed for the door. Andrew and Mardrena stood up, equally concerned about the hubbub. Andrew took a step for the door.
"You need not concern yourself, Mardrena. This is men's business," Andrew sniffed.
"Incase ye din notice, I'm not one ta heed convention," Mardrena shoved past him, exiting the inn ahead of him. The two arrived just in time to join the worried crowd milling about. Mardrena tried to look over heads to get a better view, but the taller Andrew saw the heavy oxcart as it lumbered into town. Townsfolk recoiled and backed away from the cart once they saw its occupant. Even Mardrena clamped a hand over her mouth. "Oh my word!" she breathed.
At first glance one might mistake it for a carved stone statue, only no statue carved by man would bear such detail as the look of raw terror on the figure's face. Mineralized arms were raised as if trying to protect against something, and the legs were twisted, as if the figure were just about to turn and flee. The cart driver removed his cap and held it over his chest.
"I warned him against goin' out at night…he din heed…"
"This is th' third one this month alone!" "What could this mean?" "T'ain't safe anymore!"
"Andrew…what do you know about this?" Mardrena whispered her former husband.
"Hrm…the region's been plagued by such incidents for the past few years." Mardrena's eyes widened upon hearing that but Andrew continued. "Thus far only fools who let themselves be caught out after sunset have fallen victim…of course in this town we have quite a bit of fools."
"Well then…seems my business t'ain't finished after all…"
"Tis punishment from th' Lord! He strikes down th' wicked an over-indulgent!"
"No! Tis th' Devil! He reaches up from Hell and drains th' life from th' innocent!"
"This is no work of the Lord or the Devil, but an ancient evil from an era before our own."
"That's quite a remark coming from a man of the cloth," Andrew commented to the man who approached the crowd from the side. Mardrena glanced at the thin light-haired man clothed in black with a neat clean white collar and a tiny silver cross hanging from a chain around his neck. The man shook his head and stepped over to the wagon and gazed down at the petrified victim.
"There are creatures and beings which existed long before the time of man. Some are benign and live outside our sight. Others…as you can see, live only to prey on the helpless."
"Father Douglas, what can be done ta stop this?" a nervous Hannah asked. The priest didn't answer immediately and stared intently at the stone figure.
"I will be your shield," he said simply and turned to leave. Townsfolk twittered amongst themselves in amazement. Mardrena watched the man, curious.
"There goes another fool…" Andrew snorted. He blinked when he saw Mardrena leaving.
"If that man's aimin' ta do what I think, he'll need help."
"What could you possibly do that'd be any better than his efforts?"
"I've learned a few things from th' East," Mardrena smirked and continued walking.
Sakura maintained a steady trot on the way to the location of the church. *Me an Father Douglas'll have to have a nice chat if he hasn't gone off on his silly quest already. I wonder if th' Ancient had any hint of this…*Mardrena didn't think it was anything out of the ordinary when a large shadow swept over the hills. She assumed it was a cloud, until something sharp dug into the ground no more than a few feet away. "Flamin' Hell! What-!" Sakura shrieked in terror and turned and galloped towards the trees, instinctively taking shelter. All Mardrena could do was hang on and futilely try to regain control. "Sakura! Whoa! Whoa!! Git ahold of yuirself!"
Sakura stopped in her tracks, but not from Mardrena's command. She flattened her ears, and Mardrena covered her own from the booming shriek echoing from the sky.
An immense black form circled the area and flapped huge dark wings with sharpened bony growths poking out of the corners of the membrane. A deafening bellow blasted up from the throat and out of a mouth lined with teeth the length of a man's arm. A tail almost as long as the entire body lashed furiously, slicing through the air with the axe-like growth at the tip.
"A dragon? I thought they were all gone! What would-" Mardrena glanced to the side when she thought she heard shouting. Two figures on horseback seemed to be chasing the dragon. One wore black gold and brown armor. The other wore maroon armor. "It can't be…"
"Draw its attention. I'll try to snare it!" Dais barked and veered away.
"Assuming it doesn't eat you!" Anubis taunted and swung his chain. "QUAKE WITH FEAR!!" Hundreds of chains arced up towards the dragon's legs. The immense beast wheeled out of the way and flapped its wings, each movement sending a gale through the area. "It's trying to escape again! Do something unless you want us chasing after it another twelve hours!"
"WEB OF DECEPTION!!" Thousands of gossamer fibers crossed the sky. The dragon plowed through some, but the others tangled themselves around its wings.
"QUAKE WITH FEAR!!" Once more black chains shot up, this time sweeping around the dragon's torso. Unable to keep aloft, the dragon sank towards the ground, collapsing along the hilltop. It thrashed its tail again, each strike of the axe-shaped tip ripping the ground open. More webbing and chains lashed the tail and limbs securely to the ground. The dragon wheezed and groaned. The two Dark Warlords rode over and dismounted off their shadowy steeds.
"Still yourself, beast. You will serve a far more glorious purpose. It will be better to serve our Dark Lord than be hunted as a trophy by mortal men," Dais said and stroked the dragon's face.
"Prepare it for transport! We've tarried long enough in this soggy hell!" Anubis ordered. Dynasty soldiers circled the dragon and raised long scepters tipped with black gems. Anubis glanced to the side and saw Dais staring at the forest. "What are you staring at?"
"I thought I saw something…" he muttered. Some distance away, Mardrena knelt on the ground behind a tree and kept one hand on Sakura's neck to calm her and the other over her mouth to quiet her. "Something I recognized…"
"Your missing eye perhaps? Come now. We've better things to do." Just then whatever sorcery the scepters unleashed enveloped soldier, Warlord, and dragon, and they vanished from sight. Only the scars from the dragon's tail remained to tell of the incident.
"What could they have wanted wit that thing? Hmm…I imagine I'll find out…eventually…" Mardrena mounted Sakura again, tugging at the reins and steering her away from the hill.
She dismounted when she arrived at the small stone chapel and wove the reins through Sakura's bridle, letting her run off to forage. She walked up the stone path and approached the door and reached out to push it open. Light filtered in through simple stained glass windows and shone from glass lanterns in the corners. Mardrena spotted the priest standing by a table.
"Hello maiden. What brings you here at this time of day?" Douglas asked cheerfully.
"I've come ta dissuade ya from whatever yuir plannin'. Ye can't fight this demon wit nothin' but stakes an holy water," Mardrena protested.
"I don't plan to," Douglas replied and set a cloth on the table and un-wrapped it, revealing several short, sharp knives. "We are taught to use what is given us, and ask for no more than we absolutely need. Others of my order may be content to go through the motions, wear the clothes and say the prayers, doing nothing more than indulging themselves with their position and the favor they garner. I am capable of much more as the protector of this area."
"Are ye capable of bein' a right ass?" Douglas glanced at her sharply but returned to his preparations. "Do ye even know what yuir up against?"
"Do you?" Mardrena blinked, surprised by the rebuttal. "Most members of the Church frown upon 'heretical readings', but they're mostly the narrow-minded ones. I can confirm that this 'demon' is a gorgon. The Lord created all things, of course, but to each thing there is a purpose, and a time, and a place. This creature has defied His will, and preyed upon men to extend its life beyond its time and place, and no longer serves His purpose."
"…Okay…so ye have some knowledge of antiquity…Yuir still no more prepared ta fight somethin' like that than a milkmaid. Listen…I've been East. I have…gifts, abilities, better n' yuir little trinkets! I'll be th' one ta fight. Tell me how ta kill it an I can end this."
"When was the last time you confessed?" Douglas asked calmly. Mardrena's jaw dropped.
"What kinda question is THAT?!"
"A year? Ten? Twenty?" Mardrena stiffened. "I've heard of you from the others. Hannah never stopped worrying, and Andrew…Andrew never stopped hating... We are taught to forgive our neighbors their sins, and He never intends for us to hold animosity for very long. Whatever transpired came before my time, so I don't know the entire story concerning you two. I can tell you're a woman who prefers solitude, but those who travel alone often carry the heaviest burdens. You should consider relieving those burdens sometime soon."
Mardrena narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. She shuddered briefly then sneered. "Well ye should consider keepin' yuir nose outta-" The two of them jumped upon hearing a unearthly hiss from outside. A shadow crossed one of the windows and headed towards the door. Mardrena sprang over and slammed it shut and drove in both bolts. For extra measure, she grabbed one of the wooden pews and lifted it up-surprising Douglas-and placed it by the door. She stepped back as the door rattled slightly in its frame. "It's come for us…for ye I think. Tell me how ta stop it!" Mardrena demanded. Douglas picked up a metal plate and began polishing it.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want-" he muttered.
"I din have time fer this!" Mardrena huffed in exasperation and turned to face the door. "ARMOR OF TYPHOON! TAO KI-ugh!" Something struck the back of her head and she collapsed to the floor unconscious. Douglas set the bent candlestick on the table and walked over to her and knelt down beside her.
"Forgive me, but I cannot allow harm to come to you," he whispered and walked back to the table to gather his tools. He looked at his reflection in the plate once before tucking it in his robes and strapping a belt with many loops around his waist. He slid each knife in carefully then walked towards the door. Mardrena moaned softly, but otherwise didn't move. Douglas grabbed the edge of the pew and with much effort dragged it away from the door, giving himself enough room to open it. He took out the plate and held it infront of his face and stepped outside, locking the door behind him, never taking his eyes off of his reflection.
"Ugh…Father…uhnn…" Mardrena slowly moved one arm and tried to push herself off the floor. The shadowy figure passed by a window again, hissing as it circled the chapel.
"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside still waters…"
"Father…ye bloody damn fool…" Mardrena slurred and rose to one knee, slumping to one side before steadying herself against a pew. The hissing rounded the corner of the chapel.
"He restoreth my soul," Father Douglas plucked one of the knifes from his belt. "And yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me."
"Ssssssaaaaaaahhh…." He saw the reflection of a robed and hooded figure standing just a few feet behind him. It raised scaled hands with fingers tipped with brass claws.
"Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me… HEEYAAAGH!" Douglas spun around and hurled a knife at the robed form.
"KEEYAAAAAHHH!" The hideous sounding shriek was enough to wake Mardrena completely and she jumped to her feet.
"ARMOR OF TYPHOON! TAO KI-BOU!"
"Begone ancient terror!" Douglas reached for another knife, but brass claws swatted it out of his hand. Another angry swipe knocked the polished plate out of his grasp and before he could regain focus he found himself staring into eyes that glowed with a hellish red light.
"RAAAGH!!" The door shattered outward and Mardrena sprang out of the chapel in full armor. "No!! Oh no!" she cried when she saw the still form of Father Douglas. One arm was raised and hand clenched in a fist, the other was frozen over the belt. The delicate cross pendant, still silver, hung from the petrified fingers. His face, however, was fixed with an expression of determination, not fear. "No…" Mardrena staggered towards the statue.
"Ssssssssaaahhhch aaaaa piiiity…" came the hissing voice. Mardrena promptly raised her arm to shield her eyes and drew a Windblade dagger.
"SHOW YUIRSELF DEMON! I'LL MAKE YE PAY FER THIS BLASPHEMY!!" Mardrena screamed and slashed wildly. She heard more raspy laughter coming from behind and stabbed, but only heard the tear of fabric.
"You caaaannot fight whaaat you caaannot ssssee…"
"I'll see my blade through yuir black heart!!" Mardrena fired all twelve mini-blades, but even they could not strike what she could not see, and they merely swirled around her, forming a loose shield. Mardrena heard a rustling of leaves, as if the gorgon had leapt away.
"Mardrena!!" She recognized the voice and dared a glimpse out from under her arm enough to see brown horse fur pass by. She felt a hand grab her arm and let herself be lifted up off the ground. "Hold on tight," Andrew shouted as Mardrena settled into a seat behind him. "Get us out of here Rashar!" Andrew dug his heels into the stallion's side and Rashar galloped away.
"Keep yuir eyes closed! Or it'll get us too!" Mardrena warned. Andrew nodded and let the horse do the riding, while Mardrena wept for the unfortunate Father Douglas.
"For some reason she came here, all in hysterics. I sensed you were in trouble, and I remember what the priest said, so the chapel seemed the most likely place," Andrew said while he fed and groomed Rashar. In the stall just next to him stood a sweating and badly shaken Sakura, too exhausted to even sniff at the fodder laid out for her. "I suspected your strength came from magic, but I'm pleased to see it's not dark."
"No…but it might as well be after what I did," Mardrena muttered. Her helmet rest on a peg and she twisted the grip of one sword, idly poking the tip into the packed dirt floor.
"Come now. You can't possibly hold yourself at fault. The man was a fool, chasing demons with a cross. If he had sense he would've stayed there and kept the door locked."
"Damnit! I'm th' Lady Ronin, Warrior of th' Wind! I'm supposed ta protect people, and I let an innocent suffer fer my mistake…" Mardrena drove her sword into the ground and clenched her fists. Andrew didn't offer any words of comfort. "He hurt it…I heard him hurt it. It can be killed, an it will be killed. I'll track it ta wherever pit it hides an put an end ta this plague!"
"If you insist on going out alone again, I'll have no part in it…but I…will do one thing." Andrew picked up Rashar's bridle and slipped it over the great horse's head then took the reins. "That old nag of yours looks ready to give out any moment. Take Rashar. He's bred from finest stock and strong, young blood."
"This 'old nag' has carried me through more ventures than ye've had in yuir entire lifetime," Mardrena growled and took up her helmet and sword. "I won't leave her outta this."
"Then let her rest, at least. Both of you. Recover your strength-"
"Every minute I rest here is another that beast has ta escape! I won't rest till that gorgon is myth, like it should be! I owe it ta Douglas!" With that, Mardrena dragged Sakura out of the stall and outside. Before Andrew could protest, she was off.
All Mardrena could think about was vengeance as she rode Sakura towards the chapel. *Men can pardon each other, but I will not this beast go unpunished!*
Without warning, Sakura slowed down and staggered to a stop. "What's wrong wit ya? Th' Chapel's not far. Git movin' ye silly-whoa!" Mardrena slid out of the saddle just before Sakura collapsed to her knees and rolled over, laying her neck on the ground. "Oh no…no! Please don't tell me-" Mardrena crawled over and knelt beside the old mare's head. Sakura was panting rapidly and foaming at the mouth. "Din do this ta me, Sakura. We've been together fer fifteen years…surely ye have more in ye n' that?" Mardrena purred and stroked her mane.
Sakura let out a labored groan and her eyes rolled about erratically. "Please stay wit me…fer one more ride…one more adventure…" Bloody mucus dribbled out of Sakura's nostrils. Not since the news of Jessie's death had Mardrena felt such grief. She slowly drew out a dagger and held it above Sakura with both hands. "Please din tell me I hafta do this…" Sakura let out a muffled whinny and swished her tail jerkily. Tears streamed down Mardrena's cheeks onto the horse's fur. "I'm so sorry. AAAGH!" Mardrena swung down with the dagger.
Whatever the gorgon's blood touched had turned to stone, be it leaves, twigs, or blades of grass. On bare soil a tiny circle of stone marked where blood had fallen. It was easy enough to follow this trail from the chapel to the mouth of a cave. Mardrena drew both swords and joined them, but held the blades in one hand while she shielded her eyes with her arm. "DEMON! I've come fer ya! Face Judgment from th' Lady Ronin!"
"Judgment? For whaaat? " the raspy voice echoed from the deeper recesses of the cave.
"Ye stole th' lives of many innocent folk, many who would live an breathe were not fer ye!"
"I taaaake only what I need… I feed to staaaaay aaaalive…"
"Ta everything there is a purpose, an a time, an a place, an ye've more'n outlived yuirs! I am Mardrena, Lady Ronin of Typhoon, Warrior of th' Wind! Tis my duty ta purge ye!"
"Heh heh heh…you caaaaannot sssstop me with wind."
"Wind wears throughout time," Mardrena started spinning her swords with her fingers, never taking her arm away from her face. She heard faint footsteps, and saw a glimpse of taloned feet shuffling along the ground slowly. "Tis th' Eternal Voice of th' World. It effaces the most ancient of monuments an shapes th' tallest peaks. Tis th' gentlest breeze or th' fiercest gale. Wind erodes rock, of the like found in yuir cave!" Mardrena aimed the sword wheel at the approaching gorgon. "TYPHOON BLAST!!!" The gorgon didn't have the breath to snarl as the winds sent it flying into the dark pit. Tiny fractures in and around the opening became deep cracks as the powerful winds scrubbed dust against every surface, weakening the ceiling and opening. Mardrena stopped the sword wheel and lowered her arm in time to watch the cave collapse into itself, burying the demon under immense stone chunks.
She sheathed her swords and stood there, staring at the wreck. "Tis done…" she whispered and began the long trek back to town.
"Just a bit further…heave! Uhnn!"
"Quit wheezin' like an old-oh wait. Hehe…There…almost got it…Good!" Mardrena crowed as she and Andrew set the last statue on the floor of the abandoned chapel.
"Hard to believe we did together what it would have taken six strong men to do. I see you've become quite the mythical figure yourself," Andrew panted.
"Perhaps…I was kinda hopin' killin' th' beast woulda ended th' curse…seems I was mistaken," Mardrena muttered sadly and stroked the head of the statue of Father Douglas.
"There may yet be hope. You yourself have proven that. As long as my line endures, I will protect them, all of them," Andrew looked over the room full of statues. "Until a cure can be found. Whether it takes five or five hundred years, they will live again." Mardrena didn't say anything but smiled gratefully. Andrew wiped his brow with his sleeve and frowned. "Mardrena…I can't take back what I said and what I did, twenty years ago, but I've had twenty years to ponder, and it's taken me that long to admit fault."
"We were both at fault," Mardrena offered.
"In any case…It's taken me twenty years to learn to forgive you…I…I only hope, you can forgive me too," Andrew said and looked at her. Mardrena didn't answer immediately and stared at the statue of Father Douglas. Then she looked at Andrew.
"Yes…I do. I do fergive ya." She walked over to Andrew and, surprisingly enough, hugged him then kissed him lightly. "I must return ta th' East. Ye'll never see me again."
"Then you can at least accept one final gift from me: Rashar. He's yours, unless you'd rather walk all the way east. Seeing as how your valiant steed has departed this world, you'd need a new mount to carry you in your new adventures."
"Ye drive a hard bargain…but I'll accept. Ye know…ye almost look a few years younger now," Mardrena chuckled. Andrew smirked and the two exited the chapel.
"Farewell, Mardrena of the Typhoon. I wish you long life, and good hunting." Mardrena smiled and saddled up. Rashar immediately took off down the path. Mardrena looked over her shoulder and waved until Andrew passed out of sight for the last time.
She heard hoof beats against grassy soil. Something approached over the rise: a pink-armored woman astride a sleek brown horse. The stallion came to a stop and swished his tail. The armored woman looked her way and removed her helmet. Flame-orange hair fell onto her back.
"Th' fight t'ain't over yet! Tanya, get yuirself over here NOW!" the woman shouted.
"Ahhh!" Tanya Sanada gasped and sat up in bed suddenly, all but flinging the sheets off.
