Chapter 4 Yay! I'm getting these up pretty fast. I guess I just have too much free time. As promised this chapter has much more action, and I beleive that it might be my favorite as of yet. I don't know why but I like to cause my characters turmoil so when they get hurt, it wasn't purely just coincidence. I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Xave and ToxicRainfall. Thanks for the encouragement you guys and also to Katrina my long time freind who has been so kind as to edit and proof read my work on occation. Well enjoy you guys! this ones for you!

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Kirlsa as it happened seemed to be in an uproar at the moment. Lights had flooded the streets and the ruckus appeared to be coming from outside the inn. Albel shoved his way to the front of the crowd, and saw not one but three other Aquarian spies, facing a very peeved looking Payne. They couldn't run and she couldn't just kill them in front of all these people, so a stalemate had been initiated. Albel on the other hand didn't care about murdering these fools in front of children, let alone adults. So as was natural to him he swiftly took care of the closest of the three to himself.

Payne's amber eyes flickered to the swordsman and he just shrugged and addressed the crowd. "Get back to your houses, your all out past curfew. Unless you want to be punished I suggest you all leave." well that was one way to take care of it, threaten the people they were sworn to protect. Brilliant. But it worked, soon the crowd was diminished and Payne, Albel and the two assassins were the only ones left in the street. Even the soldiers who patrolled the city were nowhere in sight. It just showed how much people feared and respected Albel. It only served to fuel Payne's annoyance to her situation more.

"So what brings fools like you so far from home tonight?" Albel asked calmly his arm resting on the sheath of his blade which he was currently inspecting with little interest.

For a second time that night Albel was greeted with silence. It didn't perturb him though neither did it bother him when one of them lunged unexpectedly not toward him but at Payne who ducked under the sword easily and tripped the man all without drawing the long dagger at her hip. She grabbed the back of his shirt and kicked him back to the ground at his partner's feet.

"I believe Albel asked you a question." She stated crossing her arms and staring down at them.

The man still standing finally spoke, he seemed sure of the topic and himself it was enough to make Albel want to laugh at him though he didn't.

"Her Majesty Queen Aquaria has ordered the capture of Payne of Airyglyph, under circumstances only revealed to those of the crimson blade. We have been sent by Lady Nel Zelpher to complete the mission."

"Sounds like a suicide mission to me." Payne said more to herself then any present, and then she addressed the soldier again. "If your to capture me… why did you try it kill me while I slept?" Indeed she had been comfortably asleep when she had sensed something wrong and woken herself up in time to avoid a blade coming at her head. A small scratch on the side of her cheek was proof of her near beheading.

"You're a threat to our Holy Mother; you will be executed once you reach our capital anyway."

"Why not kill him" Payne jabbed her finger to Albel who shot her… An amused look? She shook off her surprise and continued on. "Surly Albel the Wicked poses much more of a threat then a grounded Dragon Knight"

"Our prophecies dictate that in a time before war an 'Arrow of Destruction' would appear in the land of our foe, not until recently did our queen deduce that the prophecy speaks of you mysterious decent into Airyglyph."

"Oh so it took you that long to figure out something like that?" Payne asked a malicious smile spreading across her face.

"you don't deny it then?" eh gasped as though his worst fears had just been realized, Payne just shrugged and glance over to Albel who looked bored out of his mind. He glanced her way and smiled "Your done I take it?"

"Do what you want, I'm going to bed" she snapped. She wasn't ever in a good mood when people woke her up; in fact she was usually quite murderous. They were lucky she hadn't been asleep long or they wouldn't have lived as long as they did. Albel seemed pleased that he'd be able to soak his hands as Payne turned her back and when she reached the room she was staying in, a scream of agony was heard from the front of the building. Perhaps letting Albel take control of the situation wasn't the best idea, it was too late to stop him now though. So Payne simply settled herself back onto the bed she had previously been sleeping on and allowed her self to doze off into a fitful slumber.

Payne was rudely awoken when something hit her head rather hard the next morning. Upon getting up and investigating she learned that Albel had thrown her own boot at her to get her up.

"It's a full days travel to get to Kirlsa, we're leaving early to get there before dark" he snapped when she asked (or more like growled). The girl grumbled something dark under her breath as she got dressed while he waited outside the room impatiently. When she was finished they walked down to the stables in an uncomfortable silence. Payne didn't want to be riding all day again. She was still getting over the stiffness of the day before. And even though she was in a bad mood form being woke like she was, she wasn't about to argue with Albel, he seemed irritated despite his little 'workout' last night.

So soon they were riding again at a brisk pace and the red-head felt as though she'd had enough riding for a life time. But her mind was soon taken off her discomfort, when it wandered to the night before. Something gave her a nagging suspicion that this wasn't over. And the thought of that consumed her until she heard a something that sounded like a deep, loud horn. It was apparent that it had been the Lum when it reared and Payne, whose grip around Albel's middle had slackened, was thrown off the back of the frightened creature. For a moment she was disoriented, that is until a fiery pain erupted from her side. One of the spikes tied around the Lum's hoof had plunged into her side as Albel tried to calm the beast.

Payne wasn't even aware that she had cried out until she heard herself and abruptly stopped and clutched her side gasping for air. It hurt like hell; she couldn't even bring herself to look at it.

"Get up" Albel said going to her side, "All that blood is going to attract monsters."

"Why don't you try to putting that stake through your side," She snapped opening one eye to glare at him "Then try to get up. You'll find it's not all that easy."

"If you're well enough to argue you're well enough to travel" He growled. But Payne didn't move an inch; he rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated noise.

"If you weren't in favour of the king and he told me not to let you die I'd leave you here to be eaten by those beasts." He snapped and picked her up bridal style. She let out a whimper of protest as he jostled her wound.

"Do me one better and just kill me. I'd rather be dead then put up with you for the rest of the day." She snapped back, her temper had risen again and being injured had not helped it.

Surprisingly though, instead of snapping at her, Albel laughed. It wasn't cold or harsh as she had heard numerous times before but it was an honest to god unintentional laugh. Again she winced though as his arms moved slightly. She elbowed him to get him to stop and it worked though he shifted her out of spite in revenge.

"I seem awfully popular today" She said dryly when she opened her eyes. Her side was covered in blood but that wasn't what had triggered her comment, it was the mass of beasts that were skulking and creeping over and around rocks and bushes. There were a lot of them and Payne doubted that even Albel could take on that many monsters at once, especially when she was in the way. So he simply had to get rid of the dead weight right? Wrong.

"hold onto my neck" Albel growled into her ear. She jumped a bit and looked at him like he was crazy.

"Your not planning to fight those things while carrying me are you?" she asked.

"Do it or I'll drop you" he snapped back. Payne did as she was told this time and carefully wrapped her arms around his neck. His hand left her back so he only supported her legs and drew his sword, waiting for the monsters to make the first strike.

It was a long three seconds after that and the idea that she could probably heal her self with runology crossed her mind but she wasn't about to mention it now. The battle had already started.

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Cliffhanger!! Sorry guys I haven't finished the battle yet.... I'm no good at fight scenes but I'll get the next chapter up ASAP! Chow