AN: Sorry for the very long delay. I won't even get into what has kept me because the list would run on for sometime. In any case, thanks to those of you who kept reviewing. And for anyone still interested in this story, here is chapter 9.

Chapter 9

It was becoming very difficult to pretend Kratos wasn't there when she had been unfortunately seated next to him for breakfast. Of course whoever was in charge of such things could hardly be expected to know that they had just shared a tearful and cold exchange a bare two hours ago. Anna looked again at the pitcher of orange juice longingly and then turned away quickly as Kratos turned to meet her eyes. Looking beside him though, he easily deduced what it was she was after and without a word passed the pitcher over before turning back to the conversation between Kalar and the Governor.

Kalar set his fork down upon his empty plate and rested a contented hand upon his stomach, "Yes that was a lovely breakfast. Though I think I'll have to eat something a little lighter if I am to continue on my journey tomorrow." The Governor smiled, "So you will be continuing on tomorrow then?" Kalar nodded, "Yes it is time. We shouldn't keep the good news to ourselves. Though I suspect some people already know. Our next stop is the holy city of Detta. Not a city exactly, more like a grand temple surrounded by a small cluster of smaller temples. I dare say they have had a sign or too of this news I bear already, but I must go to them. They will verify all I've said and begin the preparations for the Chosen's coming."

Anna met this news with a certain amount of relief and apprehension. Kratos wouldn't be able to run away from her if they were on the road together, but on the other hand she wasn't looking forward to spending time with him if he continued to be so cold. Anna sneaked a peak at Kratos, whatever he thought was as usual hidden behind his impassive soldier's mask. One person was not so good at hiding his disappointment though, and this was Elliad, "Father Kalar, while I wish you luck in your journey I must say I am greatly disappointed that you will be taking my charming new acquaintance away so soon." Anna flushed slightly as she realized he was speaking about her.

Kalar hid the knowing smile that had sprung to his lips. He had considered leaving Anna behind and picking her up on his way back but he didn't want to push things too quickly. After all they did say that 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'. Turning to Elliad he said, "I'm sorry my boy, but we must all serve Martel in what way we can. It's not all bad though, you have the whole day ahead of you. I'm sure you can find some amusing way to entertain the young lady."

Elliad seemed greatly pacified at this suggestion and turned to Anna with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes, "Do you ride Anna? We have some beautiful horses here. What do you say to a ride over the grounds and a picnic in the apple orchard? The trees are in bloom." Anna looked from Elliad's hopeful face to Kratos' cold impassive face studying his teacup thoughtfully. In a second her mind was made up, "That's a lovely idea Elliad. I'd love to join you for a ride."


Some time later Kratos stood in the Governor's study, Kalar's voice becoming an indistinct drone as he watched Anna and the Governor's son ride off. Coldly he approved of the match for her. She would become a lady of substance and no doubt the boy would be kind to her and yet his stomach was twisting and he could not unclench his fists. Normally he would welcome 'human' feelings, it was so rare that he had them. But this wasn't helping things at all. 'Jealously is rarely a useful emotion.' He mused to himself. Suddenly this entire mission seemed ridiculously irrelevant. He needed to get out of this office now and do something, anything to stop the vision of her hair shining in the sunlight and her face shining at the boy, smiling up at him, laughing and young and alive. Without a word to Kalar or the Governor, Kratos spun on his heel and marched out of the office, smashing his fist into the suit of armor that stood outside as soon as the study door had snapped shut behind him.

The resultant crash brought both the Governor and Kalar to the hall to see what had happened and Kalar called out to Kratos. Kratos ignored him and continued to walk away but he couldn't ignore what he heard next. Kalar let out a surprised squawk as his foot came down on one of the fallen pieces of armor and with a surprised grunt twisted his leg and came down on his face.

The Governor, and his servant stood over Kalar who was white faced with pain. Kratos quickly hurried over to see what his impatience had wrought. Leaning over he gingerly touched the swelling ankle and Kalar drew his breath in sharply. A few more pokes and prods and Kratos looked down at Kalar, "I don't think it's broken but it's a very bad sprain." Kalar nodded his understanding and the Governor suddenly took charge. Addressing his servant he said, "Call some of the foot men to bring Father Kalar to his room and then summon Doctor Allis."

Kratos looked at the old man and Kalar looked back up at him without accusation. "Kratos I won't be able to leave here tomorrow." Kratos nodded, that had been very clear from the first. He would have liked to heal him right then, but there were too many people around and he did not want to reveal that he could control Mana.

Kalar shifted his weight slightly to get into a better position among the armor. "You and Anna must bring word to the temple. Hopefully I'll be sufficiently recovered by then. There are some things I must tell you both before you leave though. If Anna hasn't returned by mid-afternoon, please bring her back."

Kratos found he was both pleased and disturbed at the thought of spending time alone with Anna on the road but his better judgment won out, "There's no need for that. Anna should stay here with you. I can complete the journey on my own." He said but Kalar was already shaking his head. "You aren't a priest Kratos and you have no affiliation with any temple. Anna's connections are tenuous at best but she's been educated and lived all her life on temple grounds with the priests and priestesses. She must go with you. She knows the Angelic language as well."

Kratos hid his impatience at the ridiculous rules of the temples and their religious leaders; he also hid his apprehension at the thought of what Anna might say about this and put on a face of obedience. "I'll see to it that everything is done. You just try to keep still now."


After a long ride over the grounds Anna was quite happy to slide off her horse into the pink surroundings of apple blossoms; fluttering to the ground all around her. Immediately she was happy that she had come and her smile at Elliad conveyed that and more, "Elliad, it's absolutely gorgeous here." Elliad blushed at her smile, "I'm glad you like it. Why don't we set up the picnic stuff a little further in? We can leave the horses, they won't go too far."

She followed him as he walked deeper into the orchard and stopped where he stopped at the edge of a precipice over hanging a deep forested valley below. The valley seemed dark and forbidding and with a sudden intake of breath Anna realized that it was Craggy Pass. Elliad looked at her with concern, "What's wrong?" Anna shook her head with a small smile, "Oh nothing, I just didn't realize how close we were to Craggy Pass. Father Kalar, Kratos and I had to pass through it to get to your city. It was pretty dark and scary in there but Kratos got us through without any trouble."

Perhaps it was the slightly dreamy expression on her face at the thought of Kratos that caught Elliad's attention because Anna was a little surprised when Elliad's next statement came out in such a dismissive voice. "Did Kratos tell you that Craggy Pass is dangerous? It isn't really you know. People used to think that there were a lot of monsters in there but I go hunting there all the time and have never seen one."

Anna tried to look impressed, "Oh really? I expect Kratos was just being cautious then. He takes his responsibilities pretty seriously." Elliad shrugged his shoulders, "Well I should hope so. Otherwise what is he being paid for?" He turned around then and headed back for the horses, "Come on, I've just thought of a much better place for our picnic." Anna rushed to catch up with him, "Where is it?" Elliad smiled at her, "It's a surprise. But don't worry; it's not too far from here."

An hour later Anna was having trouble keeping her tongue, 'Not too far?' she thought, 'Huh.' She was still grumbling to herself when she realized that they were heading into dense and dark forest. She urged her horse up along side Elliad's and reined in, "Elliad, where are we?" Elliad forced to rein in his horse too, patted the big chestnut neck in front of him before turning to Anna, "I want to show you that Craggy Pass is nothing to worry about. Come on, I think there is a clearing up ahead that we can spread our blanket down on." But Anna wouldn't budge, "Elliad! We're in Craggy Pass right now? Let's go back, it's dangerous in here!" Elliad just smiled, "No, it's not. Even if it was you wouldn't have to worry so long as I'm around. Come on now." And with that he urged his horse forward again.

Anna hesitated a moment, looking behind her. She didn't want to go forward any deeper into this dark place. It made her feel cold and uneasy, but at the same time she didn't want to leave Elliad here alone and she wasn't really sure of the way back. Shaking her head in anger she signaled to her horse to carry her on after Elliad.

He was right about the clearing at least. He slid off his horse and looked up triumphantly at Anna as she surveyed the area he had chosen for their lunch. It was still dark and gloomy but there were fewer trees and more rocks that could be used as little chairs or tables should they wish to do so. "See," he said, "Not so bad is it?" Anna eased herself off of her horse, "I guess not. But I really don't like it here. Can't we go back now? We've been gone a long time; Father Kalar might be getting worried." Elliad patted her hand reassuringly, "We'll go back as soon as we've had our meal. You're absolutely all right. You have nothing to be afraid of. Give me a hand with this basket will you?"

Deciding that the best course of action was to eat and get out of here as soon as she could, Anna took the basket from him and began to set out their lunch on top of a small flat rock while Elliad spread their blanket down beside it. Seated on the blanket, Anna handed Elliad a sandwich and held her own between her hands untouched. "What's wrong?" he asked between mouthfuls, "Not hungry?"

Anna just looked at him and then forced herself to take a bite. Her mouth was too dry to chew but she kept it up until a sudden rattling of the bush close to her made her spit it out and leap to her feet. "What was that?" She noticed then how pale Elliad's face was when he stood with his hand on the hilt of his sword but his voice sounded normal enough when he said, "Probably just some small forest creature." More sounds came from behind them and Anna whirled to face them, "And that?" she hissed. Elliad's voice was as scared as hers when he said, "I don't know."

The sounds were coming from all around them now and the horses where snorting and rearing in fear. Suddenly Elliad broke out of the frozenness he had been in and grabbing Anna's hand said, "Come on, we've got to get to the horses!" Before they had taken more than a step though, a large flower monster emerged from the brush in front of them. Spinning around Anna watched in horror as monsters of every kind stepped out of the forest, surrounding them. Anna clutched Elliad's arm in fear and felt him shaking. She whispered to him, "They're all around us. We have to get out of here!"

Haltingly, Elliad drew his blade, "Stay close to me Anna!" Anna nodded and took out the knife that Kratos had given her. As though that were a signal of some kind all four or five of the monsters rushed at them at once. Elliad and Anna were forced back and back, thrusting and slashing with every step.

Two monsters were dead before they realized they were on a path of some kind. Anna looked back and saw a rotting roof behind them, "Elliad, there's a house of some kind; we've got to get to it." Elliad's answer was a piercing scream as a monster bit into his arm forcing him to drop his sword. Anna stabbed at it frantically until it was dead and then grabbing the now shocked and wounded Elliad's good arm dragged him down the path to the relative safety of the dilapidated shack rising up out of the gloom ahead of them.

Climbing up over a broken step, she hurled Elliad into the room with unknown strength and slammed the door, throwing her body against it to brace it. The little shack had but one window that was thankfully boarded but the monsters that remained were pounding relentlessly on the door, trying to break it in. "Elliad!" Anna screamed, "Find something to brace the door!" He looked up at her with eyes dulled with shock, cradling his injured arm, but took no move to do what she asked. The pounding was actually knocking her off of the door now. There wasn't much time. "Elliad! I need your help! Please!"

Something stirred within him and clumsily he pushed over a sturdy table to the door. With quick work Anna upended it and braced it against the door, and then she flew around the cabin looking for anything with substantial weight to brace the table. When she had done all that she could, she at last paused a moment to catch her breath. The sounds at the door were ceasing but she could hear scratching as the monsters circled the cabin looking for some other entrance. She wasn't too worried about that though; monsters were vicious but not known for intelligence. They weren't likely to find a way in, but on the other hand, they weren't likely to give up and leave them alone either.

And with the smell of blood coming from Elliad's injured arm, more would come. She turned in time to see Elliad sit down with a heavy thud, still cradling his bleeding arm. The shock was wearing off and with it came the pain. "My arm," he whimpered, "It bit my arm!"

Anna knelt beside him and took the bloody thing in her own hands. There was green puss around the wound. "Poison" she whispered and Elliad heard her and she saw the panic rise in his eyes. She pulled the handkerchief from his pocket and started ripping up pieces of her dress to make a hasty bandage. "Don't worry," she soothed him. "I'm sure your doctors will have the anecdote for this."

His teeth had begun to chatter as she worked on him. "N-No one will find us here. T-they d-don't know where we are." Anna hugged him to her, trying to keep him warm. "Shhh, Kratos will find us. I've never seen a more capable man. We just need to hold on."


Mid afternoon had come and gone when Kratos set off for the Apple orchard looking for Anna. He rode slowly, fearing what he might walk in on in such a romantic setting and also using the time to lock down his feelings. He was a little shocked at Anna's irresponsibility. She knew they were leaving the next day, but he thought it might be Elliad that was delaying them and it was all too easy to direct spiteful feelings at the boy. But what could be keeping them? The question reminded Kratos of the romantic nature of their outing and pushed the thought away again.

Whatever her feelings may be for him, Kratos doubted that Anna was a fast girl, and if Elliad didn't realize that, Kratos would be happy to drive the message home. These thoughts were halted as he entered the orchard and realized how quiet it was. His keen hearing should have been able to pick up their location even if they weren't talking. 'Perhaps they aren't talking?' some ghastly part of his mind offered and he pushed it away quickly. No, that wasn't it. The orchard had an empty feeling to it. Nevertheless, Kratos searched for traces of the two, knowing all a long that he would find nothing.

Where had he taken her? Searching the ground now he picked up the trial the horses had left and quickly he made to follow. His horse picked its way carefully down the orchard trail into a ravine which Kratos knew led into the outskirts of the Craggy Pass forest.

A sudden jerk of unexpected anxiety let him know that all could not be well. Faster he urged his horse into the forest. The horse, sensing the close presence of many monsters balked and refused to go any further, despite Kratos' insistence. Kratos felt pressed for time, he was getting the sense that he was needed and with a feeling of exasperated urgency he leapt of the horse and let it run off. His worry over Anna's safety was being closely matched by his growing rage against Elliad. The boy had spent his whole life in this area; surely he must have realized how dangerous it would be to come here? Reigning in his feelings, Kratos cast about for their trail.


The most absurd feeling was spreading over Anna. She was beginning to feel sleepy. From the barest cracks in the roof she could tell that the light was fading and afternoon was quickly changing to evening. She didn't know if there were still monsters circling the cabin but she wasn't about to open the door and look. She felt like she had been lying on this dingy floor with Elliad forever. Elliad was still so cold and though she lay close to him, trying to keep him warm, more and more heat seemed to be seeping out of him. Thankfully he had fallen asleep and now it seemed as though all the nervous energy she had expended was catching up with her as her eyes started to feel heavy. She knew she should stay awake, what if something got in, or if someone was looking for them? But logic was overridden as she drifted off into an exhausted slumber.

Kratos circled the remains of what had surely been Anna and Elliad's picnic lunch. Evening was setting in and the normally grim forest would soon be pitch black. This was nothing to trouble Kratos though, and in no time his excellent vision picked up their trail. He started down it at a trot, still scanning the ground for signs of their flight until he detected blood. "Anna!" he gasped and set off at a run. It didn't take him long to come upon the shabby cabin. There were no monsters in sight but he could feel their presence. It was of no matter. Anna was inside that cabin, and that's where he was going. He could take care of any creature that dared to appear later.

Kratos hit the door at full speed and felt something behind the door bracing it shut. Quickly he channeled his mana into an air thrust attack that ripped the door to shards as well as whatever was behind it. He climbed threw the wreckage and froze at what he saw. There lay Anna, wrapped around the boy and covered in blood.

"Anna!" he cried and was kneeling by her in an instant. He picked her up and felt the warmth from her body. "Still alive!" he muttered and then gently shook her, "Anna, Anna! Wake up!" So slowly she opened her eyes and in a voice slurred with sleep and exhaustion asked, "Kratos? Is it you?" He embraced her oh so briefly and then looking down at her asked, "Where are you hurt?"

Alertness flooded back into Anna and she pulled herself up into a sitting position with Kratos' help. Still holding on to him for balance she turned to look at Elliad, "It's not me, I'm fine. It's Elliad, he's bleeding so much! We have to get him to a doctor!" But Kratos seemed not to have heard her as he searched her body looking for the source of the blood. She ripped herself away from him and rose slowly. Trying to force her voice to calmness she said, "Kratos, I'm fine. It's not me, it's Elliad. He was attacked by a monster."

Kratos spared a quick glance at Elliad and then turned back to Anna. Now that he could see she was all right his anxiety was quickly overcome by the anger he had held at bay. "What are you doing out here! Did this foolish boy lead you here?" Anna shrank back slightly at the rage in his voice. She had never seen Kratos so angry. He was always so calm and under control. Seeing him like this made her realize that Kratos was a dangerous man. It was something that she had never really considered about him before. Gallantly she struggled to find her tongue, "I don't think Elliad realized how dangerous it was. Can you help him? He's hurt quite badly."

Kratos could see that and didn't really care, in any case he knelt next to him and putting his hand over the wound muttered, "First Aid". A flash of green light filled the cabin and Anna gasped, "You can use magic?" Kratos ignored her, watching as Elliad opened his eyes in surprise. That look quickly changed to fright as Kratos lifted Elliad to his feet and pushed him against a wall. In a quiet growl he said, "Explain to me what you are doing with this girl out in Craggy Pass."

Elliad was struggling to come to terms with his present situation, he quickly took in that his arm seemed to be healed and there were no monsters about but now this troubling situation had arisen. The man in front of him looked angry enough to kill. Elliad stammered, "I-I just wanted to-to take her somewhere interesting. I-I didn't th-think…" Elliad trailed off, the fact was he hadn't really been thinking at all.

Steeling herself, Anna stepped in front of him and faced Kratos, "Please Kratos, we're so sorry. Can't we just go back now?"

Kratos saw the fear in her eyes when she looked at him. She was afraid…of him. This surprised and quieted him. Quickly he brought himself under control and speaking quietly but coldly he said, "We'll go back in the morning. There's no light now. You two get some rest. I'll keep watch outside." And with that he abruptly turned and walked out of the shabby cabin. Anna watched him go, so choked with feeling that she couldn't say anything.