The Ties That Bind

So who's getting YU PSP? I know I am. Hope I like Elena's voice…

I also kinda don't want to update too fast because I want to know exactly what Bly and Mistel are doing, and whether or not it could affect my plot.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"Unh… where?"

At the soft words from the assassin, Azel glanced over to the bed beside him. Elena stirred slightly for a second before her eyes snapped open, her body tensing.

"You're awake." He voice was drained of all emotion as he spoke. "To answer your earlier question, we are currently in Castle Karona, and it is midday."

Elena paused for a long while. "Then we won?"

"I suppose. That particular band won't be troubling anyone from now on."

Elena sat upright and shook her head. "Uh… the last thing I remember was… killing that bandit that tried to ambush you. And then…" She frowned. "You… pointed your spear at me… or in my general direction."

"Yes," Azel remarked dryly, "As it so happened, there was another of the brigands attempting to ambush you. I'm uncertain why you weren't able to detect him… but there was no harm done aside from you getting knocked on the head rather roughly. Lady Flone decided that it prudent that we get you treatment at the best possible location – which would naturally be the castle."

"Oh, okay." Elena sat up in bed, brows furrowed in deep thought for several seconds, then she straightened up, blinked, and looked to Azel. "Does that… were you the one who saved me?"

The Crimson Rider sighed and nodded. "I was the one who killed the bandit attacking you, yes."

The young assassin managed a weak smile in Azel's direction. "Then… th – thanks for saving me."

A frown creased Azel's features. "Don't. You saved me before that – just consider it a favour repaid."

Elena sighed and rubbed her head, still feeling a slight ache as her fingers brushed across the small but noticeable bump where she had struck herself. It was probably going to form a lovely bruise later on.

"No," she shook her head. "A good deed's a good deed, whether or not you did it to 'repay' me or something. I want to thank you. Also… well… you've been sitting here waiting for me to wake up, haven't you?"

The knight gave a noncommittal grunt. "Lady Flone recommended that someone be here to watch over you until you woke up. I overexerted myself during the fight – or at least that's what they told me – so it wasn't much of a decision at all."

Elena nodded once and looked up. "So, uh… what's next?"

"Next?" Azel echoed? "Next, we rest. We recuperate, and when we're ready we set out for the 5th Cavalry." That saying, he stood and began to walk out the doorway. "Anyway, I've to go tell Lady Flone that you've awakened."

The assassin sank back onto her bed and closed her eyes. Sleep did sound good right about now…

"Elena."

She opened her eyes and looked back to the doorway, where Azel was looking at her with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Yes?"

There was a long pause, and the Crimson Rider nodded once.

"You did well. Good work."

And then he was gone.

"Hiya, Flunky." Milanor greeted nonchalantly as he pushed the door to their bunk open. "How's the wound?"

"'Sfine, boss! I told you you shoulda just let me stay there and fight!"

The Silver Wolf rolled his eyes and flopped down onto the nearby bed. "Yeah, well, if it's fighting you want so badly, you're going to have plenty of it in the next couple months."

"Yeah, about that, boss. Why'd we need to go all the way out to the border just to beat up on bandits? They're still plenty of 'em in the central areas."

"Yeah, and so far that's where we've been working all this time. So if we go out to the borders the bandits there won't be expecting us, and we'll be able to hit 'em hard and fast."

"Oh… hey, yeah! You're smart, boss!"

Milanor raised one shoulder up and down. "Yeah, that's what they all tell me. Now leave me alone for a while, would ya? I've got a headache and I need a nap."

"Sure thing."

Milanor rolled over and sighed. He hadn't yet told any of his men the real reason they were all going to the 5th Cavalry's garrison, and he suspected that particular secret would be kept for quite some time yet. He honestly didn't feel very comfortable lying to his men – as a rule, his men had to trust him as much as he trusted them, and that pretty much meant that Milanor kept his intentions and goals plain.

Not that it could be argued, from a purely logical standpoint, that telling them was going to do any good. The 5th Cavalry couldn't suspect too much or things would get hairier than they already were, so the less people who knew about the plan the better.

But that didn't mean it grated on him any less.

Milanor shook his head, rolled over, and tried to catch some much needed sleep.

Meanwhile, halfway across the continent, Roswell stepped back with a nod of satisfaction. The magic runes had all been drawn, the invocative candles had been lit…

"We're ready." Roswell finally said, unable to keep the excitement from his voice. Having Rosary back would be good enough, especially now that they no longer had any reason to fight over the silly ankh business, but if he succeeded in this… it would be a validation of his path as a necromancer – a mastery over death that no mortal had ever wielded before.

"Master Roswell?"

"Ah, Temas. I believe we can begin as soon as you bring the coffin in."

"Very well."

Are you watching, Rosary? You'll be back soon… very soon.

As the heavy stone chest was placed on the centre of the ceremonial dais, Roswell nodded slowly. He'd elected not to open the coffin because, well, he'd seen her remains shortly after the Royal Army had killed her and it hadn't been a pleasant sight. The decomposition would only make it worse and –

He shook his head. He had to focus. Around him, his men were already taking up their positions, preparing to aid him in augmenting the power of the spell.

Closing his eyes, he began the incantation. Reaching out with magic, he felt the connection to the Transmigragem, the Ankh shards, the carefully arrayed artifacts he'd brought with him – felt them begin to resonate.

"… nmeo tesli astornalha…"

Continuing the spell for several long seconds, Roswell finally reached a moment, a peak, a single instant where the gathered energies were at their apex – and he sent the full force of the spell into the still form he knew lay within the coffin.

"NGH!"

The resulting power feedback forced Roswell to his knees, energy draining from his body at an astonishingly rapid rate. Forcing his eyes open, Roswell saw several of his servants breaking their formation, moving over to him.

"N - no! Hold your place!" Roswell blurted out. "Maintain the matrix! The spell… will be completed!" He noted with grim satisfaction that the mages slowly stepped back into their original positions, strengthening the spell.

And now there was nothing left to do but to endure, to wait until the spell was completed. Screwing his eyes shut and gasping for breath, Roswell endured.

And then finally, finally, the chaotic whirlwind of energy began to subside. Collapsing on all fours, face dripping with sweat, Roswell lifted his head up weakly. "Open the coffin."

He had to know. He had to see for himself.

Slowly, painfully, he pulled himself over the marble tiling, reaching out with one hand to grasp the stone edge. Pausing for yet another moment to gather his breath, he pulled himself up to look inside.

Rosary lay there, skin as pristine and perfect as the day she was born. No wounds marred her features, no blood stained her clothes. And even as he watched, her eyes began to flutter.

"Rosary…" He breathed.

Her eyes opened, and she shifted her gaze, enough that she was now looking him in the eye.

"…Roswell."

He managed a nod. "Yes. It's me. You're back."

And then she slapped him. Hard.

Roswell was stunned into complete inaction for several seconds as he felt the smarting pain on his cheek. Finally, his mind clicked into gear enough for him to say, "That wasn't the response I had in mind."

And then Rosary slapped him again.

Chapter End.

Short chapter that serves mainly as a bridge to further plot points. Next chapter should be where things get more interesting.

Thanks for reading. Please review.