Kripes! Hunting the hunters?
Gourry ran.
Gourry ran so hard and fast his lungs were burning for air and his legs were practically on fire. Zelgadiss was in the lead, chimiric speed keeping him ahead, stone body crushing nettles and brambles aside to clear the path for everyone else. Amelia followed him; being more adept than Lina at jumping over rocks and ducking low branches –surprisingly so. Lina was next and Gourry kept the rear, constantly checking for pursuit.
He was good at that sort of thing; and enjoyed it, but really only when it wasn't truly needed. Because if it was then they were in some kind of trouble.
Lina stumbled but he ploughed on, picking her up and carrying her with him, ignoring her struggle to get lose so he could focus on staying upright and any threat from behind.
Realising that she wasn't going to get free anytime soon, Lina covered her blush and caught her breath, calling their charge to an end.
Zelgadiss skidded to a halt and before he even looked behind him cast an arm out to catch Amelia as she threw herself to the side to avoid crashing into him. Once she (and Lina) had been set properly to their feet (though Amelia promptly collapsed to her knees) they went about the vital business of getting their breath back while Lina watched their backs.
"So" Zel gasped "What now?"
Lina looked at her friends. Zelgadiss was standing, but his chest was heaving rapidly, he seemed the most recovered though. Amelia remained on her knees, trying to force air down her throat which only seemed to want to close up with the effort, and Gourry was bent over, leaning on his hands against a tree, golden locks hiding his face from her completely. She didn't feel much better either.
"We need a safe place to rest before we do anything. Which means getting out of here"
"We've left a pretty clear trail to this point. If we move slower we can cover our tracks and get our breath back. Then maybe try and get a view of where we are" Lina nodded assent to Zel's suggestion and checked on the other two. They were both still breathing heavily, but seemed much better than a moment ago.
"If they manage to catch up with us, it's probably best not to use magic, since we know they're more than able to counter it. Gourry, Zel, if we're challenged, you're the best with swords and can attack, I'll play defensive and Amelia can hang back and heal us okay?"
Everyone nodded, and once Zel and Lina had agreed on what direction north was they struck out, hoping to find the town they had been heading for before they took the plunge into the lake.
After ten or so minutes of walking, Lina became aware to the tense atmosphere surrounding the group. The young princess in particular was jumping at any shadow that crossed their path, which was understandable considering how close she'd been to… Lina couldn't even think about it. Leaving Zel to lead she fell back to walk beside Amelia and gave her a small smile before focusing ahead again, beginning in a serious tone that whole hopefully commandeer the princess's full attention.
"Amelia, who knew you were going to look for the Heart of Iris?" Amelia blinked
"Not a lot of people. Only Daddy and Uncle Christopher knew at home… and only the Mayor and the Duke's representative in Alba knew why I was there. But then… Xellos found out… but he said it was you looking for it Lina-san." Up a head of them Zel scoffed
"Humph, remember that rabbit in Krimson? If Xellos could get information from it then there's probably any number of other creatures who could have overheard us at any point. Beast-priest indeed"
"Now, now Zelgadiss-san, I do hope you don't mean that in any derogatory terms" Xellos said, as he appeared suddenly beside them, eyes opened in a threat "I would hate to have to destroy you."
Zel snarled, but held his tongue as Lina stepped forward and grabbed the trickster by the collar, pulling him down to eye level.
"I ought to let Amelia lecture you on love, truth and justice for the rest of eternity after skipping out on us like that! And if you don't have an airtight explanation or anything useful for us, I'll help her do it!" Checking her temper, she let him go and stood arms akimbo fixing him with a glare that promised she would live up her words if he was going to disappoint them "Although I doubt you'd come back without good reason."
"You know me too well Lina-san!" Xellos chirruped, smiling again "Firstly the town you're heading for is that way" he said, pointing them in a direction a few degrees further west than they had been heading "Secondly, the group that attacked you are entirely human, there's no trace of any Dark Lord or lesser Mazoku involved with them"
"That's why you left?" yelled Zel "Afraid on stepping on some other mazoku's pet project?"
"No" Lina said calmly "He was just making sure he was on the winning side. If there's no Mazoku interest in this beyond whether or not we can find anything relating to Iris, then Xellos is free to help us if he wants, otherwise he might be starting another internal feud between the dark lords, and after what happened to Gaav I doubt they can afford it with Hellmaster gone now too."
"Very intuitive Lina-san!" Lina's gazed narrowed in on him appraisingly
"So, are you going to jump out on us again, or are you staying?"
"I will have other business to attend to from time to time, but for the most part I'll be staying."
"I don't suppose we have any choice" Zel murmured to himself as Amelia gave him a sympathetic pat. Gourry just shrugged, glad at least that none of the really bad mazoku were after them.
"Well then, let's get on. If we're lucky we'll get there in time for a late lunch."
As they continued, the forest slowly gave way to plains and fields, tree roots and bramble turned into a semblance of a track, and eventually a clear road, however, with roads came-
"Well lookie what we have here."
-bandits
"Two mercenaries and two sorceresses minding a single priest? This guy must be carrying the collection for the poor" Xellos raised an eyebrow at the comment, though inside he was laughing hysterically.
A quick headcount determined there were a dozen of them blocking the path. Not a problem for Lina, a single Dill Brand would clear the road. She just wasn't sure it was worth the bother.
"Look guy's I'm really not in the mood today. Get out of our way and no-one gets hurt." The bandits sniggered and their seeming leader, a well built and oddly clean man (for a bandit) with a shock of red hair and an evil looking axe thrust through his belt stood forward.
"You have no idea who you're talking to, do you little girl?"
A vein on Lina's forehead started throbbing and the others, Xellos included, took this as a sign to stand well back.
"…crimson beyond twilight…" Lina chanted, before releasing her spell "Fireball!"
When the dust and smoke had cleared, the leader was still standing there, completely unharmed. One of the others behind him dropped his arm, dismissing the Balus Wall he had summoned. Lina blinked in surprise
"Smart bandits! Well there's a first!" The leader smirked and raised his own hand, the spell gathering there was certainly no fireball
"Blast Ash!"
Lina yelped and dove out of the way, feeling the spell pass inches over her. It collided with Amelia and Zelgadiss's hastily drawn up shield, pushing against it for a moment before dissipating. Lina sprang back to her feet; suddenly twelve seemed like a huge number.
The initial test of skill and strength over, the bandits separated into two groups in a co-ordinated move. Five blocked the road ahead but ready to jump in if needed; the other six joined their leader in offensive positions. Lina turned slightly sideways to address the group.
"Gourry, Zel, with me, Xellos take out the five at the back, Amelia defensive spells." Before they could agree, Lina had the first spell ready formed in hand "Balus Rod!"
Lina charged straight down the middle, breaking the attacking force up with the flailing whip and taking on the red-haired leader. Zel and Gourry darted left and right, each ending up locking swords with two bandits, Amelia had her hands full stopping errant spells from hitting anyone while defending herself against the one bandit who seemed determined to fry her.
Xellos had it easiest, simply phasing in behind the back line he knocked each over the head in turn rendering them unconscious, or dead, Lina didn't really have time to check just so long as they weren't a problem.
After only five minutes Lina's fight was at a standstill. Each of them had landed a few hits, but nothing significant, and neither would give the other enough time to cast anything large enough to possibly end it. The closest that came was when a Daug Haut from Zel unintentionally interrupted the bandit forcing him to dodge rather than counter.
An idea came to Lina and she cast her arm out swiftly "Dolph Strash!" Had her opponent been any slower the spell would have cut him clean in half, as it was he was able to move to avoid a direct impact so that it only sliced his side enough to draw blood. Lina cursed and prepared another spell when help arrived
"Visfarank!" The bandit who had been attacking Amelia found himself sailing backwards and colliding with his boss, bringing them both down. Leaping to the top of one of the stalagmites Zelgadiss has created earlier she pointed down at them in a fury, cape flying behind her.
"Evil doers!" she began and everyone stopped to look at her, those who knew what was coming could feel the sweat already forming "Know this; you may be able to live with your wrong doings but I shall never forgive you! Repent of your evil ways and embrace life or prepare to face the hammer of justice!"
She jumped from the top, landing on the unlucky soul she had just sent flying and somersaulted off him finally stopping next to Lina, who merely glanced across at her
"Nice landing."
"Thanks Lina-san!"
"Enough of this!" snapped the bandit leader "Give me a shield" he ordered one of his still standing men and began to chant, as the defensive aura meant he couldn't be interrupted.
"Source of all power, crimson fire burning bright!" Lina started, was that what she though it was? "Gather in my hand and become an inferno!"
"Everyone! Run!"
Taking Amelia's hand Lina began legging it along the road Xellos had cleared, following his lead, Zel and Gourry soon catching up with them.
"Burst Flare!"
But then so was their imminent fiery death.
"This isn't fair! I'm too young, too pretty and too talented to be toast!" Lina wailed then let out a surprised noise as Amelia turned and yanked her hand away, causing her to loose balance.
"Flow break!"
The Burst Flare disappeared instantly, and the road ahead was clear. Their retreat would have been complete, if Amelia had been the only one casting the spell. Words her sister would certainly have punished Lina for knowing sprang to mind as she noticed Michael and his companion approach, the glow of his spell wearing off leaving only Amelia's.
The gang slipped into battle positions once again but the lady with lilac eyes spoke first.
"We mean you no harm! I suggest you run, leave this lot to us."
"What the heck is going on here? How are we supposed to believe that?" Lina yelled
"Trust us!" Michael called, his eyes then meeting with Amelia's "The town ahead has a guard now, tell them the phoenix sent you and they'll let you through!"
Enraged, the bandit leader rushed forward, axe at the ready, but was blocked by the bar of the Priestess's staff.
"Lina-san, whether they mean us any harm or not, this is probably the best chance we'll have to get out of here." Lina nodded agreement to the words Xellos whispered and signalled to everyone to get running again.
Springing back from his adversary, the leader called out to their retreating backs
"Hey, Little Girl! The name's Duvliyn. Liam Duvliyn, remember it, it'll be the last thing you hear in this life!" he promised using blood from the wound she had caused in his side to make a mark on his forehead before turning back to the Priestess "and you Phoenix-sama, can burn in hell!"
Just what in the world is going on here? First Michael tries to drown us, and then he saves us from these clowns! Who are the bad guys in this picture?
Next time on Slayers HEART; Luxury! Rest and recuperation!
…well thank goodness for that.