CHAPTER XXVIII
When the sun rose in the morning and cast its golden rays down upon the great Tigris Estate, Allen was still sitting in the wooden of the small sailboat, deep in thought, his head thrown back against the mast. Te calm rocking side to side of the boat calmed him in a peculiar way, like nothing else had calmed him before, for years.
But as the day came about, and the darkness ebbed away in the sky at the view of the sun behind the Mountains, Allen realized he could not spend the day sitting alone in the dockyard, and sighing righted himself and stood up. He sprinted off the sailboat's deck unto the dock easily, for the boat had not drifted too long a distance from its boards, and walked towards the land.
As soon as he placed a boot on the grass, his eyes fell upon the jungle that lined innocently yards away. It was in the exact opposite direction of the House, bright emerald green and lush and full of life. He felt a yearning to walk amongst its amazing trees and plants, and he turned towards it.
It was fresh in the dawn, and a soft mist was surrounding the jungle, licking up to Allen's knees. The blond felt chilled, and hastened his steps to warm himself. Soon he found himself walking down an almost faded path, carefully stepping over roots that crossed it, rounding bushes and ducking below heavy low branches. The jungle was wild and alive around him, and it seemed to giggle along with his walk.
He felt a soft laugh at his right, and turned and saw a small butterfly hanging in the air by his hand. He turned his palm up and it rested in the birth of his thumb, light as a feather and ticking him with its spidery legs.
A voice was whispering, watch your step, turn back, and Allen had the peculiar idea it came from the butterfly itself. That was ridiculous, of course, and he moved his hand and the butterfly flew away, but not too far, to a nearby leaf, from where it seemed to watch him, in reproach, as if he were a child not listening to wiser words.
Allen turned and went deeper into the jungle, his hand resting instinctively in the hilt of his sword. He found himself gasping a little for air, and then, he was a in a strange clearing, where a pond lay in the center, undisturbed as a sheet of glass. He walked to it and kneeled by it, and dipped his hands in the ice-cold water and splashed it gently over his face, relishing in its freshness.
"Well now" a soft voice said. Allen turned, and found a tall, impressively tall woman indeed, looking at him. She was remarkably beautiful, and had a silvery moon like glint to her white skin and silver white unruly hair that fell over her chest to her waist. Her forehead was wide and aristocratic, and there was a strange sort of unnatural quality to her figure—as if she was human looking, but not human at all. Her arms were too long, reaching her knees, and ending in too long, spidery fingered hands. She was wearing a wide emerald green dress with golden thread at the bottom that dragged over the grass. "What have we here, I wonder?" she asked with a tingling voice.
Allen felt confused and numb. Even blinking required effort. But his breathing was not labored, and his heart was not racing. He just fell sleepy and slow. Slightly alarmed, he got to his feet.
"Easy now, boy." The woman said, and she was suddenly by his side, grabbing his shoulder to steady him—or to capture him—he was unsure. "I wouldn't' want you to stumble into the pond—I would lose you forever."
Allen frowned, attempting to concentrate. Her hand in his shoulder was gentle, but firm, and she was so close, so very close he could smell her scent, like fresh rain water and the grass of a field after a storm. And something else, something he knew well but couldn't presently point...
"There, there" she said, touching her fingers to his temple and running them down his hair later, in a soothing way, smiling. "No need to worry, my dear. Such a dear boy" she leaned in to press a soft cold kiss to his temple. "No pain, see?"
She slipped her long cool fingers down his nape to his neck, under the angle of his jaw. Allen felt numb and slow, he couldn't focus his eyes. It occurred to him that something was happening to his body—but the thought raced away without him, for he was unable to focus. He blinked numbly. "No, but—what is... why am I so...?" he struggled to finish the idea, but the woman was shushing him and tilting his head to the side, and he gave in without resistance.
She slipped her arm around his lower back and came close against him, taller than him, and pressed gentle kiss to the side of his neck. Allen's hand instinctively came to rest on her hip to embrace her, and he became aware of her hand grasping his sword arm's wrist very tightly and keeping it at his side.
And then he realized—that smell, he couldn't place. It was blood. But he was too numb to react, and he simply closed his eyes and let her do whatever it was she wanted—the idea of defending himself far from springing into his mind.
She inhaled his scent deeply, and opened her mouth wide and bared her sharp fangs to pierce the skin of his neck—
"I hope you are very certain you want to do that." A voice stopped her, her eyes snapped open and her pupils narrowed to slits. She retracted her fangs from his skin and straightened away from his neck.
"Ah. Amadahy Chitsa."
"The man you hold there is protected by the Tigris Master. You can't claim him."
"Hmm. So easy." She ran her fingers down the angle of Allen's jaw and his eyes drifted close.
She was wicked by nature, although she was known for being kind to younglings and elders. Amadahy knew her well; only the broken hearted responded so deeply to her call. He knew Schezard would be in danger from the moment he had known he would be in Meridiana; he ahd expected the dragon to keep a closer eye on him.
"Let me take him. I'll make sure hw doesn't enter the jungle again."
The Glaistig smiled, her long aristocratic figure stepping away from the Knight. She released him, and Allen collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. "No, that's alright." she said. "I won't hurt Mansur's friends."
Amadahy nodded, and rounded the pond to go by Allen's side. The Glaistig took one last look at the Knight, and elegantly stepped into the pond, without rippling the mirror-like surface, and disappeared.
The gypsy Lord unceremoniously emptied his bottle of water over the Asturian's head. The cold liquid ran down his hair to his cheeks and dripped off his chin. Allen blinked, disoriented.
"What--?" he hissed when he moved his right wrist, and he looked at it. It was bruised and swollen.
"Yes, the skin is marred forever, but the pain will ease away." Amadahy said, putting his bottle way. "Come on, I'll take you out of the jungle, you need to get some rest. Lean on my shoulder."
Allen stumbled to his feet. His mind was slowly regaining its usual clearness, and it was evident in his eyes. Amadahy grabbed his arm to steady him.
"Easy now, kid. Easy does it."
"What happened? I don't even know how I got here."
"The Glaistig called to you. She feed off blood, you see."
Allen stared. "Charming."
Amadahy shrugged. "She can be very nice too."
"I'm sure she's lovely when she's not trying to kill you."
The gypsy arched an eyebrow. "Didn't see you complaining."
Allen glared, but kept quiet, because his breath was short as they moved across the jungle towards the House. Amadahy helped him to the lake once they had left the jungle.
"Dip your wrist in the water, it's cold."
"What about the Water Serpent?"
Amadahy looked over at the lake. "She's asleep." He showed him a small green bottle. "This won't help the skin, but it'll ease the pain."
"Is it always going to hurt?"
"It'll get worse before it gets better, but it'll heal eventually. Just give it time, and don't force it."
Allen chuckled. "How true."
Amadahy smiled as he smeared a dark green salve over Allen's wrist. The skin frizzled and Allen hissed, gritting his teeth.
"So, after spending all night up, did you get to any conclusion about what's troubling you?"
Allen nodded firmly. "I've decided what I'll do."
"Good for you." Amadahy skillfully wrapped a thick bandage around Allen's wrist and his hand to make it firmer. "Don't move it much, and let it heal on its own. Keep the salve." He gave him the bottle as they both rose. "And put it on every morning at about the hour she caught you, until it stops hurting."
Allen nodded.
"Allen!" Hitomi and Van were coming down the path towards them.
"We got worried when you didn't come to dinner last night." Van said, frowning. "Chid was panicking this morning. Come back in there and let them know you're alive, you damned jerk."
Allen scratched the back of his neck. He thought he could still feel the touch of her fingers there. "I'm sorry."
"Are you alright? What happened to your hand?" Hitomi grasped his arm gently.
"A stupid accident."
"You can't lie to save your life, Allen." She drawled.
Allen chuckled. "I met with some creature… but I'm fine, really. Where were you two going?"
Ass Van answered that they wanted to walk about for a moment, Hit6omi looked at the man next to Allen. She blinked. "Amadahy?"
The man smiled smoothly. "Milady. A pleasure to meet you again."
"I knew you were Meridian!" she frowned at him, playful. "Couldn't you just tell me? I thought you didn't keep secrets!"
"I was just playing."
"Well, we're going to talk about that, mister." Hitomi threatened, eyes narrow, as Van pulled at her hand and started walking away. "Hey don't be pushy." She turned and poked his kidney.
"Hey!" Van caught her hand. "Stay still."
"Make me, big boy."
Van slid his arm around her waist and pressed her close, catching her small wrist in his larger hand. "Hmm?" he arched his eyebrows, smug.
"You can't control mi legs."
"Don't make me topple you over." He threatened, blinking the hair out of his eyes. Hitomi laughed and stole a quick kiss form his lips, then leaned away. "Alright, you can let go of me now."
Van draped his arm around her shoulders and pressed a light kiss to her temple.
"So, we get to know the Empress tomorrow."
"Yes, I'm looking forward to that." She answered. "I'm sure she'll be beautiful."
"Hmm. I can't think of any woman that would top your beauty."
Hitomi glanced at him. "Oh, we're having a seductive day, are we? Well, let me tell you I'm perfectly immune to your smooth moves."
"Ooh, I'm smooth, yay." He leaned over to kiss her but Hitomi moved her head away and slapped his shoulder.
"You're as subtle as your average truck, now keep walking. Look, there's the stable."
Van agreed to let her be, and they walked up the slope to the great building of the stables, where there was already a young boy waiting for them.
"Your horses are ready, Milady, Milord." He said bowing his head. "The brown with black legs is the Lady's, the black one is Milord's."
"Thank you." Van nodded at him, and helped Hitomi up her mount.
Hitomi had had riding lessons when she had been a child. Her grandfather had had a small house in the countryside and insisted she knew how to ride. Although she hadn't ridden in years, she had always loved horses.
This mare was particularly beautiful, long legged and graceful, elegant like an Arab horse.
Van jumped to his mount as skillfully as if he had been born horseback, and lead the stallion, taller than Hitomi's and with stunning blue eyes, towards the open field.
The mare followed him instinctively, and they fell into pace.
"You get along well with animals because you're a good person." Van said after a while. "Bad people are scared of animals, or animals are scared or violent towards them."
"I know; you love animals too."
"I always wanted a dog." He laughed. "But father said no dog would willfully stay in the Castle with all the dragons lurking around "
"You must've been a miserable child." Hitomi teased.
"Speaking of pets, where's Moriko?"
"Hopefully, not killing Mansur." Hitomi huffed. "What a stubborn thing he is, I can't make him stop growling at the poor man! I don't know where he's half the time, sand the half I do know, he's sleeping, and snoring too."
Van threw his head back and laughed wholeheartedly.
Hitomi glanced at him. "You better not snore, you hear me?"
Van arched his eyebrows. "I guess you'll have to find out."
"If you snore, we're done!" she said playfully, drawing her horse away from his. "I swear! I know it's going to be awkward, with me living right in front of your room, but we'll get through it, I'm sure."
Van quickly leaned over and grasped her reigns, getting her closer. "Don't even joke about that." He said smiling and leaning over to kiss her deeply. His hand cupped the nape of her neck and she moaned softly.
Van released her after a moment, rolling his shoulders and breathing deeply. "I love having some free time for ourselves.
"I know, it's—"
A low but deep howl interrupted her and they both turned on their mounts to look as Moriko came trotting towards them, looking happy.
"He killed Mansur; that's the only explanation for that happiness."
"I hope not, or the negotiations with Meridiana are going to be trifle more tricky."
The horses didn't even flinch when the dragon came a stop by their side. The riders made them walk, and the five of them fell to a peaceful pace on the vast green lands of the Tigris Estate.
After a while, Moriko jumped off the ground and started flying above them, coming back and forth between them and the lands before them, almost bored. At some point he whined, and van's horse suddenly flinched.
Van gripped the reigns, frowning. But his horse didn't dart forward.
Hitomi's did.
Hitomi wasn't well trained or an expert rider; but she ahd courage and reflexes, and as soon as the horse lunged into full out gallop, she let her body fall into a comfortable position accompanying the movement, and tried to hold on with her knees to the saddle.
Van was at her side a second later, but Hitomi smiled at him when he tried to reach for her reigns.
She loved it. She loved the way the horse moved under her, how her legs devoured the green grass below them, how the hairs of her neck flew back against her face. Her blood was quicksilver on her veins, hot and fast, her heart pumping loudly against her chest.
She loved the way Van smiled as his own horse stretched his legs and passed the mare, eager in his will to run as his heart's content. She loved knowing she was feeling the same thrill he was, and liked it just as much.
Moriko suddenly flew down lo next to Van, and hit him playfully with his tail. He growled in joy, twirled in the air above them and did it again. Van looked at Hitomi.
She smiled widely, and nodded. Van smiled back, and let go of the reigns. The horse shook his head, pleased, and increased his speed. Hitomi took van's shirt from his hand and watched fascinated as his wings unfolded from his bare back, and he rose in the air. The black horse made a long sound and jumped up, joyful.
Van fell back for a long moment, before being able to catch up back to Hitomi, beating his wings powerfully. Moriko passed above him and fell close to the ground next to Hitomi's mare.
He nudged her leg with his head, howling.
"No way!" she said firmly, drawing the horse away. "I can't!"
"Come with me!" Van caught up.
Hitomi looked at him. He loved flying. She had never seen him this happy, this free. If she let him carry her, as she wanted to so badly, he wouldn't be able to be as free, because he'd have to use his arms to hold her.
She took a long look at Moriko's back. The spine was prominent and sharp. There wasn't any place to hold on with her hands but his neck. And she had to manage to get in front of his wings, so as to not slip back and fall.
Well, if she never tried it…
Van was there to catch her if she fell, anyway.
Cursing to herself, she took her boots off the stirrups and steered the mare closer to Moriko. The dragon shifted to get his body closer, his wings over the horse's back behind Hitomi.
"Stay still!" she ordered, and Moriko snapped his jaws.
Here goes nothing.
She jumped. She fell on his back and gripped firmly his neck. Moriko shifted up and to the side, so that she was resting against his flank, her back to the sky. With effort, she climbed to his back and flung her leg at the other side of his spine, and finally could sit properly. She straightened and breathed.
His wings beat powerfully behind her thighs. His neck was erect and straight up so that she could hold it comfortably. His tail whipped in the wind behind them.
And Van was flying above them to the right, wings open wide, the white feathers a sharp contrast against Moriko's leathery skin.
They were flying high up in the sky now, and Hitomi became aware of the speed they were taking, because the land was a blur below them, emerald green and turquoise here and there where some lakes and ponds lay.
Like before, when she was riding, her blood run quickly through her veins, the thrill and the adrenaline making her senses sharp as those of a cat.
It was that new sharpness of her senses that allowed her to see something or a silvery glint in the sky ahead of them.
"What is that?" Van came closer, squinting against the light.
"It's…" Hitomi's voice died in hert throat, because it was obstructed.
It was a long snake of silver scales, the dragons head with long thick whiskers laughing, great brown eyes playful.
It was a Ryujin; a Japnese dragon.
He snaked and twirled in the air, and then caught up with Moriko, laughing.
"Hello, hello!" he thundered. "Aeronauts! I am Kohaku Agakoluchi! We've been waiting for you!"
As he said that, Van touched Hitomi's shoulder lightly and signaled ahead. Hitomi turned, her eyes overrun by tears, and gasped as a whole dozen of other flying creatures met them rising from a hilltop.
A swift beautiful Phoenix, greater in size than Moriko himself, nudged Van's shoulder playfully before flying above them. A golden eagle big enough to carry Van on her back cried out loudly.
Hitomi couldn't believe what she was seeing, but what touched her more was Kohaku Agakoluchi, the Japanese dragon, as he flew by her side in snaking paths, rubbing his soft scaled against her shoulder when he could.
Hitomi didn't know for how long they ahd flown when Van started falling behind.
The Phoenix reduced her speed and covered him with her fiery wing, cooing softly.
"Let's descend!" Kohaku called, snaking down and reducing his speed. The troop obeyed, and they flew down towards a small clearing in the jungle by a small waterfall. Moriko landed as brusquely as he did everything else and Hitomi's air was knocked out of her lungs.
She dismounted as well as she could and her legs felt weary beneath her, until her knees gave up. A curve of Kohaku's snake-like body held her up, and his muzzle came close to her face.
Hitomi threw her arms around him, and pressed her face against his neck. Kohaku laughed lightly.
"Now, now, my child. I'm just a silly old Kyoto dragon."
"I'm so happy to see you, Agakoluchi-san!"
"Call me Kohaku, please."
Van let himself fall next to them, panting. Hitomi grabbed his hand. "You okay?"
"Yeah." He breathed. "I just never flew this much before." He grinned. "I'll be sore in the morning."
"You should swim a little in the cold water, it will help your muscles."
Van laughed. "I can't move. I'll do it later."
Hitomi rested her shoulder against Kohaku's body. "What time do you think it is?"
"Um… about maybe seven o'clock?"
"Ten thirty." Kohaku corrected.
Van and Hitomi gasped. "We flew for three hours!?"
"No, I can't fly that much!"
"You don't know your limits because you never pushed them." The Phoenix replied, laying down nearby. "You can fly more, if you train. Your wings are as well constructed as any other's."
Van sat up. "Ow, they're sore. And I'm hungry." He laughed.
Hitomi stood up from between the folded curves of Kohaku's boy. "We're in the jungle, there's probably some berries or something to eat. You stay here and we'll go get them."
Kohaku unraveled himself and nodded.
"Let's have a Japanese afternoon out." He laughed, nudging her along.
Once they were between the plants and away from the improvised camp or flying creatures, Kohaku laid don on the ground and invited her to sit next to him, her back against his body.
"I've been wanting to talk to you, Hitomi-chan." He said. "I want to tell you how it all began in Gaea."
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I was going to include their conversation here, but… my chapters are always miles long XD so it comes in the next.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!! I HOPE SANTA GIVES YOU ALL YOU ASKED FOR AND MORE:D
Namariel, out!
