The last thing that Gourry had expected to feel when they got to the border of the Elmekian Empire was relief. But the past few days had been agonizing. They had been crammed into the carriage with the other diplomats for several days straight, stopping only to use the bathroom. Considering that he was used to getting a lot of exercise and movement, and considering how tall he was and that the bench that he was sitting on was made for a much shorter person, his muscles ached from a lack of movement and from being cramped for so long. At least he was pushed to the side with the window with Lina beside him. To have had anyone else pushed so close would have felt like a violation of his personal space. There was little he could do about the fact that his knees kept brushing against the ambassador to Lyzeille, though. And then there was the company.
He was quickly reminded of why he had never been fond of politics. Amelia had been right when she said that when you have two diplomats together, negotiation happens. Naga, Maeve and the other ambassadors bickered about their borders, trade deals, marriages and, occasionally swapped anecdotes about famous people that they knew. He kept his focus on the window and any dangers that might be present and at times practically prayed for an attack. At least it would be an excuse to get away from them for a bit. But their trip to the border was uneventful.
Lina, for her part, kept her focus on the reading she had brought with her and seemed a lot more comfortable pressed against him and Naga than he was (every time Naga got into her personal space she had no problem barking at her). And at least she had a good knee gap between herself and Maeve. The only times she seemed annoyed was when Naga would talk about some remedy she had chased to grow her breasts. Then Lina's hand, comfortably resting on his knee, would twist, digging her nails in hard enough to draw blood. But she kept unusually silent. Especially considering how she usually never shut up.
So while Gourry was not happy to return to the Elmekian Empire, it was a relief to get out of the cramped carriage and under the open sky. His relief over finally leaving the confines and stretching his legs was short lived when he noticed a group of soldiers among the camels and handlers. He did his best to size them up as they walked over to them. He wasn't sure if Naga moving to the front to take the lead in talking to them was a good or a bad thing.
"Is there a problem?" Naga asked.
The man with the insignia of a captain said, "State your business."
"I, Princess Gracia Ul Naga Saillune, seek a meeting with the Emperor." Naga said confidently, and she then went and listed the other members of their party.
"The Emperor is expecting you." The Captain replied. "And we will escort you to him."
Gourry looked at Lina to see what she made of this, but found that she was looking at him for similar reasons. Naga, at least, was unflummoxed as she said indifferently, "How kind of you to offer."
"You may have your pick." The Captain said as he indicated the camels.
"Come on." Gourry said quietly as he walked over with Lina and Maeve.
"So you're Gourry Gabriev." One of the soldiers said as Gourry grabbed the reigns.
"That's right." Gourry replied as he braced himself.
"The man who turned his back on his country."
Lina turned around sharply and Gourry put a hand on her arm as he smiled, "I guess I did." He admitted, and then he turned so he was facing the Elmekian Empire with his back to Zeferia, "There, is this better?"
Maeve burst out into laughter as Naga shook her head and asked Lina, "Surely he's not that dumb?"
"Sometimes a beautiful face is all that there is to a person." Lina replied as the soldier's mouth dropped as he tried to figure out whether he should laugh or feel insulted.
Gourry walked up to one of the camels and started to stroke it. "It sure was nice of you to provide us with camels. What's his name?"
"Onesa!" The Captain barked at the soldier, "Get over here."
Onesa sneered, "Don't you think this is over."
"Is it going to be okay letting them travel with us?" Maeve whispered.
"He's not a match for me." Gourry said confidently, even if his heart was beating fast. "Come on, let's get ready to go. The sooner we get to the Emperor the sooner we can leave."
"But how do you even get on them?" Maeve asked as she looked at the camel distastefully.
"It's time to find your inner adventuress and step outside your comfort zone!" Lina said. "Gourry, have you ridden one?"
He shrugged, and smiled as he noticed a few more soldiers take an interest in them, "I can't remember!"
She shook her head, "Why am I not…"
But she stopped as she heard them badmouth Gourry as a traitor among themselves. Her hand clenched into a fist and Gourry put a hand on her shoulder even as he felt himself tense up, "It's not worth it."
Lina's elbow bumped his as she clutched at her side as if in pain, and then her eyes flashed golden. He squinted. Was he seeing this right? He was no stranger to the tricks that the desert could play on one's eyes. But still. He was about to ask her if she was okay when he realized that while he was distracted Maeve had walked up to the soldiers. Before they could stop her she said, "I am Princess Maeve of Zeferia. And if you insult our knights, then you insult our country."
One of the soldiers grinned, "Seeing as we'll soon be invading your country and dethroning your family, we really don't care."
Maeve's eyes widened as Naga said casually, "I hope you're not declaring war. I'd have to send a message to rally the troops to prepare so we can blow any element of surprise the Emperor was hoping to have."
I guess she can be useful, Gourry thought as the soldiers stared at her, struck mute. "Princess." One finally said as they walked off.
"Time to get on those camels and take us to your Emperor!" Naga added, and amazingly they moved towards their camels.
Gourry didn't dare let himself relax, but he did turn his attention back to Lina, trying to see if he could see any trace of gold in her eyes as she tried to figure out how to get on the camel. Eventually she noticed him staring. "What?"
He shrugged, "Can't I look at my wife?"
"But why would you want to?" Naga cut in.
"Oh cut it out!" Lina yelled.
"She only says this because no one is looking at her." Gourry pointed out as Naga reddened, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Lina smile, "Don't use a levitation spell, it spooks them. Here, approach it from an angle."
The sun was still rising in the horizon as he gave Lina directions on how to mount the camel. Was that what was causing the faint golden glow to surround her? It looked like it had become part of her aura. But then, it could just be a trick of the eyes. Lina seated herself comfortably and then looked at him, "Now what?"
"You okay?" he asked.
"Fine." She said, seeming to be completely in the dark about the glow. And if she had clutched her side in pain she wasn't saying anything. But then, she wasn't good at displaying weakness, and especially with Naga and the guards so close she would likely be guarded. He made a note to talk to her about it later as she said. "This will take some getting used to."
"They're sturdy. I wouldn't worry." He said, and then he sighed, "But you're feeling okay?"
"Yeah, why?" she asked as the glow started to fade. Had it been an illusion? He could ask Naga…but that would mean asking Naga.
"You look different. Not in a bad way. Just different."
She looked at him, "I think that the sun is baking your brain!"
"You're probably right." He said with a smile, "Now, when the camel stands up, lean back."
Once the camel was standing, Gourry patted its neck, "I'll be right behind you."
She grabbed his hand. "It's going to be okay, you know."
"I know." He said, as he tried to project more confidence than he felt.
"Hey Gourry!" Naga sang, "Mind helping me figure this out?"
He saw Lina grip the camel's harness as she turned and yelled, "Either figure it out on your own or find your own man!"
Naga reddened, "Excuse me!?"
"You heard me!" Lina yelled, and Gourry grinned sheepishly as he walked towards his own camel.
"Just so you know I have to wait until the proper partner is arranged." Naga said haughtily.
"Didn't stop your sister." Lina retorted.
"About that, Princess Gracia." The ambassador from Lyzeille said, "Prince Toffee's offer still stands. Our most illustrious king is doing poorly. It would not be long until you would be Queen of Lyzeille."
Naga turned blue as the ambassador from the Duchy of Kalmaat said, "Don't forget Duke Livingston's offer! Our country is very rich, with a thriving merchant base! You would do very well here."
Naga fixed Lina with an intense stare as she boarded her camel and took off as one of the Coastal State ambassadors said, "Don't forget, the treaty with Prince Duster is ready and awaiting your father's signature! All we need is your agreement. You wouldn't want to go back on a promise, would you?"
But Naga was already well into the Elmekian Empire as the ambassadors started to bicker with each other over who she should marry. Lina grinned, "I wish I'd found that out when we were in that blasted carriage! I'm going to have to remember that."
"I'd always heard that nothing grows in the Elmekian Empire." Lina said as she stared out at the endless stretch of sand dunes. "But I didn't realize how barren it is."
"It's gotten worse since I left." Gourry said. "I'm pretty sure there was an oasis up ahead."
"It dried up a few years back." The Captain explained. "Lots of places did. Two years ago, though, some started to come back. Not sure why."
"Hm." Lina said.
"But how do you find food and water?" Maeve asked.
"It's been hard." The Captain said.
"That's why only the weak flee." Onesa said as he glared at Gourry.
"You know what we call sailors who don't leave a sinking ship? Dead." Lina snapped.
"We see it as a test. Those who are strong and smart enough will swim."
"Well, I was never known for my brains." Gourry said quickly.
Onesa grunted in distaste, but at least he shut up. Until he and several other soldiers started muttering among themselves, and while Gourry couldn't catch every word they said, it was decidedly unfriendly. Setting up camp and having dinner was a decidedly awkward affair, and he was relieved when he could finally leave with Lina to their tent.
"I guess we should take it in shifts." Lina said as she closed the tent flap behind her and scooted beside him on their bedroll. Obviously she had the same concerns he did about being attacked in the night.
He stared at her for a moment, and then pulled her into a tight hug. "Hey," she said as she brought her arms around him, "We'll be out of here before you know it. I don't know how you do it, though."
"Do what?" he asked.
"Endure all of that teasing without smacking them!" Lina said, the anger heavy in her voice. "If people talked about me that way…"
He put a finger over her lips. To be honest, seeing her get so angry on his behalf was strangely satisfying. "I'm not going to change their minds. And there are bigger things to worry about."
"But it can't be easy to listen to!"
"It's not." He admitted, "But it's true, isn't it? I left my country and got citizenship with a neighboring one. And now I'm here on behalf of Zeferia to undermine the Elmekian Empire. But it's not as though I care about being a model citizen. I was a mercenary. I care more about loyalty to people than country, so it's not like they're saying anything that really hurts me."
"I still don't see how you keep so calm!"
"I just think about things I'd rather be doing."
"Like what?"
He leaned forward and kissed her, and wasted little time in shoving his hands under her shirt to feel her up a bit. She smiled as she pulled away. "I'm glad you're enthusiastic. But I am rather sore from riding on that camel all day."
He kissed her a final time, "It's probably not a good idea given the soldiers anyway…"
He trailed off as he noticed the glow again. It was faint, but in the darkness of their tent, undeniable. "What?" she asked.
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked.
"Fine." She said, "I'm actually rather energetic all things considered. I can take first watch if you want to rest."
"Lina…you're glowing." He said.
"What?" she asked as she looked down at herself, and then her eyes widened. "When did this start?"
"I've noticed it a few times," he admitted, "But I wasn't sure if my eyes were playing tricks or not."
"When else did you notice it?" she yelled as she put her hands on her stomach as if she could brush it away.
"That night the assassin came. I woke up because you were glowing. With everything that happened after that I guess I forgot."
Lina's mouth dropped as he continued, "And then today when we were mounting the camels. Your eyes flashed gold right after you clutched your side. It doesn't hurt you, does it?"
She shook her head, but it seemed to be more in bafflement than denial even as she blushed. "No."
"What's happening to you?" he asked.
"I don't know." She replied.
"That's all you're going to say?" he asked.
"What else is there to say?"
"Usually you have a lot of different explanations."
She curled up to him. "I have some thoughts. But given where we are, I can't get the information I need. And this does just seem like a distraction from our larger mission."
"How can it be a distraction if it involves your health?"
"I don't think I'm in danger. I feel peaceful about it, really." She said, and then she sighed. "That night when you were attacked. It's strange, but I think the Mazoku who attacked us mistook me for someone else."
"What?" he asked.
"Back when you were kidnapped by Hellmaster. I channeled the power of a very high ranking being, someone higher ranking than Shabranigdu. The Lord of Nightmares. The Golden Lord. I guess it left an imprint on me?"
"I don't understand."
She chuckled but stroked his hair. "Mazoku have to show absolute obedience to their superiors. And, if channeling the power of the Lord of Nightmares changed me and the Mazoku mistook me for her, then he would have had to obey her. So when I ordered that Mazoku to leave and to return your sword, he had no choice but to obey me because he thought I was the Lord of Nightmares."
Gourry thought for a moment, and said, "But you channel power from high ranking Mazoku all the time. Why hadn't that left an imprint?"
Lina shrugged, completely unperturbed. Irritatingly so. "The Lord of Nightmares isn't a Mazoku. Her existence is so different from ours we can't even really understand it. I guess it makes sense that channeling power from something like that would affect me in a different way."
"But Lina, that happened two years ago. Why are these changes just happening now?" he asked.
"Wow, a good question for once." She said thoughtfully.
"Well? It's not going to take over you, is it?"
"I'm not worried about that." She said. "But I don't know. It sure would have been useful when Luke Shabranigdu was active, huh?"
"You don't want to get to the bottom of it?"
"What can I do, really? No other human has ever cast the Giga Slave. The only person who might know what effect this will have on me would be the Eternal Queen, and I can't talk to her right now, can I?"
"No," he admitted. He hated it when he was worried about her safety and she was right.
"And, if it took two years to get to this point, then whatever is happening is slow to manifest. We'll have plenty of time to finish up here and then go home and get more answers." She said. "Besides, we have enough on our hands. Having an extra ace up my sleeve isn't something I'm going to sneeze at now."
"I guess there is that." He agreed with a sigh.
"I'd know if something was wrong." She said as she curled up to him, "So don't worry so much."