Chapter 16
Sylvana leaned out over the balcony railing into the gloom of the cavern. Levestones floated all about them and she could hear the music of water dripping on stone, and water dripping on water, far below them when she closed her eyes. A gentle mist swirled up from below to mask the cavern surrounding the fortress and she savoured the soft caress of the moisture on her cheeks. They had been here for a while now. On their last campaign, the dragon slayers had managed to capture someone. She still didn't know who it was, she hadn't been permitted to check whomever it was for wounds, but she was in no doubt of the fact that this person, whoever he or she was, was of some importance. Was it that young man? The one they called the dragon? She knew not, but she wondered. She pulled away from the mist, back inside the fortress and turned to face the room. She longed to fly, to stretch her wings, to become that falcon that dwelled inside of her as a part of her spirit, but she couldn't and she knew it. Oh, she was going out of her mind. Always, even when a child of six or seven summers, she had hated being cooped up, even for only a few days. She had been caged for over six months now and oh how her heart and spirit ached for the sky. More than once she had stood on her balcony watching the clouds. She envied them so very much; their freedom, their carelessness...she'd had that once too, but no longer. She sighed and headed for the door. She needed to take a walk.
*******
There was an odd feel to the general atmosphere of the fortress. Something new was afoot; Serene could almost taste it. Anya felt it too. Something new was in the air. Was it…defiance? What was that Serene was picking up? Things were beginning to change. What a wondrous feeling it was! Wondrous and strange, and it made her blood buzz slightly and her spirit hum. She closed her eyes and just let the feeling wash over her and take control. It was like music flowing through her veins. It was almost like a drug, this new feeling…the feeling of things moving forward, faster and smoother than ever. Oh, wondrous it was…
*******
Sylvana ran a hand along the railing of the over-passing walkway. She paused to gaze down a few moments at the activity below, but turned away after not too long. She took a few steps forward and paused mid-step upon letting her eyes settle on a small form peering down at the level below as she had just been doing. She approached the seemingly oblivious child and stopped only a few feet away before finally speaking.
"Serene? What are you doing?" there was a short pause.
"I feel something strange," the girl replied, "something's going to happen…something …different…" Sylvana's brow furrowed as her eyebrows knitted.
"What do you mean, love?" she questioned.
"I don't know," replied Serene, "but I feel something new and wondrous strange in the air…"
"Hmm…" grunted Sylvana thoughtfully, "if so perhaps we should return to-" she was cut off when a sudden and violent lurch shook the entire fortress. Sylvana was thrown backward into the opposite railing and Serene was thrown into her. Sylvana fell to her knees with a thud, the wind knocked out of her and her stomach smarting from where Serene's shoulder had been driven into it. The two sat mutely on the floor for a moment or two, quite shaken.
"What was that, Sylvie?" Serene finally managed.
"I know not," replied Sylvana, "but let us return to our apartments before it can happen again." Quickly she was on her feet pulling Serene up with her. The two then hastened back to their rooms. A second, less violent jolt nearly sent the two to their knees again, but they managed to maintain their balance and continue on.
"What's going on?" Serene asked Sylvana once they had stumbled through the door of their apartments. Sylvana was silent several good moments, as she doubled over, hands resting on her knees as she awaited her second wind. She raised her eyes to the child and then straightened.
"I don't know, Sylph," she replied glancing back toward the door, "but I'm going to go find out…" she turned her gaze back to Serene, "Now, I want you to listen to me, Serene," she said in a firm voice, "I want you to stay here where it's safe…do you here me? Stay here."
"But -"
"Stay here!" repeated Sylvana as she shifted into her falcon form and winged out through the open door. The corridors were just barely wide enough for her to comfortably stretch her broad wings in order to fly. There was already extensive damage visible throughout the fortress. She could sense the emotions of others…chaotic emotions, not all coming from those of the fortress. She knew immediately the reasons for the wild emotions, the damage…the fortress was under attack…undoubtedly by the friends, or at least allies, of the prisoner who had been captured days before. She turned down another corridor, following the emotions of the multiple battles. She must find what she sought.
Chapter 17
The raven-haired youth followed the slightly older young man down the corridors of the floating fortress toward where the air ship of his rescuers was moored. The corridors were mostly clear for a good part of the way, but it couldn't last and before long they came to a divergence in the corridors; all their possible escape paths blocked. Alan Schezar drew his sword in order to fend off the soldiers gathered before him and Van Fanel; this wasn't going to be pretty. The soldiers charged and Alan raised his sword, but before a single blow could be exchanged something whizzed past his ears and three soldiers fell dead; arrows lodged deep in their chests as though they wore nothing but cloth tunics rather than their armour. Alan and Van whirled about just in time to see the silvery creature lower her hunting bow. Both were struck, not only by her beauty, but by her skill with such a weapon as a bow. Her pale green orbs were still trained intently on the remaining soldiers as she drew another arrow and knocked it.
"Leave," she hissed out in a silvery bell-like voice as she drew the string. The soldiers all tensed but appeared not easily phased. However, they did not resume their attack either. The girl's eyes then focused on the two strange men before her. "You'll not find your escape rout that way," she stated coolly, calmly. Was that a threat, or was she simply stating a fact? "Come with me, I know this fortress, I can show you another way to the area you seek."
"Is that so?" growled Van, not willing to trust her so easily.
"It is," she replied, still with an air of calm, "but if you'd rather find your own misguided way through this vast fortress then I'd be happy to leave you to yourselves." She then turned her back and started back the way she'd come.
"Wait!" called Alan. There was a moment where the two men thought that the young woman would continue on her way, but she surprised them both by pausing and glancing back over her shoulder.
"Well, what is it?" she asked coldly. Alan felt that part of him stir; that part that responded to the power of feminine beauty.
"Tell me," he said fixing his gaze on her intently, "what are you doing here? A beautiful young lady like yourself does not belong in a place like this." The silvery woman turned back to face him and then arched an eyebrow as she crossed her arms.
"I thank you for your concern," she said, a touch of sarcasm in her musical voice. Alan wasn't daunted and took a step toward her.
"You no longer need to stay here. I can take you with me…" Now her other eyebrow joined the first, both approaching her hairline. "You can trust me," the knight insisted, "I am a knight Caeli. As a knight and a man, I promise I will never allow anyone to harm you." The girl cocked her head just enough so that her thick silvery-white tresses cascaded like water over one shoulder; some of the strands falling away from her face so that one of her delicate and tapered ears was revealed.
"Again, I thank you for your concern, but I know quite well how to take care of myself. I may be a woman, but I am for from the weak, innocent, helpless creatures you envision. I am many things, but I am far from weak and innocent, let alone helpless. If you wish my help then I'd be happy to offer it to you, if not, then I'll be on my way, it's your choice, but might I suggest not being too too hasty…" Alan frowned and then glanced over at Van as if her were offering it to him to make the important decision. Van returned Alan's gaze a moment and then looked back at the strange woman.
"Very well," he finally agreed, "but one wrong move and -"
"Yes, yes, you don't trust me, I don't trust you, but my da said more than once, 'Mine enemy's enemy be my friend. You may not trust me, but it remains that I am perhaps the only one here who can help you escape this place, so I suggest you do not reject aid un-looked for." She then pointed down the corridor they'd originally come. "This way, if you wish to escape, follow me." That said she turned her back and made her way back down the corridor. Van and Alan exchanged glances and then hastened after her.
It wasn't long before the three turned down a corridor and nearly crashed into another group of guards. It wasn't too large a group, small enough for one swordsman to defeat if he were skilled enough.
"Go on," Alan told the other two, "I'll hold them off…" There was a moment's pause for the two to acknowledge Alan's courage and then the silvery woman took hold of Van's wrist and turned down a side corridor with nothing else other than a hasty, "This way!"
*******
As they made their way down the narrow corridor, Van wondered on this strange young woman he and Alan had encountered. He had never seen her clan before, though he wondered if she were perhaps a half-breed, part human and part cat perhaps, though he had never heard of humans and cat-people consorting before, or at least no children resulting from it. However, that would certainly explain her ears, but those eyes…it hadn't been until he'd drawn closer to her that he'd seen that the pupils of her pale eyes were slit vertically, not unlike those of the earth dragons that had always dwelled in the woods surrounding Fanelia. The cat-people certainly didn't have eyes like those. He had never seen a cat-person with eyes that slanted like hers did and that had the sort of pupils hers had. If she did have some cat in her, she certainly had something else in her as well.
"Tell me," he finally said after they'd been silent a long while, "where do you come from?"
"A land far away that I am certain you have never seen," she replied sounding somewhat preoccupied.
"Well then, at least tell me what clan you're from," he insisted. The young woman stopped and turned to face him.
"Why?!" she demanded, "why do you wish to know?"
"Because, I've never seen your clan before," replied Van sharply.
"If you haven't heard of us then it doesn't matter," she replied and turned away, again making her way down the corridor. Van followed, but continued to wonder. He remembered the children's stories his mother had told him long ago. In one she spoke of a race of beings who dwelled in the woods. They were supposed to shimmer with an inner light and were fair in both aspects of the word as this strange girl was. Supposedly they were very secretive and did not like their demesnes to be disturbed. The spirits of the woods his mother had called them and they were said to dwell in the woods surrounding Fanelia along side the dragons. Was that what she was?
"Are you a wood spirit?" he suddenly heard himself asking, though he hadn't meant to. The young woman paused again, a chuckled escaping her throat before she turned.
"Wood spirit? My friend, tell me you don't believe those silly children's tales…"
"Well then, if you aren't a spirit, then what are you?"
"A friend and that's all you need know. Now please, can we cease this useless chatter before we are heard and discovered?" Van was a little stung by her sharp words. He decided then that trying to be kind was wasted on her and resolved not to bother speaking with her again.
Chapter 18
They had gone a fair way before Van and Sylvana ran into more trouble. As they were passing by a convergence in the corridor, a small group of guards nearly ran into them. Van had his sword drawn before he could think, but Sylvana had other ideas…
"Stand back," she commanded in a sharp tone. Van was about to protest, but she was already standing in front of him, facing the flustered guards.
"What in hell do you think you're doing?" demanded one of them. The she smiled wickedly.
"Just…going for a walk…to the hanger…" she replied, aware of exactly how they would react.
"The hell you are," growled another of the guards. Sylvana sighed mockingly.
"Well now…are you entirely certain you want to try this the hard way?" she asked, "I'm afraid it will be much more fun for me than it will be for you." The guards didn't look intimidated in the least. Too bad, they were the young cocky sort. Without even a reply, the guards all had their hands on their swords. Too bad for them they hadn't been watching Sylvana's hands, for one had slipped into a pouch she wore at her side and as they all drew, Sylvana, with an air of perfect calm, lifted her hand and blew across her palm. Dust flew from her hand and into the air and then ignited creating almost what appeared to be a wall of fire. With yells and a few piercing screams, most of the men fled down the corridor the way they'd come, some on fire, some merely running from Sylvana…'A witch' they called her. When the air cleared Sylvana and Van saw that two soldiers still remained. One saw that Van had his sword drawn. Sylvana frowned, 'Foolish human, you should know that drawing your sword immediately makes you a target.' As the one guard raised his own sword, the other ignored them, content, rather, to eye Sylvana both warily and hungrily.
"Too bad your protector is otherwise engaged. You'll have to deal with me on your own." Sylvana's eyebrows rose. She glanced over at the two battling men just as Van perfectly deflected an on coming blow and counterattacked.
"I don't need protection," she replied, her eyes still on the other two, "and if you don't believe me…" her eyes now returned to the soldier, "then you're welcome to take me on…"
*******
Van was so engaged in his battle with the guard that it was too late before he saw the other draw and lunge at the seemingly helpless girl.
"Hey, leave her alone!" he yelled as he parried a blow and then dodged another. The other guard didn't respond and the girl didn't move; she simply gazed silently at the guard. Was she frozen with fear? No, that couldn't be it, there was no look of fear on her face; she seemed perfectly calm. Then at the last possible moment, as the soldier's sword came toward her, the silvery youth dodged the blow so that the soldier's sword cleaved only the air with a whistle. She then drew a sword of her own, seemingly from the air. Had she had it at her side all along? It was a different style of sword from those he'd seen, neither a saber nor a broadsword. It hadn't the gentle curve of the saber, but was narrower and longer than a broad sword. It more closely resembled the less common long swords. It looked far too large, and far too heavy for her to manage, but she deftly parried a second blow that came at her from the soldier with the greatest of ease. How could such a small and delicate creature such as her wield such a weapon with so much skill? He'd never known any woman who could use such a weapon as a sword. Some knew the lighter weapons to some degree, but it still remained that it was usually viewed as unseemly for a woman to wield any weapon let alone a sword. Van pushed it out of his mind as another strike came at him and narrowly missed. He struck back, trying not to be distracted by the graceful and lithe movements of the silvery girl, who he could still see out of the corner of his eye as she dodged and parried and attacked. Her technique seemed different as well, but he hadn't the time to dwell on it. He ducked as another blow came at him, level with his neck. It barely missed him and he felt it skim his hairline, surely cutting off a few strands of hair along the way. This was getting ridiculous; they hadn't the time for this, they had to escape and fast. With that in mind, Van brought down his sword again. With a surprised and strangled yell, the guard brought up his sword to parry, but Van had put in more of his strength into this blow with every intention of ending the battle. The blow struck hard, although it was met with his opponent's sword. The guard swore as his sword fell from his had. Van had enough foresight to kick it out of his opponent's range and then he pressed his own sword against his enemy's throat.
"Now get out of here," Van growled. The guard didn't seem as intimidated as he was indignant, but he wasn't stupid. Van had the upper hand and he had lost his sword, so when Van let him go he accepted defeat gracefully and went. Still, Van had little doubt that the guard was going to get more help rather than retreating. Van then discarded his own sword. After all, it wasn't really his. He had taken it from one of the soldiers who had been downed by Alan before they had met up with that strange girl…the girl! Van turned to see what had become of her. Surely she couldn't still be - He turned just in time to see her dance out of range of the other's sword before she herself attacked. She completed a parry without even a small hint of clumsiness and then did something unexpected. She performed a move that Van had seen no other swordsman use. (The very move she had used to disarm Dilandau while they'd been sparring.) She whirled backwards, her arm whipping around so that the hilt of her sword connected with her opponent's jaw. The soldier grunted and the grip he had on his sword clearly loosed. The girl quickly took advantage of that and brought her foot up to connect with his hand. The sword clattered to the floor and the girl this time kicked it away rather than taking it up as she had before. She then rested the blade of her sword against the soldier's throat.
"I win," she hissed just before another voice could be heard.
"Sylvana?" the three all looked toward the small voice and there stood a little golden haired girl, her sapphire eyes wide, perhaps with fear, perhaps with simple shock, who could tell?
"Serene," the young woman hissed through nearly clenched teeth.
*******
"I thought I told you to stay in our rooms," Sylvana hissed at the child, not bothering to use her own language as she turned back to face the soldier. Sylvana could see Serene out of the corner of her eye.
"Well, you did, b-but, I got worried. I was afraid you would be harmed and -"
"Serene, you needn't worry about me. You should worry more about yourself. You are the one who could be harmed… Now, go back to our rooms and stay there…" Serene flinched slightly at Sylvana's words, but proved just how very stubborn she could be.
"I won't go," she replied, "I won't! I'm staying and there is naught you can do about it!" Sylvana frowned as she stared at the soldier. She could see the amusement on his face. She could almost picture is thoughts…'How is it that a woman who can defeat a soldier in a fight be unable to control a child?' Sylvana growled softly, not a semi-growl, like that which a human might make when angry, but a true growl like that which rumbled forth from the throat of a wolf.
"I'll deal with you in a moment," she grumbled to Serene and then returned her full attention to the guard.
"You are defeated," she said, "but I'll let you live if you agree to my terms…"
"Tell me what they are," replied the soldier still defiant, "and I'll think about it…"
"Very well…go…find the rest of the soldiers. Tell them what has happened here. Tell them that if I meet with any more resistance such as this, then I will use all the resources at my disposal to deal with it swiftly and permanently. If I face any more difficulty I won't hesitate to kill." She narrowed her eyes, "What say you?"
"I'll do it, I'll do it," replied the soldier as her sword pressed just a little harder into his throat, enough to draw a drop of blood.
"Good, then go…" she pointed down the corridor with her sword, "before I change my mind." The soldier pressed a hand against his bleeding throat and hurried on his way past Serene, not even stopping to retrieve his weapon. At least he'd not called her bluff, but would the others? She really didn't like to kill, especially in front of Serene, but would if she found it necessary. She sheathed her sword and then turned to Serene.
"What is going through your head?" she demanded, "you can't be here, it's not safe and I may not necessarily be able to protect you if push comes to shove."
"I don't care," snapped Serene, frowning, "I don't want to be alone in those rooms, not knowing what's happening and wondering if you are still alive or not." Now it was Sylvana's turn to frown. Perhaps she owed it to Serene to let her come. After all, Sylvana had not been there when her own mother had died; she had not even had the chance to say good-bye. Her mother had left before either she or her brother were awake and they didn't hear about her death until Siarra, one of the elders, had come to them at the white sand beach near Falcons' Aerie to tell them that their mother had been killed. Sylvana certainly wasn't Serene's mother, but perhaps, knowing what had happened to her own mother, she owed it to Serene and perhaps even herself to let the child along. She doubted that any soldier, not even Dilandau, would attack a small child. Sylvana closed her eyes and then sighed.
"Very well, Sylph, you may come -" the girl let out a whoop, "if -" Serene fell silent again, "if you promise to stay out of the way."
"Yes, yes, I promise," cried the girl.
"All right, then hurry up." Ach, she could never say no to that child. She turned and met eyes with Van. Yes, she could see shock in his eyes, annoyance, disgust,but perhaps even a little wonder. "We'd better hurry," Sylvana said to him. That seemed to snap him free of his thoughts and he nodded. Sylvana cast a glance down each corridor.
"That way," she finally declared, pointing to her left before she hastened down that corridor. Serene remained behind a few moments, but then, rather than a child, a small golden foxling came running down the corridor after them. 'Smart girl,' Sylvana thought to herself, 'certainly she couldn't keep up in her true form, but in that one…' She silently applauded the child. Indeed, she was not as naive as she first appeared.
Chapter 19
Hitome hurried down the corridors at a run. She was still amazed that she had made it across that jump; she had been lucky, but that didn't matter now, now she had to find Van; she had to find Van and warn him. She couldn't let her vision come true! The corridor ended abruptly and there she found herself at the hanger, she could even see the Escaflowne, but she was smart enough to remain hidden in the shadows of the corridor. She then spotted Van. He appeared from another of the corridors and headed toward Escaflowne. She then spotted another young woman, who also remained in the shadows of the adjacent corridor. There was something strange about her, but Hitome couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. She turned her attention back to Van and was about to call out to him, but before she could, a voice called out Van's name. Both Hitome and Van looked toward the voice. On one of the overwalks stood a man who Hitome thought looked like he was probably important. Van then called something out to the other that was unexpected; he referred to the strange man as brother.
'Van's brother?' Hitome thought to herself as she watched him toss Van his sword as the very same moment Hitome caught movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head to see what it was as a shadow could be seen through the smoke, sneaking up behind Van.
"Van, behind you!" she cried as the exact same moment the strange girl called,
"Look out!" just as Dilandau appeared from the veil of smoke and raised his sword. However, his attack was thwarted as Van turned just in time and raised his still sheathed sword to block Dilandau's blow. Hitome cast a quick glance as the strange young woman again. She surely couldn't be any older than she herself was, but this silvery girl seemed to be almost ageless despite her youthful appearance. Hitome had been surprised when the girl called out to Van. Had she helped him to escape then? Her voice had been unexpectedly silvery and clear and Hitome thought she had detected a strange yet melodious and lilting accent in those two words she had uttered. She noted then that the girl was returning Hitome's gaze; her eyes, though green, were strikingly pale and seemed almost like ice; indeed they seemed to hold a slight chill in them. It was at that moment that Hitome heard footsteps coming up behind her, she turned, fearing that she would have to face an enemy, but…
"Alan!"
"Hitome? What-" he stopped when he saw the two youths fighting and then his eyes fell on the other girl half hidden in the adjacent corridor. Hitome thought she heard him take in a breath and followed his gaze. She then saw that beside the young woman stood a child, who clung to her skirts as if for safety. Unlike the fair, silvery young woman, the child was slightly tanned as if she played often in the sun. Her hair was a warm gold and her eyes were sparkling sapphire blue. Where had that child come from? Alan then reacted as if he were shaking himself from a daydream or a trance.
"What's the matter?" asked Hitome.
"That child…I thought…Oh, it doesn't matter…"
"What about her?"
"Well, for a moment…I just thought I saw my sister, but that's impossible." He then scanned the area, "I'd better go…stay here," he commanded.
"Uh…kay," replied Hitome, rather dazed.
*******
Sylvana watched the battle between the two young men. She didn't usually compare people, but the contrasts between the two were striking. One fair, one dark; one fighting for the love of it, one fighting to defend that which he loved; one arrogant, one nobly proud; one dressed richly though not truly of nobility, one dressed humbly though clearly of noble blood.
"Two sides of the same coin," she murmured, thinking immediately of Bast and Sekhmet, who also were similar in that way; being the perfect opposite of the other, though for them it was mostly just in their personality and not their appearance as well. 'Dilandau is far too fond of that word coward,' she then thought to herself, 'It would be nice if he'd study the meaning of the word before using it.' She crossed her arms under her breasts and continued to watch. Yes, she should have returned to her apartments. If Dilandau spotted her then undoubtedly, he would guess that she had aided his enemies, but somehow she just couldn't. She had little doubt who would come out on top during this batter and ooh, how she longed to see Dilandau fall in the mud. The battle wasn't as long as she would have expected, however. Van was quick to get the upper hand, Dilandau failed to block a strike, or perhaps he simply misdirected it, either way in the blink of an eye, Van's sword caught the young lord's cheek, leaving quite an ugly wound that would, without a doubt, leave an even uglier scar. She smiled coldly to herself.
'Ha ha, serves you right,' she thought to herself as Dilandau dropped to his knees clutching his bleeding face.
"Go!" she called to Van, pointing toward his guymelef. Serene then darted forward before Sylvana could grab her.
Chapter 20
"Serene!" the musical feminine voice echoed through the huge hanger. Alan defeated the last of his opponents in time to see the small girl run forward out of the silvery woman's reach before she could grab her. "Come back here!" the young woman called, but she didn't move from her spot. Undoubtedly she wished not to be spotted by Dilandau. Surely, if the young lord spotted her then he would easily figure out that his enemies had been helped in their escape and he would, without a doubt, find new and interesting ways of making her life particularly miserable.
'Right…' Then, Alan would just have to do something. He hurried down to the lower level and after the small girl. She somehow had mistakenly been caught in between one of his own men and a Zaibach soldier. Quickly he grabbed her and pulled her out of harms way. The child squealed, in fear surely, not knowing who he was.
"You're safe now," he told her and carried her back to the young woman. Surely the silvery girl couldn't be the child's mother, she looked far to young to be the mother of this little girl.
"Serene!" she silvery girl cried, "what in the hells were you thinking?" The child looked guilty, but didn't cower in the face of her guardian's fury. "Ach, just go back to our rooms and we'll talk about this when I'm better able to control myself." Is sounded as though her voice cracked ever so slightly, and it was clear that at the moment she thought herself too upset to act rationally. The child obeyed and headed back down the corridor, but not before casting a glance at her saviour. From this range, Alan could not tell that, despite her hair and eye colour, that she was not his little sister. No, that had been wishful thinking on his part, and as if to further clarify that truth, Alan saw that the child's eyes had vertically slit pupils, which Celina certainly had not. When the child had turned around a corner, the young woman then turned to face Alan.
"Thank you," she said, but Alan was surprised to see nothing other than slight anger and obvious relief, and perhaps some gratitude. There was none of the elation that one would see in most women after their child had been rescued. No, she remained entirely composed, "You have my deepest gratitude," she told him, "Now, I must go deal with Serene. Take care. Be careful, and watch your back…Dilandau won't just let this go…" She then turned away, even before he could reply, and followed after the child.
*******
When Serene reached hers and Sylvana's apartments, she collapsed onto the couch with a sigh. She was feeling mildly sulky. Only mere minutes later, Sylvana appeared.
"What has gotten into you?!" she cried even before the door had closed shut. Serene felt her cheeks flush with a slight amount of embarrassment.
"I-I don't know," she replied, "I wasn't thinking…I-I just…I'm sorry," She stole a glance at Sylvana and saw surprise in her guardian's eyes, her anger had completely melted away…"I-I just wanted to help. Someone was hurt, I saw, I wanted to help…" Sylvana sighed and knelt down before Serene.
"Listen to me very carefully, Serene," she said in a firm voice, "you scared the hell out of me. Don't you ever, ever, ever do that again, do you hear me? You could have been badly hurt or even killed! I could never live with myself if that happened. Am I understood?"
"Yes…I'm sorry," replied Serene in a small voice. Sylvana sighed and closed her eyes.
"Good," she said as she stood and then flopped down on the couch next to Serene, "Now what?" she then asked the girl as she looked at her.
*******
"Hold still!" Sylvana hissed as Dilandau tried to pull away as she cleaned his wound.
"I'll get Van for this!" he growled.
"For what, cutting your face? Really, Dilandau, that is quite petty, though it doesn't exactly surprise me…" Dilandau growled under his breath but didn't reply, "This is war, not some sort of game. People get injured in wars, people die. You're damned lucky this is the only injury you got. If it's your bloody vanity that's been bruised then get over it, believe me, this injury doesn't spoil your damned beauty, though I really do believe that you need to get over that as well; Narcissism is extremely unhealthy." she finished as she placed a clean bandage over the wound, "You're lucky you didn't lose anything else…" She knew he wasn't listening.
"How did he escape?" Dilandau demanded.
"Fine swordsmanship perhaps?" asked Sylvana being obviously flippant. Dilandau snorted.
"Go away," he growled.
"Gladly," snapped Sylvana, already headed for the door, "Oh, and Dilandau?" The young lord glanced up at her, "don't do anything stupid for a few days, though I probably shouldn't hold my breath," she murmured under her breath as she turned her back so she didn't see the dirty look Dilandau gave her as she glided out the door.
*******
Dilandau knew that something was amiss. He was sure that someone had helped his enemies in their escape. Had it been Sylvana? He had thought that he had seen her, yet she had been in her apartments when he went in search for her. Everything was unravelling. He had noticed that four or five of his men, as of late, had seemed more defiant than they had been before, others seemed unsure. As he contemplated it, he grew increasingly certain that Sylvana was behind both problems. Van would not have escaped without help, and only one person would have the audacity to aid an enemy of Dilandau. As for his men, he'd had no problem with them until the arrival of Sylvana. She had to be scheming, and he would no longer stand for it!
Chapter 21
Sylvana whirled around, turning her back to the balcony when Dilandau's voice snapped out her name. She gazed at him in startlement. Fury was written all over his face, his normally handsome features twisted in rage.
"This is it!" he snarled, "this is the final straw. I won't tolerate this any further…" Sylvana's pale brows knitted.
"What are you going on about, Dilandau?" she demanded, "You're ranting…"
"Silence!" he snapped, "I'm done playing your games you conniving bitch! I should have known that you were working with the enemy. I should have realized that you were a spy. You agreed to come with me far too readily."
"Oh, for Gods' sakes, stop it. I am no spy and you bloody well know it…"
"Someone helped Van Fanel escape!"
"So? What does that matter. He would have with or without help…"
"So, you admit to helping him."
"What if I am? Go away Dilandau. Come back when you are better able to control yourself and when you're in a more rational state of mind…if you ever are…"
"I'm not done! There is another matter," he snapped, "There is talk of insubordination among my men. Most are still loyal, but others are talking of following you instead…" he let out an incredulous and almost bitter laugh, "You!" he repeated, "a woman! A coward! A weakling! Someone who isn't even human!" Now Sylvana's own fiery spirit flared in anger, flashing in her pale eyes.
"Are you suggesting that I had a hand in this? That I planned it?" she demanded.
"I know you did!" he yelled back, "Not only did you aid my enemies in their escape, you turned my own men against me! You - you put some sort of spell on them!"
"I did no such thing! Did it ever occur to you that they simply tired of being abused regularly? Perhaps they simply grew weary of your maltreatment, Dilandau." Dilandau was struck dumb for several moments. His men would never do that...would they?
"My men are loyal to the end! They would never defect!"
"Are you so certain?" she shot back, her voice once again calm, her silvery-green eyes trained intently on him.
"I know my men!" he roared.
"Do you really?" she replied, "people can surprise you…"
"I never had a single problem until you came here…"
"You brought me here!"
"And you agreed to follow my commands…"
"Yes, well…you agreed to spare Adriel!"
"I did!"
"Is that so? Then where is he now? Oh yes, in the Otherlands, his ashes offered to the winds and scattered across the sphere's four corners…"
"I-"
"Yes?" Dilandau growled and strode toward her.
"That is not the point! I know you helped Van to escape and I know you did something to my men, so, whatever you did to them…undo it!"
"I cannot undo what has not been done." Sylvana crossed her arms under her breasts, but rather than looking defiant, she looked almost defensive, "I have done nothing to your men." She then stepped back before walking around him and away from her balcony where she'd been standing.
"I don't believe you.." Dilandau growled. Sylvana turned to face him and shrugged fluidly,
"Your problem, not mine."
"I know you're lying."
"I'm not."
"I will make you fix this if I have to…"
"Not unless you have a death wish."
"Is that a threat?"
"Would you like it to be?" Sylvana could feel her rage slowly burning even hotter until it was almost as though she could feel fire burning just below her skin.
"I should have just finished your lover at the festival." Sylvana growled wolfishly and turned her back to him again.
"And I should have killed you when I had that first chance back at the vale!" she snapped, her anger finally reaching it's boiling point and her fury bubbling over, her control finally slipping. Then she felt something else happening. She felt a tension snap as a taught cord might if it were frayed. She could feel a slight tingling at the back of her mind and she then felt her heart lurch in her chest. She remembered this!
"Gods no," she whispered as she whipped around and found Dilandau's form crumpled on the floor. Sylvana spat out a stream of vicious curses in at least six different languages. Curses that would make a soldier wince. Curses describing things that most would think to be anatomically impossible. She rushed across the room and dropped down next to Dilandau. She read his aura, assessing the damage, "No, no, no, no," she hissed to herself, "not this again, please, God's not again!" she hadn't meant to do this. She hadn't wanted to lose control. She had promised herself after the death of azure…after she had accidentally killed him, that she would never allow it to happen again. She smacked Dilandau's cheek firmly several times.
"Come on you stubborn bastard…come on. For Gods' sake, wake up, please!" She could feel panic rising quickly in her chest, threatening to choke off her air, and though she hated Dilandau with a furious and fiery passion, she could feel tears welling to the surface and creating little rivulets down her cheeks.
"No, no…wake up, please, just wake up…Dilandau!" She brought her hands up as though to cover her face and then created claws with her fingers as though she were about to tear out her hair as she let out a cry that seemed to be a mixture of panic and frustration. She slapped him again across the face as hard as she could in a vain attempt to bring him back to his senses.
"Don't do this to me," she begged, barely forcing down a sob, and then she brought her hands to her mouth. What was she going to do? She hadn't wanted this. Never would she wish this on her worst enemy. Finally, she did the only thing she could…She staggered to her feet and hurried to the door of her apartments. Once out in the corridor she screamed for help at the top of her lungs.
Sylvana leaned out over the balcony railing into the gloom of the cavern. Levestones floated all about them and she could hear the music of water dripping on stone, and water dripping on water, far below them when she closed her eyes. A gentle mist swirled up from below to mask the cavern surrounding the fortress and she savoured the soft caress of the moisture on her cheeks. They had been here for a while now. On their last campaign, the dragon slayers had managed to capture someone. She still didn't know who it was, she hadn't been permitted to check whomever it was for wounds, but she was in no doubt of the fact that this person, whoever he or she was, was of some importance. Was it that young man? The one they called the dragon? She knew not, but she wondered. She pulled away from the mist, back inside the fortress and turned to face the room. She longed to fly, to stretch her wings, to become that falcon that dwelled inside of her as a part of her spirit, but she couldn't and she knew it. Oh, she was going out of her mind. Always, even when a child of six or seven summers, she had hated being cooped up, even for only a few days. She had been caged for over six months now and oh how her heart and spirit ached for the sky. More than once she had stood on her balcony watching the clouds. She envied them so very much; their freedom, their carelessness...she'd had that once too, but no longer. She sighed and headed for the door. She needed to take a walk.
*******
There was an odd feel to the general atmosphere of the fortress. Something new was afoot; Serene could almost taste it. Anya felt it too. Something new was in the air. Was it…defiance? What was that Serene was picking up? Things were beginning to change. What a wondrous feeling it was! Wondrous and strange, and it made her blood buzz slightly and her spirit hum. She closed her eyes and just let the feeling wash over her and take control. It was like music flowing through her veins. It was almost like a drug, this new feeling…the feeling of things moving forward, faster and smoother than ever. Oh, wondrous it was…
*******
Sylvana ran a hand along the railing of the over-passing walkway. She paused to gaze down a few moments at the activity below, but turned away after not too long. She took a few steps forward and paused mid-step upon letting her eyes settle on a small form peering down at the level below as she had just been doing. She approached the seemingly oblivious child and stopped only a few feet away before finally speaking.
"Serene? What are you doing?" there was a short pause.
"I feel something strange," the girl replied, "something's going to happen…something …different…" Sylvana's brow furrowed as her eyebrows knitted.
"What do you mean, love?" she questioned.
"I don't know," replied Serene, "but I feel something new and wondrous strange in the air…"
"Hmm…" grunted Sylvana thoughtfully, "if so perhaps we should return to-" she was cut off when a sudden and violent lurch shook the entire fortress. Sylvana was thrown backward into the opposite railing and Serene was thrown into her. Sylvana fell to her knees with a thud, the wind knocked out of her and her stomach smarting from where Serene's shoulder had been driven into it. The two sat mutely on the floor for a moment or two, quite shaken.
"What was that, Sylvie?" Serene finally managed.
"I know not," replied Sylvana, "but let us return to our apartments before it can happen again." Quickly she was on her feet pulling Serene up with her. The two then hastened back to their rooms. A second, less violent jolt nearly sent the two to their knees again, but they managed to maintain their balance and continue on.
"What's going on?" Serene asked Sylvana once they had stumbled through the door of their apartments. Sylvana was silent several good moments, as she doubled over, hands resting on her knees as she awaited her second wind. She raised her eyes to the child and then straightened.
"I don't know, Sylph," she replied glancing back toward the door, "but I'm going to go find out…" she turned her gaze back to Serene, "Now, I want you to listen to me, Serene," she said in a firm voice, "I want you to stay here where it's safe…do you here me? Stay here."
"But -"
"Stay here!" repeated Sylvana as she shifted into her falcon form and winged out through the open door. The corridors were just barely wide enough for her to comfortably stretch her broad wings in order to fly. There was already extensive damage visible throughout the fortress. She could sense the emotions of others…chaotic emotions, not all coming from those of the fortress. She knew immediately the reasons for the wild emotions, the damage…the fortress was under attack…undoubtedly by the friends, or at least allies, of the prisoner who had been captured days before. She turned down another corridor, following the emotions of the multiple battles. She must find what she sought.
Chapter 17
The raven-haired youth followed the slightly older young man down the corridors of the floating fortress toward where the air ship of his rescuers was moored. The corridors were mostly clear for a good part of the way, but it couldn't last and before long they came to a divergence in the corridors; all their possible escape paths blocked. Alan Schezar drew his sword in order to fend off the soldiers gathered before him and Van Fanel; this wasn't going to be pretty. The soldiers charged and Alan raised his sword, but before a single blow could be exchanged something whizzed past his ears and three soldiers fell dead; arrows lodged deep in their chests as though they wore nothing but cloth tunics rather than their armour. Alan and Van whirled about just in time to see the silvery creature lower her hunting bow. Both were struck, not only by her beauty, but by her skill with such a weapon as a bow. Her pale green orbs were still trained intently on the remaining soldiers as she drew another arrow and knocked it.
"Leave," she hissed out in a silvery bell-like voice as she drew the string. The soldiers all tensed but appeared not easily phased. However, they did not resume their attack either. The girl's eyes then focused on the two strange men before her. "You'll not find your escape rout that way," she stated coolly, calmly. Was that a threat, or was she simply stating a fact? "Come with me, I know this fortress, I can show you another way to the area you seek."
"Is that so?" growled Van, not willing to trust her so easily.
"It is," she replied, still with an air of calm, "but if you'd rather find your own misguided way through this vast fortress then I'd be happy to leave you to yourselves." She then turned her back and started back the way she'd come.
"Wait!" called Alan. There was a moment where the two men thought that the young woman would continue on her way, but she surprised them both by pausing and glancing back over her shoulder.
"Well, what is it?" she asked coldly. Alan felt that part of him stir; that part that responded to the power of feminine beauty.
"Tell me," he said fixing his gaze on her intently, "what are you doing here? A beautiful young lady like yourself does not belong in a place like this." The silvery woman turned back to face him and then arched an eyebrow as she crossed her arms.
"I thank you for your concern," she said, a touch of sarcasm in her musical voice. Alan wasn't daunted and took a step toward her.
"You no longer need to stay here. I can take you with me…" Now her other eyebrow joined the first, both approaching her hairline. "You can trust me," the knight insisted, "I am a knight Caeli. As a knight and a man, I promise I will never allow anyone to harm you." The girl cocked her head just enough so that her thick silvery-white tresses cascaded like water over one shoulder; some of the strands falling away from her face so that one of her delicate and tapered ears was revealed.
"Again, I thank you for your concern, but I know quite well how to take care of myself. I may be a woman, but I am for from the weak, innocent, helpless creatures you envision. I am many things, but I am far from weak and innocent, let alone helpless. If you wish my help then I'd be happy to offer it to you, if not, then I'll be on my way, it's your choice, but might I suggest not being too too hasty…" Alan frowned and then glanced over at Van as if her were offering it to him to make the important decision. Van returned Alan's gaze a moment and then looked back at the strange woman.
"Very well," he finally agreed, "but one wrong move and -"
"Yes, yes, you don't trust me, I don't trust you, but my da said more than once, 'Mine enemy's enemy be my friend. You may not trust me, but it remains that I am perhaps the only one here who can help you escape this place, so I suggest you do not reject aid un-looked for." She then pointed down the corridor they'd originally come. "This way, if you wish to escape, follow me." That said she turned her back and made her way back down the corridor. Van and Alan exchanged glances and then hastened after her.
It wasn't long before the three turned down a corridor and nearly crashed into another group of guards. It wasn't too large a group, small enough for one swordsman to defeat if he were skilled enough.
"Go on," Alan told the other two, "I'll hold them off…" There was a moment's pause for the two to acknowledge Alan's courage and then the silvery woman took hold of Van's wrist and turned down a side corridor with nothing else other than a hasty, "This way!"
*******
As they made their way down the narrow corridor, Van wondered on this strange young woman he and Alan had encountered. He had never seen her clan before, though he wondered if she were perhaps a half-breed, part human and part cat perhaps, though he had never heard of humans and cat-people consorting before, or at least no children resulting from it. However, that would certainly explain her ears, but those eyes…it hadn't been until he'd drawn closer to her that he'd seen that the pupils of her pale eyes were slit vertically, not unlike those of the earth dragons that had always dwelled in the woods surrounding Fanelia. The cat-people certainly didn't have eyes like those. He had never seen a cat-person with eyes that slanted like hers did and that had the sort of pupils hers had. If she did have some cat in her, she certainly had something else in her as well.
"Tell me," he finally said after they'd been silent a long while, "where do you come from?"
"A land far away that I am certain you have never seen," she replied sounding somewhat preoccupied.
"Well then, at least tell me what clan you're from," he insisted. The young woman stopped and turned to face him.
"Why?!" she demanded, "why do you wish to know?"
"Because, I've never seen your clan before," replied Van sharply.
"If you haven't heard of us then it doesn't matter," she replied and turned away, again making her way down the corridor. Van followed, but continued to wonder. He remembered the children's stories his mother had told him long ago. In one she spoke of a race of beings who dwelled in the woods. They were supposed to shimmer with an inner light and were fair in both aspects of the word as this strange girl was. Supposedly they were very secretive and did not like their demesnes to be disturbed. The spirits of the woods his mother had called them and they were said to dwell in the woods surrounding Fanelia along side the dragons. Was that what she was?
"Are you a wood spirit?" he suddenly heard himself asking, though he hadn't meant to. The young woman paused again, a chuckled escaping her throat before she turned.
"Wood spirit? My friend, tell me you don't believe those silly children's tales…"
"Well then, if you aren't a spirit, then what are you?"
"A friend and that's all you need know. Now please, can we cease this useless chatter before we are heard and discovered?" Van was a little stung by her sharp words. He decided then that trying to be kind was wasted on her and resolved not to bother speaking with her again.
Chapter 18
They had gone a fair way before Van and Sylvana ran into more trouble. As they were passing by a convergence in the corridor, a small group of guards nearly ran into them. Van had his sword drawn before he could think, but Sylvana had other ideas…
"Stand back," she commanded in a sharp tone. Van was about to protest, but she was already standing in front of him, facing the flustered guards.
"What in hell do you think you're doing?" demanded one of them. The she smiled wickedly.
"Just…going for a walk…to the hanger…" she replied, aware of exactly how they would react.
"The hell you are," growled another of the guards. Sylvana sighed mockingly.
"Well now…are you entirely certain you want to try this the hard way?" she asked, "I'm afraid it will be much more fun for me than it will be for you." The guards didn't look intimidated in the least. Too bad, they were the young cocky sort. Without even a reply, the guards all had their hands on their swords. Too bad for them they hadn't been watching Sylvana's hands, for one had slipped into a pouch she wore at her side and as they all drew, Sylvana, with an air of perfect calm, lifted her hand and blew across her palm. Dust flew from her hand and into the air and then ignited creating almost what appeared to be a wall of fire. With yells and a few piercing screams, most of the men fled down the corridor the way they'd come, some on fire, some merely running from Sylvana…'A witch' they called her. When the air cleared Sylvana and Van saw that two soldiers still remained. One saw that Van had his sword drawn. Sylvana frowned, 'Foolish human, you should know that drawing your sword immediately makes you a target.' As the one guard raised his own sword, the other ignored them, content, rather, to eye Sylvana both warily and hungrily.
"Too bad your protector is otherwise engaged. You'll have to deal with me on your own." Sylvana's eyebrows rose. She glanced over at the two battling men just as Van perfectly deflected an on coming blow and counterattacked.
"I don't need protection," she replied, her eyes still on the other two, "and if you don't believe me…" her eyes now returned to the soldier, "then you're welcome to take me on…"
*******
Van was so engaged in his battle with the guard that it was too late before he saw the other draw and lunge at the seemingly helpless girl.
"Hey, leave her alone!" he yelled as he parried a blow and then dodged another. The other guard didn't respond and the girl didn't move; she simply gazed silently at the guard. Was she frozen with fear? No, that couldn't be it, there was no look of fear on her face; she seemed perfectly calm. Then at the last possible moment, as the soldier's sword came toward her, the silvery youth dodged the blow so that the soldier's sword cleaved only the air with a whistle. She then drew a sword of her own, seemingly from the air. Had she had it at her side all along? It was a different style of sword from those he'd seen, neither a saber nor a broadsword. It hadn't the gentle curve of the saber, but was narrower and longer than a broad sword. It more closely resembled the less common long swords. It looked far too large, and far too heavy for her to manage, but she deftly parried a second blow that came at her from the soldier with the greatest of ease. How could such a small and delicate creature such as her wield such a weapon with so much skill? He'd never known any woman who could use such a weapon as a sword. Some knew the lighter weapons to some degree, but it still remained that it was usually viewed as unseemly for a woman to wield any weapon let alone a sword. Van pushed it out of his mind as another strike came at him and narrowly missed. He struck back, trying not to be distracted by the graceful and lithe movements of the silvery girl, who he could still see out of the corner of his eye as she dodged and parried and attacked. Her technique seemed different as well, but he hadn't the time to dwell on it. He ducked as another blow came at him, level with his neck. It barely missed him and he felt it skim his hairline, surely cutting off a few strands of hair along the way. This was getting ridiculous; they hadn't the time for this, they had to escape and fast. With that in mind, Van brought down his sword again. With a surprised and strangled yell, the guard brought up his sword to parry, but Van had put in more of his strength into this blow with every intention of ending the battle. The blow struck hard, although it was met with his opponent's sword. The guard swore as his sword fell from his had. Van had enough foresight to kick it out of his opponent's range and then he pressed his own sword against his enemy's throat.
"Now get out of here," Van growled. The guard didn't seem as intimidated as he was indignant, but he wasn't stupid. Van had the upper hand and he had lost his sword, so when Van let him go he accepted defeat gracefully and went. Still, Van had little doubt that the guard was going to get more help rather than retreating. Van then discarded his own sword. After all, it wasn't really his. He had taken it from one of the soldiers who had been downed by Alan before they had met up with that strange girl…the girl! Van turned to see what had become of her. Surely she couldn't still be - He turned just in time to see her dance out of range of the other's sword before she herself attacked. She completed a parry without even a small hint of clumsiness and then did something unexpected. She performed a move that Van had seen no other swordsman use. (The very move she had used to disarm Dilandau while they'd been sparring.) She whirled backwards, her arm whipping around so that the hilt of her sword connected with her opponent's jaw. The soldier grunted and the grip he had on his sword clearly loosed. The girl quickly took advantage of that and brought her foot up to connect with his hand. The sword clattered to the floor and the girl this time kicked it away rather than taking it up as she had before. She then rested the blade of her sword against the soldier's throat.
"I win," she hissed just before another voice could be heard.
"Sylvana?" the three all looked toward the small voice and there stood a little golden haired girl, her sapphire eyes wide, perhaps with fear, perhaps with simple shock, who could tell?
"Serene," the young woman hissed through nearly clenched teeth.
*******
"I thought I told you to stay in our rooms," Sylvana hissed at the child, not bothering to use her own language as she turned back to face the soldier. Sylvana could see Serene out of the corner of her eye.
"Well, you did, b-but, I got worried. I was afraid you would be harmed and -"
"Serene, you needn't worry about me. You should worry more about yourself. You are the one who could be harmed… Now, go back to our rooms and stay there…" Serene flinched slightly at Sylvana's words, but proved just how very stubborn she could be.
"I won't go," she replied, "I won't! I'm staying and there is naught you can do about it!" Sylvana frowned as she stared at the soldier. She could see the amusement on his face. She could almost picture is thoughts…'How is it that a woman who can defeat a soldier in a fight be unable to control a child?' Sylvana growled softly, not a semi-growl, like that which a human might make when angry, but a true growl like that which rumbled forth from the throat of a wolf.
"I'll deal with you in a moment," she grumbled to Serene and then returned her full attention to the guard.
"You are defeated," she said, "but I'll let you live if you agree to my terms…"
"Tell me what they are," replied the soldier still defiant, "and I'll think about it…"
"Very well…go…find the rest of the soldiers. Tell them what has happened here. Tell them that if I meet with any more resistance such as this, then I will use all the resources at my disposal to deal with it swiftly and permanently. If I face any more difficulty I won't hesitate to kill." She narrowed her eyes, "What say you?"
"I'll do it, I'll do it," replied the soldier as her sword pressed just a little harder into his throat, enough to draw a drop of blood.
"Good, then go…" she pointed down the corridor with her sword, "before I change my mind." The soldier pressed a hand against his bleeding throat and hurried on his way past Serene, not even stopping to retrieve his weapon. At least he'd not called her bluff, but would the others? She really didn't like to kill, especially in front of Serene, but would if she found it necessary. She sheathed her sword and then turned to Serene.
"What is going through your head?" she demanded, "you can't be here, it's not safe and I may not necessarily be able to protect you if push comes to shove."
"I don't care," snapped Serene, frowning, "I don't want to be alone in those rooms, not knowing what's happening and wondering if you are still alive or not." Now it was Sylvana's turn to frown. Perhaps she owed it to Serene to let her come. After all, Sylvana had not been there when her own mother had died; she had not even had the chance to say good-bye. Her mother had left before either she or her brother were awake and they didn't hear about her death until Siarra, one of the elders, had come to them at the white sand beach near Falcons' Aerie to tell them that their mother had been killed. Sylvana certainly wasn't Serene's mother, but perhaps, knowing what had happened to her own mother, she owed it to Serene and perhaps even herself to let the child along. She doubted that any soldier, not even Dilandau, would attack a small child. Sylvana closed her eyes and then sighed.
"Very well, Sylph, you may come -" the girl let out a whoop, "if -" Serene fell silent again, "if you promise to stay out of the way."
"Yes, yes, I promise," cried the girl.
"All right, then hurry up." Ach, she could never say no to that child. She turned and met eyes with Van. Yes, she could see shock in his eyes, annoyance, disgust,but perhaps even a little wonder. "We'd better hurry," Sylvana said to him. That seemed to snap him free of his thoughts and he nodded. Sylvana cast a glance down each corridor.
"That way," she finally declared, pointing to her left before she hastened down that corridor. Serene remained behind a few moments, but then, rather than a child, a small golden foxling came running down the corridor after them. 'Smart girl,' Sylvana thought to herself, 'certainly she couldn't keep up in her true form, but in that one…' She silently applauded the child. Indeed, she was not as naive as she first appeared.
Chapter 19
Hitome hurried down the corridors at a run. She was still amazed that she had made it across that jump; she had been lucky, but that didn't matter now, now she had to find Van; she had to find Van and warn him. She couldn't let her vision come true! The corridor ended abruptly and there she found herself at the hanger, she could even see the Escaflowne, but she was smart enough to remain hidden in the shadows of the corridor. She then spotted Van. He appeared from another of the corridors and headed toward Escaflowne. She then spotted another young woman, who also remained in the shadows of the adjacent corridor. There was something strange about her, but Hitome couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. She turned her attention back to Van and was about to call out to him, but before she could, a voice called out Van's name. Both Hitome and Van looked toward the voice. On one of the overwalks stood a man who Hitome thought looked like he was probably important. Van then called something out to the other that was unexpected; he referred to the strange man as brother.
'Van's brother?' Hitome thought to herself as she watched him toss Van his sword as the very same moment Hitome caught movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head to see what it was as a shadow could be seen through the smoke, sneaking up behind Van.
"Van, behind you!" she cried as the exact same moment the strange girl called,
"Look out!" just as Dilandau appeared from the veil of smoke and raised his sword. However, his attack was thwarted as Van turned just in time and raised his still sheathed sword to block Dilandau's blow. Hitome cast a quick glance as the strange young woman again. She surely couldn't be any older than she herself was, but this silvery girl seemed to be almost ageless despite her youthful appearance. Hitome had been surprised when the girl called out to Van. Had she helped him to escape then? Her voice had been unexpectedly silvery and clear and Hitome thought she had detected a strange yet melodious and lilting accent in those two words she had uttered. She noted then that the girl was returning Hitome's gaze; her eyes, though green, were strikingly pale and seemed almost like ice; indeed they seemed to hold a slight chill in them. It was at that moment that Hitome heard footsteps coming up behind her, she turned, fearing that she would have to face an enemy, but…
"Alan!"
"Hitome? What-" he stopped when he saw the two youths fighting and then his eyes fell on the other girl half hidden in the adjacent corridor. Hitome thought she heard him take in a breath and followed his gaze. She then saw that beside the young woman stood a child, who clung to her skirts as if for safety. Unlike the fair, silvery young woman, the child was slightly tanned as if she played often in the sun. Her hair was a warm gold and her eyes were sparkling sapphire blue. Where had that child come from? Alan then reacted as if he were shaking himself from a daydream or a trance.
"What's the matter?" asked Hitome.
"That child…I thought…Oh, it doesn't matter…"
"What about her?"
"Well, for a moment…I just thought I saw my sister, but that's impossible." He then scanned the area, "I'd better go…stay here," he commanded.
"Uh…kay," replied Hitome, rather dazed.
*******
Sylvana watched the battle between the two young men. She didn't usually compare people, but the contrasts between the two were striking. One fair, one dark; one fighting for the love of it, one fighting to defend that which he loved; one arrogant, one nobly proud; one dressed richly though not truly of nobility, one dressed humbly though clearly of noble blood.
"Two sides of the same coin," she murmured, thinking immediately of Bast and Sekhmet, who also were similar in that way; being the perfect opposite of the other, though for them it was mostly just in their personality and not their appearance as well. 'Dilandau is far too fond of that word coward,' she then thought to herself, 'It would be nice if he'd study the meaning of the word before using it.' She crossed her arms under her breasts and continued to watch. Yes, she should have returned to her apartments. If Dilandau spotted her then undoubtedly, he would guess that she had aided his enemies, but somehow she just couldn't. She had little doubt who would come out on top during this batter and ooh, how she longed to see Dilandau fall in the mud. The battle wasn't as long as she would have expected, however. Van was quick to get the upper hand, Dilandau failed to block a strike, or perhaps he simply misdirected it, either way in the blink of an eye, Van's sword caught the young lord's cheek, leaving quite an ugly wound that would, without a doubt, leave an even uglier scar. She smiled coldly to herself.
'Ha ha, serves you right,' she thought to herself as Dilandau dropped to his knees clutching his bleeding face.
"Go!" she called to Van, pointing toward his guymelef. Serene then darted forward before Sylvana could grab her.
Chapter 20
"Serene!" the musical feminine voice echoed through the huge hanger. Alan defeated the last of his opponents in time to see the small girl run forward out of the silvery woman's reach before she could grab her. "Come back here!" the young woman called, but she didn't move from her spot. Undoubtedly she wished not to be spotted by Dilandau. Surely, if the young lord spotted her then he would easily figure out that his enemies had been helped in their escape and he would, without a doubt, find new and interesting ways of making her life particularly miserable.
'Right…' Then, Alan would just have to do something. He hurried down to the lower level and after the small girl. She somehow had mistakenly been caught in between one of his own men and a Zaibach soldier. Quickly he grabbed her and pulled her out of harms way. The child squealed, in fear surely, not knowing who he was.
"You're safe now," he told her and carried her back to the young woman. Surely the silvery girl couldn't be the child's mother, she looked far to young to be the mother of this little girl.
"Serene!" she silvery girl cried, "what in the hells were you thinking?" The child looked guilty, but didn't cower in the face of her guardian's fury. "Ach, just go back to our rooms and we'll talk about this when I'm better able to control myself." Is sounded as though her voice cracked ever so slightly, and it was clear that at the moment she thought herself too upset to act rationally. The child obeyed and headed back down the corridor, but not before casting a glance at her saviour. From this range, Alan could not tell that, despite her hair and eye colour, that she was not his little sister. No, that had been wishful thinking on his part, and as if to further clarify that truth, Alan saw that the child's eyes had vertically slit pupils, which Celina certainly had not. When the child had turned around a corner, the young woman then turned to face Alan.
"Thank you," she said, but Alan was surprised to see nothing other than slight anger and obvious relief, and perhaps some gratitude. There was none of the elation that one would see in most women after their child had been rescued. No, she remained entirely composed, "You have my deepest gratitude," she told him, "Now, I must go deal with Serene. Take care. Be careful, and watch your back…Dilandau won't just let this go…" She then turned away, even before he could reply, and followed after the child.
*******
When Serene reached hers and Sylvana's apartments, she collapsed onto the couch with a sigh. She was feeling mildly sulky. Only mere minutes later, Sylvana appeared.
"What has gotten into you?!" she cried even before the door had closed shut. Serene felt her cheeks flush with a slight amount of embarrassment.
"I-I don't know," she replied, "I wasn't thinking…I-I just…I'm sorry," She stole a glance at Sylvana and saw surprise in her guardian's eyes, her anger had completely melted away…"I-I just wanted to help. Someone was hurt, I saw, I wanted to help…" Sylvana sighed and knelt down before Serene.
"Listen to me very carefully, Serene," she said in a firm voice, "you scared the hell out of me. Don't you ever, ever, ever do that again, do you hear me? You could have been badly hurt or even killed! I could never live with myself if that happened. Am I understood?"
"Yes…I'm sorry," replied Serene in a small voice. Sylvana sighed and closed her eyes.
"Good," she said as she stood and then flopped down on the couch next to Serene, "Now what?" she then asked the girl as she looked at her.
*******
"Hold still!" Sylvana hissed as Dilandau tried to pull away as she cleaned his wound.
"I'll get Van for this!" he growled.
"For what, cutting your face? Really, Dilandau, that is quite petty, though it doesn't exactly surprise me…" Dilandau growled under his breath but didn't reply, "This is war, not some sort of game. People get injured in wars, people die. You're damned lucky this is the only injury you got. If it's your bloody vanity that's been bruised then get over it, believe me, this injury doesn't spoil your damned beauty, though I really do believe that you need to get over that as well; Narcissism is extremely unhealthy." she finished as she placed a clean bandage over the wound, "You're lucky you didn't lose anything else…" She knew he wasn't listening.
"How did he escape?" Dilandau demanded.
"Fine swordsmanship perhaps?" asked Sylvana being obviously flippant. Dilandau snorted.
"Go away," he growled.
"Gladly," snapped Sylvana, already headed for the door, "Oh, and Dilandau?" The young lord glanced up at her, "don't do anything stupid for a few days, though I probably shouldn't hold my breath," she murmured under her breath as she turned her back so she didn't see the dirty look Dilandau gave her as she glided out the door.
*******
Dilandau knew that something was amiss. He was sure that someone had helped his enemies in their escape. Had it been Sylvana? He had thought that he had seen her, yet she had been in her apartments when he went in search for her. Everything was unravelling. He had noticed that four or five of his men, as of late, had seemed more defiant than they had been before, others seemed unsure. As he contemplated it, he grew increasingly certain that Sylvana was behind both problems. Van would not have escaped without help, and only one person would have the audacity to aid an enemy of Dilandau. As for his men, he'd had no problem with them until the arrival of Sylvana. She had to be scheming, and he would no longer stand for it!
Chapter 21
Sylvana whirled around, turning her back to the balcony when Dilandau's voice snapped out her name. She gazed at him in startlement. Fury was written all over his face, his normally handsome features twisted in rage.
"This is it!" he snarled, "this is the final straw. I won't tolerate this any further…" Sylvana's pale brows knitted.
"What are you going on about, Dilandau?" she demanded, "You're ranting…"
"Silence!" he snapped, "I'm done playing your games you conniving bitch! I should have known that you were working with the enemy. I should have realized that you were a spy. You agreed to come with me far too readily."
"Oh, for Gods' sakes, stop it. I am no spy and you bloody well know it…"
"Someone helped Van Fanel escape!"
"So? What does that matter. He would have with or without help…"
"So, you admit to helping him."
"What if I am? Go away Dilandau. Come back when you are better able to control yourself and when you're in a more rational state of mind…if you ever are…"
"I'm not done! There is another matter," he snapped, "There is talk of insubordination among my men. Most are still loyal, but others are talking of following you instead…" he let out an incredulous and almost bitter laugh, "You!" he repeated, "a woman! A coward! A weakling! Someone who isn't even human!" Now Sylvana's own fiery spirit flared in anger, flashing in her pale eyes.
"Are you suggesting that I had a hand in this? That I planned it?" she demanded.
"I know you did!" he yelled back, "Not only did you aid my enemies in their escape, you turned my own men against me! You - you put some sort of spell on them!"
"I did no such thing! Did it ever occur to you that they simply tired of being abused regularly? Perhaps they simply grew weary of your maltreatment, Dilandau." Dilandau was struck dumb for several moments. His men would never do that...would they?
"My men are loyal to the end! They would never defect!"
"Are you so certain?" she shot back, her voice once again calm, her silvery-green eyes trained intently on him.
"I know my men!" he roared.
"Do you really?" she replied, "people can surprise you…"
"I never had a single problem until you came here…"
"You brought me here!"
"And you agreed to follow my commands…"
"Yes, well…you agreed to spare Adriel!"
"I did!"
"Is that so? Then where is he now? Oh yes, in the Otherlands, his ashes offered to the winds and scattered across the sphere's four corners…"
"I-"
"Yes?" Dilandau growled and strode toward her.
"That is not the point! I know you helped Van to escape and I know you did something to my men, so, whatever you did to them…undo it!"
"I cannot undo what has not been done." Sylvana crossed her arms under her breasts, but rather than looking defiant, she looked almost defensive, "I have done nothing to your men." She then stepped back before walking around him and away from her balcony where she'd been standing.
"I don't believe you.." Dilandau growled. Sylvana turned to face him and shrugged fluidly,
"Your problem, not mine."
"I know you're lying."
"I'm not."
"I will make you fix this if I have to…"
"Not unless you have a death wish."
"Is that a threat?"
"Would you like it to be?" Sylvana could feel her rage slowly burning even hotter until it was almost as though she could feel fire burning just below her skin.
"I should have just finished your lover at the festival." Sylvana growled wolfishly and turned her back to him again.
"And I should have killed you when I had that first chance back at the vale!" she snapped, her anger finally reaching it's boiling point and her fury bubbling over, her control finally slipping. Then she felt something else happening. She felt a tension snap as a taught cord might if it were frayed. She could feel a slight tingling at the back of her mind and she then felt her heart lurch in her chest. She remembered this!
"Gods no," she whispered as she whipped around and found Dilandau's form crumpled on the floor. Sylvana spat out a stream of vicious curses in at least six different languages. Curses that would make a soldier wince. Curses describing things that most would think to be anatomically impossible. She rushed across the room and dropped down next to Dilandau. She read his aura, assessing the damage, "No, no, no, no," she hissed to herself, "not this again, please, God's not again!" she hadn't meant to do this. She hadn't wanted to lose control. She had promised herself after the death of azure…after she had accidentally killed him, that she would never allow it to happen again. She smacked Dilandau's cheek firmly several times.
"Come on you stubborn bastard…come on. For Gods' sake, wake up, please!" She could feel panic rising quickly in her chest, threatening to choke off her air, and though she hated Dilandau with a furious and fiery passion, she could feel tears welling to the surface and creating little rivulets down her cheeks.
"No, no…wake up, please, just wake up…Dilandau!" She brought her hands up as though to cover her face and then created claws with her fingers as though she were about to tear out her hair as she let out a cry that seemed to be a mixture of panic and frustration. She slapped him again across the face as hard as she could in a vain attempt to bring him back to his senses.
"Don't do this to me," she begged, barely forcing down a sob, and then she brought her hands to her mouth. What was she going to do? She hadn't wanted this. Never would she wish this on her worst enemy. Finally, she did the only thing she could…She staggered to her feet and hurried to the door of her apartments. Once out in the corridor she screamed for help at the top of her lungs.