Saving Graces
_____________
"We have guests, my wife."
"Well, it should be an occasion to remember. Is she hurt?"
"Yes."
"A head wound. A mortal head wound. She's already in a coma."
"Can you heal her?"
"I already have. She's lucky you got here quickly. I cannot heal corpses. I'm not that powerful."
"I'm well aware. How is she?"
"She'll awaken in a few hours. Are they..."
"A blue haired man with green eyes and a blonde haired windian woman. Who do you think they are?"
"Oh...dear. I knew that this was too good to last."
"Hmph. You always have been pessimistic."
Ryu slowly opens his eyes, shifting on the bed of straw and down, groaning.
He remembers falling...finding Nina unconscious and bleeding...
"He's awake."
He turns to the sound of the voice, snapping up...
And sees a tall man with slightly greying dark hair standing there, hands clasped behind him.
Ryu climbs off the bed, looking about the somewhat spacious, fire-lit cabin, two doors at opposite ends.
"My name is Galen," the man says, "I found you and a girl at the bottom of the gorge."
Ryu quickly turns to him, tensing.
"Where's Nina?", he asks, "The girl, where is she?!"
"Her name is Nina, hm...", Galen says, and nods, "Don't be concerned. My wife is a healer. Nina's wound was not severe and she's healed, but still sleeping."
He visibly relaxes, nodding as he sits back down on the bed.
"Thank you," he responds, "My name is Ryu. Ryu Kirrick."
"Kirrick?"
"That's my adopted last name," he responds, "I don't know what my real last name is."
Galen's shoulders slump, and he sighs.
"I see," he responds, "Well, far be it from me to not offer hospitality. There should be something for you to eat around here, and I will be back shortly."
He bows, walking through the door he entered, walking into a spartan bedroom, looking to the golden-haired woman watching over Nina.
"He is awake."
She nods, smiling faintly.
"Good.", she responds, "Nina is resting well. I suggest they retire for the night. I cannot sense any others in the area."
Galen nods, walking over to the caldron hanging over the fire.
"It seems that we're sleeping with company," he says, filling a bowl with the contents of the pot, "You will take care of Nina's needs?"
"What sort of hostess would I be if I didn't?", she asks with an innocent smile.
He chuckles, walking over and kissing her on the cheek.
"Still a better one than the first time we crossed paths."
She laughs, and walks over to the pot as Galen walks out...
His well-manicured hand slides down a single strand of her pale-gold hair, another tracing along the frame of one of her large, white wings, making Queen Kayla de Wyndia shudder slightly.
"You act as if you don't enjoy my company.", the man, a handsome, dark brown haired man in the dressings of a high-ranking noble says, "Every time I touch you, you seem to want to jump. Why would that be, my dear Queen?"
She grits her teeth under her aristocratic face, closing her eyes.
"Because there are times I'd rather be alone.", she softly responds.
She pulls out of his embrace, walking over to her bed and sitting on it, folding her hands in her lap. The man smiles, clasping his hands behind his back, walking over to her and standing in front of her.
"And what times would that be?", he asks, "You've shown hesitation around me, I admit. But never discomfort."
"Please...just leave.", she says, "Now."
He sighs...and reaches out, grabbing her by the back of her head, pulling her head back and forcefully kissing her. She struggles, trying to push him away, clenching her eyes shut as his tongue runs along her teeth.
He releases, smiling, bringing up his hand to catch her fist, and swinging the back of his hand across her face, making her shriek as she sprawls out across the bed.
"While the offer is tempting," he says, smiling, "I think I'll pass. Remember my offer, my dear Queen: Share my bed or all of Windia shares my blade. I don't think I'll make this offer too many more times."
He makes a gesture, and disappears in a burst of fading light, Kayla watching, holding her reddened cheek with her hand. And slowly collapsing to the bed, shuddering as she curls up into fetal position, wrapping her wings tightly around her.
Shafts of sunlight peak through the forest canopy, illuminating the windows of the cabin as they stream through the blinds.
Ryu slowly awakens, rolling over to his side on the straw mattress...and opening his eyes as he feels cloth and skin under his fingers. Lying next to him is Nina, her face peaceful, a welcome change from the last time he saw her.
"Nina?", he croaks.
She moans, smiling, opening her eyes.
"Are you alright?", he asks.
She nods, sighing, laying her head on her hands as her eyes meet his.
"I'm fine, Ryu.", she says, "Just a bit sore."
He smiles, sitting up, swinging his feet over the bed and standing.
"That's great.", he says, turning to her, "Well, I'll see-"
"We are up."
He turns, seeing Galen walking from the other room, in the same tunic as yesterday.
"Anna and I tend to wake up before sunrise.", he says, "I'm sorry if this startled you. But I put Nina next to you when you were sleeping. Anna and I need to sleep, to."
Nina smiles, chuckling.
"That's fine," she says, "Thank you for helping us."
"What sort of forest dwellers would we be if we didn't help those in need, hm? Now, if you'll give us a little time, we'll be off."
Nina sits up, stretching out her wings and folding them around her.
"Off to where?"
"Off to find out about the soldiers that attacked you, of course.", Galen says, his voice becoming slightly deeper, "We'll stop by a forest clan village for supplies, and then procede to Windia."
Ryu nods, sitting on the bed.
"Alright. I don't see why not."
Galen nods, smiling, and walks back into the other room.
Nina pulls herself over to Ryu, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and laying her chin next to his head.
"Are you alright?", she asks.
"I...yeah. Yeah, somewhat.", he says, gripping her hand with his own, "I nearly got us both killed-"
She places a finger on his lip, turning him to face her.
"No," she says, "Those soldiers nearly got us both killed. You saved us from them, and then Galen and Anna came to rescue us. So do not blame yourself. No matter what."
He nods, smiling, closing his eyes as he rests his head on her shoulder, gathering her in his arms.
And neither of them see Anna watching before she sneaks back into the other room...
The crossbow bolt slides into place as Erik quickly cocks his weapon, satisfied that it works.
"I still don't understand it.", Katalina says, watching him from her couch in her living room, "Jacobi knew him. Jansen was never a violent man."
"People change," Erik responds, "Sometimes more than others. All I know is that he killed Jacobi. And I intend to find out why."
She nods, sighing.
"Ryu's still out there. So is Nina.", she says, "Gods, I know something horrible is going to happen. I know they'll be in danger. But I know he isn't out there for revenge, just...something else."
Erik nods, walking over, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Jacobi taught him well," he says, "But he never taught me. At least, I never listened. So I am going out for revenge, Katalina. Don't expect me to return any time soon."
And with that, he grabs the quiver of bolts and the bag resting on the table, and walks out.
It took surprisingly little time for them to reach the exit to the forest, ending up on a dirt road leading into a distance neither Ryu nor Nina have ever seen.
"This way leads to Parim.", Galen says, shielding his eyes from the sun, "It is a Forest Clan village where we'll stop for supplies. Further down the path is Windia."
He leads them along, Anna walking alongside Nina.
"You are from Windia, are you not?", she asks.
Nina nods, shrugging.
"My...family lives in a town on the other side of the woods.", she says, "I'm not sure, really."
"But what about your parents?"
"They...I don't know. It's...hard to understand, really. I'm just confused about things, right now."
"I understand. Perhaps we'll settle those questions when we reach Windia."
Anna nods, walking back up to her husband. Ryu walks over, opening his mouth to ask a question...when they hear the familiar rumbling of riding horses.
Ryu and Nina grip each others hands as Galen groans, walking at point as the seven horsemen ride towards them, dismounting and standing before them.
"Out of the way.", Galen growls.
"Give us the boy and you shall not die, peasant." the lead soldiers, eyes glowing blood red, growls.
Galen sighs, folding his arms.
"No."
The soldier swings his sword with blinding speed...
And hits dirt, Galen blurring and appearing by his side.
The soldier swings again...and Galen catches the sword, his eyes begining to crackle.
"I will warn you this once," he growls, his voice becoming deeper and scratchier, "One person here has seen my true form and lived. She is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else."
With a flick of his wrist, he shatters the sword, stepping back. The soldiers don't move, drawing their weapons...and Galen smiles.
He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes, stretching out his arms. He opens his eyes...and now his eyes are glowing deep blue.
"So be it.", he says in a low, rumbling voice.
His fingers extend into claws, his third and forth fingers fusing. His muscles expand, his skin becoming rocky and hard.
Massive wings appear out of thin air, folding out of his shoulders as his body begins to grow.
Energy crackles in his eyes, his toes becoming three large talons, his legs snapping out like a bird's.
His body covers itself in amber-brown skin, replacing all his clothing but his tunic, his hair burrowing back into his head and replaced by two massive, red horns...and his face becomes a defined, noble snout, completing his transformation.
Into a nine foot tall, amber skinned gargoyle, clad in a blood-red tunic.
"Enough.", he growls, in a rumbling, low voice, "I am Garr. Guardian in service to the Goddess Myria. I will give you this one chance to run."
Chapter 4:
Transformations
_____________
Jansen Maroen splashes the water on his face, kneeling at the brook as his horse drinks.
He's heading towards the fort construction sight, alone and without his troops. He has a mystery to solve and questions to answer.
Because when he took out his sword today, there was blood on it.
Even though he cleaned it two days ago and hasn't drawn it since.
He shakes his head, climbing back into the saddle, and urges his horse on as his ride trots down the dirt road.
The spear blurrs as Garr swings it, each of the soldiers groaning as they fall to the ground.
"Be thankful I used the blunt end," the massive gargoyle states, "Or else you'd be tripping over your heads. This is your final warning. Move or be moved."
Ryu sidesteps behind Garr as Anna walks to the guardian's side, eyeing the soldiers neutrally. And the red disappears from the soldiers eyes, the seven climbing onto their horses and quickly riding away.
"That was odd.", Anna says, "They were not themselves."
With a glowing, blue light, Garr is Galen again, his spear disappearing in a plume of smoke.
"Agreed.", he says, "Glowing red eyes are not a clan trait I know of. Except maybe the Green...but they are never hostile."
He turns...and sees that Ryu was standing right behind him. He furrows his brow, turning to his wife. They nod, together, coming to the same conclusion.
"I suggest we hurry to Parim.", Galen says, "And how far is she from there?"
Anna turns to him, eyes snapping wide open.
"No!", she snaps, her normally gentle demeanor broken, "We are not involving her!"
"Anna, she is always involved. I wish to know how and what this pertains to."
"That...she always makes things far more difficult, Galen. I'd rather we not bring this to her attention."
"Anna..."
"Galen..."
Ryu clears his throat, Nina looking on with a bemused expression.
"Um...who's attention?", he asks.
Galen and Anna look to each other, then back to the two.
"A relative.", Galen says, "Come. We'll settle this in Parim."
And they continue on down the road.
"Prince Joshua! What news?"
The dark-brown haired noble levels a gaze at the taller, armored man, the guard quickly cringing and stepping back.
"Good.", Joshua says, "Tell His Majesty that I will meet with him upon my arrival to the throneroom. And be quick about it. It would be unpleasant if I arrived before you."
The soldier runs past Joshua, running up the stairs to the double doors of the throneroom as the prince walks down the royal-purple carpetted floor, stopping at the stairs as he hears the soldier announce Joshua's coming.
It has all but been set in stone, of course. Everything about Joshua's life.
He is the true Prince. He is heir to a clan that stands above all others.
Only Kayla resists, of course. He likes that about her. He saw the graceful, beautiful woman as a princess three years ago at a meeting of the Clans...and he simply told father he wanted that windian woman as his.
All the more tempting now that she's the Queen. Taming a princess to one's whims, well, any scoundrel or noble could do. Taming the Queen...well, that is a job only for him.
And Joshua smiles, walking up the stairs, grandly pushing open the double, oak doors, gripping the gold and ruby embedded handles as he smiles, pushing out his chest as the purple robed man in the grand, dragon-shaped throne looks upon him with an air of displeasure, various nobles stepping out of his way.
"Prince Joshua," the Emperor states, "You interrupt Our business."
"My marriage to Queen Kayla is all but set in stone.", Joshua grandly announces, "I give her two weeks. If she does not accept my generous offer, Windia dies. Is that acceptable, Father?"
"Joshua..."
"Ah...of course. Is that acceptable, Emperor Koblias?"
"Hn...it is acceptable. We have the forces to spare to burn a city."
"Not a city, Your Highness. If she does not accept, we wipe out all life on that immediate area of the continent. And I want her here to watch."
"That is unreasonable-"
"That is my wish. Unreasonable, perhaps, but you said you would do anything to see me married off. I wish not for one of the gold-diggers or harlots that fawn over your presence, Your Majesty. I wish for the Queen of Windia, as is my birthright."
Koblias folds his hands in front of his face, the nobles looking uneasily between the father and son.
"Acceptable, Prince Joshua. Your request is granted. Now clean up for supper, we will be having guests."
"As you say, Father.", Joshua says.
He bows, smiling with gleaming white teeth, and walks out.
The fire crackles as the four hold the shish-ka-bobs over the flames, Ryu, Nina, Galen and Anna sitting as the sun begins to set in the west.
"What I find disturbing," Galen says, "Is that the soldiers went out of the trance so easily. Ryu, did the soldiers seem familiar?"
"Their behavior did.", Nina quickly responds, "Did you ever see anything like that?"
Galen nods, sighing.
"Unfortunately, yes.", he responds, "A long, long time ago. However, that entity was also destroyed a long, long time ago."
"Still, it is a matter for another day," Anna responds, smiling, "Ryu, Nina. How are you feeling?"
"Fine," Ryu responds, "A bit confused, but fine. Why?"
"Just curious. How long have you known each other?"
"Nine years.", Nina responds, smiling slightly, "We were raised together."
"I was left at her parent's doorstep when I was ten.", Ryu continues, "They say I hit my head."
"Amnesia?"
"Yeah. I can't remember anything before that."
Galen nods, silently. He purses his lips, sighing as he presses his index fingers to them.
"Ryu...why are you and Nina doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"Looking for the soldiers. If I am correct, you displayed power and drove the soldiers away."
Both of them look at Galen with wide eyes, Ryu's mouth slacking open.
"How...how did you-"
"They would not come back. Then...why?"
Ryu slowly looks to Nina, shaking his head as he turns to the fire.
"They killed my father.", Nina finally says, "My adopted father."
Ryu snaps his head to Nina, mouthing a question.
"So you are both adopted.", Galen states, "This shows promise. We may find the truth indeed in Windia. Ryu, I will explain this to you: The man who killed your father is not to be blamed for his actions."
"Not..."
"He was possessed. His actions were not his own, and your father was simply the closest target. This is a mystery we are to get to the bottom of, beginning with who is pursuing you...and why."
Galen rises, his voice lowering and rumbling.
"Down this road, one mile," he says, his eyes beginning to glow faintly, "There is a village hidden in the woods. There we will find someone who can aid us."
"Galen!"
Galen turns to his wife, narrowing his eyes.
"As much as I don't like her myself, things are proceeding as they always do. We must involve her now."
"I...don't like this."
"Neither do I."
With a flash of light, he becomes Garr, folding his arms.
"The forest is dangerous. I will take lead.", he says, eyes crackling with blue energy, "Come. It is nearly nightfall. It is time to begin this quest."
He walks off, folding his wings about him like a cloak, Anna shaking her head as she sits on the log.
"He can be overzealous," she says, sighing, "But his heart always means well."
"Oh...he sounds like he's gone through this before."
"Many times, actually. I should explain later."
Anna climbs to her feet, folding her arms.
"But first we have to meet someone I truly hate seeing."
She walks off after Garr, Ryu and Nina quickly following.
He has it all planned out.
Nail his shoulder to pin him. Knock his sword away. Pin his neck to the ground and aim the crossbow at his stomach.
And before he fires, get an answer on why Jacobi died.
That's Erik's plan. Find him, get the answers, kill him.
Jacobi would hate it, but the Grass Runners do this sort of thing.
You don't kill a Grass Runner's friend and survive three days. It's just not right.
Makes the clan look bad.
Erik smiles, slightly, to himself at the irony. He already does make the clan look bad, in many ways.
Bad history, bad outlook on life during the early years. Maybe this time he's spent as a healer and a friend is just his way of getting into the Yggdrasil when he dies.
Maybe not, but, still. Jacobi was his friend. Jansen wasn't. Never knew him.
No hesitation when he guts him, then.
And with that, he disappears once more into the foliage, tracking the sounds of hoofbeats.
The site is just three miles after this forest. Hopefully, they can tell him why he never arrived in Kaghtin, because he sure as Hell doesn't have a clue.
Jansen Maroen pulls off his helmet, putting it in one of the saddlebags as he wipes the sweat from his brow, rolling his head back as he hears audiable cracks from his neck, groaning at the released tension.
And yelling as a black crossbow bolt cracks his shoulder armor, pushing him off his horse and onto the ground.
He rolls, a bolt missing the weakened plate as he draws his sword, standing...and sees a Grass Runner, a dogman, jumping down from a tree.
An old one. And experienced one.
And one that's looking at him like a dead man.
"Are you insane?!", Jansen demands, "Who are you? What do you want?"
"My name is Erik," the Grass Runner responds, "I'm the last person you're going to talk to."
He cocks the crossbow, a bolt firing out, whizzing past Jansen's ear and hitting a tree, the horse running away.
"I'm a Commander in the Council's forces, Grass Runner," Jansen says, the two circling each other, "I've done nothing to you, so just leave and I'll say nothing of this."
The Grass Runner grins, cocking an eyebrow.
"You're a cocky one," he says, "And you're also a bit forgetful."
"Of what?"
"Let me remind you."
And with that, Erik blurrs, fading in with the forest and appearing behind Jansen, slamming the butt of his crossbow into Jansen's head, sending him forward and onto his knees.
"Now, let's get to our lesson," Erik says, kicking him in the kidneys, "And today, Doctor Erik will teach you why you don't murder the friends of my clan."
The forest is, to put it lightly, forboding as Hell.
A black shroud covers it, even the starlight not penetrating as they enter...and soon find themselves surrounded by light.
Torchlight.
Torchlight held my many, scale-covered nubile men, dressed in loin cloths and facepaint, nothing else.
"I...think we're in trouble.", Ryu says.
Galen turns to Anna, and nods. Anna walks from the group, the men turning their expressionless eyes to her as she clasps her hands, closing her eyes.
The air turns still. The wind stops, the flames not swaying in the slightest as a faint white light begins to emanate from the woman.
And a pair of blue, gossamer wings burst from her shoulders, not tearing her clothes, Ryu and Nina stepping back as swirls of energy come from the ground around her.
"Stand back.", she says.
And the men, as one, step back, opening a path to her as she waves her hands, a sphere of light surrounding herself and her companions.
Within seconds, they are at the center of a primitive village, surrounded by huts, more of the nubile scaled people walking around, circling the sphere as it dissipates.
"I am here!", she announces, "We're here to talk to you! Now come on out, you stuck up bitch, and face me!"
A faint laugh is heard as the tribesmen come to attention, several gathering at the center hut and going to one knee.
"Well...well well weeeeeell.", an exotic, seductive female voice says, whispering all around them, "I hardly expected you to be here so soon. Did your husband convince you otherwise? Your sway on your lovetoy must not be as strong as I thought."
"Damn you, sister, stop toying and come out!"
"Not until you admit it."
Garr groans, holding his snout and shaking his head.
"Come out!", Anna snaps, "Now!"
"Make me."
With a yell, Anna points her hand at the center hut, a burst of gold-white light lancing out and shattering the house, the tribesmen yelling in an undecipherable language, running about.
And standing where the hut was is a woman in a sectioned black and purple dress going down to her ankles, a generous amount of cleavage showing on her unmarred skin, despite being at ground zero of the blast.
"Ah, Myria.", she says, sweeping back her indigo-blue hair, letting it fall to her waist, "How the times do change us."
"Shut up, Deis.", Anna growls, "We have Destined Children to attend to."