Seditious Reflections
"Well, here we are," shadow-Lina said quietly about the town, the virtually empty town. "Uh, where is everybody?"
"Doesn't look like a town on the verge of revolution to me," Nuriko commented.
"Lina-san?" she looked back at the shadow-Xellos. "SHE didn't come through here, did she?" the shadow-Filia scratched her head and walked over to one of the people starring at them.
"Excuse me, but where is everybody?" the man glanced at the them all, confused.
"Didn't all of you just head off for the capital?"
"Huh," the shadow-Filia began anlysing that statement, leaping to conclusions was a bad idea. It was always a good idea to think things through and listen to advice from other people. "Ummm, do you think they've already know about it?" she turned and asked the others.
"Well, I..."
"So you're looking for people that look just like you three," Nuriko started. Filia nodded. "And you think we've already moved on to the capital."
"Well, those two," the man pointed. "I don't remember seeing Celina there."
"Well, looks like we missed them all right," Nuriko sighed.
"So what do we do from here?" Filia asked.
"Well, I'm going to check the inventory at the inn," Celina, the shadow-Lina said as she walked off demurely towards the building in question.
"But aren't you at all concerned about the results of this revolution?" shadow-Xellos asked.
"I'm sure they'll be fine, they have the law on their side after all."
"I'm beginning to understand why the other Lina is freaked out by her," the shadow-Xellos commented.
"She's an irritably straight-laced, whiny, pacifist," Nuriko grumbled.
"Why are you here again?" the shadow-Filia asked.
"Oh," Nuriko blinked, then glomped the shadow-Xellos. "I just had to come and protect Xelliekins! Damn it, she's gone." Nuriko dropped the gasping mazoku as he looked to the building Celina had vanished inside.
The shadow-Zelgadis cracked his eyes open and drew an uneasy breath.
He was humiliated, in pain, chained, and dirty. The first three he could understand, but the fourth was just too much an insult too bear. He was going to need a bath, perhaps several. Of course he had to escape first and then find Sherra, or perhaps the pledge stone first. Else it didn't matter how far away Sherra managed to get, Tes would always be able to reach her. He tested the chains briefly, and sighed. They gave a little at what he considered a slight tug.
"Such poor workmanship," he said shaking his head. "The least they could do was chain me in manacles worthy of my greatness." He wrapped a length of chain around one wrist and pulled, ripping the chain out of the wall. He reached with the ow free hand and snapped the iron manacle about his other wrist. Soon he was unchained, but still clothed in rags and smelling of dried blood and sweat. Actually he smelled something like a mud-churned, blood soaked, battleground. It was quite...pungent, especially to his nose.
"Yes, definitely a bath later, but other duties first." He walked to the barred door and pushed forward. These bars proved a little more resilient, plus he didn't want to bother with the physical exertion if he didn't have to. The lock quietly and swiftly melted into worthlessness and the warped bars just swung open.
"I don't care what you say, I heard something breaking down he..." The speaker's voice trailed off as he and his partner dropped to the ground asleep. The shadow-Zelgadis reached down, drew one of the short swords, sniffed and dropped it again.
"My thanks, but I think I'll wait for a weapon more suitable to me." He did collect one of their cloaks and walked out of the dungeon shrouded in it.
"There aren't many people here for Sailoon," Filia noted. "Today is the Benediction of Royalty, correct?"
"They will be out later," Amelia assured them.
"If for no other reason than fear of Tes," Xellos whispered.
"We don't want to attract attention," Zelgadis snapped quietly. Xellos smiled and Xenith shrugged while Amelia and Filia quieted down in embarrasment. Naga pulled a breath in and threatened to laugh but immediately stopped as all eyes turned toward her. The six of them traveled in heavy cloaks, just like any traveler that's long been on the road. The few people in sight didn't look up at them, and the guards were too lax and lazy to bother giving them a second glance. They had dice games to attend to, which never had been an uncommon site. Now, however, the dice games attracted more attention than their duty. They reached the palace easy enough.
"You're certain that my shadow is here?" Zelgadis asked Xenith. The mazoku nodded irritably. Zelgadis stared at her, and then looked to Xellos who only smiled in his normal manner. "You better be right." He folded his hood back and they started walking to the palace doors. The guards stared at him, surprise and shock obvious on their faces.
"How did he escape? Sound the alarm!" Zelgadis frowned and looked to Xenith.
"I was right about him being here," she said sheepishly.
Back to Reflections