Chapter 8
Van's uneasiness grew with every step he took. He wasn't so dense that he didn't see Allen carefully observing their surroundings. He also had noted Merle's claws coming out, as if instinct was telling the younger girl to beware.
He knew this zone was dangerous. The grasslands to the south were hostile land nowadays, and you had to be crazy to even risk getting close to them without a real army for an escort. There were rumors about a mysterious warrior, a girl actually, that was on rampage and seemed to think of herself as some sort of queen.
If only the 'delimit borders' situation was over, at least he could take a choice about what to do with her and the others who were causing mishap, if they crossed into fanelian soil. But as things were going...
A shrill whistle from the back halted the column. Allen turned to look at where the soldiers were pointing. Five guymelefs could be seen flying low, towards the south. What strieked him odd was that he had never seen anything of the likes of them. They looked a bit like Zaibach's old melefs, but their lines were more elegant, they even looked fragile. But his experience had taught him not to underestimate machines by their looks. Those guys would mean trouble if they were enemies.
He turned his grim eyes towards Van. The younger man seemed to be thinking just about the same. Perhaps he was even remembering the Great War, and their former enemies. If he wasn't completely sure that Celena couldn't change back into Dilandu, he would be worried too.
Amaya took a few careful steps into the forest. This place was alien to her, and even if she usually had a really good sense of direction, she could easily get lost.
Perhaps she should stay here, at least until there was enough light to see were she was going. Returning back to her initial spot, she kneeled by the stream. Perhaps she would be able to catch some fish for dinner, although it would be difficult with just her bare hands to do so.
She was just about ready to give up, when a loud pounding noise alerted her of the presence of many horses. Probably some noble and his escort.
She dismissed this as unimportant, right now she was starving.
-"Hey, you! What do you think you're doing?''
There was a man standing at the edge of the forest. His cold gray eyes locked on her face, and then traveled down her body. She decided that instant that she was going to stay as far away of him as she could get.
-"Is something the matter, Lieutenant?''
Another man appeared behind the first. He was around 6 foot 5', with messy gray-ish black hair. His twinkling eyes, dark black pools, set on the slim form before them.
-"Well, hello there! What have we here? Aren't you a little bit away from whichever city you come from?''
Amaya pulled herself to her feet and stood as tall and proud as she could.
-"I don't believe that's any of your business, kind sir.''
-"Perhaps not mine, but I'm sure my boss will make it his.''