"Nothing ever is." She heard a voice on the other side of the wall she kicked.
"Ack!" Shyphiel jumped back, thinking at first that the wall was talking, then quickly realizing that there was another cell on the other side. It was a mans voice, soft spoken at the moment, but seemed capable of carrying a harsh tone.
"H...hello? Who's there?" She asked, still a little startled.
"Someone who didn't think he could get burned at the stake for casting a light spell when he couldn't see. You're getting tried as a which also?"
Shyphiel nodded, then realized that the person could not see her. "Well yes. I cast recovery on a little boy who had injured himself. He screamed "Witch" and ran away. Then all the townspeople where surrounding me and then I was hauled into here."
"Same with me. Only it was nighttime. And I cast a light spell so I could see in the dark streets." He mumbled several colorful profanities after that sentence. Shyphiel covered her mouth delicately at some of the words, but chose not to comment.
"Hey." He said suddenly. "We could bust out of here."
Shyphiel blinked. "We...could?"
"You sound like a sorceress, at least of minor skill. A couple of fireballs, maybe a freeze arrow/flare arrow combination might do the trick. We could excape." She heard him stand up.
"I think I am going to wait and see how the trial turns out. Maybe I can convince these people that magic isn't all bad...well, maybe in Lina sans case, but that's besides the point." Shyphiel sighed and sat down on the pile of straw stuffed in a corner. He didn't make a move to excape.
"Why don't you go yourself?"
"Becasue I have no where to hide. I imagine you came by horse or boat, and you have a method of running away quickly. I do not."
There was a long silence. "Can we talk?" Shyphiel asked all of a sudden. "It's so quiet, and I am getting lonely."
"Go ahead"
"Well...I'll tell you a little about me and my friends. I'm Shyphiel. I've been traveling with my friends on and off for the past 4-5 years. Lina san is a short red head sorceress with a mean temper, but a heart full of passion for life. One really learns to admire her quickly. Then there is Gourry-sama, he is a tall blonde swordsman who is kind and sweet and gentle. Then there is Amelia san, who is one of the Princesses of Salliun. She loves justice and protects her friends fiercly. Then there is Zelgadis san, he's a chimera, cursed by his own blood, Rezo the Red Priest. He is on the quiet side, and can be blunt at times, but he is very loyal and determined. Then there is Filia san, who was just kidnapped, as well as her daughter. She is tall and blonde, who seems to have a temper of her own, but is very nice. And then there is Xelloss san, who has purple hair. He used to be a mazoku, but somehow is a human now. He's fallen into a coma, we've been trying to wake him up."
The man was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry about your friends."
Shyphiel smiled. "Oh, I'm sure it will all turn out fine in the end, it always does when Lina san is on the job."
They continued to talk for hours until two men came, with a pair of shackles for her ankels and wrists. They placed them in the appropriate places, and shuffled her out. They took her the other direction from that of the cell the man was in, so she never got to see his face.
They roughly pulled her to the town square, a large croud surrounding the open air court room. As Shyphiel was pushed forward, many people from the audience took rotten food and threw it at the shy maiden. Shyphiel cried out in protest, but the foul smelling garbage came in waves. Shyphiel noticed a man standing not too far away from her, also shackled, his hair blonde and long, with angular eyes and a handsome face. He looked at her and they locked eyes.
"Do I know you?" Shyphiel asked, squinting as a rotten tomato smacked into her shoulder.
"I was the guy on the other side of the wall." He whispered to her.
"Shut up, you blasphemous rubbish!" One of the men backhanded Shypheil, sending her to the ground.
"HEY!" She could hear Gourrys voice cry out angrily. She could hear Lina yelling some of her own profanities also. They were being held back by several townsmen.
Shyphiel smiled on the inside when she saw her friends. But all she showed was a glare for the man who hit her. "I don't care you you think I am or who you believe you are, you should never hit a lady."
The man yanked on her chains so she came so close to his face that she could smell his breath. "I'll do whatever I want witch."
Lina paced in her spot (well, as much room she was allowed by the guards) and muttered to no one in particular. "I swear, if they hurt Shyphiel I am going to....*mutter mutter grumble grumble*
Gourry just stood there, with his arms folded across his chest with a deadly look to his eyes. Suddenly Lina stopped her pacing as she looked out at Shyphiel.
"You know...that guy looks familiar." Lina scrambled in her mind trying to find an answer.
"Shypheil Nels Lahda, Vincent Uth Colin, you are both accused of using the black arts, working with dark spirits, and practicing unholy rituals. All these are indications of being a witch. How do each of you plead?"
Shyphiel looked at him, setting her jaw firm before she spoke. "I don't know what kind of messed up town this is, but if healing someone is evil then I have been commiting evil deeds all my life!"
The audience gasped. Vincent stepped forward. "I couldn't see in these streets. It was too dark, so I conjoured a ball of light..."
The audience gasped again.
Vincent looked to Shyphiel. "What IS their problem?"
Shyphiel only shook her head.
"I don't believe we need to conduct this trial further. The accused has given me the virdict with their own words...you are guilty."
Shyphiel gasped at she felt herself pulled back, watching them drag a startled Vincent away as well. There was two stakes, piled high with wood and straw. They placed her back to the stake, and tied her to it firmly. Shyphiel's mind was racing, she couldn't focus, she was just way too disoriented.
Suddenly there was a shout. "Explosion Arry!" And serveral men were flying. For a brief moment the shy prietess thought that Lina has returned her powers, but then noticed the man Vincent standing before her. He took a knife off of one of the fallen men and slashed it through the ropes that bound her.
"Come on." He took ahold of her hand and jumped down the pile with her following. Shyphiel could see Lina and Gourry headed right for them. But a man suddenly intercepted her view of her friends, startling her.
"Witchs will burn!" The townsman yelled, holding a pick and getting ready to drop it down on her.
"Yah!" Shyphiel screamed, brought her fist back and punched him full on in the face. He collapsed to the ground, his eyes swirling in a daze.
"Oh...my..." Shyphiel stared at him for a moment then was forced to walk away by the insistant tugging of Vincent's hand upon hers. She could hear Lina cheer ahead.
"Right on Shyphiel!" The red head came up with Gourry behide her. The people were running like mad from the explosion, only a few remaind to try to detain the "witches".
"Vincent! These are some of the friends I was talking about! Lina Inverse and Gourry Gabriev!" Then she noticed a cut on Vincent. "Oh! You hurt yourself! Let me help!" Shyphiel placed her hands over his wound and whispered the right incantation...
but nothing happened.
"Oh dear. Ummm...it seems I wont be myself for a couple of days." Shyphiel realized quickly, coughing delicatly.
"Lina-san! Shyphiel-san! Gourry-san! Quick, to the boat! They are trying to burn it down!" Amelia landed from her rei wing in front of them. Lina nodded. They all started running through the town.
As Amelia was running, her foot slipped into a little hole and caused her to trip. A snake attacked, started by the princess' accidental trip over its home. Amelia yelped in pain, but had no time to examine it as Zelgadis picked her up, appearing from no where.
"It seems we have overstayed our welcome."
The townspeople looked at Zelgadis, and stopped for a moment. "A demon!" One of them screamed, causing quite a few of them to run in panic. Zelgadis glared at them, trying very hard not to try to hurt them for their comment and focus on getting to the ship.
Finally, the ship was in site. The group piled up the plank and gourry pulled it up after everyone was aboard.
"Well...that was exciting. Vincent was it? Nice to meet you. You know...you look like someone I know.." Lina said politley, holding out her hand...
"Amelia? AMELIA!" Zelgadis had set the princess down and was frantically shaking her. "AMELIA! Wake up!"
The princess was unconscience, her skin pale and her skin hot. Zelgadis looked at her leg, remembering how she was clutching it when he picked her up. There was two swollen bitmarks.
"She's been bitten. She must be poisoned. Shyphiel, you have to heal her right away!"
Shyphiel shook her head, her eyes large in fear. "I...I'm sorry Zelgadis san...I...my magic..." She looked down and blushed, knowing that Zelgadis wouldn't get it unless she came out with it. "It's that time of the month."
Zelgadis' eyes widened. He looked at Vincent. The ship had already set sail, and was drifting far away from the shore of the psychotic town.
"Sorry. I know absolutely no white magic. I'm all shamanistic and black." Vincent shrugged his shoulders. "But we can try this." Vincent got to his knees, taking Amelia's belt off.
"What are you doing?" Zelgadis snapped.
"Cool it hot shot." Vincent said in a snippy tone. He looped the belt over just above her knee and tightened it A LOT. He looked at Zelgadis.
"You suck out the poison. If any of us ingested the poison, I believe you would survive it the best."
Zelgadis nodded, remembering something about treating snake bites. He rolled Amelia gently to her side and began to suck the poison out as quickly as possible.
"At least this way she might have a chance." Vincent murmured. "How foolish."
Something about what Vincent said made her look at him again. The realization suddenly hit.
"Valgarv!"
