1 THE GIFT OF THE MAZOUKU -- A SLAYERS STORY

2

3 Chapter 5- Lina Inverse Gets The Call

Do I Contradict Myself? Very well then I contradict myself (I am large, I contain multitudes.) - Walt Whitman

Hi! Lina Inverse here. What?! They didn't start with me this time? I'll have to talk to them about that.

Anyway, here Gourry and I are, travelling on as usual. It's been a few months since that whole Darkstar business, and since then it's been pretty quiet. I shook down enough bandits to eat for a while, but we're getting low on cash. Well, there will always be more highway-men waiting for me to blow them up and steal their money. Unfortunately, it will have to be ME who blows them up, since Gourry's pretty much useless without my beloved *sniffle* Sword Of Light.

Man, I sure could go for than drumstick, but Gourry's roving eye is settling down on it. Well, too bad for him. I killed the bandits that paid for this meal, so that drumstick was rightfully mine, Gourry! Serves him right, stealing an innocent young girl's food.

Well, dinner taken care of, it's off to bed with me! I hate stupid innkeepers who poke their noses into other peoples' business! I said TWO rooms, and I meant TWO. Geez, some people. Stupid Gourry had to stop me from blasting that guy to hell where he belongs, but that won't keep me down for long. Not even that stupid debacle over the keys will bother me.

Lina tore off her cloak and jewelry, kicked her boots into the air, and let them lie where they fell. She threw herself onto the bed, scattering pillows and unwanted blankets every which-way.

I'm fed and sleepy, and ready for some nice dreams.

"Hello Lina! My, my you do snore loudly, don't you?"

.WITHOUT XELLOSS

"Get outta my dream, you meddling Mazouku!"

"How gack can you put gack a head gack lock on me while you're gack in a dream?"

"Just consider this payback for what you did to me the last time we met."

"Ah.and what was that?"

"It doesn't matter, does it? The way I see it, you're always in need of a good pounding!"

"Well, well, that may be so. But I really do need to talk to you-"

"Make it damn quick, Xelloss. I was looking forward to having some nice dreams, none of which involved you in any way!"

"Really? I'm hurt. Anyway, Zelgadiss is on his way to Seyruun to find Amelia, and it would save them both a lot of trouble if you and Mr. Gourry met them there, as well."

"And why is everyone getting together again? Scratch that, some threat to the world or another, how about, what are you planning this time, and what's it worth to me?"

"That, I'm sure you know by now, is a secret!" and Xelloss smiled enigmatically, and disappeared from Lina's grasp.

"Damn you, Xellos!" Of course, as the main character, I'm not letting him have the last word!