1 THE GIFT OF THE MAZOUKU - A SLAYERS STORY
2 Chapter 6 - The Reunion
My people and I have come to an agreement which satisfies us both. They are to say what they please, and I am to do what I please. - Fredrick The Great
Zelgadiss's journey was uneventful. He traveled unencumbered, wearing his hooded cloak over a warm tunic and pants- all pale tan in color; these were identifiable, the clothes of a shaman. He carried a small pack with some food (no stopping at inns and getting stared at), coffee, and a warm blanket. Even though he appeared to be made of stone, it was only skin deep. The weather of early February was unpredictable at best. Today, however, it was at its best, clear blue sky with a barely warming sun, no wind and no dampness. The Chimera's progress was excellent, so that the following day he could see The Vale of Seyruun nestled peacefully in the valley nestled safely in the arms of the snow capped mountains.
"I'll make it to the palace in time for lunch. That's good. The sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can get back to finish the job for Clyde, or find a cure. I'll check on Amelia, talk about old times a little, and be back in another day. Things are finally looking up in my life."
* * * *
Lina sighed with satisfaction and pushed away from the table where lay a wasteland of dozens of empty plates and crumbs.
"Alright! Let's go Gourry! There're bandits to snare, fortunes to win, and...no food left here."
"Right!" shouted the tall swordsman, and together they hit the road.
"So, Lina," asked Gourry, "Where are we going again?"
Sigh
"I went over this at breakfast.We are on our way to meet Amelia and, hopefully, Zelgadiss. They are, I hope, in Seyruun, or close to it. I imagine they are expecting us." Lina began mumbling, "Xelloss has something up his sleeve no doubt, but I'll deal with that when the time comes."
Later, the travelling pair sat around their crackling campfire wrapped in blankets. They were laughing and talking companionably while roasting skewered hunks of squirrel on long sticks.
"So you had a 'Xelloss' dream too, eh?" Lina asked.
"Uh, huh. He wants to help me get a new sword."
"That all?"
"Humm, pretty much. He did ask about you, but I forget the rest.I didn't tell him anything important. You know that don't you?"
"Yeah, meatball head. There's no one I trust more with my secrets, than you, since you'll probably never remember them anyway. "
"Did he ask you anything?"
"He was his usual mysterious uninformative self. But seemed adamant about us finding Zel and Amelia. Well, time to get us some sleep, eh? We don't need to set a watch tonight. It's been quiet. We'll get an early start!"
Lina was right. All was still and nothing bothered their dreams.
The sorceress awoke before the dawn. A feeling of urgency was tingling in her toes, as well as an empty stomach. "Hey, Gourry, wake up! I want to get moving! With nothing to eat for breakfast, I'd like to make to the palace in time for lunch!"
* * * *
Amelia spent the morning covering up her preparations for her secret departure. By noon she was staring out a window open to the front gates below, over the lunch menu. She heard a commotion below.
A guard rushed from the front gate to a side door, alerting the doorman of a dangerous visitor, and dropping a small object into his hand. Amelia slid to the door, travel clothes and a few necessitities concealed beneath her cloak. The princess scooted past the doorman as he announced that the guard had taken the intruder to a holding cell.
"What intruder? Did he give a name?" demanded the princess, backing up to face the servant.
"My lady, he is an uncouth monster with stolen property."
"I'll take that!" shouted Amelia, ripping her bracelet out of the servant's hand. She raced out the door and down the path to the guardhouse. "Leave me alone with the prisoner!" commanded the little princess.
"Yes, my Lady!"
Not only a princess, but skilled in white magic, Amelia was capable of taking care of herself.
"Oh Mr. Zelgadiss! I'm so sorry about this unjust, unrighteous treatment of you!"
"It's okay. I'm used to warm receptions." the Chimera spat bitterly.
"We have to get out of here immediately, before.I-I have just got to get away from Seyruun before-before.Oh that can wait until later. And we must find Miss Lina!"
"I was counting on staying for lunch but considering the accommodations, the sooner we leave, the better," then Zel's eye, visible between lanks of droopy lavender wires, twinkled devilishly, "Shall we, on a count of three?"
Amelia returned a wink, nodded, and 'spelled ' a new door.
"DAMU BRAS!"
"RAY WING!" cried the shaman, and the magical pair floated clear of the debris (that had been the guardhouse wall) and over the town of Seyruun.
"Mr. Zelgadiss! Over there by the edge of the forest. Explosives!"
"Yes, I see it. Looks like we've found Lina!"
* * * *
"FIREBALL!"
"Hey Lina! That's the last of them and I have the treasure!" shouted the blond swordsman while swinging a huge leather bag.
"Then it's a wrap!" laughed Lina, wiping dust off her hands, "Just what I needed to get out the frustration of no food for."
"Ho! Amelia! Zel! Where did you come from? We were going to find you!" interrupted a confused Gourry.
"AND EAT LUNCH!" Lina and Gourry finished together.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but lunch at Amelia's has been cancelled." Zelgadiss commented sourly.
Lina felt things were not going her way and said, " Why do I get the feeling that we are about to be joined by..."
"Good thinking, Lina!" Xelloss appeared floating in front of her face, his left gloved index finger touching her nose and his right amethyst- colored eye open. "And the correct answer gets the prize!"
This time his lips replaced the finger and he brushed her lips softly with his tongue. He instantly retreated to a conveniently located overhanging tree branch.
"Xelloss!" shouted Zelgadiss and Lina simultaneously, only Lina was blushing red to her roots.
"Get down here so I can smash your face in for that and for interrupting my sleep for the past few weeks!" screamed Lina.
"That's right, Mr. Xelloss. It's unjust to steal kisses! Apologize to Miss Lina., and then tell us what you're up to!" cried the princess.
".and no 'that's a secret' crap or I'll 'RAW TILT' your skinny ass to Astral hell and back!" vented a very angry and sleep-deprived Chimera.
"Oh dear! Well, is that how you greet an old friend?" and turning to Gourry, added, "What? No threats from you?"
"Ah, no, Xelloss," answered Gourry, clearly uncomfortable to be singled out by the monster, but then brightening with a new thought, "Did you bring me a sword?"
Facefaults all around.
Xelloss sank to the cratered floor and, pasting on his familiar smile, approached the tall man, "Actually, I have.but you will have to wait just awhile longer, 'kay?"
Gourry blinked, "Ah sure, and thanks I think."
It was Lina's turn. She strode over, twisted the much taller and stronger demon in a headlock, and hissed, her fangs showing,
"You better be telling him the truth, Xelloss. Gourry may have a stronger body than brain, but it will be in better shape than yours will be after I'm through pounding it to a pulp, WHICH I will if you are lying to Gourry, Get it?"
GASP
SPUTTER
nods
Xelloss freed himself and shook his head dizzily. He donned his trademark smile and sighed," My, my, that felt nice, Lina. But maybe next time, could you try breaking my neck here and.. here?"
Zelgadiss's stone fist slammed into the Monster's jaw sending the priest crashing into a nearby tree. He shouted at him with more than a little satisfaction, "That's for disturbing my dreams too. Now we've had enough. Split it out, Xelloss. What are we doing here?"
Xelloss leaned against the ruined tree and looked out from beneath his purple bangs. For a moment there was a hint, a black aura, of danger. Zelgadiss took a step back, then stood his ground.
"Had enough fun, Zel-chan? Well.me too," growled Xelloss.
Zelgadiss remained poised, ready to extend an Astral protection barrier around his comrades.
The Mazouku High Priest and General to her Lord Beastmaster, Xelloss, instantly relaxed into his persistent and nonsensical smile and laughed,
"Because we are all going to Filia's! Val-chan just hatched and its okay, you see."
2 Chapter 6 - The Reunion
My people and I have come to an agreement which satisfies us both. They are to say what they please, and I am to do what I please. - Fredrick The Great
Zelgadiss's journey was uneventful. He traveled unencumbered, wearing his hooded cloak over a warm tunic and pants- all pale tan in color; these were identifiable, the clothes of a shaman. He carried a small pack with some food (no stopping at inns and getting stared at), coffee, and a warm blanket. Even though he appeared to be made of stone, it was only skin deep. The weather of early February was unpredictable at best. Today, however, it was at its best, clear blue sky with a barely warming sun, no wind and no dampness. The Chimera's progress was excellent, so that the following day he could see The Vale of Seyruun nestled peacefully in the valley nestled safely in the arms of the snow capped mountains.
"I'll make it to the palace in time for lunch. That's good. The sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can get back to finish the job for Clyde, or find a cure. I'll check on Amelia, talk about old times a little, and be back in another day. Things are finally looking up in my life."
* * * *
Lina sighed with satisfaction and pushed away from the table where lay a wasteland of dozens of empty plates and crumbs.
"Alright! Let's go Gourry! There're bandits to snare, fortunes to win, and...no food left here."
"Right!" shouted the tall swordsman, and together they hit the road.
"So, Lina," asked Gourry, "Where are we going again?"
Sigh
"I went over this at breakfast.We are on our way to meet Amelia and, hopefully, Zelgadiss. They are, I hope, in Seyruun, or close to it. I imagine they are expecting us." Lina began mumbling, "Xelloss has something up his sleeve no doubt, but I'll deal with that when the time comes."
Later, the travelling pair sat around their crackling campfire wrapped in blankets. They were laughing and talking companionably while roasting skewered hunks of squirrel on long sticks.
"So you had a 'Xelloss' dream too, eh?" Lina asked.
"Uh, huh. He wants to help me get a new sword."
"That all?"
"Humm, pretty much. He did ask about you, but I forget the rest.I didn't tell him anything important. You know that don't you?"
"Yeah, meatball head. There's no one I trust more with my secrets, than you, since you'll probably never remember them anyway. "
"Did he ask you anything?"
"He was his usual mysterious uninformative self. But seemed adamant about us finding Zel and Amelia. Well, time to get us some sleep, eh? We don't need to set a watch tonight. It's been quiet. We'll get an early start!"
Lina was right. All was still and nothing bothered their dreams.
The sorceress awoke before the dawn. A feeling of urgency was tingling in her toes, as well as an empty stomach. "Hey, Gourry, wake up! I want to get moving! With nothing to eat for breakfast, I'd like to make to the palace in time for lunch!"
* * * *
Amelia spent the morning covering up her preparations for her secret departure. By noon she was staring out a window open to the front gates below, over the lunch menu. She heard a commotion below.
A guard rushed from the front gate to a side door, alerting the doorman of a dangerous visitor, and dropping a small object into his hand. Amelia slid to the door, travel clothes and a few necessitities concealed beneath her cloak. The princess scooted past the doorman as he announced that the guard had taken the intruder to a holding cell.
"What intruder? Did he give a name?" demanded the princess, backing up to face the servant.
"My lady, he is an uncouth monster with stolen property."
"I'll take that!" shouted Amelia, ripping her bracelet out of the servant's hand. She raced out the door and down the path to the guardhouse. "Leave me alone with the prisoner!" commanded the little princess.
"Yes, my Lady!"
Not only a princess, but skilled in white magic, Amelia was capable of taking care of herself.
"Oh Mr. Zelgadiss! I'm so sorry about this unjust, unrighteous treatment of you!"
"It's okay. I'm used to warm receptions." the Chimera spat bitterly.
"We have to get out of here immediately, before.I-I have just got to get away from Seyruun before-before.Oh that can wait until later. And we must find Miss Lina!"
"I was counting on staying for lunch but considering the accommodations, the sooner we leave, the better," then Zel's eye, visible between lanks of droopy lavender wires, twinkled devilishly, "Shall we, on a count of three?"
Amelia returned a wink, nodded, and 'spelled ' a new door.
"DAMU BRAS!"
"RAY WING!" cried the shaman, and the magical pair floated clear of the debris (that had been the guardhouse wall) and over the town of Seyruun.
"Mr. Zelgadiss! Over there by the edge of the forest. Explosives!"
"Yes, I see it. Looks like we've found Lina!"
* * * *
"FIREBALL!"
"Hey Lina! That's the last of them and I have the treasure!" shouted the blond swordsman while swinging a huge leather bag.
"Then it's a wrap!" laughed Lina, wiping dust off her hands, "Just what I needed to get out the frustration of no food for."
"Ho! Amelia! Zel! Where did you come from? We were going to find you!" interrupted a confused Gourry.
"AND EAT LUNCH!" Lina and Gourry finished together.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but lunch at Amelia's has been cancelled." Zelgadiss commented sourly.
Lina felt things were not going her way and said, " Why do I get the feeling that we are about to be joined by..."
"Good thinking, Lina!" Xelloss appeared floating in front of her face, his left gloved index finger touching her nose and his right amethyst- colored eye open. "And the correct answer gets the prize!"
This time his lips replaced the finger and he brushed her lips softly with his tongue. He instantly retreated to a conveniently located overhanging tree branch.
"Xelloss!" shouted Zelgadiss and Lina simultaneously, only Lina was blushing red to her roots.
"Get down here so I can smash your face in for that and for interrupting my sleep for the past few weeks!" screamed Lina.
"That's right, Mr. Xelloss. It's unjust to steal kisses! Apologize to Miss Lina., and then tell us what you're up to!" cried the princess.
".and no 'that's a secret' crap or I'll 'RAW TILT' your skinny ass to Astral hell and back!" vented a very angry and sleep-deprived Chimera.
"Oh dear! Well, is that how you greet an old friend?" and turning to Gourry, added, "What? No threats from you?"
"Ah, no, Xelloss," answered Gourry, clearly uncomfortable to be singled out by the monster, but then brightening with a new thought, "Did you bring me a sword?"
Facefaults all around.
Xelloss sank to the cratered floor and, pasting on his familiar smile, approached the tall man, "Actually, I have.but you will have to wait just awhile longer, 'kay?"
Gourry blinked, "Ah sure, and thanks I think."
It was Lina's turn. She strode over, twisted the much taller and stronger demon in a headlock, and hissed, her fangs showing,
"You better be telling him the truth, Xelloss. Gourry may have a stronger body than brain, but it will be in better shape than yours will be after I'm through pounding it to a pulp, WHICH I will if you are lying to Gourry, Get it?"
GASP
SPUTTER
nods
Xelloss freed himself and shook his head dizzily. He donned his trademark smile and sighed," My, my, that felt nice, Lina. But maybe next time, could you try breaking my neck here and.. here?"
Zelgadiss's stone fist slammed into the Monster's jaw sending the priest crashing into a nearby tree. He shouted at him with more than a little satisfaction, "That's for disturbing my dreams too. Now we've had enough. Split it out, Xelloss. What are we doing here?"
Xelloss leaned against the ruined tree and looked out from beneath his purple bangs. For a moment there was a hint, a black aura, of danger. Zelgadiss took a step back, then stood his ground.
"Had enough fun, Zel-chan? Well.me too," growled Xelloss.
Zelgadiss remained poised, ready to extend an Astral protection barrier around his comrades.
The Mazouku High Priest and General to her Lord Beastmaster, Xelloss, instantly relaxed into his persistent and nonsensical smile and laughed,
"Because we are all going to Filia's! Val-chan just hatched and its okay, you see."
