Part 8.



Filia screamed as a hand slapped her face knocking her to the ground. Feet from her, Zelgadis lay (hopefully unconscious) on the ground after being attacked by a man with a large iron shield. She was wrenched to her feet and literally dragged back to the chair. Once there, she looked up at the man in the chair, hopping, maybe if not to kill him at least to make him incredibly uncomfortable with her gaze. He hopes were sorely unrewarded. The man, as she could see now, as a burley man with a beard and the effects of too much beer too many times showing on his features. He grinned at her, a grin that probably could have killed a mazurka or at least make it sick, she thought morbidly. He gazed at her for a while with that same stupid expression on his face before laughing loud and suddenly, a laugh that shook the cave walls and sent shivers down her spine. "Nice and feisty, aren't we?" he said with a wink. Filia shuddered. She disliked this man and would have probably reverted back to her dragon state were it not for the possibility that the falling rocks that her transformation would create might injure her beloved.



But now the man began to speak. If Filia had disliked him before it was nothing compared to now. His voice had a nasal drip to it and he constantly licked his lips while talking to her. But she steadied herself to hear what he had to say… "Hm…pretty little thing you are," he said while studying Filia. "We haven't had a woman here in years and I'm sure the men are honored by your presence." The guards grunted their approval, or at least it seemed like approval. "To bad about him," he motioned to Zelgadis, "We don't take well to male prisoners. Usually kill em. If not now, then I'll give him a day, max. What can I say? We're a rowdy bunch…" He was cut off by Filia's scream. "You b*stard!!! How dare you kill my husband?!!" As a large gold tail emerged from behind her dress. The man smiled a slow sloppy smile. "C'mon, you wouldn't do that in here, it would cause a cave-in and he would die anyhow. There is an alternative though." Filia perked her ears up. "An alternative?" "To him dying," replied the bandit king. "We haven't had a lady around in so long as I said. I'm sure the men miss it. Stay here with us, marry me, become the bandit queen and your husband goes free on his way home provided he doesn't tell. What do you say?" Filia was about to not only say, but show him how much she disagreed, when she was interrupted by a commotion in the back of the cave. Someone had entered the cave and started quite a stir among the guards.



Amelia walked alongside the captain as her men walked or rather, dragged along behind her. She couldn't understand their lack of enthusiasm. Sure they had gone without dinner and sleep, but they were so close to apprehending a real bandit, a sure sign of the fulfillment of their duties of justice to the state. However, the captain didn't share the lethargy of his men. He bounced alongside of the raven haired princess reciting to her what his scouts had found out. Suspicious men in town; robed strangers, known around as disturbers of the peace; and finally, a poor farmer had spotted Lina's older sister at a nearby pub. After finishing his reports, he waited for her response. "Well, she began, first thing we do is rule out the pub. If anyone tried to steal from Miss Luna, there's not much we can do to or for them. We should focus on these robed men. They sound suspicious." "Yes Miss. Amelia." The guard answered as he led them on the road the bandits had been taking.





Xellos didn't know what had happened. One moment he was standing, back against the wall, saved by the shadows looming from the hallway, save but for an occasional snicker or too and the next, the ground was an inch from his face and the wall, 15 ft. He stood on shaky knees. More and more people began to notice him, point, and…laugh. He was being laughed at by mere mortals!!!! His blood (or what he calls blood) began to fume. How…dare…they? Did they know who he was? Did they know what he could do to them? That, if he had his will, they would wouldn't laugh at the chance of death as an option. But, he couldn't, he knew. That would draw attention to himself and attention, he knew, was the last thing he wanted now. But it seemed, he thought with a sigh. I've already got it. The commotion had reached the king and he was peering into the black trying to figure out what was so amusing. The young lady was looking too. He could see the figure better now. Long blond hair, flowing clothing. Almost looked like…Filia. But that was impossible, he thought. She can't be here, she's happy at home with Zelgadis. It's just your imagination again, and to reinforce, he recalled all the moments in the past couple of months when seeing a lady w/ long blond hair, he had grinned and teleported behind her reaching for her mace only to discover…it…wasn't …Filia. An old lady, a librarian, even one painful incident with a blond haired middle aged man who looked kinda like Gourry. He'd seen it all. Or rather, he hadn't seen it. Her, he meant. He hadn't seen Filia at any of his "attacks" and it always disappointed him a bit though he pushed the thought out of his mind quickly. But back to the present. He might as well get it over with quickly before he DID see Filia. It was her home town after all. He still had to get through the village when this was done and he preferred to travel by night.