Chapter 3
The sun shone bright as the three travelers walked through the forest. Lina was at the front, red hair radiant in the sunlight. Xelloss and Xelona walked behind her, trying to keep up with the exuberant redhead, who had a fast pace. Lina turned around and looked at the two stragglers. "Come on, slowpokes! I'm not THAT fast! If we hurry, we can make it to the next town in time for dinner!" She quickened her pace and headed onward. Xelloss quickly went on, but Xelona stood there, panting. "Yea right 'not fast'! She could out pace a wolf with that speed! How does she do it! Hey! Wait up!" Xelona ran after her father and aunt. Then, right in front of her, a young girl popped out of the woods. Her long wavy green hair fluttered as the two girls collided and fell to the ground. "Owwww..." they said, simultaneously.
Meanwhile, Xelloss and Lina, having not noticed that Xelona had been left behind, were talking. "Now, Xelloss, you know black teas are much better than green!" said Lina.
"Now, now, Lina, green teas have a much subtler and much better flavor. Anyone with sense could tell that." Xelloss responded.
"Nonono! Green teas are too weak! Black teas have a robust flavor that can finish even the largest of meals!"
"No, Lina, black teas all taste the same, much too strong. Green teas can have many exquisite flavors just by adding the barest hint of another herb or even fruit. Oh, Lina, something just occurred to me. You said Gourry's dead, right?"
Lina looked confused and responded with a tentative "yes...and?" Xelloss continued, "Well, didn't he have elf blood in him from his grandmother? Wouldn't that keep him alive for over a century?"
Lina thought about it for a second and said "It was his great-grandmother, I think. Anyway, even though he did have elf blood in him, it was rather diluted. Though I think he was starting to stop aging around age 50, maybe, so he might have lived for quite a while, if he hadn't caught pneumonia."
"Oh? How?"
Lina looked down for a moment and then continued, "Our little grand- daughter, Elisa, had got caught out in the snow during a blizzard and Gourry went out to find her. He managed to get her back alright, but he, being older, got too cold and fell sick. He died nine days later."
They walked in silence for a minute, then Xelloss realized he hadn't heard Xelona for a while. Turning around, he didn't see her. "Where'd Xelona go?" said Lina, noticing she was gone. They went back up the hill they had just descended and saw Xelona and another girl picking themselves off the ground. "Wonder who Xelona bumped into?" said Xelloss. "Donno! Let's check it out" responded Lina. The walked towards the girls who had started to laugh almost hysterically. "I- hahaha- wanted to-heeheehee- find someone- haaa- to direct me but I didn't expect to bump into anyone out here!" said the green-haired girl in between laughs. Then a shadow crossed over her and she looked up to find Lina and Xelloss standing over her. Xelona stood up and dusted herself off. "So, watcha doing that you had to run into us, miss...?" she said. The green-haired girl stood up as well and scratched behind her head. "Well... I'm kinda lost... and I'm Adrie- I mean, I'm Adri. Pleased to meet you." She did a polite little bow. "Lost? How?" said Xelona, perplexed.
"I kinda took a shortcut and, well..."
"And got yourself lost." finished Lina. "Oh well, Adri, I guess we can help you get home if-"
"NONONO!! I don't want to go back home!" Adri interrupted. " Nine older siblings and six younger ones are too much! And Mom's pregnant again..." Adri sighed.
"Whoa! Large family! And I thought one sibling was tough enough! I see why you left!" exclaimed Lina. "Anyway, where are you going, Adri?"
"Well... I was heading to Sairaag to visit a friend of my Dad's..."
"Oh good! That's where we were going! Wanna tag along!?" squealed Xelona.
"Ummm.. OK, I guess I can come..."
Having welcomed the new party member into the group, the foursome continued on. Several hours later, as the sun sank below the horizon, a village appeared on the horizon. "Right on time for dinner! Yes! Comeoncomeoncomeonfoodfoodfooood!" yelled Lina as she dragged her fellow travelers behind her. They found the inn and went in. It was a large inn, with three stories. The bottom story was filled with a large common room while stairs lead upstairs to rooms for guests. Most of the tables were taken, but there was one table left in the corner farthest from the door. They made their way across the crowded room, stepping over several drunks who had started their drinking early. They sat down and waved to a waitress several tables over, alerting her to their presence. The waitress pried herself out of groping arms and went over to their table.
"Hi there, I'm Karen. What can I get ya good folks tonight?" she said.
"What's with all the people?" asked Xelloss.
"Well, hon, y'all heard 'bout that beast in Sairaag?"
"No..." said Lina, tentatively.
"Well, hon, there's a big beast over in Sairaag that's been terrizing the town. Poor little city, been destroyed so many times. It don't need this."
"The people here..." reminded Xelloss.
"Oh, them? They're fighters here to kill the beast for the reward, but none have even scratched it yet. Gotten to the point they're 'fraid to even stay in Sairaag. Oh, hons, what do y'all want to eat?" Karen smiled.
"....um, everything on the menu for me," said Lina, her train of thought derailed.
"Just green tea for me." said Xelloss.
"I'd like the beef stew, please," said Xelona.
"um, I'd have the steak with a side salad," said Adri, after a little thought.
"Ok, hons, I'll be back with your orders!" said Karen and she worked her way towards the kitchen. The foursome sat in relative silence for a minute, then Lina pounded her fist on the table. "Did you here that bit about the reward? That's it! We're heading to Sairaag first thing in the morning!"
"um, Lina? We already were heading to Sairaag..." said Xelona, with a sweatdrop.
"Oh. Well, we're definitely heading there!" Lina replied, enthusiasm not dampened in the least.
"Um, I just realized something..." said Adri, scratching behind her head.
All three of her companions looked at her and said "What?"
"Well, this is kinda embarrassing. I kinda forgot to ask your names when we met... Who are you?"
Faces hit the floor all around the table.
"It took you this long to realize that?" said Lina, as she picked herself off the floor.
"Well, I do sometimes forget things like that..." Adri said.
"Ok, that was unexpected. Ok, I'm Xelona," said Xelona, as she settled into her chair. "That's Lina and that's my dad, Xelloss"
"Ok! Problem solved!" said Adri as she leaned back.
Everyone else sighed.
After they had eaten, with Lina's appetite causing sweatdrops to break out across the entire inn, they rented two double bed rooms. Xelloss and Xelona went into one while Lina and Adri got the other. In the morning, after a large breakfast, they set off on their way. The sun shone bright and birds twittered in the trees. A small rabbit hopped across the path and peace ruled the pastoral land. Then the travelers noticed the smoke. Thick, dark smoke filled the air above the small city of Sairaag. There were several destroyed houses that still smoldered from a recent fire, but most of the smoke came from a large funeral pyre on the other side of the city. About thirty bodies were on the pyre and there was indication of previous pyres in the area.
"They sure do have a problem! Come on, let's see what we can learn about the reward!" Lina prompted. The four people ran into the city, then Lina stopped. Right in the middle of the path, in a large intersection of two major roads, was a statue of Sylphiel. It showed her praying with the holy rod her father had given her in her hands. An inscription was on the bottom of the statue. It said
"Sylphiel nels Rada, priestess of Sairaag.
This gentle woman saved our town
from the forces of evil.
She gave her life to protect all peoples."
-------------
Author's note:
That seems like a good stopping place. The Slayers don't belong to me.
The sun shone bright as the three travelers walked through the forest. Lina was at the front, red hair radiant in the sunlight. Xelloss and Xelona walked behind her, trying to keep up with the exuberant redhead, who had a fast pace. Lina turned around and looked at the two stragglers. "Come on, slowpokes! I'm not THAT fast! If we hurry, we can make it to the next town in time for dinner!" She quickened her pace and headed onward. Xelloss quickly went on, but Xelona stood there, panting. "Yea right 'not fast'! She could out pace a wolf with that speed! How does she do it! Hey! Wait up!" Xelona ran after her father and aunt. Then, right in front of her, a young girl popped out of the woods. Her long wavy green hair fluttered as the two girls collided and fell to the ground. "Owwww..." they said, simultaneously.
Meanwhile, Xelloss and Lina, having not noticed that Xelona had been left behind, were talking. "Now, Xelloss, you know black teas are much better than green!" said Lina.
"Now, now, Lina, green teas have a much subtler and much better flavor. Anyone with sense could tell that." Xelloss responded.
"Nonono! Green teas are too weak! Black teas have a robust flavor that can finish even the largest of meals!"
"No, Lina, black teas all taste the same, much too strong. Green teas can have many exquisite flavors just by adding the barest hint of another herb or even fruit. Oh, Lina, something just occurred to me. You said Gourry's dead, right?"
Lina looked confused and responded with a tentative "yes...and?" Xelloss continued, "Well, didn't he have elf blood in him from his grandmother? Wouldn't that keep him alive for over a century?"
Lina thought about it for a second and said "It was his great-grandmother, I think. Anyway, even though he did have elf blood in him, it was rather diluted. Though I think he was starting to stop aging around age 50, maybe, so he might have lived for quite a while, if he hadn't caught pneumonia."
"Oh? How?"
Lina looked down for a moment and then continued, "Our little grand- daughter, Elisa, had got caught out in the snow during a blizzard and Gourry went out to find her. He managed to get her back alright, but he, being older, got too cold and fell sick. He died nine days later."
They walked in silence for a minute, then Xelloss realized he hadn't heard Xelona for a while. Turning around, he didn't see her. "Where'd Xelona go?" said Lina, noticing she was gone. They went back up the hill they had just descended and saw Xelona and another girl picking themselves off the ground. "Wonder who Xelona bumped into?" said Xelloss. "Donno! Let's check it out" responded Lina. The walked towards the girls who had started to laugh almost hysterically. "I- hahaha- wanted to-heeheehee- find someone- haaa- to direct me but I didn't expect to bump into anyone out here!" said the green-haired girl in between laughs. Then a shadow crossed over her and she looked up to find Lina and Xelloss standing over her. Xelona stood up and dusted herself off. "So, watcha doing that you had to run into us, miss...?" she said. The green-haired girl stood up as well and scratched behind her head. "Well... I'm kinda lost... and I'm Adrie- I mean, I'm Adri. Pleased to meet you." She did a polite little bow. "Lost? How?" said Xelona, perplexed.
"I kinda took a shortcut and, well..."
"And got yourself lost." finished Lina. "Oh well, Adri, I guess we can help you get home if-"
"NONONO!! I don't want to go back home!" Adri interrupted. " Nine older siblings and six younger ones are too much! And Mom's pregnant again..." Adri sighed.
"Whoa! Large family! And I thought one sibling was tough enough! I see why you left!" exclaimed Lina. "Anyway, where are you going, Adri?"
"Well... I was heading to Sairaag to visit a friend of my Dad's..."
"Oh good! That's where we were going! Wanna tag along!?" squealed Xelona.
"Ummm.. OK, I guess I can come..."
Having welcomed the new party member into the group, the foursome continued on. Several hours later, as the sun sank below the horizon, a village appeared on the horizon. "Right on time for dinner! Yes! Comeoncomeoncomeonfoodfoodfooood!" yelled Lina as she dragged her fellow travelers behind her. They found the inn and went in. It was a large inn, with three stories. The bottom story was filled with a large common room while stairs lead upstairs to rooms for guests. Most of the tables were taken, but there was one table left in the corner farthest from the door. They made their way across the crowded room, stepping over several drunks who had started their drinking early. They sat down and waved to a waitress several tables over, alerting her to their presence. The waitress pried herself out of groping arms and went over to their table.
"Hi there, I'm Karen. What can I get ya good folks tonight?" she said.
"What's with all the people?" asked Xelloss.
"Well, hon, y'all heard 'bout that beast in Sairaag?"
"No..." said Lina, tentatively.
"Well, hon, there's a big beast over in Sairaag that's been terrizing the town. Poor little city, been destroyed so many times. It don't need this."
"The people here..." reminded Xelloss.
"Oh, them? They're fighters here to kill the beast for the reward, but none have even scratched it yet. Gotten to the point they're 'fraid to even stay in Sairaag. Oh, hons, what do y'all want to eat?" Karen smiled.
"....um, everything on the menu for me," said Lina, her train of thought derailed.
"Just green tea for me." said Xelloss.
"I'd like the beef stew, please," said Xelona.
"um, I'd have the steak with a side salad," said Adri, after a little thought.
"Ok, hons, I'll be back with your orders!" said Karen and she worked her way towards the kitchen. The foursome sat in relative silence for a minute, then Lina pounded her fist on the table. "Did you here that bit about the reward? That's it! We're heading to Sairaag first thing in the morning!"
"um, Lina? We already were heading to Sairaag..." said Xelona, with a sweatdrop.
"Oh. Well, we're definitely heading there!" Lina replied, enthusiasm not dampened in the least.
"Um, I just realized something..." said Adri, scratching behind her head.
All three of her companions looked at her and said "What?"
"Well, this is kinda embarrassing. I kinda forgot to ask your names when we met... Who are you?"
Faces hit the floor all around the table.
"It took you this long to realize that?" said Lina, as she picked herself off the floor.
"Well, I do sometimes forget things like that..." Adri said.
"Ok, that was unexpected. Ok, I'm Xelona," said Xelona, as she settled into her chair. "That's Lina and that's my dad, Xelloss"
"Ok! Problem solved!" said Adri as she leaned back.
Everyone else sighed.
After they had eaten, with Lina's appetite causing sweatdrops to break out across the entire inn, they rented two double bed rooms. Xelloss and Xelona went into one while Lina and Adri got the other. In the morning, after a large breakfast, they set off on their way. The sun shone bright and birds twittered in the trees. A small rabbit hopped across the path and peace ruled the pastoral land. Then the travelers noticed the smoke. Thick, dark smoke filled the air above the small city of Sairaag. There were several destroyed houses that still smoldered from a recent fire, but most of the smoke came from a large funeral pyre on the other side of the city. About thirty bodies were on the pyre and there was indication of previous pyres in the area.
"They sure do have a problem! Come on, let's see what we can learn about the reward!" Lina prompted. The four people ran into the city, then Lina stopped. Right in the middle of the path, in a large intersection of two major roads, was a statue of Sylphiel. It showed her praying with the holy rod her father had given her in her hands. An inscription was on the bottom of the statue. It said
"Sylphiel nels Rada, priestess of Sairaag.
This gentle woman saved our town
from the forces of evil.
She gave her life to protect all peoples."
-------------
Author's note:
That seems like a good stopping place. The Slayers don't belong to me.
