Chapter 18
The High Priestess*
Fortunas** in Freid
~ Godashim ~
~ The Duchy of Freid ~
"This….is Freid?" Alessa asked, eyeing Hiero in awe. It was like being back in Fanelia, almost, but the way this golden sheen city was built, it reminded her of the mighty citadels of the Etruscans she learned about in history class.
"Yes, nice huh? This is the time seeing it myself, actually." Hiero told her coarsely as they walked through the beautiful streets. A few merchants lined the streets, as did the royal toga wearing guards and finely dressed citizens. There weren't many people out regardless, as it was dawn.
Hiero's eyes showed he desired sleep, and that something was bothering him. The others just looked tired, save for Dilandau. He looked a little tired, but was trying not to show it by repeatedly swatting the air in front of his face, as if a fly were annoying him. He was sneering too, kicking his crimson boots at the ground whenever a pebble or any number of street debris crossed his angered gaze.
They were all dead tired. None of them had gotten any sleep yesterday. They'd spent the majority of the day flying to and from the Temple of Power. Alessa, even if she lacked her wings right now, was too disturbed about yesterday to even think about sleep. Zaibach had nearly caught them all, but Hiero saved them with that terrifying spell. Those two things scared her the most, and the fact that Hiero had been smiling the entire time made her a little nervous. Hiero had saved Dilandau's life in the process, favoring him and his safety first.
She didn't understand why Hiero chose to befriend such a raving psychotic, or for that matter be so nice to him when all Dilandau did was hate. 'They both have six wings too, just like the devil does….they must be in synch for this prophecy. So why am I needed? Dilandau hates me, and Hiero….said he loved me. I don't know what to think of Hiero. He's been a bit different since he awakened as an angel. He seems more….dark.' she thought, keeping her eyes more on Hiero than what was ahead of her. His eyes were narrowed, a grim smile on his lips. It was a fake smile, lacking any life. He looked like he would snap if provoked, ready to lash out at anything that got in his face.
It reminded her of the nuns back home, those uncaring smiles that were only there so the kids at the orphanage would think they were loved when they were not. They were thinking of different things than loving the children about them, more concerned with themselves. Hiero was very deep in thought, she could see it in his hooded eyes. She wondered if it because of Zaibach nearly catching them, or if something had happened in the temple he didn't want to discuss, as he had refused to discuss his dreams with anyone, except Dilandau.
Hiero favored Dilandau too highly, being nice enough to try and sooth the general's pain and being protective of him. She'd seen Hiero peck the other man's cheek, and had heard them talking as they flew to Freid. She just didn't understand why Dilandau deserved anything nice when he was so cruel.
"Alessa?" Hiero's voice snapped Alessa out of her thoughts, finding his now curious eyes settled on her. She felt her cheeks burn and forced herself to look away.
"Nothing….just thinking. Didn't you know that?" she said, trying to hide her embarrassment of being caught. He feigned a small smile.
"I choose not to poke into your thoughts." He said simply, looking ahead again as his hardened expression returned. "Why? You do it to the others." She said, wanting to slap herself for not shutting up.
She heard him chuckle in his throat, a smirk appearing on his lips. "I choose not to do it to you. I'd ask your permission….because I want you to trust me. How can you trust me fully if I took joyrides in your dreams?" he asked.
Her skin went cold, recalling the terrible dreams she'd been having about him, his past, his pains and sins. She hadn't had the dream again, but she had only gotten one night of sleep. If it came again, she didn't know what she'd do. Seeing Hiero falling apart, the pain his mother inflicted upon his once innocent heart, it was all too painful to face. She wasn't a psychic like Hiero, she didn't want to be. She just wanted the dreams to go away, but it made her wonder if the dreams were her fault or if Hiero was lying and actually was dipping into her mind.
'That's stupid, why would he want to drive me crazy?' she thought, faking a smile. "I guess you have a valid point. Why would you invade my head anyway? Sorry….I shouldn't have been staring. I guess I zoned out for a minute." She lied, adding a chuckle for effect.
Hiero flashed a brief smile, not looking at her, but it was meant for her. "More than a minute." She heard him mumbled to himself, just loud enough for her to hear, but no one else.
She sighed and set her sights back ahead, wishing to God there were more people around so Hiero would at least have other things to think about, like pushing people out of his way, food carts, anything but how red she was turning.
After several more minutes of walking, she could see a group of people arguing, three of whom were more apparent than the other two. Viole and Guimel were hanging behind Dalet, worried expressions on their faces. Dalet was smugly, arms crossed over his chest, sassing a young man, one she recognized instantly as they got closer, his shimmering aqua hair catching her icy eyes. Though his shirt was torn up badly and stained with dirt and soot, she knew the hair, and could almost hear his fine British accent letting out a slew of swear words at Dalet for insulting his horn.
"Val….Val-Chan?" she heard Hiero whisper, sounding like he had when she dreamt of him when he was a child. She stopped short and looked to him. The others had stopped too, staring at Hiero as the young king reached out, his face a picture of fear and bewilderment. He put his hand over his mouth, a lone tear slipping over his fingers.
As his hand fell from his face, there was a joyous smile on his trembling lips, another tear falling before Hiero took of in a sprint. "VAL-CHAN!!!!" Hiero shouted, and the young aqua-haired man and his hunched over traveling companion looked in his direction, both smiling.
Only Val ran to Hiero to meet him in a powerful hug, his mouth wide open and smiling. "HIERO-KUN! You're all right!" Val cheered, hugging his friend tightly. As Alessa watched, she got fearful when she saw Val had fangs in his mouth, tiny ones, but still fangs. That and his circlet was missing, the horn she'd been thought was merely an ornament once now sticking out of his hair.
Hiero was planted a single hard kiss on his friend's cheek, tears of joy streaming down both young men's faces. Val returned it and then they just hugged, as if they were children and brothers separated for a long time. 'Boy, I never imagined they were so….close. Back home, if a guy even smiled the wrong way at another guy, he'd beat his face in.' she thought, blushing a bit as her jaw dropped watching the display.
"Ah, Val-chan, I was so worried. I couldn't find you….how long have you been here? Gods, what happened after the attack on Fanelia?" Hiero spilled out, shocking Alessa further with the frantic tone that was utterly unlike him.
"That pillar of light….it sent us to the gardens of grandfather's castle, in Palas." Val told him as he and Hiero finally released each other, clasping onto each other hands and smiling. The tears had stopped, but the evidence they had flowed still lingered like diamond on the young men's faces.
"Then where is everyone else? Val?" Hiero began, then Val's expression became sad, the young knight looking away," Your horn, Allen saw, didn't he?"
Val nodded. "He took it rather poorly, accused mother of sleeping with an inhuman. Myrna got me out of the cell I was thrown in….and…." Val was saying, then Hiero yanked his hands away, balling them into angry fists. Alessa could hear Hiero growled, and in his eyes, they seemed to be alive with hatred.
"That bastard. I'm going to shove my Dragu Slave so far up his prissy ass, he'll be even more of a shit for brains than he was before." The young king hissed.
"Hiero, not now. Let's concentrate on the now, not my father," Val coaxed, raising his hands in defense, his golden eyes casting towards Alessa and Slayers," Who are those young men with Lady Alessa. Three of them are wearing armor like that rude bastard who called me an ugly freak."
"That'd be Dal….oof!!" Hiero snapped, his head whipping towards the Slayer in question, but a ball of pink and tan came from the same direction and tackled Hiero to the ground, licking his face to death.
"Myrna!" Alessa yelped.
"A filthy cat-girl! Just my damn luck a member of that whore race is here." Dilandau added snidely. His face showed great disgust, almost as bad as he looked at Alessa. Dilandau growled at Myrna, but the pink-haired and shapely cat-girl was too intent on licking Hiero and shoving her furry cleavage against his neck. It lasted a few minutes before Myrna made a face and jumped off Hiero, slapping her fingers at her tongue. "Yucky….what have you been bathing in, that stupid Mystic Moon lunatic's sweat?" Myrna snapped, sputtering madly.
"Hey! Take that back, you little brat cat!" Alessa gasped, forgetting completely about everything. Myrna cleaned her tongue off, then send her large eyed gaze towards Alessa, and stuck her tongue out. "I can't believe you are still with that weirdo, Safaia-Kimi. She must really be a filthy girl too to get that smell of hers all over you," she chirped, then ran back to Hiero as he managed to sit up, pushing herself in his arms, her head against his chest firmly with a smile," Oh, my Lord Hiero. I missed you so….I was so worried about you. I had to deal with Sir Val for almost a week."
Val flinched at the nasty remark, his face saddening again. Hiero seemed to notice it, absentmindedly patting Myrna's pink pigtails, then her cheek. He looked a little confused, then narrowed his eyes at Val. The knight grabbed his head lightly with one hand, his eyes straining, and Hiero smiled after a few moments passed by.
"Val-chan, you devil. You finally told her how you feel, congratulations!" Hiero said proudly. Val blushed bright red, smiling nervously and shuffling his feet a little.
"What? What did his head say?" Migel asked. "He kissed Myrna….at long last." Hiero replied happily.
Alessa nearly smiled too, until Myrna spoke again, her brow furrowed and nose all scrunched up in disgust. "The kiss meant nothing to me, Safaia-Kimi. I didn't like it, I was only thinking of you, that I was kissing you, Lord Hiero. The kiss meant nothing….he's just like his father, a filthy womanizer." Myrna said loudly, time seeming to stand still. Alessa barely noticed that Dalet, Viole, and Guimel were behind Val now, staring without uttering a single word. Their eyes were completely focused on Hiero.
Val looked ready to collapse and cry, but neither happened. He just stared, his mouth opened slightly, lips trembling. "Myrna…." He whispered. Alessa looked back at Hiero, and her blood ran cold. Hiero had looked stunned when Myrna had spoken, but now, he looked so angry that he resembled Dilandau's pissed off expressions whenever the little psycho believed he had been insulted. Hiero's pupils were very small now, the color of them undeterminable, his teeth were clenched in a feral manner, as if at any moment he would rip Myrna to shreds. He was breathing hard, his fingers twisting into Myrna's furry flesh, making the cat-girl yelp in pain.
"Get off…." He finally said with dangerous seriousness. Myrna looked up at him, looking unsure of what she had done. Hiero looked down at her, sneering and a vein in his temple was throbbing madly as he struggled for control. "I SAID GET OFF!!" Hiero screamed in her face, and the cat-girl yelped in fear and scuttle away from him into Val's legs. Val just watched the display, breathing shallowly, his eyes still saddened.
"Now, you and Val can discuss this once we all reach the palace. If you refuse to obey what I have said, I'll have you shoved in a cell, Myrna. I am the reigning king of Fanelia and you are still my subject. You do it or else, got that?" Hiero said in a commanding yet angry voice. Myrna nodded meekly, and hid behind Val's legs in a childish crouch.
"All right then, now that I have that little….annoyance settled, I guess introductions are in order." Hiero said smoothly, his tone normal and velvety again, as if nothing had happened.
Hiero gestured towards Alessa with his gloved hands. "Lady Alessa you know, to her left is Gatti Derron Maateo. Beside Gatti is Chesta Nakia Akilion and beside him is Migel Dima Lavariel. You've already met the rather rude Dalet Paru Jace, the fluffy haired guy is Guimel Dolas Cady, and that dark haired beanpole is Ryuon Ravi Viole, we just call him Viole," Hiero pointed out, then his hands gestured to a rather impatient looking Dilandau," And this is…."
Hiero paused, looking at Dilandau, for permission probably. Dilandau sighed and gave off a noncommittal nod, his own garnet eyes studying Val, trying to place him. "This is….Lady Celena's son, Dilandau Thani Albatou, General of the Dragon Slayers. Dilandau, this is Val Ondrea Schezar, one of the twelve Heavenly Asturian Knights." Hiero said calmly, gesturing to both of them. Dilandau smirked, looking Val up and down while Val just stared at him with uncertainty.
"Your cousin….is Dilandau? Shouldn't he be older?" Myrna piped sarcastically, then cringed behind Val when Dilandau growled at her. "I bet there's a long story behind all of this," Val said quietly," But I gather I'm going to hear about it. How much more insane can this be that a floating lizard woman that calls me an angel?"
Alessa stiffened a bit when Val said it, then saw Hiero get right in front of Val and eye him with a careful glance. "Angel of what?" Hiero asked simply.
"Angel of Courage, why? I thought it might have something to do with why I was demanded to be forked over to that Folken bastard, but only you can tell me if my suspicions are correct, after all, he wanted you and Alessa too." Val replied. Hiero nodded.
"Yeah, you could say that. What's say we talk about it while we head for the palace? I don't want your idiot half-brother hearing any of this, he'll just screw it up by trying to be….chivalrous." Hiero said icily.
Val chuckle, rubbing the back of his shining aqua hair. "Don't I know it. The Duke of Perverts doesn't let anyone but himself get the last word, especially women. Better summarize it for me….I saw my older brother a few months ago, and he was still full of himself."
Hiero rolled his eyes, starting to walk off in the direction he'd been going in before he saw Val. "Full of shit, as always. Then let's get this over with….the less time we spend with Chid, the longer he lives." Hiero muttered.
Everyone followed in suit, with Alessa jogging to catch fully up to Hiero, Val and Myrna in the lead.
'Who the heck is this Chid?' she wondered, barely hearing Hiero recapping the entire mess the group had gone through.
~ Palace of Chid zar Freid ~
"And basically, I just awakened as the Angel of Power way early this morning, and we've been flying since then. We're all pretty beat, and grimy. Doesn't pay for water to exist when you're on a prophetic mission younger than I am." Hiero finished briskly, the gates of the palace several feet away.
Val didn't seem as stunned as the rest of them, but then again Val and Hiero turning out to be friends from the last world Hiero had been on was shock enough to last several lifetimes. Alessa didn't think Hiero could surprise her much more, but to hear him telling Val that he told them all he was immortal and Val already knowing about it nearly made her jaw break off her face. Val was an ancient dragon, whatever that was, and well over 10,000 years of age fully from three incarnations he went through on just one world, the last one being as Hiero's childhood playmate.
Dilandau didn't seem so stunned, saying," It figures my family wouldn't be normal anytime soon," but he'd said it jokingly. Val joined in with him, and didn't get hit. As it turned out, Val had escaped the last world with Hiero because he was Hiero's only friend, the only one he could be with because ancient dragons were practically immortal in the youth sense. Hiero had protected Val for over 5,000 years whenever danger came. To her, it was very touching, and friendship she thought could never exist between anyone, but Hiero had managed it. 'He's got more heart than any of us, despite what a sarcastic tease he is. I guess we all owe this present Hiero to this Lina and Zelgadis couple and Val. They gave him what he was denied by Delphine, companionship and love.' She thought, a small smile touching her face.
It explained Val's horn a little better, a nervous reaction of being agitated in emotional ways, anger, nervousness, and lust. She had to wonder why his horn was poked out at the coronation. Perhaps he was nervous not having seen Hiero for nine long years, and was worried his friend would forget him. 'Or it could have because of that smart-ass beast Myrna. She won't stop giving me dirty looks. It is not my fault she's a jealous and rabid little bitch.' She thought, looking away from Myrna's hissing face.
Myrna had tried to hold onto Hiero a few times in their walk, but he pushed her away or into Val, who she'd readily scamper away from and around to be back beside Hiero. Something dangerous flashed across Hiero's face each time, like he wanted to deck her. Dilandau wore a more sinister expression, and probably wanted to skin Myrna just for being alive.
"Quite an adventure, Hiero-kun, and it explains a lot. At least now I know I didn't just miraculously get my power back, it's this prophecy….the one that killed Aunt Celena and your folks. Maybe it was best I ran from father and mother. If they were here, they'd lock me back in that cell and forbid me to even consider trying to help you. They'd call it a delusion of yours, like your visions." Val said quietly, the distance to the main entrance to palace closing slowly. Alessa wondered if they'd ever reach it. Time seemed to be to death crawl the more Hiero and Val talked.
"Your father wouldn't believe in the glory of fire if I did, and I do. He makes me sick, but Chid makes me want to consider medicating my ears so I won't get some disease from his hobbies. I didn't like him when I was short, and I still don't like him. He better not piss me off. He's had nine years to remember how I died his hair purple and setting his carriage on fire for saying I was a little demon with no manners."
"That took six months to finally fade out, he still doesn't know how you did it. It was like looking at a piece of fruit with clothes on, too funny. He still talks about it….not in a nice way, but I still can't help but laugh at his ravings. He's so clueless, even if he thinks he's older," Val snickered, looking ahead at last to see the guards," Speak of the devil, we're at the gates of hell, Hiero-kun."
Hiero nodded, his face smug as he lifted one hand to halt the group and stepped ahead alone to the two Freid guards. The men were wearing dark orange togas of some sort, bald and had small hoop earrings. They were quite average in physique, more so muscled than Hiero and their skin tan. They also looked very annoyed about who was walking up to them, and blocked the door off with their heavily feathered spears, very dangerous and pointy looking spears.
"Halt! Hiero of Fanelia, state your business, and try not to lie." The one to the right said, his voice coarse.
Hiero just ran his hand through his sapphire bangs with great dignity and grace. "As King of Fanelia, I request an immediate audience with his royal duke-ness. It is a matter of peace of our glorious continent of Jotunheim+."
"Duke Chid is not seeing anyone right now. He strictly forbids anyone from entering, especially a demon like you….your majesty." The left guard spouted. Val stepped up, trying to force his way past the guards, but their spears forced him back. "I am Val Schezar, younger brother to Chid. I demand an audience with him as well. This is damned important, I don't care if he's not seeing anyone! Zaibach is mobilizing their forces near the Karsa Mountains. I demand you feebs let us in, NOW!" Val growled, his horn seeming to quiver. His fangs were growing slightly, and it made Alessa hide behind Gatti.
The guards didn't seem to care and held their ground. "No admittance….we apologize, Sir Val, but no one goes in or out. By the Duke's life, we must obey."
"Then can I give you the message for you to relay to those who are in there already?" Hiero piped, his tone pleasant and unbothered.
The guards looked at each other, then eyed him questioningly. "Hey, no tricks, I swear. Just cause I put ignited gunpowder under your horses one time…."
"Seven times…." The one on the right correct crassly. Hiero waved it off and went on. "Ok, seven times. I'll even put my hands up where you can see them so you know I can't pull anything sneaky. Deal?" Hiero said, stepping so close to the spear blades, Alessa almost swore the harsh metal bit the flesh of his cheek. The guards nodded and Hiero raised his hands right in front of their faces, palms out.
"Now that wasn't so bad was it?" Hiero chortled. The guards both let out deep grunts. "Just spill it already, heathen king." The left guard grumbled.
Hiero gave a nod, then touched their foreheads rather slowly. "Ok, I'll spill exactly what you deserve….Sleep…." Hiero said, his voice echoing slightly as his gloved hands glowed white. The whiteness seeped into the guards' heads, and after a few moments, they teetered and slumped onto their rears, leaning against their spears in a deep sleep.
"Suckers….they always believe me when I say I won't be sneaky. Too easy," Hiero giggled, shoving the spears apart before pushing the doors to the palace open," After you, Alessa."
Alessa didn't move for second, knowing she shouldn't be shocked by Hiero's spells anymore, but she couldn't help it. He was just so full of unusual magic, literal and mental. She would have stood staring at him all day if Gatti hadn't given her a shake, and started to lead her inside.
~
"Everyone else, go in before me. I can't leave them like this all day. Chid will blame me for it, no doubt. The one thing I hate happening besides getting killed is getting caught. That's no fun." Hiero piped gently, allowing everyone to pass him by. As Dalet and Guimel brought up the rear of the group, the last ones to glance at the sleeping guards, Hiero shut doors partially. He left a gap large enough for his arms to get through quickly, canceling the spell swiftly and shutting the doors as the guards began to rouse.
He waited a moment, wanting to be sure the guards didn't remember what happened. "Ah, we've been working too hard. I thought that brat demon king was here. We need to get shorter shift, Yorl." The guard on the right spouted groggily, the sounds of his spear shifting about.
"Yeah, Tac, with Hiero in our daydreams now, we'll need the rest. He's enough to drive a priest to hysterics. Now we're passing out on the job. Let's hope Chid never finds out or he'll be most displeased with us." The left guard chuckled, and Hiero smiled as he walked through the palace to catch up with the group.
"Oh, you're going to wish you never said that, slap heads. Chid's going to really be annoyed you let me get past you dorks, hopefully enough for latrine duty. Hee, hee." Hiero giggled quietly, running up between Dilandau and Alessa. Val wasn't there, and neither was Myrna.
"Where's Val-chan?" he asked them. Dilandau sighed a bit, pointing ahead as if it was a bother to him. "He said he was going to take that cat-bitch to his room. He said he would be right back in case any guards got in out way, wanted to talk with that thing….about earlier. I suppose he fell for that filthy catty." Dilandau uttered in a bored tone.
Hiero nodded sadly. "Yeah, I was hoping she'd give up on me and go for him. He does love her….but I guess it is not so great when you fall in love with a grabby little moron. Myrna's good as a sister, but lousy as a girlfriend-type. She's standing on my last nerves these days." Hiero sighed.
"He chose the wrong race, cat-people are tramps, the whole lot of them. They adore humans of the opposite sex so avidly, they'd overpopulate the world if they weren't so….so….so sickeningly sweet, picky, and zealous. They make me wish I were deaf. Such annoying creatures." Dilandau growled.
"My Aunt Merle was the same way, but she got better once she got with her own kind. They seem to have a little more restraint with their own species. I don't know what it is about that species. They seem to go after the Fanel family rather boisterously," Hiero uttered, then cleared his throat as he saw Val coming out of a hallway ahead of them, looking a little depressed," Then again, who cares? Let the guy who marries her worry about that. We have Chid to bother with, that lousy, whore of a Duke Chid, 'like father like son' little bastard."
"I take it you don't like him very much." Alessa let out sarcastically. Hiero just grinned. "We hate each others' guts, haven't gotten along since we met. He called me little freak since I had a vision in his presence, one that made Lady Celena faint. When she died, he blamed me for it too, just like his father did. He should have blamed Folken and those namagomi bastard sorcerers, but he was stubborn and stupid, like his old man." Hiero let out, his voice dripping with contempt.
"No love between you two, in other words. Jeez, I'm almost afraid to be in the room with you two. I've seen you beating on Migel and Dalet, but you've never said that you hate them. I'd really hate to see what you're going to do to this Chid guy." Alessa chuckled out nervously.
Hiero felt a little sad hearing this. He didn't want her to think he was a nasty person, but Chid always pissed him off. 'I'll show as much restraint as possible, and that's pretty damned generous for me. If I keep my cool Chid will look bad. Maybe Dilandau will be the one to try and set his throne on fire or something. One can only hope.' He thought, smiling at the consideration.
"Hiero." Gatti piped. Hiero stopped and looked at him.
"What?" he asked curiously, slowing his steps.
"I see the throne doors up ahead. I have been to Freid on diplomatic ventures when I was starting out. I am the communications officer after all, though I never met with Chid, only his late father Mahad." Gatti told him, pointing ahead.
Hiero followed it and sure enough there were the door that led to the garden and marble path that led to Chid's outdoor throne room. He'd only seen this place in his parents' memories, never on his own. 'First time for everything, like not trying to maim Chid. That'd take a miracle.' He mused and moved a little faster to open the doors for his friends.
~ Throne Chambers of Duke Chid ~
Alessa marveled at the fine stone pillars that lined the way to the temple-like throne area, which was blocked off by curtains. There were no guards posted near it, unlike the palace, who had been sleeping like babies thanks to Hiero's spell.
The palace had been quite pretty on the inside, but the garden pathway was prettier, the sides adorned with roses and lilies that sparkled like fine silks and jewels. The walkway was like a golden carpet and fine marble statues of a woman with long hair, with the face of an angel, lined the sides. It looked sort of like Millerna did, but younger, but the features were close to that of the bust of Celena. The woman was wearing wonderfully crafted robes and crown about her lovely hair. She was smiling wistfully, her blank stone stare seeing forever.
"That's my Aunt Marlene, Lady Alessa." Val said suddenly, snapping her back to attention. He was staring at her pleasantly, and obviously had been doing it for some time.
"Another aunt?" she asked, and got a nod.
"Yes, I have quite a few, but two are dead, Aunt Marlene and Celena to be precise. She died a few years after she gave birth to Chid. My father was his father, but Marlene is still my aunt. All I have left as an aunt is Aunt Eries and her husband, my Uncle Rayon. Father had an affair with her way before I was ever born, I think it even went on when Aunt Marlene married Uncle Mahad. Chid loved his mother to death though, she was quite a marvel, so I was told." Val explained, gesturing to one of the radiant marble statues.
"Quite a family tree you waltzed into. Did you ever think you'd get reborn into such a life?" she asked, trying to be casual. He shrugged, putting his hands behind his head with a grin.
"Nope, I never would have thought I'd be born into nobility, let alone former nobility. I think my father fell for her because she sort'a resembled Aunt Celena in a way, radiant, sweet, energetic, and beautiful. He probably missed Aunt Celena so much….that he pitifully thought he could replace her somehow with Aunt Marlene. Makes me kind of sad he was so….pathetic. I've had plenty of wives, maybe not as much as Hiero-kun, but I have had plenty. I got married more times than he did on my world, guess because I was a native to it and he wasn't," Val chirped, then cast a glance at Hiero, who was blushing," And he's still a shy violet around the girls he loves the most. For all his sarcasm and wit to friends and enemies, he still takes forever with girls he adores."
"Quit it, Val-chan. I already told her, so you can't say that. Go back get situated in your room like you were going to and have your chat with Myrna. Chid doesn't need to see you yet and I still don't need you mothering my love life." Hiero grumbled. Val let out a laugh and clapped his friend on the back, then took off back to the palace.
"He speaks a little of that Japanese too. Did you teach him?" Alessa asked, wanting to get off the subject of love.
Hiero smiled at her, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, I taught him and Myrna after mother taught me. Being as old as we are, it doesn't take so long to absorb the information. He can understand it pretty well, but there are some words he doesn't know. Our lessons got interrupted by certain blonde bimbo knight of Asturia." Hiero quipped, stopping as they reached the curtains of the throne house. He pulled it back slightly and peeked in, and made a sickened noise.
"The nerve of that Playboy Jr., of all the crap he could have pulled to keep people put of the palace. Oooo, I'm going to strangle him." Hiero growled, shaking his fists angrily as he moved back. Dilandau looked interested in what Hiero had seen and peeked in as well, but snickered. "Like father like son, all right. He's got dancers in there." Dilandau chuckled.
"What's so bad about dancers?" Alessa asked, and wished she hadn't. Dilandau grabbed her by the arm and made her look inside. "Oh…." Was all she could say as she saw at least six young women, six scantily clad women doing a sort of veil dance for a young blonde man sitting in a Yoga position on a large tan pillow. His eyes were as blue as Allen's, but bored looking, a faint and listless smile on his young face.
He was dressed in fine armor similar to what Hiero had worn at his coronation, but without a helmet. His blonde hair was short and very neat looking, as if every hair had been cared for personally. He had a gold earring in then shape of a teardrop on his left ear, and beneath his armor was an outfit of white. It was close to what Dryden had worn, along with a tan and black sash tied about his slim waist, a rather large gold and blue ring on his right hand. His boots were black though, his clothes embroidered with blacks and tans that highlighted his nobility with the odd fashion. There was also a sword on his left hip and small, hook-like dagger on his right hip, both sheathed in brown scabbards.
This young man didn't look very interested in all the dancers, rather one in particular, a one with waist length blonde hair that seemed to shimmer like pure gold in the afternoon sunlight. His eyes were following her intently, his hands twitching slightly on his lap each time she make a dramatic dance leap.
"HEY CHID!" Alessa fell through the curtains, Dilandau not following as he released her arm the moment Hiero had shouted. As she got up from the polished floor, the dancers had stopped and Hiero was rather smugly approaching Chid. She felt someone help her up. It was Migel, and for once he wasn't trying to grope. She said nothing and rushed behind the others, standing close to Viole and Guimel.
The young Duke was finally looking up, but his blue eyes were frozen with hatred. His thin mouth twisted into an annoyed frown while he stood up, stepping off the throne area. With a wave of his creamy hand, the dancers yelped and ran past everyone and out the curtain. When the footfalls of their bare feet and the bangles on their ankles could no longer be heard, Chid pulled out his sword, aiming it out towards Hiero.
Hiero just let out a feral little chuckle and took his sword out, sticking it out along Chid's blade. After a few minutes of death glares and the grinding of teeth, Hiero smiled and pulled his sword away. Chid just hissed out a breath and put his away, then Hiero followed.
"Hiero….Scorchava….de Fanel. I delight in saying it is unpleasant to see you again." Chid said, his voice much like Allen's, almost exactly really.
"Likewise, Duke Chid, and its King Hiero now. You know I passed my dragon slaying task, so no need to keep spiting me for being a lowly prince and the fact my mother was a commoner." Hiero said slyly.
"I have nothing against your parents, just you. You give royalty a bad name. You're an irresponsible, ignorant, and pitiful little fiend." Chid said icily, a grin crawly up his lovely features.
"Oh, I didn't come here to talk about you, Chid. We'll have time to talk about your shortcoming's later. I came to talk about war and peace, namely Zaibach has returned to power and is starting another war, in your area presently." Hiero stated casually.
Chid fumed a moment, then his eyes widened slightly, concern overtaking him. "Zaibach again? What proof do you have they are starting anything?" Chid asked, his tone laced with suspicion.
"We just eluded them near the Karsa Mountains. They have been tailing us since Fanelia was attacked a week ago. You can even check it out for yourself and ask Dryden Fassa. He saw what happened to Fanelia after Val, Myrna, Alessa and myself escaped. They won't stop with just Fanelia. They didn't last time, after all. I suggest you rally the troops, pretty boy, and use your power for something other than exotic dancers." Hiero said seriously.
Chid took it offensively, sneering at the young king. "I'll send some airships to Dryden's estate. It will waste less of my time if I find out you are lying," the duke replied, then seemed to notice Hiero wasn't alone," And where is my little brother and Miss Myrna? And who are these….odd people?"
"Who are you calling odd, you slut?!" Dilandau raged, grabbing at the hilt of his sword. His face the perfect picture of hate, his once angelic features twisted terribly. Strangely, she was angry too at being called odd, but Chid hadn't seen her or Migel. They were both behind Guimel and Viole, but Migel was hiding more than her. His eyes looked nervous and he was in a half-standing crouch.
"SLUT!? How dare you call a duke such filth! What is your name, boy?" Chid snapped, but the words only made Dilandau pull his sword out, moving so fast Chid barely had time to blind when the blade was a mere centimeter from his throat. Hiero looked somewhat amused at this and wasn't making a move to stop Dilandau.
"I'm no mere boy. I am General Dilandau Thani Albatou, and as much I detest in saying so, I am your cousin. I am more of a man that you'll ever be, you whore's bastard child!" Dilandau hissed dangerously.
"Dilandau….Albatou? But you….you died over 19 years ago….and even if you survived, how can you still be so young?" Chid gasped.
"You need not know, you don't have the brain power to understand it. Just like your pathetic playboy father, worthless. Hmmph, any real kind of king would use his power to protect and run his country properly with an iron fist, not waste it on whores and his own stupidity. You make me violently ill." Dilandau growled, pulling his blade away deftly, putting at away slow. He held his ground, standing only a few feet away from the sweating Chid.
"Fine then, I know who you are, and you're the reason my father was exposed from his guymelef when Zaibach attacked Freid so long ago. I should have you imprisoned. Iee!" Chid let out, only to be slapped hard in the face, sending him to his knees.
"Oh, it makes a big sound. War is war, and it is what I will live forever for. You act as if I shot him full of arrows, as amusing as that would have been. What a little wimp you are." Dilandau huffed, walking away as if Chid's presence was offensive.
Hiero was still smiling, rubbing his scar gently the entire time. Dilandau gave him a sinister smile. "I couldn't have said it better myself….I'm almost jealous. Almost." Hiero said gently, then looked at the quivering Chid as he stood up.
"How rude…."Chid muttered, rubbing his red cheek.
"Red really isn't your color, Chid. But that's beside the point. I guess I have to do the introduction thing again." Hiero sighed, not waiting for Chid to reply. Hiero walked to where Dalet was standing and pointed at him and so on down the line as he spoke. "This is Dalet Paru Jace, next to him is Gatti Derron Maateo, communications expert might I add. This….tall fellow is Ryuon Ravi Viole, the marksman, and this is Guimel Dolas Cady. The precious little blonde over there is Chesta Nakia Akilion," he said pleasantly, then yanked Migel out playfully from behind Viole," And this shy brunette is….."
"Migel Lavariel!!" Chid yelped, reaching for his sword again. Hiero shot him a death look and wagged his finger at him.
"He's not a ghost or a zombie come for revenge….not yet anyhow. And it is Migel Dima Lavariel, and yes, they are all Dragon Slayers and Dilandau is still, and always will be, in charge of them, but you are so damn rude. I didn't get to introduce my other friend because of your interruption," Hiero tutted, pushing Viole and Guimel aside gently, then reaching his hand to Alessa," This is Lady Alessa Lee Demitrius."
Alessa took his hand and allowed him to lead her out to be seen, then let go to walk beside Chesta. Chid was still, looking her up and down with disturbingly hungry eyes. Hiero's smile started to wane a bit when he noticed this. "Lady Alessa, what a beautiful name. It sounds so exotically foreign, my lady, where do you hail from?"
Alessa offered a polite smile and slight curtsey, as best she could manage in her pants and man's shirt. Chid stepped up to her and slowly took her hands in his, and kissed it warmly. She felt a little giddy, and slightly disturbed. Hiero had been polite too, more out of formality, but he hadn't stuck his tongue out on her hand. She could feel Chid give her a slight and hidden lick. She grimaced, but didn't want to be rude, and waited until he took his lips off her to rub it off behind her back. He was smiling rather amorously at her.
She dared a glance at Hiero, hoping he'd have something to say about this, but he was still near Chesta, grinding his teeth, arms over his chest, and his eyes narrowed angrily at Chid and herself.
"I see that Hiero has finally grown up a little to have such a fine example of a woman traveling with him. Where did you say you were from?" he asked deeply, still holding her hand.
"I didn't say. I….uh….I'm from…." She stuttered.
"Egzardia. She's an old playmate of Hiero's." Chesta piped, smiling.
"That explains why she is wearing what Aunt Millerna once did. I still understand how women can wear pants, it is so….un-ladylike, but your pristine beauty makes up for it. It warms my heart to see beauty is still practiced highly on Gaia." Chid smoothed out.
"He means his groin, not his heart." Hiero muttered. Chid heard it, but didn't bother responding. "As I was saying, my lady, I will do everything in my power to ensure your stay here in Freid is a pleasant one. My guards will do whatever you like."
"Wants to get her in his bed." Hiero seemed to translate to Chesta, who blushed cutely. Alessa went red in the face, but Hiero wasn't smiling. He looked ready to blow his top and his fingers were so hard pressed against his bare arms, the flesh was white than ever.
"Hmmph, like you would know the good company of females." Chid sniffed.
"What's that supposed to mean, you blonde tart?" Hiero growled. "Exactly what I said. My father was right to keep you and Val separate, what kind of knight would he have been if he'd stayed near a little freak like you. You two were too chummy with each other for comfort….you weren't and still aren't a good influence on such a pure family as mine." Chid replied crassly. Hiero just looked away and huffed. "He blamed me for Celena's demise, and he isn't fond of Draconians. Your father is nothing but bleached-blonde, fully of hot-air gigolo! And as for my pickiness with women, I am just looking for that special one. I don't drop my pants the second I get a pretty face in my bed chambers like you do." Hiero returned heatedly.
Chid swallowed a bit, trying to hold back the apparent rage that was building inside him. His features softened, and he directed his gaze back to Alessa. "Excuse that little spat, that young friend of yours has caused many unfortunate accidents during his childhood, from blowing carriages up, setting fire to the closets of nobles, and creating terrible pranks. The utter havoc on proper society he has unleashed is intolerable," Chid said sweetly, kissing her hand wetly in apology," I do not know how you were able to stand him for so long, Lady Alessa, there are other people who are more worthy of your lovely companionship than he. Why, if many of the princes had known about you, they would have stopped at nothing to have you grace them with your angelic company. I know I would have."
"Can you get a sexual disease from a conversation?" Hiero asked Chesta in mock nervosa. Chid's eyes nearly popped out of his head, squeezing Alessa's hand a bit too hard. It made her yelp and yank her hand away, but Chid's overly concern blue eyes returned to regard her again, worried and sad. "Oh, I humbly apologize. Did I hurt you much?" he asked.
She didn't respond, looking at Hiero again, expecting him to be snickering, but his expression was anything but. He seemed to be listening to something, one hand upon his sleek brow. Hiero was off in another world, not even listening or taking part in the conversation anymore.
"Ah, no, you just surprised me. I'm fine, really. Uh, so….you're the duke of this place, huh?" she asked. He nodded, almost dotingly, patting her hand as if he were reassuring a child.
"It is good, I would hate to mar such beauty. How clumsy of me. Though, I think I should escort you myself to get some proper clothing. Most of the men here are celibate monks, having a woman dressed as you are might offend them. I need no unrest in my followers, its bad manners." He told her. She bit her lip, not appreciating being talked down to and hit on like this, but he was being nice about it. He didn't flat out say she had no taste or call attention to what her body looked like, though he might have been better off doing so. He reminded her of the brothers at the orphanage, always telling her to a proper little lady, to wear her ankle length skirt and not get it dirty or she'd get a spanking or her knuckles rapped by a ruler.
"Anata Yariman*^….Ack, Val-chan…." Hiero uttered suddenly, his voice hurt. Before she could ask what he'd said, Hiero had grabbed Chesta roughly by the arm and ran out of the throne room muttering Val's name.
"Ok, what was that about?" Migel quipped curiously. Chid sniffed a bit, turning his small nose up at the event. "He's probably having another one of his cursed visions. My little brother's going to suffer now. I better go stop Hiero before he does anymore damage to my family." Chid breathed and followed quickly.
"Like you get a vote in this matter. Look at what you've started, jinx." Dilandau huffed and roughly grabbed Alessa arm. He more or less dragged her out with his Dragon Slayers in tow, speeding up when they heard a female's scream.
~ Val's Chambers ~
The first thing Dilandau heard was screaming, mostly a woman's scream. He knew the voice, as much as he had tried to banish it from his mind. It offended him. It was that stupid little cat-female, screeching at the top of her lungs for mercy and forgiveness, accompanied by strange and loud words being yelled and shattering glass.
Chid was the first into the room, and ducked as vase went sailing over his head. Dilandau let Alessa go and got in a crouch, and peered inside to behold the situation.
Hiero was standing at the foot of the bed within and Val was crumpled in a sitting position, his eyes sad and wet. He was also clutching his face, blood seeping past his slimly gloved fingers. Chesta was standing beside Hiero, looking curious about the whole event, his hand over his mouth.
Hiero eyes were near flaming, his teeth clenched ferally and his fingers flexing like claws. The young king lifted up another vase near the bed, probably the last one from what Dilandau could see. He didn't throw it, his eyes were more intent on pinning the cowering heap of a cat girl who was flattening herself in terror to the left of the door and Dilandau.
She had no marks on her furry flesh, but shattered glass and freshly shed tears stained her body, as well as some dried blood on her right hand. 'She hurt Val….and Hiero felt it in his head, of course. She's dead meat, how lovely.' Dilandau thought, smiling at the frightened creature.
"Anata inpu, watashi itou anata!^* Okagede, Val-kun wan burookunhaato, anata hitodenashi baita! BAITA!!#" Hiero yelled, and Myrna curled up fetal all the tighter.
'He said she understood Japanese. Hmm, whatever he's saying, I hope it hurts a lot more than it sounds, much more. I knew he had a dark side under his skin somewhere. What other lovely temperaments are you hiding, friend?' he wondered, smiling wider as the last vase sailed at Myrna, glass, flowers and stale water spilling all over her.
"No, Lord Hiero, Safai-kimi, please. He started it, he tried to rape me….He…." she let out rapidly, but Hiero shook his head violently, grabbing at it as if it pained him.
"Kutabare! USOTSUKI! Anata saseko!#^" Hiero screamed even louder, tossing his dagger a breath above her pink head before rushing over in front of her to yank her off the floor and shake her hard," Hike ware hotokku, anata chibi jasutisu kikei kopii….hike Val hotokku nimo, inpu.#*"
With that said, he dropped her poorly on her tail, nearly breaking it as he looked down on her, that feral growl rumbling in his throat again. Satsu saru….##" Hiero muttered, stomping his foot, which sent Myrna speeding away, tripping frantically over Chid enough to rip up part of his clothing before she ran yowling down the hallway.
Dilandau looked towards Hiero, who was back with Val, pulling the young knight's hand away from the four blood marks on his face. Hiero put his own hand on the young man's face and let out a whispery, familiar chant of Recovery. In seconds, the light from Hiero's hand sealed the wounds up, as if they were never there in the first place.
"Sorry…." Hiero let out, and Val just nodded. "I guess back to the drawing board. You were right after all, she wasn't in love with me and never could be because she's in love with you. She's selfish." Val muttered, scratching at the foot-board of the bed for no reason.
"Yes….selfish little brat who doesn't deserve anyone. Don't mourn her….don't. She's not worth it, Val-kun. Just….get some sleep ok. I'm sorry I lost my temper, but she hurt you, my brother. She had to pay, no one hurts my friends. No one, not even Myrna. Go pick get another room, I'm sure Chid's men will clean this one up while you wait, hmm?" Hiero coaxed. Val gave off a sigh and stood, offering a small smile. "Still looking out for me. You never change….and that's a good thing. See you at lunch, Hiero. Bye Chesta, nice meeting you too." Val let out, and walked out of the room, not even giving Dilandau or the others a glance. Hiero walked out next, Chesta trailing dutifully.
Dilandau stood up and blocked the doorway before they could leave fully, and gave off a stern look. "Why did you bring Chesta into this?"
"Lessons on how to be less…timid, and Val doesn't understand all Japanese. If he's curious, Chesta can translate my fit for him. He is an Angel of Wisdom, as you recall. Now if you will all excuse me, I'm irate and I'm tired. I'll see you all at lunch after I wake up. I'd had enough inconveniences for one day." Hiero replied, pushing past Dilandau slowly, the walking off. He stopped a moment, looking back, past Dilandau.
Dilandau turned slightly to see he was looking at Alessa, whose eyes were wide with confusion. Hiero smiled weakly and started off again, managing out a soft word," Miokuru,*# Alessa-chan."
Then he turned suddenly, walking past a few doors and disappeared inside one. "What did that mean?" Alessa asked.
Chesta stepped forward, a polite little smile on his face. "It meant farewell. He was being nice. We hadn't thought you'd follow us, its not like we gave much reason for you to be interested. I guess it was those swear words he used. But, I think we should follow his advice and get some rest. We have had no sleep for a whole day." Chesta said, a little titter of happiness in his voice before clutching his head slightly. He righted himself a moment later, trying to be civil.
Dilandau raised an eyebrow at Chesta's sudden chattiness, and clamped his hand down on the boy's shoulder, making Chesta stiffen at attention.
"Then get on with it and stop discussing it. You're boring us, Chesta." Dilandau muttered, and walked off to take the room across from Val's, prepared to throw the occupant out if there was one. Sadly, there wasn't, so he simply sighed and shut the door, not bothering to take his armor off as he moved for his bed. He fell asleep slowly, dreaming of how he would repay Folken for his treachery. He smiled as the dreams of blood and flame embraced his soul.
~ Royal Dining Hall ~
"Is the vino not good enough for you….King Hiero? You've practically inhaled most of the food, I have been half expecting you to suck your vino down in turn." Chid said crassly, sipping his own glass delicately.
Dilandau had taken a few glasses of vino down, then stopped drinking and looked at Hiero. His glass was still full of the blood red fluid, and his plate was a disaster area that kept getting more and more food piled on it after a few seconds of bareness. Hiero bit down and swallow a hunk of cured meat before wiping his mouth and hands off with his cloth napkin, not looking at Chid, but his drink. "I can't handle alcohol very well."
"Allergic?" Chid said, his tone almost teasing.
Hiero looked at him then, munching on another loaf of bread as if he was doing it to hurt it. "No, I just can't handle it. I get drunk easily….call it a weakness, but I have never been able to hold my liquor."
Chid's face faulted, then he started to snicker. "I'll have to remember that."
"Try and remember this. If I get drunk, I am quite coherent in my actions. I just act more freely than normal. You consider on trying to get back at me by sneaking vino into my normal drinks, know this. I'll know you did it and take great pleasure in drunkenly kicking your prissy ass." Hiero returned, and went back to eating.
"Trust me, I've seen him drunk a few time to drown his sorrows. It's not pretty, or very safe to be around him if he doesn't like you," Val piped, sipping a goblet of water and then another one of vino," I don't have such problems. It's a price of some sort for him."
Dilandau understood this a little. Hiero was from another world that probably had other forms of refreshment than just vino. This world had water, fruit nectars, an assortment of vino, and milk. Dilandau himself could hold his liquor exceptionally well because he knew when he'd had enough. He was in control of his body and fate, so what was to prevent him from enjoying fine vino anyway? He felt bad for Hiero, not being able to control alcohol mingling with blood. He wondered how long it took Hiero to get drunk, a glass, two, maybe four or five. It didn't matter, but from the very fact that Hiero hadn't even reached once for the glass of vino and had been drinking water all night with his food, it had to probably be very potent in affecting the young king.
"This been a problem for a long time?" Dilandau asked casually, lifting a piece of meat to his lips with his fork, the piece drowned in fine gravy.
"Since I was born….First time I tried alcohol I woke up in my own puke and a bunch of dead guys around me. I guess it was a wild night. I tried to keep away from the drink after that, but there were things that just screamed to me 'Get drunk' and stuff. I didn't slaughter anyone the other times…I think." Hiero said casually.
Chid dropped his glass at the confession. "How the hell old were you when this happened?"
Hiero looked at him, the bread loaf gone and a hand sized wedge of cheese replacing it. "That….is a secret. Think about that when you try and sleep tonight." Hiero said sweetly, attacking the cheese like it was the last one on Gaia.
"And your appetite, has that been around as long?" Dilandau persisted. Hiero didn't show that he minded and smiled after he finished the cheese off.
"That started the second place I was dropped in. Call it….inherited because of the skills I developed there." Hiero proclaimed, grabbing up a few spears of raw broccoli.
"What the hell are you two talking about? What's this second place?" Chid demanded as one of his servants.
"None of your business, Duke Pris. Eat your damn food. This is a discussion among real men, not playboys." Hiero spat, popping one green piece into his mouth.
"Damn right, who needs the opinion of a bastard child when ours counts so much more? We actually fight and all you do is waste time by sitting on your pampered ass watching half-naked women to pass the time. You could be sparring or training, but no, you take the ridiculous perverted escape instead. Pathetic." Dilandau smiled, taking another gravy drenched bit of meat into his mouth.
"Barbarian fiends is more like it. I do not know how you have been able to stand this foul rats for so long, Lady Alessa." Chid breathed, taking a sip from his new glass.
Hiero growled a bit, and Dilandau half hoped it would start a fight, but nothing came. Hiero savagely tore into a new piece of roast pheasant, his double colored eyes looking so sharp they could cut steel. Dilandau just sighed, the electrical mood broken by Chid's wane personality. He wanted to slit the duke's throat, just for fun and take down all his guards. He was capable of killing men as easily as people swatted flies, easier even.
Last night's battle had greatly satisfied his desire for battle, but it was so fleeting, the high he got from it was starting to weaken. 'Perhaps I'll spar with that….Val. Celena taught him a few of my moves, but I have improved since then. I wonder how good he really is.' Dilandau thought.
"Lady Alessa, it would please me if you would accompany me tomorrow in Freid. I could give you a tour while I survey the merchants and shrines within our noble city of Godashim," he was saying, then paused, leaning his head in his palm as he stared at her adoringly.
"A tour would be a welcome change, Chid….um….what are you staring for?" she asked, blushing. Dilandau wanted to be sick at how oblivious she was acting. How stupid she was, but what else could he expect from a mere woman but just that.
"I wish I could stare forever into your soft eyes and embrace the cool touch of your beauty. You make me believe even more in angels falling to Gaia than ever, you're truly an angel bestowed upon me, one who seeks great beauty and grace like my own. I wish I could be in your company forever, my lady." He said sweetly, smiling deeply.
"Wish in one hand and crap in the other and see which one piles up first!" Hiero growled audibly, and everyone dropped their utensils in surprise. As the silence grew thick, Dilandau couldn't help it, and started laughing wildly. Soon, Gatti was stifling a laugh and failed, letting his musical laughter filter out with Chesta following him with stifled giggles. Soon all the Dragon Slayers and Val were laughing, while Hiero looked extremely proud of himself and he pushed his chair away from the table.
"I'd love to stay and insult you some more, but the longer I look at you, the more I want to spill my food back onto my plate. I'll be in the courtyard if anyone needs me." Hiero let out, his velvety voice quite content. Then he was gone.
Dilandau waited a few minutes before getting up, pointing to Val to follow. "What?" Val replied, running around the table to Dilandau
"He's going to the garden, and so are we. I want to see how good you are with a sword," Dilandau smirked, exiting the room with the young knight," Or are you afraid to challenge a swordsman as renowned as myself?"
Val smirked back, but more playful than arrogant. He smiled, flashing those fangs of his briefly. "You're on. If you're as half as good as Aunt Celena told me you were, this is going to be a very fulfilling night. I may not be as good as Hiero, but he's older than me…." Val was saying, then trailed off, aware that Dilandau had walked away again.
"Hey, wait up, I can't fight you if you keep moving so fast." Val called jogging after him. Dilandau kept his pace the same, smiling rather cruelly back at his estranged cousin. "Hmm, don't disappoint me then by being this slow, or I might decide that you aren't worth my time. I lack any patience for the weak." Dilandau uttered smoothly. He heard Val hiss, and it only made his grin grow.
'Nice, hit a nerve, he might not be so boring after all.' Dilandau thought, casting a glance towards Val had been just behind him. He stopped when he saw he wasn't there, but didn't get to turn as the clicking of landing heels sounded in front of him, smiling with one white fang poking out, his golden eyes flashing with triumph
"I am anything but weak, catch me if you can, cousin. First one to the garden gets to fight Hiero first!" Val laughed, and sped off down the hall.
"How childish….you'll learn to regret those words when you must face me." Dilandau shouted at his cousin's back, taking chase as he pulled out his sword.
"Don't try too hard…." Val snickered, taking out his own blade as they raced for the garden.
To Be Continued….
*The High Priestess card represents the fact that not much is happening during the day and Alessa and Dilandau trying to look beyond the obvious exterior of Hiero and discover what he is hiding.
Teaser: Love is in the air, but it may be fatal. Alessa gets a tour of Freid, Folken is plotting against Freid, and someone at last gets a kiss, but who? Also, the legend behind the songs Dragon Bride and Silver Requiem is revealed.
**Fortunas means fortune in Greek.
Esca-Fact- Egzardia is one of four neighboring countries of Asturia known for its exquisite fashion and art style, namely Millerna's pants outfit. They have different ideas of what women wear than most of Gaia. Godashim is the capital of Freid, where Chid resides.
+Jotunheim is the world of giants in Norse Mythology. Since Asgard is used in Escaflowne, and also being of the Norse Myths as one of the nine worlds, it seems appropriate that Fanelia, Asturia, Zaibach, and Freid being on the same continent need their continent named justly for their 'giants,' the guymelefs.
The rest is in Japanese:
*^Anata Yariman! Means," You bimbo!"
^* Anata inpu, watashi itou anata! means ," You slut, I hate you!"
# Anata inpu, watashi itou anata! Okagede, Val-kun wan burookunhaato, anata hitodenashi baita! BAITA!! means "Thanks to you, Val has a broken heart, you ungrateful bitch! Bitch!"
#^ Kutabare! USOTSUKI! Anata saseko! means "Fuck you! LIAR! You whore!"
#* Hike ware hotokku, anata chibi jasutisu kikei kopii….hike Val hotokku, inpu. Means," Leave me alone, you little justice freak copy….leave Val alone too, harlot."
##Satsu saru….means "Stay away."
*# Miokuru means "Farewell."
My Japanese is poor, so don't take my word for it that this is how the sentences are structured.
