The Hunt
Chapter 1: War's Demons
-ZibbelCoot
Disclaimer/Claimer:
All
Escaflowne characters and places are ©1996, ©1998, ©1999 TV Tokyo,
Sunrise. English adaptation ©1998
However, Zorya
Pele, Syrun, Galese, Takaru/Ricpen, Rihae, Latro, King Kaele, Korent (as well
as the places Celet and Hiwero) are my mine so ask if you want to use
them. The song "Syrun" (the
English and translation) is also mine so please don't use it without asking!
Author's notes:
Korent, Cial, Latro and a
bunch of other dragonslayers I made up for the purpose of this fanfic. Ryuon, Gatty and Shesta are the only
"cannon" dragonslayers here besides Dilandau.
Van jerked his head up. What had that been? A change in something... something essential to Gaea. Is it Hitomi? What's happened? The council members continued to talk, unaware or uncaring of their king's quick movement.
His dark brown eyes closed, his thoughts elsewhere, else when to be specific. He could still remember, those few short days they'd been in each other's company. But in those days he... he... I can't even say it. Hitomi, why?
Shielding his eyes with one hand, Van took a moment for himself, the council and plans for rebuilding completely wiped from his mind. One haunting image remained in his mind, one he refused to let go. It could be... Where are you?
Zorya felt the fire melting her skin, liquefying her clothes. Hadn't the voice told her it would save her from this? The smoke was all around, rising up from her blistering skin and burning clothes. She couldn't breathe! Fire was everywhere even when she closed her eyes it followed her.
Before she knew what was happening it was all over. The fire was gone, but the thick smoke continued to press at her, crushing her in the darkness. No! No! Where are you? She clawed at the dark shapes, willing them away. Why couldn't she breathe? Where were they?
Her hands pushed deeper into the shapes, expecting to strike another pillar of flames, only they didn't. She could feel a cool breeze tickle her skin; her unharmed skin. Zorya blinked, the darkness still all around her. She tried to scream, to reach someone outside the pillar. Please... please someone!
She reached out with her other hand, frantically pulling away the shapes. In a split second the darkness around her crumbled, revealing a sky with two moons fading from daylight to dusk. Where... where am I?
The soft dark soil continued to fall away as she pulled herself up from the premature grave. How had she gone from a column of nova like flames to being buried alive? A stray leaf blew across the plains she now saw herself to be on. "There aren't any fields by us," she mumbled and brushed off her clothes. Small clumps of dirt continued to cling to her garments, though she managed to get most of it off. She noticed her skin was covered in a fine layer of black soot. The fire... the fire...
It was as if she were back in the fire, purging her body of everything she was, burning her alive. Torturous, excruciating, blinding pain; the thoughts that came to her mind at the sight of the black ash. Frantically, almost hysterically, her hands clawed at each other, wishing to be free of the ash; of the reminder of that horrible ordeal. Her hands freed of the black mess, she proceeded to rub at her face until she was sure most of it was off.
Deep labored breaths could be heard escaping her lungs. This was all too much. Where was she and how did she get here? More importantly... "It can't be real. I must've... I must've tripped on one of the stones. That's it, yeah, that's what must've happened. And all this is just a very bad dream," her voice decreased in volume as her mind and body refused to accept it. Being burned alive and coming out of it unscathed was something you neither forgot nor ignored. A cool breeze on her face dissuaded Zorya from further believing those thoughts. How could something that looked and felt so real be a dream?
Her body turned to face the wind, to allow it to cleanse her face and hair further of the dark ashes. "But, where do I go from here? Where am I?" her voice carried on the wind, awaiting some sort of sign. In the distance she could hear the faint sounds of people, though she couldn't be sure if they were even people. Tugging her backpack onto both shoulders, Zorya began to walk towards the signs of life.
"What happened? Was that supposed to happen?" the shortest of the four spoke up nervously.
"No, he must not be strong enough," the eldest spoke up.
"He is strong enough, he's of that blood! She must've-" the youngest was cut off by their taller leader.
"No, she has no power yet. Not until we unlock and harness it," the leader said, his voice low and condescending. The other three nodded in agreement. "Until then we can hope her instincts bring her to us."
Dilandau smirked as the sun began to set. This would be a battle to remember, something that would be told around campfires and banquets for years to come. He was not concerned about that however. He, as any General would, was scanning the enemies' forces judging just when and how many of his troops would be needed to reinforce their benefactor. His lips moved, ready to give a command to his most loyal follower then stopped. His red eyes closed briefly, remembering how he hadn't rejoined the group after that massacre.
"Shesta, Ryuon, prepare to move out. Alert the others. It seems the king underestimated his opponent."
"At once Dilandau-sama," the two waiting young men chorused before running off. Dilandau Albatou's smirk only increased in size. Yes, this will be a battle to remember.
He could hear his men behind him, their resting spot being cleared of all signs of their presence, the sounds of impatient horses pawing the ground with their hooves. Dilandau's eyes closed for a moment longer, it was too bad the dragon destroyed his last mount in that battle. The charger had been so calm and willing to enter anything, no matter how bloody or how he handled the sword while upon the stallion's back.
Getting sentimental, feh, what would the dragonslayers think if they could hear your thoughts? She's to blame no doubt. With that resolution, Dilandau picked himself off the ground, absently brushing off his white and blood red armor. No doubt more blood would be added to the already stained armor as a memento of this battle.
"Lord Dilandau-" Gatty began but Dilandau turned around, stopping him. Without a word the General of the Black Dragon Dragonslayers took the reins from his subordinate. For a moment, every sound stopped as he mounted the beast and prepared to give the orders his followers awaited to hear.
"Move out! Gatty, Latro, Adim flank left. Balen, Ryuon, Korent flank right. The rest go with Shesta!" he called to the others, his beast already thundering ahead into their waiting victory. He didn't need to look behind him to see his slayers in the formation he'd stated; he knew they'd be there. Just like they always were.
From the corner of his eye Dilandau saw Shesta and the second group of slayers disappear into the woods, ready to surprise the enemy from behind. Dilandau grinned, all would go according to plan. He was after all in charge of it completely with no one to answer to. He had the power now and no one else.
"Lord Dilandau!" Ryuon called out, causing Dilandau's power inspired contemplation to come to a grinding halt.
Dilandau was about to bark something back at the boy but stopped. What was happening on the battlefield? A majority of the soldiers condensed in one area, away from where Dilandau planned for the charge. No matter, their lives will still end today at our hands. "Ryuon, alert Shesta," he called back, his voice low as they approached the open blood soaked fields.
Zorya's eyes went wide as her feet stopped of their own accord. There were people everywhere killing each other. From what she saw she could make out two different groups, one swathed in the colors gray and sepia whereas the others wore navy blue and forest green. Her backpack pulled her downward, her knees suddenly weak. So much blood... Why? Why are they fighting?
The ground was soft as her knees hit it, slightly wet as well. Zorya looked at the ground, and had to resist the urge to puke as she saw pools of stagnant blood, waiting to be absorbed by the soil. Both hands went to her mouth; dry heaves threatening to overtake her. "Holy shit," she mumbled through both hands.
A loud grunt startled her out of her mind as a body fell directly in front of her, the soldier's eyes vacant. Her stomach violently protested the imagery and Zorya scuttled backwards on hands and knees.
"Rareet!" a voice shouted, obviously the name of the fallen man. Zorya shut her eyes, wishing that the flames would take her back, take her back to her boring old world. A shadow fell over her body, blocking the warm rays of the fading sun. Cautiously Zorya opened her eyes, only to come face to face with a rather sharp object.
"Kill them all!" a voice barked to the brown and gray men. The voice's owner turned his face on hers, his sword inches from her face. "Well, what's a girl doing out here? Hehe, maybe this stupid war is worth it," the soldier spoke slowly, as if ignoring the battle occurring all around them. Zorya couldn't remember being this scared in her whole life, aside from the circle of fire that brought her into the messy situation.
"Eeeyaaaa!" the voice from before shouted at the exact same time a blade protruded from the sword wielder's stomach. The man's eyes widened in shock and his fingers went to the blade in his midsection. The bloodied sword retracted, and the man's body fell forward; his eyes rolled back into his skull.
Zorya screamed instinctively as the body fell on her. She could feel the man's dying breath on her cheek, his dead weight pressing down on her burying her in the ground again! "No! NO!" her voice shrill as her hands beat on the chest, trying to throw the cadaver off of her.
"What the hell are you-" Zorya stopped her shrill shrieks as the body was pulled away from her. The man who killed the brown and gray soldier watched her for a moment, confusion on his face. "-doing here?" his voice mirroring the bewilderment on his face.
"I-I..." she began but was ignored as he turned around.
"Fall back! Fall back! The princess is out here! I repeat fall back!" He swiftly turned back to her, the dark blue and green troops closing in around them. "Princess, what are you doing here?"
Whatever words Zorya had been about to use were forgotten as the soldier looked at her. "I... I... I want to go home!" she blurted out without thinking.
"They're retreating! Attack!" an alien voice shouted above the group of soldiers. Before she could even do anything, Zorya watched as one after another the soldiers were cut down by the dark brown and gray soldiers.
"Protect the princess with your lives! You hear me?"
"Aye sir! With my life!" were the words shouted up by the valiant warriors. They began to surge forward, pushing the dark brown clothed men out, away from the princess.
"What have I gotten myself into," Zorya whispered, her eyes focused on the soldiers.
Dilandau gripped the beast between his knees harder. If he were to lose focus for even a second he could be knocked off his mount. Gritting his teeth Dilandau felt the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it on the unsuspecting soldiers. His eyes narrowed, watching the movements on the ever-looming fields. Why are they congregating? Surely he doesn't have such incompetent Generals that would use such inept formations.
"Adim move out, Korent move out!" he hissed behind him as they broke out of the shrubbery and trees. The two dragonslayers fanned out and with a mighty howl they charged forward, swords drawn and thirsting for blood.
A wild grin parted his lips, Dilandau raised his sword higher than the rest. "NOW!"
With not a second's hesitation the six slayers charged forward. Dilandau managed to cut down two soldiers on foot, their necks spouting the life giving liquid that matched the setting sun.
He didn't dare glance back at his slayers, they could handle themselves or they were not fit to be in his company. He slashed downward again, bringing a soldier off his horse only to be trampled by it. A peel of laughter threatened to break loose of him, but he held it in. After all, it was more fun to see the flash of surprise on their face freeze their last moments of life. He'd just be giving himself away by laughing.
"Latro, Balen, spread out!" he called over his shoulder. He pushed his beast forward, slowly but surely whittling down the enemy's forces. He cast a glance at one spot on the field, his brow furrowed. Still, that area was bothering him, why had they pulled in like that?
Why did they break the formations? The king wouldn't risk hiring incompetents at this critical point. "Dilandau-sama!"
Dilandau brought his blade up to parry a warrior on horseback. "Just because you can sneak up on me, doesn't mean you'll live!" A wild grin barely gave the warrior any indication of what was about to happen.
Dilandau concentrated everything he had on the warrior that dared to sneak up on him. He focused his power, willing it to obey him. He shut his eyes for only a moment, as long as it takes to blink and unleashed it. The burst of power flew from him and threw the warrior from his horse. Dilandau brought his horse around quickly, catching the surprised and paralyzed soldier off guard. Wasting no time he shoved his sword into the man's neck, the eyes taking on a vacant look as his uniform was covered in red.
The smile did not leave his face and Dilandau pulled back on the reins with his left hand. He felt the slightest bit of pain there but ignored it. "Close in over there, reinforce!" he called out, his voice easily reaching his slayers.
It became painfully obvious that the enemy wanted something in that circle of troops, as they valiantly tried to keep Dilandau and the slayers away from it. His grin gone as Dilandau was forced to deal with three soldiers at once, he pushed forward. This is pointless, where's Shesta? As if on cue Shesta pulled out of the forest, Ryuon at his side. The remaining dragonslayers and their troops had came out of the forest in just the right place. Perfect, now all I have to do is...
Gatty rushed to his side, taking off the head of one of the gray and brown fighters. "Dilandau-sama?"
"Lord Dilandau!" this time it was Korent. It didn't matter though, he needed to concentrate and... Dilandau let out a maniacal laugh as he let loose his power once more. This time he directed it at the ground, at the circle. He didn't suppress the laugh one bit as the force barreled forward, sending both allies and foes alike flying into the sky. Shesta and the reinforcements were prepared however, and dashed forward. The troops would see to the airborne enemy where as the dragonslayers pushed inward.
"Now we'll see what this is all about," he grinned, his sword ready to bring down a few more men. He kicked his horse only once and was sent flying towards the center of the horde.
Zorya couldn't believe any of it; not the sounds echoing in her ears, or the feel of the wind on her face. It had to be a dream. She wasn't a princess! But they, they were all fighting to protect her...
"Princess, the lines are being broken through! Get behind me!"
"Cerel! The Dragonslayers have been spotted!"
"About bloody time," her rescuer grunted as he ran another gray and brown soldier through. Slayers? Dragons? This is just a dream. Just a dream... just a dream...
There was no warning to what happened next, only the shouts of surprise from the brown and gray clad warriors and then her own protectors. "He's not foolish enough to-" Cerel was caught off guard as he was flung into the air. Zorya tried to remain on the ground, but couldn't as she too was thrown upwards.
What the hell did that! Frantically her eyes sought out anything she could grab onto to stop her decent. Only the falling soldiers and the clouds filled her vision and it was then she could feel gravity pulling her back down. Down to the dark blood soaked ground. "NO!" she screamed and tried to think of anything but her mind came up blank.
She could hear the soldiers shouting from the ground. Angry and alarmed voices filled her ears and she zealously began to hope someone would catch her.
His skull ached at its base but that was all he would feel from using the powers of his blood. He held onto the beast tightly with his knees and left hand, cutting down the stunned soldiers who hadn't been in the path of his attack. Already the troops the king had given them were lining up, their spears pointed upward ready to catch the enemy soldiers.
A shout off to his right alerted Dilandau to a slayer in trouble. Latro... why didn't you stay in the formation! He turned around, ready to berate him when his horse was pushed to the side roughly.
Dilandau fought for control of the beast, his sword ready to kill who ever had run into him. Green and blue clothed soldiers were to blame however, causing Dilandau's sword to halt mid swing. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he shouted at them. "We have a battle to win and you're wasting time here. I'll be sure to inform your commander of this nonsense."
"The princess! Quick!" Dilandau merely grinned. Did they think he was a fool? No woman would be out in a battle, especially not some princess. The two soldiers' eyes widened and they began to take small steps in circle as if adjusting for- The high shrill cry of a woman filled his ears.
Dilandau had no time to react as a body fell on him, knocking him from his horse. The beast showed the whites of his eyes, fright evident in how he pounded the ground with his hooves. Dilandau grimaced as the horse finally reared and cantered off into the battle. Now this person had cost him his horse as well!
"T-t-thank, oh thank you," a feminine voice repeated over and over. That only caused his anger to double. A woman was on the battlefield and she had been the cause of this messy outcome. She ruined all his careful planning! Roughly, not caring if he injured her, Dilandau pushed her aside; he couldn't very well win this battle with his back to the ground. A soldier ran at him, expecting to catch him off guard. A quick slash to the midsection proved otherwise as his disemboweled body fell to the ground.
He reeled, ready to at the very least belittle the woman and the soldiers. Didn't the soldiers know casualties were expected and if a mere woman fell it was of no concern to him! The two soldiers helped the girl up but she was shaking, perhaps still recovering from the fall. His eyes narrowed, it didn't matter though. Certainly his blade didn't discriminate from royal and common blood. It was all the same to him, always red.
"Get the princess!" an enemy voice called out and in an instant the troops were upon them. Dilandau was about to smirk but stopped as the warriors flooded them. So you were why my maneuvers were undermined! You just decided to take a stroll on the battlefield and destroy my plans. You'll pay for that.
For now, extracting revenge on the princess could wait. She'd be punished severely enough for knocking him for his horse, if she lived through that then he'd get his revenge. And what if she isn't the princess? Just some ploy to throw the troops into a disarray...
Zorya was roughly pushed from the two soldiers back into the ground. I know this is exciting but couldn't you have picked a place where I wouldn't have to die? her mind screamed, hoping the flames and the black shapes were listening.
She could hear the two soldiers defending her fearlessly, along with whomever that was she'd fallen on. If it hadn't been for him breaking her fall, she could've broken her back, or worse, her neck. Zorya's right hand traveled to her neck, just to be sure. Droplets of liquid greeted her fingers however, regretfully she pulled back the fingers to inspect them.
Tiny pinpricks of blood were splattered over the back of her hand, a startling contrast to her pale skin. I'm going to be sick. However she remained silent, silence could be the key to her survival. Perhaps if she pretended to be dead they'd just leave her be and when it was all over she could try and find a way home. Bodies covered in brown and green alike laid all over the ground, hopefully her black soot covered clothes wouldn't stand out too much...
A hand appeared out of nowhere, grabbing at her wrist; proving her theory wrong. In seconds she was pulled up from the ground. This time however, gray and brown armor greeted her instead of the blue and green. "We've got her! Move-"
"No! Let go of me!" she tried to kick at them, to claw at them, do anything and it was all useless. Her arms were pinned to her sides with two soldiers trying to carry her off.
"You'll shut up if you know what's good for you." Rope was handed to one of them, who tried to run and bind her hands at the same time.
"Quick the dragonslayers they're-" the rope holder gurgled as blood flowed from his mouth. Zorya staggered backwards as one of her holders stumbled, his feeble attempt at trying to get away. The fountain of blood just barely missed her, its creator however did not. The crimson eyes were glaring at her and dancing with something she'd never seen before. A grin contorted the silver haired boy's face as his sword continued on its arc, bringing down another soldier.
The remaining soldier pulled on her arm, nearly throwing her off balance. As it was her backpack threatened to pull her down as her body was hauled in one direction then another. Her eyes went everywhere, looking for some sort of salvation. The young man, or at least she assumed he was a young man, looked as if he were having entirely too much fun chopping off limbs left and right. Apparently those were the exact thoughts of the grey and brown clothed soldier still pulling on her arm. It took a moment for her to even realized he'd stopped and now had his hands at her neck, along with a very cold piece of metal. Oh no... no... he can't. "You there! Call off your troops or else I kill the princess!"
The blood stained warrior hesitated ever so briefly as he pulled his sword from its latest victim. His garnet orbs went first from the man to her and then back to the man. "What makes you think I care?"
The man holding her tensed, the sharp edge nipping at her neck. He can't let him kill me! That's unchivalrous! "S-s-she's the princess! The king will have your head!" the soldier barked, taking a step back with her.
"The king is not my problem, this battle is," the silver haired soldier grinned back, twirling the tip of his sword in the ground. Zorya's eyes widened, the whites of her eyes clearly visible as she felt an upsurge of fear within her bones. That soldier would just kill her to kill the man behind her...
The metal streaked upwards too quickly for Zorya to even blink. No! I don't want to die! She waited, expecting to feel the unnatural touch of metal against flesh.
Dilandau growled, he hadn't intended to miss the girl. She was supposed to be sandwiched between the two soldiers, impaled on his sword. And here she was, still alive, his sword to the left of her body by a good two inches. His crimson eyes narrowed, he wasn't in the mood to play right now he wanted to be done with the failure that was his battle plan.
He could see the fear in her eyes. That was the only thing keeping her on her feet and precariously at that. His grimace lessened slightly and took a step back, his sword following his movements.
The body slid off his sword, the girl remained upright. A grin replaced his previous grimace, she was shaking. Her lips were trembling as the dead soldier's blood slowly dripped down her cheek and hair. "Foolish girl," he drawled at her, not knowing why he even bothered to acknowledge her. Her dark eyes stared at him, the fear dilating her pupils. Dilandau grinned, she had to know of his reputation even in this backwater battle area.
Her eyes closed for a moment and she finally took a staggered step back, her eyes now on his blade that did not follow her neck. "Foolish? I did not ask to be brought here or nearly be killed and kidnapped by some maniacs!" her voice high and shrill. Dilandau's sword lowered slightly but halted. He had been about to leave and forget about her, after all watching a princess was not his duty but that tone of voice... that shrill tone. It reminded him of her, the winged goddess... The blade snapped up once more, his body took a menacing step towards her, his eyes alight with a bloodlust that wished to be sated.
"You're not the princess," his voice low, the laughing tone gone. She took another step back as if realizing her façade had fallen. His eyes observed her, she bore a resemblance to the royal family but nothing more. But, her clothes... A disturbing thought popped into his head, as he remembered the only other person to wear such strange garments. "There can't be another winged goddess," he seethed, his hand raising the sword, his feet matching her step for step as she tried to retreat.
"Wing-ed g-g-g-goddess? What the hell are you-" she stopped in her stutters the blade nearly upon her throat once more. Teasingly, Dilandau placed the cold metal against her neck, allowing her to feel her imminent death.
"I wonder if a goddess bleeds just like a commoner," he chuckled. Movement in his peripheral vision alerted him to the fact Shesta and Gatty were within feet of him. Good, I don't need to worry. I can take my time with this prey. She opened her mouth, her lips moving but no words leaving them. He grinned wickedly, his dark crimson irises constricting. He'd have fun killing this prey.
"Look out!" the sound erupted from her lips suddenly. Dilandau had no time to react but to spin on his heel and came face to face with the enemy barreling down on him. Forgetting about the girl momentarily, Dilandau went into attack mode. Bring up the sword just right, now wait... crouch low... wait... wait for it... now! He brought up his blade at the last possible second, bringing up his attacker's as well. The blades collided and stopped at the man beast's neck. A rain of scarlet blood fell upon him glistening in the fading sunlight. A sadistic laugh fell from his lips as he brought down his sword, at the movement the dead body fell from its mount.
"Now then, I'm sick of your-" Dilandau snarled, his sword ready to perform another act for him. The girl remained still, her tremors more pronounced than before. He cocked his head to the side, she was still standing in the same place. Foolish girl you didn't even run, you won't be any fun to kill after all.
She took one slow wobbly step back, as if in a dream. No sound came from her as her hands tried to cover her face and hair from the red droplets that rained down on her. In no time at all however she was covered in blood just as his armor was. Red is such a lovely rich color, Dilandau thought to himself. It was too bad she'd be spilling so much of that red loveliness over the dirt. Oh well, your blood won't be alone.
He brought his sword around with a speed and precision that only came with years of practice and first hand experience.
"Wake up damn you!" one sorcerer hissed and slapped the young man's cheek again.
"Garufo, I don't think that'll work."
"Well then, what do you suggest Kuaru? Hmm?" Garufo spat back his attention focused on slapping the half blood out of his 'nap'.
"Slapping him won't do it, besides, Paruchi and Foruma went to speak with the king, there's no point-"
"The sooner she is here the sooner our plan may commence! Or does your mind not comprehend that little concept?" Garufo told the other sorcerer. Kuaru merely rolled his eyes, Garufo had always been the impatient one of the four. His dark eyes scanned the shelves of their small room, looking for anything not poisonous or acidic. There, this will wake you up, he thought as he picked up one beaker of a clear liquid.
Kuaru opened his mouth to warn the other sorcerer, but decided against it. Instead he splashed the liquid onto the halfling's face, as well as Garufo. "What did you!"
"Watch," his words calm, almost sedate as the halfling awoke his eyes wide. "See, Garufo? Impatience gets you no where."
"Feh, impatience gets things done. Now Syrun, bring her to us!"
"I can't," the melodic voice whispered.
"Why not?" Kuaru asked, his voice still calm.
The halfing's eyes closed, as if in deep thought. "She's here... in Gaea and I can't use the binding spell again. It would be too much for her, she could be permanently damaged."
Garufo's face turned a bright red, his hand raised as if to slap the halfling again. Kuaru let out a soft sigh and stepped between them, staring down at Syrun. "Couldn't you call her to us? As Sora did?"
"Yes, I can," Syrun replied with a blink as if just remembering he could use that spell.
"What are you waiting for!" Garufo sputtered, then stopped as Kuaru held out a hand to him.
"Yes, I can feel her. Come to us, help us," Syrun whispered, his pale blue eyes closed in concentration.
Zorya could only hope that this was some strange sadistic dream at the hands of her school's spoiled meat loaf. Time seemed to slow for a moment, the blade inching towards her. She waited, expecting a fire or anything else to stop it. Come to us, help us...
I can't if I'm dead! she shouted back at the voice in her head. She felt the presence recoil and lost control of her body.
"There's something wrong, someone is going to kill her-" Syrun's eyes remained closed, his brow furrowed now in concentration.
"No! The sacrifice can't be made so soon! We need to prepare! Do something you malformed dwarf!" Garufo screamed, showing just how little patience he had.
"Have the king call back the troops. If that happens she'll follow them here," Kuaru's voice calmed the other sorcerer. The other sorcerer watched his equal for a moment before scurrying out of the room, not wanting their plans to be ruined when they were so close to attaining their goals. "Now, you must help her. Call her to us again."
"Quiet." The word was whispered but held such command that the sorcerer shut his mouth immediately as if it were a spell. Averting his eyes at his own weakness the sorcerer didn't see the slight smirk on his tool's face.
It seemed her body was racked with seizures and managed to wriggle out of his blade's reach at the last second. "What? How dare you defy my blade a second time!" he grated out, his cheek ticking dangerously. She staggered again, her backpack obviously throwing her off balance. Her eyes unfocused and then focused again, as if unaware of what she had just done.
He pulled the sword around again, ready to finally end it. She was being far too much of a nuisance to his plans. She failed to move as his sword came around again, this time he would not miss. A soldier distracted him however, sneaking up behind the girl. Instincts took over, that of eliminating all immediate enemies and Dilandau rushed forward. The girl threw her hands up, as if that could stop the sword that was an extension of his very being. She even let out a half scream as he stopped next to her, his blade embedded in the cowardly brown and grey soldier. He did not move and he watched her from the corner of his eyes. She was breathing in shallow quick breaths.
Maybe this will be fun after all. Though by the look of things she'd pass out before he even got to torture her. She remained, her body twitching suddenly as if just realizing he hadn't killed her. "Asshole," she muttered her wide eyes finally blinking.
"Me? No I'm worse," he whispered back, withdrawing the soiled blade. The soldier fell back, away from her. She turned her head to look at him, disbelief all over her face. Yes, this is much more fun than surprising these imbeciles. He himself began to turn to face her, making sure she saw the sword for each agonizing second that went by.
"Lord Dilandau! The enemy is regrouping! We've been given a change of orders-" Ryuon's voice rang high over the dim rabble of the stragglers in battle. A low growl in his throat, Dilandau sheathed the sword. It figured now the orders would be changed after all his hard work was ruined.
"What are they?" he called back, one eye still on the girl. He'd kill her, just as soon as...
"Retreat and regroup-"
"Are they fools? We can win this!" He turned away from the girl. She was harmless after all; a harmless little girl. Ryuon opened his mouth to agree or disagree but the reply was stopped. His eyes widened just a bit, his hand already raised.
Instinctively, Dilandau whirled backwards, the sword unsheathed as he turned. The blade met and parried his spineless attacker. As more blood was soaked up by the dark earth of the field he noticed that the girl was no longer there. But where has the quarry fled to? "We retreat as ordered! Now! Shesta, Gatty! Flank the rear," he called over his shoulder, his legs already pumping him towards his wayward mount.
He was no more than twenty feet from his mount when a figure climbed up it from the other side. Crimson eyes widened a bit as the figure dug her heels into the beast's side and sent it galloping away from him. "You despicable little thief," a burning light setting his eyes aflame with an unholy gleam. You might have lived if you had disappeared but, now I will kill you.
"Ryuon! A mount!" Dilandau's wait was only as long as it took for Ryuon to hear those words.
Her mind whirled in a frenzied state. She had to get away, she had to! All the blood, all the screams and cries of agony... The psycho finally had turned away from her. Zorya did the only logical thing her mind could think of: run.
She spun around, running as fast as she could to get away. Soldiers of both sides impeded her progress, solidifying the fact he would catch her and kill her. I can't die... It's just a dream!
We will help you, come to us.
Zorya skidded to a stop as a soldier fell before her. His killer she noticed with a feeling of dread was one of the grey and brown clothed soldiers. "Get her!" Zorya was already off and running in the other direction before he even finished those words.
A horse.
Yeah, a horse would be helpful but where the hell am I... Zorya's thoughts quieted of their own accord as a string of blue and green soldiers ran passed her, intercepting her pursuers. She dared to glance behind her and nearly ran into something solid in front of her. Dazed, Zorya turned to see what had nearly stopped her escape. A nervous thing that resembled a horse was pawing the ground, the saddle unoccupied. "Your owner is probably dead anyway," she mumbled, grabbing the saddle with both hands and then throwing her right leg over the beast's back. For a moment the beast resisted, not wanting her to ride him at all. Zorya however pulled on the reins and gave him a light kick. That was all she needed to be sent galloping away from the death and red eyed psycho to the safety of the voice.
