The Rebel King
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Jahuka bent forward to study the inscriptions on the sword. It was nestled in a leather case. "Why would Folken want this old relic?" he mused as he brushed dust away from the dull steel. Jahuka was the commander of the airship Crusade. He and his men were delivering the sword to the leader of the Dark Dragon Clan—Folken. It had been a rather boring morning. They were flying right on course, and were now directly over the Csavek mountains. He stiffened. It had suddenly become too quiet. Not even the bleating of mountain sheep could be heard, a sound common in these parts.
Whakkkkarrrrasmash!
Jahuka was thrown into a corner. Rubbing his head, he shouted out at the crew. "What the hell just happened up there?" The reply came in a trembling tenor, the voice of his navigator.
"Sir, I think we've struck a mountain peak! Either that or collided with another ship—" The voice was abruptly cut off. Panicked shouts and screams rang from the upper deck. Jahuka heard other yells, from people he did not know above the clash of steel.
"Van, where are you going?"
"To get the sword!"
"Come back, you idiot! Van!"
Jahuka saw a lanky youth with shaggy black hair and wild gray eyes running down the stairs, four or five at a time. He was wearing a pair of dirty tan pants, no shirt. In one hand he carried a wooden staff. Jahuka ducked behind a column, stealthily pulling his sword from its sheathe. Suddenly he was facing a tall man with waist-length golden hair.
The man clucked his tongue. "Tch, tch, tch! Sneaky, aren't you?" The last thing Jahuka ever saw was a scimitar flashing down at his head.
The youth grabbed the cushioned box. "I have the sword, Gaddis!" he yelled. The tall man turned, exasperated.
"You've got to stop taking such foolish risks. You could have been killed. Didn't you see that guy waiting to nab you? You're different, Van Fanel. But that gives you no excuse to throw your life away," he said. Van Fanel's eyes flashed angrily at him.
"This is the first step to defeating the Dark Dragon Clan! I'll never run away from a fight! Never! To make them pay for what they did to the people of Fanelia, I will fight to the death!" Gaddis wiped his scimitar clean before sheathing it.
"Van, you were armed with a stick! A puny, weak little stick. That guy could have carved you into mincemeat!" Gaddis chided.
"Well, now I have a sword," Van began sullenly, but a shout interrupted.
"Commander, their airship's beginnin' to loose levistone power!" Gaddis smiled at Van.
"We'll finish this later." He turned back to reply to the man who had shouted. "Okay, Evanl! We're coming up!"
***************
Van let the sword drop. "This is the legendary sword?" he murmured in disbelief. "It's naught but an old relic, an antique!" Gaddis lifted the sword and held it reverently in his hands. "Be careful with it, Van. It is the Sword of the Dragon. We were lucky to have stolen it and escaped with only four injured." Van looked at the blade, dusty and dull with the ages. "Oh, of course," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "of course that must be the Sword of the Dragon. Just look at how it shines!" Gaddis frowned. "Van Fanel. You risked all our lives today, and four were wounded. If I hadn't followed you who knows where you'd be now!" Van's hands balled themselves into fists as he uttered a feral snarl. Gaddis's love, Merla, stepped in between them. "Now Van," she scolded gently, "you know that the Sword's powers will remain dormant until we find the right one to wield it." Van snorted and turned his back to them. "Leave me alone."
Gaddis allowed Merla to pull him out of Van's room. "Give him time, Gaddis. He is young." Gaddis sighed. "Young, reckless, rash, over daring…" Merla giggled. "Just like some other young Commander I once knew." "But Merla, he is the King of Fanelia! He can't afford to be reckless." "And he can't afford not to be, Gaddis. This young king is not afraid of death, and he is a wonderful fighter." Her light laugh warmed Gaddis's heart. "Not as good a fighter as you, though." The couple walked off, arm in arm, down the aisle of the airship Scherazade, the one they had used to board the Crusade.
Van sat alone in his room, holding the sword in his hands. "So you are the Sword of the Dragon. And I the Dragon of Fanelia." He touched the tattoo on his shoulder. It was a blue diamond with one thick, short line below it. Fanelia's symbol. "As King of Fanelia I swear to I will protect my people…" he whispered, and stopped. Van buried his head in his arms, and let the tears come.
The Scherazade docked in the midst of a meadow. It being mid-winter, however, prevented any festive wildflowers from greeting them. It was warm enough that the slight drizzle was rain and not snow, though. The crew filed out into the barren area. "Phew! Smell that clean Asturian air! Now that's the stuff to cure! I'm gonna live it up tonight!" Gaddis strode out of the airship. He smiled at his men, whipping his golden hair behind him. "Well, we're back in Asturia." The crew sent up a cheer. "Okay, here's what we're going to do. When you're all done I let you go off and see your families, or whatever. Lance, you take three guys and scout around for info on the next raid, where, when, and who. Evanl, get five, go and get supplies; we need to re-provision. Celiquo, I need you to get us some weapons. Take the west route and head for the Sidi home. Mr. Sidi will be more than happy to help. Oh, Gruven, you and Kipan should go with him. Merla, I'm going to need you to patch up those who were injured. And Van—where's Van?"
Gaddis looked around. There were the rugged, unkept faces of his men, and the smiling face of Merla, but no Van Fanel. Merla volunteered to answer his question. "I think Van is still in his cabin, Gaddis." Gaddis kept his smile on his face with great effort. "Get started, I'll get Van."
Gaddis strode angrily toward the lower half of the Scherazade. Trust Van to be the late one, always. "Van Fanel, I'll have you know that I don't like such insubordination," Gaddis called. Van's angry face appeared. In one hand he held the Sword. But it was a different Sword. No longer dusty, or old, the Sword gave off almost an unearthly brilliance. Its blade had been buffed and sharpened. The light blue steel glowed. "What do you want, Gaddis?" he demanded. "Van, I called the whole crew out—you know that term applies to you too. I have a job for you."
Van walked back into his room and laid the Sword carefully on his bed before coming back to face Gaddis. "Well, Commander, what do you want me to do?" he said, his voice calm and relaxed. Gaddis was surprised; after the argument he had expected Van to slam the door, or ignore him, even yell a few nasty words through the closed door. Gaddis swallowed his thoughts and said, "You were King of Fanelia—" Van stiffened. "—so you know a lot about plants, right? We're a bit short on glar. It can cure most poisons, as you know. Take your Sword and go get some." Van smiled. "I'll see you later, Gaddis."
Gaddis sat down on his desk. Van had reacted better than he had thought. His childish anger is slipping away, Gaddis thought, but what will it be replaced by? He placed the previous attack plans on the surface in front of him. "Four injured… Including myself, that leaves nine able- bodied crew members. Merla has her arrows, but at a close range it wouldn't do much good…and that further reduces our numbers. In that case, a frontal assault on the enemy would be rather difficult, suicidal even…and I cannot allow that." He twisted a long blond lock around his forefinger. "If the legendary armor Escaflowne is going to be transported, it would be in a floating fortress. Most likely they'd be camouflaged. Perhaps is we attacked the hangar and stormed the guymelef storage area…Hmmm…" He was suddenly aware of someone calling his name. "Gaddis! Gaddis!" It was Merla. "Gaddis, come quickly," she cried, "Van is in quite a dilemma!"
He didn't have time to think. Gaddis leapt over his desk, pulling his scimitar from his belt. "Get Kio, Allen—reinforcements!" he told Merla before tearing up the stairs to the deck of the Scherazade. Gaddis's eyes scanned the horizon for any sign of the young King. Van was sprinting toward the airship, a strange girl in his arms. A dust clouds pursued him. On closer inspection, Gaddis realized the dust had been stirred up by a group of Dark Dragon mercenaries. Van reached the ship and gently deposited his load in the shadows of the Scherazade, so she was hidden from view. He drew his Sword and whirled to face the enemy, positioning himself in a fighter's stance.
Van didn't hesitate. As soon as the soldiers were close enough, he threw himself with a roar into the thick of it. "For Fanellllliiiiiiaaaaa!" "You fool!" Gaddis shouted, vaulting over the side of the airship's deck. "You can't possibly have been thinking about taking all fifteen of 'em!" Van slew one soldier with a deft movement of his Sword. "Correction, Gaddis, fourteen!" he yelled over the noise of the melee.
Van ducked low the avoid a swinging blade. The clash of steel was loud and obvious as Kio and Allen, along with two other crew members joined the fight. Battering away with two javelins, Kio closed the eyes of two of the foes forever. Gaddis found himself in a tight spot. A soldier was advancing from behind while two others attacked from the sides. His eyes darted back and forth as he sought to deflect all three attacks. "Oh no you don't!" Van cried. One soldier stopped in astonishment as he found his blade was shorn from the hilt. He dropped it and ran away screaming. "Van, stop him!" Gaddis yelled, punching one soldier and using his body as a trampoline, leapt clear of the other soldier before carving him down. Van started to pursue, but for no apparent reason, the man sighed and slumped to the ground. "Taken care of!" From where she stood with her bow and arrows on the deck, Merla winked. Allen threw his daggers with his usual accuracy, felling three. Bloodlust was in Van Fanel's gray eyes. He dodged the clumsy attempts of the soldiers to slay him and slashed wildly. Gaddis actually saw a head flying into a nearby ditch. Van gasped in pain as an enemy sword found its mark. He fell to his knees, and Gaddis saw he was bleeding heavily from a deep gash in his side. Two soldiers advanced on him.
"Van!" Gaddis cried, running to the young king's aid. Galvanized by some unseen force, Van blocked the swing and was up again on his feet, the Sword a whirlwind reaping death. There was a thud as the body of a Dark Dragon mercenary fell to the ground, headless. The last remaining soldier lost his nerves and turned to run, but Van Fanel's Sword swept downward as he shouted, "Coward! You will pay for what you did to my people!"
Van turned and staggered back to the girl's side. "Are—you—hurt—Gaddis—get—Merla—unnnh…." Still clutching his Sword, he crumpled and fell to the ground.
"Merla!" Gaddis yelled. Merla was already there. She ordered them to carry Van and the girl into the hospital section of the airship. Merla ministered to the unconscious King, tearing a strip of cloth from the bottom of her tunic to staunch the blood. "Poor, wild Van," she murmured, bathing his feverish brow with water. "Yes," Gaddis agreed. "He was like a Dragon, with murder singing in his soul. Merla, I saw his eyes," he shuddered. "Wild eyes…" "The girl will be okay, Gaddis. She's a bit scratched up, but nothing a good rest couldn't fix." Merla bandaged the wound on Van's arm with swiftly. She gasped in surprise. "An arrowhead embedded in his shoulder…where did that come from? No matter, I'll get it out." With a metal shaft no more than a needle point thin, she carefully levered the steel arrowhead out of the wound. Van's lips were moving. "What's he saying?" Gaddis asked Merla, who was leaning close to the King's mouth to hear.
Merla's face was strained. "He's talking to his mother and father…"
Indeed Van was. "Don't worry…mother…I'll…avenge my people…no…wait, don't go…father…" His speech was slurred. "Oh god!" Merla exclaimed. She grabbed the arrowhead and licked it, then she spat out. "Poison-tipped!" she cried. "Gaddis, have we anymore of that antidote left?" Gaddis shook his head. "No." "What are we going to…glar! You sent him out for some?" Not waiting for an answer, Merla felt Van's pockets and sighed in relief. She pulled out the yellow leaves of the glar. Merla began to mash them into a paste, using the butt of her bow to grind the leaves. Merla stopped grinding, and her shoulders slumped. "What is it?" Gaddis asked. "Nothing…"
Van was at the gates of a strange place. A man clad in blue chain mail, with the mark of Fanelia tattooed on his forearm stood before him. "Van, my son. It is good to see you," his father intoned spectrally. "But Father…" Van protested. "Van, there is not much time. The Escaflowne is going to be shipped to the Dark Dragons soon. You and your commander, Gaddis, must prepare. Your mother had wanted to come," he smiled sadly, "but she was not allowed. Van—King Van, she wanted me to tell you she loves you—and I as well. Find the Winged Goddes, the Tsbasi no Kami." "Father, I'll kill Folken when we meet!" Van promised fervently. "No, my son. No. Do not kill Folken." "Father—why?" His father began to fade. "My time here is up…goodbye, my son…goodbye…" The man disappeared. "Father!" Van yelled. "No!" Suddenly he was carried back to the events of the night of the massacre, of his older brother holding his father's head and smiling evilly. Then a strange event, of the future, of his brother holding his head and gloating. Fanelian people slaughtered, now the people of other countries slaughtered. Death, destruction, killings, and above it all was the face of his brother, laughing. "NO! Folken, it shall not happen, do you here me? It shall not happen!"
"It shall not happen!" Van cried, still unconscious. "It's just as I feared," said Merla, "he's delirious. Soon he will slip off and…" she trailed off. "So there's nothing we can do," Gaddis said. "Not much. I can just keep an eye on him, and let's just hope the glar does its job." "Merla," Gaddis said softly. "Hmm?" Merla said. "If Van dies, too, I'll never forgive myself." "Gaddis, you don't even know if your sister is dead. She might still be out there." "But when she was kidnapped—I looked and looked…Gods, but I never found her…" Gaddis said brokenly. Celena…
Now Van was sucked to a bizarre world, where horseless carriages flew by at amazing speeds. "What place is this?" he said. "It is the Mystic Moon, where ages of magic were destroyed in a great war. The same fate for your Gaea, if Folken-sama is not stopped." "Who are you? Show yourself!" Van whirled, trying to see the owner of the mysterious voice. "I am Sora, a child of the Draconians, a guardian of the Great One's Temple, also priestess to Folken-sama." "Then why are you here?" Van said. He was furious, ready to give way to animal rage, but his voice, for some reason, was rational. "I do not believe in Folken-sama's so called 'holy war,'" the voice answered. "Holy war," Van repeated in disbelief. "Folken-sama believes in a world where man fights against man, where a whole world is divided by fighting, fighting to survive, and the slaughter begins anew." "But it was he who started all the fighting!" Van said. His voice no longer sounded calm. "Yes, and so Folken-sama believes he will fight to stop the conflict." "Fighting against fighting?" Van said contemptuously. "I think you'll find there's no such thing!" he snarled. But Sora had gone back to her master.
Gaddis watched with concern as Van thrashed about. "Come back. Come back! D'you hear me? Come back!!"
The Mystic Moon melted from view overhead. Van found himself in the courtyard of his family's palace. Tears sprang to the young King's eyes as he saw his own mother, long dead, walking with a small boy—Folken. Van reached for his Sword. "Folken," he whispered hatefully, drawing and advancing toward the boy. If I can just kill him—none of this will happen… Van positioned himself, preparing to take Folken's head off with a single swipe. Then he thought of his mother, and her pain if Folken were killed. He slowly sheathed the Sword again, clenching his fists. Sora's voice filled the air again. "See, Lord Van. You cannot kill the young ones. Folken-sama began his life as innocently as any one in Fanelia." "It doesn't matter how we all begin, but how we choose to live!" Van said quietly. "True, Van of Fanelia. Folken-sama just wants it all to fade away. He is lonely, sad, and—" "A bloodthirsty wretch!" "—Lord Van," Sora's voice was reproachful. "Lord Van, do you remember your wild charge to kill those soldiers? You were like a Dragon, and you…" "I thirsted for blood…" Van realized. He had wanted to kill, he had been vengeful. "In a way, all men are the same, when they are struck by blood-wrath," Sora explained. "I have seen it—Escaflowne is the God of War. Those who pilot it shall be destroyed by the bloodlust. If the pilot is totally consumed by this, the Escaflowne will become unstoppable."
"Escaflowne has never been used before in a war as grave as this. How can you say that?" Van demanded. "Ah, Lord Van, there you are wrong. Many years ago, when the universe was young, the Mystic Moon and Gaea were one and the same. Gaea broke off from the mainland before the great war, and thus was saved from total destruction. Escaflowne was piloted by a rash young man. He was consumed by the flames of war, the want of blood. And so the Mystic Moon was destroyed by the God of War. I urge you to be careful, Lord Van. Folken-sama wants this world to be destroyed. It will not matter whether he is the one to pilot the Escaflowne. In the end, Gaea will face the same future as the Mystic Moon. Please listen. Prevent this world from being destroyed by the Escaflowne." "You lie! Sora, you lie!" Van bellowed. "Perhaps I do," Sora replied in her bell-like voice. "Perhaps I speak the truth. My visions are cloudy. I was forced to send the girl here and disrupt the natural way of things. Folken-sama wanted her to destroy our world. I sent her here, in hope that you would… Lord Van, Escaflowne will be on the next floating fortress coming from a place in the south, from Freid. See that you do not fail to steal it…or all our lives will be destroyed…" she paused, and Van sensed she had reached up to wipe tears away. Was this truly a bad creature? He detected a slight sob in her voice as she continued. It could have just been a trick of a clever actress—crocodile's tears. "So you see, Lord Van, I work neither for the Dark Ones, nor for your side. I can only predict what shall come of it all…and I have. Join us, Lord Van."
"Never. I will never join you," Van looked away from her. "Have it your way, Lord Van Fanel, King of Fanelia. I have seen it. It shall all end in ruin…in ruin…in…ruin…" All visions faded and were replaced by blackness. Van wandered ceaselessly, silently. Lost.
Van could hear echoes. How is he, Merla… It is strange, it seems the poison has gone from him, and his temperature has gone back to normal… So he'll be okay, then… Yes, about an hour ago he fell into a natural sleep…
Merla clapped her hands as Van opened his eyes. There was a stabbing lance of pain in his side. Van hugged his stomach as he coughed. "Van!" Gaddis smiled. "You were out so long I thought you'd died!" Van shook his head slowly, wincing with each movement. "It feels as if I…Folken!" he exclaimed, sitting bolt upright, then sank back down, clutching his side. "Stay calm, Van," Merla said, "or you will reopen the wound. "Folken's seer—" Van gasped, biting his lip to keep from crying out. "His seer is—a Draconian, like my mother—" Gaddis looked up sharply. It was the first time he had heard Van mention his mother. "I saw the Mystic Moon," Van whispered. "She—Sora, the Seer—took me there, showed me things. It is a wondrous place—horseless carriages…steel birds…" Van's eyes closed but he kept speaking, a small smile on his face. "That girl…Sora brought her here to…help me…My father …"
"Your father?" Merla asked, squeezing water from a cloth before placing it on his forehead. "Yes…my father…at the gates of a strange…place…" Van said quietly. His voice was beginning to loose strength. "I met…him, my father. He said to…find the Escaflowne. Sora said it is…awaiting transport in a land…south of here. In…Freid. The girl is the…Tsbasi no Kami…the Goddess of Wings…" Van's body, exhausted with the effort he had made, went limp as he slipped off into the land of sleep. Gaddis handed Merla a jar of salve. She accepted it and absentmindedly rubbed it on one of Van's shallower wounds. "You seem worried about something," Gaddis remarked. "It's nothing, Gaddis," she patted his gloved hand. "It's nothing."
The girl woke later and saw a handsome young man with gorgeous waist length hair watching her. A man she had seen before, somewhere…She shrank from him with a small wail of terror. "Don't worry, little princess, we won't harm you," Gaddis spoke softly and kept his hands at his sides. "What—wh-who are you?" she gasped. "I am a knight of Asturia, Gaddis Schezar. This is Merla." Merla beamed at her. The girl shook her head. "No. This is just another vision—I've seen you all before—no. It's just a vision. It's just a vision!" she cried, hysterical. "A dream—a-a vision! This isn't real!" Gaddis glanced at Merla. "She's hysterical with shock. What do you propose we do?" "Only one simple remedy…" Merla's hand flew quickly and slapped the girl's face. "Hey…that hurt…" the girl whimpered, one hand to her cheek. "See, if it hurt, it can't be a dream, now can it?" Merla said cheerfully.
Van was well enough to sit up within a few days. Gaddis sat beside him on a chair. "I've talked to the girl—her name is Hitomi. Hitomi Kanzaki, from the Mystic Moon. Van, since you found her, she's your charge. I order you to protect her at all costs. If she really is the Winged Goddess, the Tsbasi no Kami, the Dark Dragons will be after her." Van scowled darkly and opened his mouth to protest but—
"After who?" Hitomi walked in, carrying a tray. Van studied her intently. She was tall, slender, with dark hair the hue of the mahogany staircase that had led to his mother's room, back in the palace. Her eyes were wide, emerald green, and so innocent to all the slaughter…she looked so naïve… Merla had been unable to find Hitomi women's clothing, so she wore breeches, and a light, gray-blue linen shirt tied with a sash. Van looked down briefly to blink tears away. His mother's room… Gaddis stood from his chair and gallantly offered it to the girl. "I think Merla needed to talk to me," Gaddis said, and he left. Hitomi sat down in his place. She handed Van a pewter beaker of rich, ruby-colored wine. Van turned to look at her and said, "Thanks," in a dead voice. He drank the apple wine gratefully, savoring the flavor. "Here, some broth from the kitchens. Merla said if you want to be up and running to recapture that Esca- Escaflo…" "Escaflowne?" "Er, yes, Escaflowne, you'd better start eating again. She thinks your stomach won't be able to handle solid foods for a while, so you can start with the cook—Lance, is it?—the cook's broth."
Van took the broth from her, tentatively sipping it. He made a face. "Who made this? Lance? Urrrgh…" Van handed the soupy liquid back to the girl. She seemed nice enough, but she talked too much. Hitomi carefully placed the tray to one side. "I—I wanted to thank you, for saving me from those soldiers." Van closed his eyes. "You're welcome." "My name's Hitomi," she tried again, "what's yours?" Van sighed quietly. She knew his name already; Merla would have mentioned it. Why was she trying to talk to him? Couldn't she see he didn't want to talk? "Van Fanel," he replied in the same dead voice he had used earlier. Maybe it would discourage her. It did.
Hitomi sighed and stood to go. "Wait," Van said, his own reasons for wanting her to stay unknown to himself at the moment. A brilliant smile lit up her face. Van's heart jumped. She was, in reality, very lovely. He shoved these thoughts aside roughly. "I'm Van Fanel," he began again. "But they once knew me as the King of Fanelia."
She stood and stared. "King? You don't look over fifteen—I'm fifteen—you're too young," she said. "I am fifteen," Van replied, mentally berating himself for inviting her to stay. "I slew the earth-dragon as part of the rite to become King." "Dragons?" she said, her eyes wide. "Yes, earth-dragons are the most dangerous. They roamed the mountains around Fanelia," Van said, slumping down dejectedly. Just the thought of his country had saddened him. However, he soon warmed to his topic. "In order to become King, one must slay an earth-dragon. If the Dark Dragons had not attacked and stolen the Escaflowne, the energist from the earth- dragon would have powered it." Seeing the questioning look on her face, he hastily explained, "An energist is the heart of the dragon—well, the proper name for them is drag-energist. Escaflowne is my guymelef, the armor of the past Kings of Fanelia. It would have become mine."
Hitomi was curious. Van was a strange and moody person—even stranger, he was a King. "But who are the Dark Dragons?" she asked.
"The Dark Dragons were a society that pretty much stayed to themselves," Van said. "Now they are led by Folken—my brother." "Your brother?!" "Yes," Van continued, his voice filled with hatred. "Folken failed to slay the earth-dragon as part of the rite to become King, and so fled in shame. The coward! I had thought he never turned his back on the earth-dragon—fought it until the very end… But I was wrong. Folken returned as Folken, leader of the Dark Dragon Clan during the coronation ceremony and massacre ensued. The survivors were scattered. I escaped, and Gaddis found me. Now I fight with the Abaharaki, the Nomad Warriors. Folken wants me dead so his path of conquest will not be blocked." "Oh, Van…" she murmured, "I'm sorry…" Van ignored her. He didn't need her pity.
"We're headed to Freid, to intercept the floating fortress that is carrying the Escaflowne," Van said. "Are you truly the Tsbasi no Kami, the Winged Goddess?" he added. Hitomi shook her head. "I don't know what that is. I'm not a goddess." "If you say so," Van's voice was doubtful. "But I can tell fortunes," Hitomi brightened. "Huh?" Van only half-heard what she had been saying. She pulled a pack of cards from her blouse-pocket. "See, the hermit. The cards are telling you to be patient, Van," she said. "What are those?" Van asked in his I'm-not-that-interested voice. "They're tarot cards," Hitomi said by way of explanation, "they can tell your future. See, this center card represents your future." "A bunch of cards can't tell you your future," Van was skeptical. Hitomi frowned at him as she began to arrange the deck into an appropriate formation.
"Well, fine. I was only trying to take your mind off of things…" she trailed off and flipped the center card. She gasped. Van sat upright. "What is it? Hitomi?" The card fluttered from her hand and landed face up on the floor. La Morte was written in bold, black letters. Death card. Van noticed she seemed to have gone into a trance. Her eyes were vacant, but she writhed with terror and cried for help. He leapt from the bed, ignoring the shooting pains. Van grabbed her shoulders and shook her roughly. "Hitomi? Hitomi!" She shuddered once before her eyes focused again. "V-Van?" "Are you—are you okay?" Van cried, shaking her once more.
Gaddis burst in, scimitar in hand. "Van—what's wrong?" Van looked up and quickly released Hitomi's shoulders. Flushing, he replied, "Nothing." Gaddis was cynical. "Uh huh. Sure. Well, tell me if you need anything. And Hitomi, if he's trying to kill you, don't hesitate to scream again." Hitomi blushed as well. Van glared at Gaddis's back as he went out. "I don't like how he looks at you," Van said, raising himself up with a grunt. "You shouldn't be so suspicious," Hitomi reproached him. "And you shouldn't flirt with him—" Van began to accuse her but he noticed her eyes had glazed over. Gods, she's doing it again, he realized.
"Quick, Van, run!" she cried in a strange, hollow voice. "It's the invisible enemy!" Another scream of pure horror caused her slender throat to tighten. Van panicked. He didn't want to shake her; he didn't want to call Gaddis. But at this moment, Hitomi's safety was his only concern. She seemed to be, after all, the Goddess of Wings. "Gaddis!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "GADDIS!!" Gaddis pounded in, followed by Merla, who was nocking a red-feathered shaft to her bow, and Kio, who had both javelins at the ready. "Gods, Van, now what—" Gaddis began, then Hitomi shrieked again, still in a trance. "They're coming! They're—they're coming!" Merla immediately dropped down besides Hitomi. She pulled at Hitomi's hands, grabbed her face, even shook her twice. Hitomi remained entranced. Van knocked Merla aside in his haste to get to the girl. Her face was pale, her eyes no longer green but two pools of whiteness. Van grasped her hands; they were burning up. "Hitomi?!" he yelled into her face. "Hitomi—As King of Fanelia I order you to stop this!" To the surprise of all, Hitomi's eyes returned to their normal color and she shuddered, as she had done before.
"Gaddis," she said in a shaking voice as Merla wrapped one of Van's blankets around her. "Gaddis, take everyone and run from here. The Dark Dragons are coming to attack you. They are led by a young man—Dilandau, who is as savage and wild as a young wolf in his prime. They will stop at nothing to see the Abaharaki destroyed." "I'm sorry," Gaddis said sincerely, squatting down beside the King. "Perhaps your ordeal has tired you—I'll get you some ale from the kitchens, or maybe some cheese, or bread—" "No!" Hitomi cried. She grabbed Gaddis's hands with her own. "Please, believe me, I—" Van, though shaken, was inclined to believe Gaddis. "He's right," Van said. "The shock had obviously caused you to take leave of your senses."
"But you—you were there! You saw me!" Hitomi was frantic. "Van—all of you—listen to me! You have to believe me, I've been right before—honest—" Merla clasped both Hitomi's hands. "Hitomi, you need to rest. Here," she eased the hysterical girl down onto Van's former sickbed. Merla handed Van a small phial of palm oil. "Rub it on her temples, Van," she instructed. Merla shooed everyone out before closing the door behind her. Van heard her light laughter drifting from the corridor.
"I'm not lying," Hitomi said clearly, in a saner tone. Van let a drop of the golden liquid fall into his palm. He lifted his right index finger and slowly began to dab the oil onto Hitomi's forehead. The aroma washed around them both—pleasant, warm, honey-like and sweet. Hitomi breathed it in and sighed. "But I'm telling you, Van—hey!" She wiped the oil from her cheek where it had dripped to. Van's hands, callused from his training, were directly over her face—not touching, but warm oil droplets fell from them, splattering Hitomi's face. "Jerk—" Hitomi cried, wiping her face. "You pig-headed excuse for royalty!" Van normally would have been insulted, but this time his face rearranged itself into some semblance of a grin. He was amused. Hitomi caught her breath; she'd never seen him smile since he'd rescued her from those soldiers. It was a good thing she did, because Van's fingertips, slick with the amber oil drew patterns all over her face. Greasy and angry, Hitomi spluttered, "Van Fanel—you idiot! Ugh, look at what you—"
Crraaaaaaaaaaaasssshhh.
The little phial went flying from Van's slippery hands and shattered, spraying them both with shards of glass. Hitomi's gasp of pain was drowned out by a creaking, rasping noise. The sound of many gathering around them. Van recognized the sounds of a guymelef pounding toward the airship. Hitomi glanced down at the blood welling from her arm where the glass had cut her. Her eyes glowed white. "Much blood will be spilled. This is but the very beginning," her voice was again hollow. "They have arrived. The invisible giants."
Gaddis came tearing down the stairs and threw the door open. "Van, Hitomi, have you seen Merla?" he asked wildly. "The explosion in the hangar, all was thrown into smoke and haze! She was standing beside me one moment, the next, she was gone!" "Boss!" Kio tumbled down the stairs, smoke clinging to his clothing. "We been hit by somethin'!" "Idiot!" Gaddis said. It was the first time Van had heard him yell at his men. "I know that! Find Merla! Get some guys together and find Merla! Van, you stay here. That's an order! Understand?" Van nodded, smoldering resentment in his savage gray eyes, glowering. Gaddis staggered from the room. "Merla? Merla!" they could hear him yelling brokenly. "Damn, damn…MERLA!"
The moment Gaddis left the room Van yanked his Sword from its sheathe and walked slowly toward the door. "Van! Where are you going?" Hitomi's panicky voice caused him to turn. "To join the battle," Van said calmly. "But—but Gaddis said to stay. Gaddis ordered you, Van!" Van's eyes flashed. "I am a King of Fanelia. No one gives me orders," he said shortly and, sprinting out the door, locked it from the outside. "Van, don't leave me! Van!" Hitomi screamed, pounding on the closed door. She grabbed the knob and twisted it, kicked the door. Nothing. She sunk to the ground in dismay. "Van…be careful…" Hitomi whispered.
Van charged up the stairs and stared, aghast, at what he saw. Three guymelefs were lined up behind a group of fighters. All Dark Dragon soldiers, by their uniforms. He did a quick mental calculation. "About three guymelefs, threescore soldiers…"
**********************
"Sir," a dog-man, tattoos revealing him as a former slave, tugged on the sleeve of the haughty commander. "Yes, what is it?" Dilandau's voice was harsh and insane. "Sir, an attack like this is most unwise. Lord Folken ordered us only to bring him the girl and the Sword." The dog-man gasped as Dilandau knocked him from his horse with an angry swipe. "Yes, Hector, but you realize this is the best way—kill the Abaharaki in the process and Folken will be most pleased." Groaning, the dog-man pulled himself up. "Yes, Lord Dilandau. But you are forgetting it is the Abaharaki we are dealing with." Dilandau smiled diabolically. "Hmmm. Well, Hector, you win. Leran, go find the girl and the Sword," he said to another, a goat-man. "When Leran returns, Hector, you call a retreat, but leave half the unit with me. Hahahahahahaha!"
*************************
Van saw the forces streaming over the sides of the airship. He yelled a defiant cry. "Yaaaaaaaaaah!" Van dashed into the fray, Sword slashing and thrusting. Dead men fell all around him. Van felt something swelling inside him. He wanted blood. To avenge the people of Fanelia. Blood. Blood.
Bloodlust was once again in his eyes. Laughing insanely in the center of the battle, Van swung his Sword like a madman, slaying all that came close to him. Gaddis clenched his teeth as he saw what was happening. He had not been able to find Merla. "Van, you idiot!" he roared, hair flying. "Kio, Allen, Lance, Evanl, Gruven, and you, Celiquo! Follow me!" The seven plunged into the fight. Van's crazy appearance was emphasized by the blood that fell from the sky like a strange red drizzle. Some men were frightened by this spectrum and fled. Van slew indiscriminately now, the Sword picking out twelve men and he tore towards them, yelling. "Fanelia! For Faneliiiiiaaaa!" Gaddis ducked low, scimitar flashing, whizzing, slicing, cutting. Already the eight had killed over twenty in their first onslaught, but Van was still game. Wounded in several places, he dashed blood from his vision and sped into the troops. One word whispered in his mind, rising to a screaming pitch. Blood. Blood.
Van didn't care how he killed, he was just glad to be killing. To avenge his people, to see the Dark Dragons suffer, that was all he wanted. Death and destruction! He chopped heads from shoulders, legs from under bodies, hands from wrists…
*************
Hitomi stared at the floor, concentrating. "Tell me who will win the battle?" she said, and flipped a card. L'amore. Lovers. Hitomi clenched her teeth in frustration. The cards would not answer her. Hitomi failed to hear the click of the bolt as the goat-man opened the door.
Hitomi snapped back to reality with a scream of fear as furry hands grabbed her. "Please, Lady," her captor said softly. "I not wish to harm you. Please, quiet, Lady. I no hurt you if you quiet." Hitomi struggled against him, and for a moment, broke free. "Van!" she screamed, terrified, "VAN!" "I no want to hurt you," Leran said in his soft, clipped voice. He dragged Hitomi from her room, heaved her over his shoulder, and ran out the back of the ship, where his horse was waiting. Hitomi screamed again for help, and received a sharp slap. "Please, Lady. I only following orders. You be quiet, or I have to knock out you." Hitomi shut her mouth, and closed her eyes. So this is where it all ends…she thought. She felt Leran looping cords around her arms, tying her hands together. He did the same with her ankles before throwing her onto the back of the stallion.
"RETREAT!" Hector called, catching sight of the goat-man with his prisoner. Van, still possessed by bloodwrath, was surprised as all the forces surged away from him, tumbling back to the floating fortress they had come from. He chanced a look over the side of the deck. Van cursed—Hitomi had been kidnapped. "No, Folken," he said inaudibly. "Hitomi!" he yelled, slaying a soldier and leaping up onto the enemy's mount. Van slapped the horse's rump with the flat of his Sword several times. "HITOMI!" he shouted, urging the horse into a fast gallop. Hitomi heard someone calling her name and she opened her eyes. "Van!" she exclaimed. Leran tugged her hair, but gently. "Please, Lady, hush." Van kicked the horse. "C'mon, c'mon!" he cried. Leran urged his own horse into a gallop. But Van had pulled up beside him on the foaming roan and grabbed the goat-man's reins. "Van!" Hitomi said again as he forced Leran's horse to a stop by wrenching on the reins. Van lifted her from the horse, carefully undoing the rope around her hands. He rubbed her hands to get her circulation going again. All the while the goat-man made no protest.
Leran turned to the King. "Please, Lord Dilandau be very angry with me." Van stared in amazement at the goat-man. "Leran? I thought the animal-clans were not involved in this." "Lord Van? Lord Van from Fanelia?" Leran couldn't believe his eyes. "We not involved, sire. Dark Dragon force us join fight. Please, sire, let me take girl to Lord Dilandau." "I cannot allow that, Leran," Van said quietly. "But sire—I fight you if I need." "Very well," Van sighed, drawing the Sword. Its blade was blood flecked. "Van, wait," Hitomi said. The goat-man was only following orders; and he had tried to be kind to her. Leran gasped suddenly, falling forward on top of the girl, a spear sticking out from his back. Hitomi shrieked as she felt the warm blood seeping from the dead man's back onto her clothing and skin. The heavy body was suffocating her. Van heaved the goat-man off her body.
********************
From the top of a floating fortress, Dilandau sighed. "What a pity," he said, "I missed the boy." Hector raised his hand. "RETREAT!!" he barked. The red-eyed Dilandau threw his stealth cloak on and vanished from sight.
********************
Hitomi looked up at Van's bloodstained figure. He was breathing lightly after the battle. "Van—I—oh, thank you, Van!" she threw her arms around him and gave him a hug. Van hesitated, then returned her embrace. Gaddis stared out at the two. A light touch on his arm. "Gaddis! Oh, I was so worried about you; the explosion, it threw me into another room and everything collapsed around me—I couldn't get out until now. Oh, Gaddis, I cried, and screamed and no one heard me—I was sure you'd all died…" Merla gasped from behind him. She seemed close to tears. Gaddis turned, smiling broadly. "I was worried too," and he folded her into his arms.
Van released Hitomi immediately and stepped away from her. He frowned. Hitomi looked past his face. A slight ripple in the air, shimmering waves that blew around a shape. She saw Dilandau's pointed face emerge from the cloak, sneering. There was a clink of metal as the albino drew his sword. Dilandau steadied himself for the killing strike. "Van, behind you!" Hitomi yelled. Van grabbed his sheathe and whirled around just in time to deflect the blow with it. The two sparred and slashed at each other. "I should have killed you with that spear!" Dilandau hissed. "Cowardly King of Fanelia, you couldn't even save your people! Folken should have let me kill you in the beginning of the fight, but no, he wanted all the gore to himself! Well, now I get to kill you anyway!" Van knocked the blow away and snatched his Sword from its sheathe. He sliced upward. "You're a coward and a weakling! Hahahaha—arrrrgh!" Hitomi saw the tip of the Sword come away blood-tipped, and she winced. Dilandau sat quivering upon the dirt, his right hand to his left cheek. Blood was dripping from down his face.
Van sheathed the Sword and motioned for Hitomi to follow him. "Hitomi, let's go!" Hitomi nodded, "Oh—right!" The two were fretted over by Merla. She insisted they both wash up and immediately get to bed. "Van, Hitomi, just look at your clothing! I'll go wash these, here, Van, get some of Gaddis's clothing—Hitomi, I'll get you a nightdress." "I don't need your help," Van said shortly. He walked off, his clothing red with blood from the battle. "So stubborn," Merla shook her head and sighed.
***************
"Dilandau!" Folken's voice was soft—dangerously soft. Dilandau knelt upon the floor. "Dilandau, I thought I told you to fetch the girl. Where is she?" "Forgive me, Lord Folken," Dilandau muttered, bowing his head. "I will not fail you again, Lord Folken." Folken's face, wreathed in shadows, turned up as he smirked. Dilandau shuddered; he had seen the same smile turn upon dozens. "Really, Dilandau?" Folken hissed. He lashed out with his power, and Dilandau found himself lifted into the air. He struggled against the invisible force. "Was it not enough, Dilandau, that I granted your wish for many men? Is it not true these threescore were killed by eight Abaharaki? Was it not enough, Dilandau, that you had stealth cloaks? You could have used them to a better purpose."
"Lord Folken—please!" Dilandau pleaded with him, suspended in midair. "Folken-sama, I'll do better next time!" "How do you know there will be a next time for you, Dilandau?" Folken mused. "No, Lord Folken. Please! I'll find you your brother, the girl, the Sword, whatever you desire!" Dilandau rasped. Snap! Folken snapped Dilandau's left index finger. Dilandau gasped in pain. "Promise me you won't fail me again," Folken whispered. Snap! His left ring-finger was broken. "Folken-sama," Dilandau moaned. "I promise, Folken-sama!" "Then let this be a lesson to you, Dilandau," Folken motioned with his left arm and… Snap! Another finger broke. Dilandau collapsed in a sobbing heap upon the floor. "Leave me now," Folken said, missing the glance of pure hatred Dilandau sent at his back.
************
Hitomi whimpered in her sleep. There were no more spare beds as those who were injured in the scuffle were using them. Van insisted he was fine and went off to sleep on the deck, alone. Merla had allowed her to use Van's bed, for the time being. Hitomi dreamed…
She stood on the edge of the world, sunlight and sea-spray splashing her. "It's so beautiful," she murmured. Suddenly the scene turned red, like blood, with the albino soldier's laughter ringing in her ears. 'Hahahaha—arrrrgh! Hahahaha—arrrgh!' With an earsplitting noise, the ground cracked away from beneath her and she was falling…falling…Then an angel with glowing wings reached out and grasped her hand…but it vanished…she was falling…falling…falling…
"Wake up, dear," Merla said, shaking her. "Huh? Keji, stop it…ohhh, I don't want to wake up, tell Mom I just want a bowl of cereal…" Hitomi said groggily, before her eyes completely opened. "Oh god, Merla. I'm so sorry, I was—" "It's all right, Hitomi. Here, Van said you were having bad dreams, so I—" "Van?" Hitomi was puzzled, "I thought you said he was sleeping on deck?" Merla smiled. "Oh no, he came to check on you several times. Van may be a complete moron sometimes, but he really is very thoughtful." Hitomi accepted a bundle from Merla. "There, your clothes," Merla said apologetically. "I—I accidentally shrunk them, but maybe now they'll fit better?"
Hitomi thanked her. "How's Van?" she asked. "He convinced me he was fine; now he's eating breakfast on deck with the rest of the guys. Well, actually, Gaddis is in the engine room, trying to reactivate the levistones. The Dark Dragons will be back for us, so it's in our best interest that we leave immediately. I'll be going now—oh, by the way. Would you really like a bowl of—of cereal?" Merla's face twisted itself around the foreign word. Hitomi smiled. "Nah."
Hitomi slipped into her clothes, not over-large anymore. The shirt was like any normal Asturian uniform, loose, and her breeches didn't feel like they were about to fall off anymore. She tied the red sash around her waist, wincing at the color. Too bright. Well, nothing much could be down about that. Her short dark hair was messy, but no comb was available, so nothing could be done about it. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to get it to lie down flat on her scalp with no success. Hitomi ascended the staircase, entirely aware of the looks she was drawing from the crew. Especially Van.
Hitomi blushed and looked at her sandals. The young King was gawking at her, as if he couldn't believe what he saw. "Struck dumb?" Gaddis winked at the King. Van blinked before growling, "Mind your own business." Gaddis turned to his men, his face radiated sincerity. "Guys, I'm really sorry how I acted yesterday. I was upset, very upset." "Aww, Boss, you ain't gotta apologize t' us! We knows we wasn't the best o' help!" Celiquo called out in his thin, raucous voice. Gaddis smiled brightly—like a child forgiven. "Well, then. Kio and I have figured out what's wrong with our levistones, and it's quite simple, almost easy to fix. We'll be up and running soon." The crew let out a mighty cheer, and even Van allowed himself a quiet smile.
Van played with the tasteless mush Lance had cooked up. As long as he didn't have to eat it, everything was fine with him. He was embarrassed over how he had behaved earlier, staring at Hitomi like that. She had actually looked nice. Boyish, maybe, but there was just something about her…something he couldn't quite put his finger on… Van shook his head. Gods, Fanel. What d'you think you're doing, thinking like that? He was shocked as Hitomi plopped down beside him, holding a steaming bowl of mush. She had used the honey generously, he saw. His own mush was plain; he had never liked sweetness. Besides, a warrior had to have discipline. Van was even more disgusted with himself as Hitomi offered him a gob of honey and he accepted, eating it directly from the spoon. Getting soft, are we?
Hitomi held the honey jar out to him. Van would later regret this extremely, but now it was his honor in question, or so he thought. "No thank you, Hitomi. I'll eat by myself," he said coldly, taking his mush with him to sit out in the grass. Van didn't even eat it. He was so angry, so appalled by his actions. How dare she tempt him? How dare he accept? And most of all, how could he be so…mean? Over such a petty issue, too. Van tipped the mush bowl, the contents spilled out onto the grass. He glanced up and rebuked himself more as he saw Hitomi leave the table, one of her hands scrubbing away tears. In spite of all, she had warned him of the strange albino's attack. Gaddis poked his head over the side of the deck. "You moron, how could you do that to her?" he snapped. Van's voice was more harsh than he would have liked it to be. He was sorry, but his pride wouldn't let him accept the defeat. "Go away, Gaddis. Leave me alone!"
Hitomi sat in Van's cabin, a single tear leaking down her cheek. It was an angry tear. What a jerk. She had only been trying to be nice and thank him for rescuing her twice. "What a jerk," she said out loud. "Hitomi?" It was Van. "Get out, you dumb king. Royalty and their affairs," she sniffed, wiping tears away with the back of her hand. She turned her back to him. "You're forgetting this is my cabin," Van said, coming to stand in front of her. "Hitomi—" he got no further. Hitomi's hand flew and slapped him. "Get out. Get out now!" she cried, more tears coming. Van's expression was hurt, but it was instantly replaced by a look of rage. "All right. I had come to say I was sorry. But I see you won't accept my apology," he said angrily, gripping his Sword hilt to tightly his knuckles turned white. Van turned on his heels and left.
*****************
"Eriya!" a golden-furred cat-woman shouted. Eriya, a silver-furred cat-woman, turned to face her. "Yes, Naria?" Anyone watching the scene could see they were twins, alike as peas in a pod, their only difference their fur-color. Naria bared her fangs at her sister in a cat-like smile. Eriya did the same. Both sisters' eyes were identical, blue with a ring of orange fire around the pupil. "Lord Folken wishes to speak to us," Naria said silkily. Her eyes flashed warmly at her sister. Both cat-women padded silently down the hallway. Folken sat drumming his long fingers on his throne. "Ah, Eriya, Naria," he said smoothly, gliding from the throne. "Lord Folken," Naria murmured, kneeling. Her sister bowed her head before kneeling as well and breathed, "Folken-sama."
"What is it you wish, Lord Folken?" both cats said in sweet, honeyed voices. Folken eyed the two. Naria was clad in a figure-hugging Oriental dress with a slash across the middle, showing her navel and a line of bare flesh. Eriya's sleek figure was hidden beneath a heavy blue cloak. It was easy to see which was the more modest of the two felines. Both cat-girls were completely loyal to him, ever since the day he rescued them from some slavers. They were almost the same age as well, he and his cat twins. "Hmmm. Naria, this is what I want you to do…" he whispered into the tawny golden cat-woman's ears. "Eriya, come and see me for your mission. See that you do not fail me." "We live for your commands, Folken-sama," Naria and Eriya said in a single, melodious voice. Naria turned and marched away while Eriya remained. Folken stood in front of her, his face grave and totally serious. "Eriya," he said softly. "What I am going to ask of you will take some courage." "Anything, Folken-sama," Eriya said. "You are sure then? I won't force you to do this." "Yes, Folken-sama," Eriya purred. Folken sighed. "I ask for a kiss, no more, no less. Here, preferably." He pointed to his lips. "And, again, no penalty if you don't wish to." Eriya hesitated. She had given her word, and was so bound by her honor. The reason why she hesitated was because she feared it might lead to something else. Love. Soldiers were not supposed to love their commanders like that, only respect them. But then, Folken-sama, standing there, his face like that of an eager young one… Eriya tilted her head up, looking into his eyes. They were deep gray, and so, so lonely… She wanted to comfort him. Eriya obeyed.
*******************
Van stood alone on deck. It was past midnight. The stars twinkled from the heavens above and a light breeze ruffled his jet-colored hair. He sighed, fingering the rough canvas of the sails. I was wrong to do treat Hitomi like that… he thought. It was too late to redeem himself, this he saw. Perhaps tomorrow might bring some chance for him to apologize to her. Anger boiled up again. How dare she slap him. He, the King of Fanelia! He shook his head, slumping down onto the deck with his head in his arms. I'm sorry, I'm sorry… His vision blurred. I'm sorry, Mother, Father…I'm sorry…
Hitomi opened her eyes. She had cried herself to sleep, and her pillow, no, Van's pillow, was damp. Hitomi cleared her throat and wiped her eyes, sniffling a bit. She wondered what time it was. Hitomi had not bothered to change into the sheer nightdress Merla had loaned her. Too transparent, anyway. Her Asturian uniform was wrinkled, but she didn't care. Hitomi walked sleepily up the stairs, peering out onto the deck. It was still dark out, but the first pink rays of the sun could be seen slipping over the horizon. She smiled at first, but the events of the day before returned to her, and her smile vanished. "Van's probably sleeping like a baby in some other room; spoiled palace brat," she muttered, stepping onto the deck.
Van was sleeping, but on deck. He had been staring out at the dark mountains which surrounded the meadow, then his head had tipped forward and he had been, for the moment, asleep. Hitomi looked out and saw his dark form against the railing of the airship, his back moving up and down gently with each breath. Though sleeping, Van's keen ears caught the sound of footsteps moving across the hard wooden planks. He stirred, running a hand through his messy raven hair, trying to smooth it down. Van stretched luxuriously, then remembered. He leapt to his feet. I need to tell her I'm sorry, I have to tell her now, perhaps…perhaps she'll listen… They crashed into each other. "Hitomi? Hitomi, listen," Van began, but Hitomi grabbed his hands and knelt in front of him, unsure of what was proper to do with royalty. "Oh, Van! I just wanted to say—I'm sorry I slapped you and called you all those names, and you can behead me if you want—" "Stop," Van said. Hitomi looked up apprehensively, wondering if she would be forgiven.
"I started it," he said so softly Hitomi strained her ears to hear him. "And…" Van had never apologized to anyone outside of his family before. He knelt down beside her, took her hand. How should I continue? I don't know what to say… "And…Hitomi…I'm sorry." He gasped as Hitomi threw her arms around him in a tight hug. She released him very quickly. "Oh, god, Van…I didn't mean to…Are you all right?" she said, concerned. "I'm okay," he grunted, one hand to the slow-healing wound in his side. "Was I really that bad yesterday, Van?" she asked. "No," Van said slowly. "It wasn't you, or the honey…I guess…Everything I ever got close to was destroyed or taken away from me—my people, my family…even…even my brother." He realized what he had just said and drew away from her. "Er, that is…" Van fled the deck before Hitomi could say anything else. Everything he ever got close to…he's close to me? Hitomi was puzzled, a red flush creeping across her face.
Real smooth, Fanel, Van told himself. He slammed the Sword onto his bed. "I'm an adolescent King of a country since destroyed," he said aloud, a slow smile forming on his features. And you've gone and fallen head-over- heels in love with some girl from the Mystic Moon, a voice in his head said. She's not just 'some girl', Van argued, She's the Tsbasi no Kami, the Goddess of Wings. "Besides," he added, "I'm not in love with her."
The moment the sentence came out of his mouth Van knew it was a complete lie.
[pic]
Jahuka bent forward to study the inscriptions on the sword. It was nestled in a leather case. "Why would Folken want this old relic?" he mused as he brushed dust away from the dull steel. Jahuka was the commander of the airship Crusade. He and his men were delivering the sword to the leader of the Dark Dragon Clan—Folken. It had been a rather boring morning. They were flying right on course, and were now directly over the Csavek mountains. He stiffened. It had suddenly become too quiet. Not even the bleating of mountain sheep could be heard, a sound common in these parts.
Whakkkkarrrrasmash!
Jahuka was thrown into a corner. Rubbing his head, he shouted out at the crew. "What the hell just happened up there?" The reply came in a trembling tenor, the voice of his navigator.
"Sir, I think we've struck a mountain peak! Either that or collided with another ship—" The voice was abruptly cut off. Panicked shouts and screams rang from the upper deck. Jahuka heard other yells, from people he did not know above the clash of steel.
"Van, where are you going?"
"To get the sword!"
"Come back, you idiot! Van!"
Jahuka saw a lanky youth with shaggy black hair and wild gray eyes running down the stairs, four or five at a time. He was wearing a pair of dirty tan pants, no shirt. In one hand he carried a wooden staff. Jahuka ducked behind a column, stealthily pulling his sword from its sheathe. Suddenly he was facing a tall man with waist-length golden hair.
The man clucked his tongue. "Tch, tch, tch! Sneaky, aren't you?" The last thing Jahuka ever saw was a scimitar flashing down at his head.
The youth grabbed the cushioned box. "I have the sword, Gaddis!" he yelled. The tall man turned, exasperated.
"You've got to stop taking such foolish risks. You could have been killed. Didn't you see that guy waiting to nab you? You're different, Van Fanel. But that gives you no excuse to throw your life away," he said. Van Fanel's eyes flashed angrily at him.
"This is the first step to defeating the Dark Dragon Clan! I'll never run away from a fight! Never! To make them pay for what they did to the people of Fanelia, I will fight to the death!" Gaddis wiped his scimitar clean before sheathing it.
"Van, you were armed with a stick! A puny, weak little stick. That guy could have carved you into mincemeat!" Gaddis chided.
"Well, now I have a sword," Van began sullenly, but a shout interrupted.
"Commander, their airship's beginnin' to loose levistone power!" Gaddis smiled at Van.
"We'll finish this later." He turned back to reply to the man who had shouted. "Okay, Evanl! We're coming up!"
***************
Van let the sword drop. "This is the legendary sword?" he murmured in disbelief. "It's naught but an old relic, an antique!" Gaddis lifted the sword and held it reverently in his hands. "Be careful with it, Van. It is the Sword of the Dragon. We were lucky to have stolen it and escaped with only four injured." Van looked at the blade, dusty and dull with the ages. "Oh, of course," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "of course that must be the Sword of the Dragon. Just look at how it shines!" Gaddis frowned. "Van Fanel. You risked all our lives today, and four were wounded. If I hadn't followed you who knows where you'd be now!" Van's hands balled themselves into fists as he uttered a feral snarl. Gaddis's love, Merla, stepped in between them. "Now Van," she scolded gently, "you know that the Sword's powers will remain dormant until we find the right one to wield it." Van snorted and turned his back to them. "Leave me alone."
Gaddis allowed Merla to pull him out of Van's room. "Give him time, Gaddis. He is young." Gaddis sighed. "Young, reckless, rash, over daring…" Merla giggled. "Just like some other young Commander I once knew." "But Merla, he is the King of Fanelia! He can't afford to be reckless." "And he can't afford not to be, Gaddis. This young king is not afraid of death, and he is a wonderful fighter." Her light laugh warmed Gaddis's heart. "Not as good a fighter as you, though." The couple walked off, arm in arm, down the aisle of the airship Scherazade, the one they had used to board the Crusade.
Van sat alone in his room, holding the sword in his hands. "So you are the Sword of the Dragon. And I the Dragon of Fanelia." He touched the tattoo on his shoulder. It was a blue diamond with one thick, short line below it. Fanelia's symbol. "As King of Fanelia I swear to I will protect my people…" he whispered, and stopped. Van buried his head in his arms, and let the tears come.
The Scherazade docked in the midst of a meadow. It being mid-winter, however, prevented any festive wildflowers from greeting them. It was warm enough that the slight drizzle was rain and not snow, though. The crew filed out into the barren area. "Phew! Smell that clean Asturian air! Now that's the stuff to cure! I'm gonna live it up tonight!" Gaddis strode out of the airship. He smiled at his men, whipping his golden hair behind him. "Well, we're back in Asturia." The crew sent up a cheer. "Okay, here's what we're going to do. When you're all done I let you go off and see your families, or whatever. Lance, you take three guys and scout around for info on the next raid, where, when, and who. Evanl, get five, go and get supplies; we need to re-provision. Celiquo, I need you to get us some weapons. Take the west route and head for the Sidi home. Mr. Sidi will be more than happy to help. Oh, Gruven, you and Kipan should go with him. Merla, I'm going to need you to patch up those who were injured. And Van—where's Van?"
Gaddis looked around. There were the rugged, unkept faces of his men, and the smiling face of Merla, but no Van Fanel. Merla volunteered to answer his question. "I think Van is still in his cabin, Gaddis." Gaddis kept his smile on his face with great effort. "Get started, I'll get Van."
Gaddis strode angrily toward the lower half of the Scherazade. Trust Van to be the late one, always. "Van Fanel, I'll have you know that I don't like such insubordination," Gaddis called. Van's angry face appeared. In one hand he held the Sword. But it was a different Sword. No longer dusty, or old, the Sword gave off almost an unearthly brilliance. Its blade had been buffed and sharpened. The light blue steel glowed. "What do you want, Gaddis?" he demanded. "Van, I called the whole crew out—you know that term applies to you too. I have a job for you."
Van walked back into his room and laid the Sword carefully on his bed before coming back to face Gaddis. "Well, Commander, what do you want me to do?" he said, his voice calm and relaxed. Gaddis was surprised; after the argument he had expected Van to slam the door, or ignore him, even yell a few nasty words through the closed door. Gaddis swallowed his thoughts and said, "You were King of Fanelia—" Van stiffened. "—so you know a lot about plants, right? We're a bit short on glar. It can cure most poisons, as you know. Take your Sword and go get some." Van smiled. "I'll see you later, Gaddis."
Gaddis sat down on his desk. Van had reacted better than he had thought. His childish anger is slipping away, Gaddis thought, but what will it be replaced by? He placed the previous attack plans on the surface in front of him. "Four injured… Including myself, that leaves nine able- bodied crew members. Merla has her arrows, but at a close range it wouldn't do much good…and that further reduces our numbers. In that case, a frontal assault on the enemy would be rather difficult, suicidal even…and I cannot allow that." He twisted a long blond lock around his forefinger. "If the legendary armor Escaflowne is going to be transported, it would be in a floating fortress. Most likely they'd be camouflaged. Perhaps is we attacked the hangar and stormed the guymelef storage area…Hmmm…" He was suddenly aware of someone calling his name. "Gaddis! Gaddis!" It was Merla. "Gaddis, come quickly," she cried, "Van is in quite a dilemma!"
He didn't have time to think. Gaddis leapt over his desk, pulling his scimitar from his belt. "Get Kio, Allen—reinforcements!" he told Merla before tearing up the stairs to the deck of the Scherazade. Gaddis's eyes scanned the horizon for any sign of the young King. Van was sprinting toward the airship, a strange girl in his arms. A dust clouds pursued him. On closer inspection, Gaddis realized the dust had been stirred up by a group of Dark Dragon mercenaries. Van reached the ship and gently deposited his load in the shadows of the Scherazade, so she was hidden from view. He drew his Sword and whirled to face the enemy, positioning himself in a fighter's stance.
Van didn't hesitate. As soon as the soldiers were close enough, he threw himself with a roar into the thick of it. "For Fanellllliiiiiiaaaaa!" "You fool!" Gaddis shouted, vaulting over the side of the airship's deck. "You can't possibly have been thinking about taking all fifteen of 'em!" Van slew one soldier with a deft movement of his Sword. "Correction, Gaddis, fourteen!" he yelled over the noise of the melee.
Van ducked low the avoid a swinging blade. The clash of steel was loud and obvious as Kio and Allen, along with two other crew members joined the fight. Battering away with two javelins, Kio closed the eyes of two of the foes forever. Gaddis found himself in a tight spot. A soldier was advancing from behind while two others attacked from the sides. His eyes darted back and forth as he sought to deflect all three attacks. "Oh no you don't!" Van cried. One soldier stopped in astonishment as he found his blade was shorn from the hilt. He dropped it and ran away screaming. "Van, stop him!" Gaddis yelled, punching one soldier and using his body as a trampoline, leapt clear of the other soldier before carving him down. Van started to pursue, but for no apparent reason, the man sighed and slumped to the ground. "Taken care of!" From where she stood with her bow and arrows on the deck, Merla winked. Allen threw his daggers with his usual accuracy, felling three. Bloodlust was in Van Fanel's gray eyes. He dodged the clumsy attempts of the soldiers to slay him and slashed wildly. Gaddis actually saw a head flying into a nearby ditch. Van gasped in pain as an enemy sword found its mark. He fell to his knees, and Gaddis saw he was bleeding heavily from a deep gash in his side. Two soldiers advanced on him.
"Van!" Gaddis cried, running to the young king's aid. Galvanized by some unseen force, Van blocked the swing and was up again on his feet, the Sword a whirlwind reaping death. There was a thud as the body of a Dark Dragon mercenary fell to the ground, headless. The last remaining soldier lost his nerves and turned to run, but Van Fanel's Sword swept downward as he shouted, "Coward! You will pay for what you did to my people!"
Van turned and staggered back to the girl's side. "Are—you—hurt—Gaddis—get—Merla—unnnh…." Still clutching his Sword, he crumpled and fell to the ground.
"Merla!" Gaddis yelled. Merla was already there. She ordered them to carry Van and the girl into the hospital section of the airship. Merla ministered to the unconscious King, tearing a strip of cloth from the bottom of her tunic to staunch the blood. "Poor, wild Van," she murmured, bathing his feverish brow with water. "Yes," Gaddis agreed. "He was like a Dragon, with murder singing in his soul. Merla, I saw his eyes," he shuddered. "Wild eyes…" "The girl will be okay, Gaddis. She's a bit scratched up, but nothing a good rest couldn't fix." Merla bandaged the wound on Van's arm with swiftly. She gasped in surprise. "An arrowhead embedded in his shoulder…where did that come from? No matter, I'll get it out." With a metal shaft no more than a needle point thin, she carefully levered the steel arrowhead out of the wound. Van's lips were moving. "What's he saying?" Gaddis asked Merla, who was leaning close to the King's mouth to hear.
Merla's face was strained. "He's talking to his mother and father…"
Indeed Van was. "Don't worry…mother…I'll…avenge my people…no…wait, don't go…father…" His speech was slurred. "Oh god!" Merla exclaimed. She grabbed the arrowhead and licked it, then she spat out. "Poison-tipped!" she cried. "Gaddis, have we anymore of that antidote left?" Gaddis shook his head. "No." "What are we going to…glar! You sent him out for some?" Not waiting for an answer, Merla felt Van's pockets and sighed in relief. She pulled out the yellow leaves of the glar. Merla began to mash them into a paste, using the butt of her bow to grind the leaves. Merla stopped grinding, and her shoulders slumped. "What is it?" Gaddis asked. "Nothing…"
Van was at the gates of a strange place. A man clad in blue chain mail, with the mark of Fanelia tattooed on his forearm stood before him. "Van, my son. It is good to see you," his father intoned spectrally. "But Father…" Van protested. "Van, there is not much time. The Escaflowne is going to be shipped to the Dark Dragons soon. You and your commander, Gaddis, must prepare. Your mother had wanted to come," he smiled sadly, "but she was not allowed. Van—King Van, she wanted me to tell you she loves you—and I as well. Find the Winged Goddes, the Tsbasi no Kami." "Father, I'll kill Folken when we meet!" Van promised fervently. "No, my son. No. Do not kill Folken." "Father—why?" His father began to fade. "My time here is up…goodbye, my son…goodbye…" The man disappeared. "Father!" Van yelled. "No!" Suddenly he was carried back to the events of the night of the massacre, of his older brother holding his father's head and smiling evilly. Then a strange event, of the future, of his brother holding his head and gloating. Fanelian people slaughtered, now the people of other countries slaughtered. Death, destruction, killings, and above it all was the face of his brother, laughing. "NO! Folken, it shall not happen, do you here me? It shall not happen!"
"It shall not happen!" Van cried, still unconscious. "It's just as I feared," said Merla, "he's delirious. Soon he will slip off and…" she trailed off. "So there's nothing we can do," Gaddis said. "Not much. I can just keep an eye on him, and let's just hope the glar does its job." "Merla," Gaddis said softly. "Hmm?" Merla said. "If Van dies, too, I'll never forgive myself." "Gaddis, you don't even know if your sister is dead. She might still be out there." "But when she was kidnapped—I looked and looked…Gods, but I never found her…" Gaddis said brokenly. Celena…
Now Van was sucked to a bizarre world, where horseless carriages flew by at amazing speeds. "What place is this?" he said. "It is the Mystic Moon, where ages of magic were destroyed in a great war. The same fate for your Gaea, if Folken-sama is not stopped." "Who are you? Show yourself!" Van whirled, trying to see the owner of the mysterious voice. "I am Sora, a child of the Draconians, a guardian of the Great One's Temple, also priestess to Folken-sama." "Then why are you here?" Van said. He was furious, ready to give way to animal rage, but his voice, for some reason, was rational. "I do not believe in Folken-sama's so called 'holy war,'" the voice answered. "Holy war," Van repeated in disbelief. "Folken-sama believes in a world where man fights against man, where a whole world is divided by fighting, fighting to survive, and the slaughter begins anew." "But it was he who started all the fighting!" Van said. His voice no longer sounded calm. "Yes, and so Folken-sama believes he will fight to stop the conflict." "Fighting against fighting?" Van said contemptuously. "I think you'll find there's no such thing!" he snarled. But Sora had gone back to her master.
Gaddis watched with concern as Van thrashed about. "Come back. Come back! D'you hear me? Come back!!"
The Mystic Moon melted from view overhead. Van found himself in the courtyard of his family's palace. Tears sprang to the young King's eyes as he saw his own mother, long dead, walking with a small boy—Folken. Van reached for his Sword. "Folken," he whispered hatefully, drawing and advancing toward the boy. If I can just kill him—none of this will happen… Van positioned himself, preparing to take Folken's head off with a single swipe. Then he thought of his mother, and her pain if Folken were killed. He slowly sheathed the Sword again, clenching his fists. Sora's voice filled the air again. "See, Lord Van. You cannot kill the young ones. Folken-sama began his life as innocently as any one in Fanelia." "It doesn't matter how we all begin, but how we choose to live!" Van said quietly. "True, Van of Fanelia. Folken-sama just wants it all to fade away. He is lonely, sad, and—" "A bloodthirsty wretch!" "—Lord Van," Sora's voice was reproachful. "Lord Van, do you remember your wild charge to kill those soldiers? You were like a Dragon, and you…" "I thirsted for blood…" Van realized. He had wanted to kill, he had been vengeful. "In a way, all men are the same, when they are struck by blood-wrath," Sora explained. "I have seen it—Escaflowne is the God of War. Those who pilot it shall be destroyed by the bloodlust. If the pilot is totally consumed by this, the Escaflowne will become unstoppable."
"Escaflowne has never been used before in a war as grave as this. How can you say that?" Van demanded. "Ah, Lord Van, there you are wrong. Many years ago, when the universe was young, the Mystic Moon and Gaea were one and the same. Gaea broke off from the mainland before the great war, and thus was saved from total destruction. Escaflowne was piloted by a rash young man. He was consumed by the flames of war, the want of blood. And so the Mystic Moon was destroyed by the God of War. I urge you to be careful, Lord Van. Folken-sama wants this world to be destroyed. It will not matter whether he is the one to pilot the Escaflowne. In the end, Gaea will face the same future as the Mystic Moon. Please listen. Prevent this world from being destroyed by the Escaflowne." "You lie! Sora, you lie!" Van bellowed. "Perhaps I do," Sora replied in her bell-like voice. "Perhaps I speak the truth. My visions are cloudy. I was forced to send the girl here and disrupt the natural way of things. Folken-sama wanted her to destroy our world. I sent her here, in hope that you would… Lord Van, Escaflowne will be on the next floating fortress coming from a place in the south, from Freid. See that you do not fail to steal it…or all our lives will be destroyed…" she paused, and Van sensed she had reached up to wipe tears away. Was this truly a bad creature? He detected a slight sob in her voice as she continued. It could have just been a trick of a clever actress—crocodile's tears. "So you see, Lord Van, I work neither for the Dark Ones, nor for your side. I can only predict what shall come of it all…and I have. Join us, Lord Van."
"Never. I will never join you," Van looked away from her. "Have it your way, Lord Van Fanel, King of Fanelia. I have seen it. It shall all end in ruin…in ruin…in…ruin…" All visions faded and were replaced by blackness. Van wandered ceaselessly, silently. Lost.
Van could hear echoes. How is he, Merla… It is strange, it seems the poison has gone from him, and his temperature has gone back to normal… So he'll be okay, then… Yes, about an hour ago he fell into a natural sleep…
Merla clapped her hands as Van opened his eyes. There was a stabbing lance of pain in his side. Van hugged his stomach as he coughed. "Van!" Gaddis smiled. "You were out so long I thought you'd died!" Van shook his head slowly, wincing with each movement. "It feels as if I…Folken!" he exclaimed, sitting bolt upright, then sank back down, clutching his side. "Stay calm, Van," Merla said, "or you will reopen the wound. "Folken's seer—" Van gasped, biting his lip to keep from crying out. "His seer is—a Draconian, like my mother—" Gaddis looked up sharply. It was the first time he had heard Van mention his mother. "I saw the Mystic Moon," Van whispered. "She—Sora, the Seer—took me there, showed me things. It is a wondrous place—horseless carriages…steel birds…" Van's eyes closed but he kept speaking, a small smile on his face. "That girl…Sora brought her here to…help me…My father …"
"Your father?" Merla asked, squeezing water from a cloth before placing it on his forehead. "Yes…my father…at the gates of a strange…place…" Van said quietly. His voice was beginning to loose strength. "I met…him, my father. He said to…find the Escaflowne. Sora said it is…awaiting transport in a land…south of here. In…Freid. The girl is the…Tsbasi no Kami…the Goddess of Wings…" Van's body, exhausted with the effort he had made, went limp as he slipped off into the land of sleep. Gaddis handed Merla a jar of salve. She accepted it and absentmindedly rubbed it on one of Van's shallower wounds. "You seem worried about something," Gaddis remarked. "It's nothing, Gaddis," she patted his gloved hand. "It's nothing."
The girl woke later and saw a handsome young man with gorgeous waist length hair watching her. A man she had seen before, somewhere…She shrank from him with a small wail of terror. "Don't worry, little princess, we won't harm you," Gaddis spoke softly and kept his hands at his sides. "What—wh-who are you?" she gasped. "I am a knight of Asturia, Gaddis Schezar. This is Merla." Merla beamed at her. The girl shook her head. "No. This is just another vision—I've seen you all before—no. It's just a vision. It's just a vision!" she cried, hysterical. "A dream—a-a vision! This isn't real!" Gaddis glanced at Merla. "She's hysterical with shock. What do you propose we do?" "Only one simple remedy…" Merla's hand flew quickly and slapped the girl's face. "Hey…that hurt…" the girl whimpered, one hand to her cheek. "See, if it hurt, it can't be a dream, now can it?" Merla said cheerfully.
Van was well enough to sit up within a few days. Gaddis sat beside him on a chair. "I've talked to the girl—her name is Hitomi. Hitomi Kanzaki, from the Mystic Moon. Van, since you found her, she's your charge. I order you to protect her at all costs. If she really is the Winged Goddess, the Tsbasi no Kami, the Dark Dragons will be after her." Van scowled darkly and opened his mouth to protest but—
"After who?" Hitomi walked in, carrying a tray. Van studied her intently. She was tall, slender, with dark hair the hue of the mahogany staircase that had led to his mother's room, back in the palace. Her eyes were wide, emerald green, and so innocent to all the slaughter…she looked so naïve… Merla had been unable to find Hitomi women's clothing, so she wore breeches, and a light, gray-blue linen shirt tied with a sash. Van looked down briefly to blink tears away. His mother's room… Gaddis stood from his chair and gallantly offered it to the girl. "I think Merla needed to talk to me," Gaddis said, and he left. Hitomi sat down in his place. She handed Van a pewter beaker of rich, ruby-colored wine. Van turned to look at her and said, "Thanks," in a dead voice. He drank the apple wine gratefully, savoring the flavor. "Here, some broth from the kitchens. Merla said if you want to be up and running to recapture that Esca- Escaflo…" "Escaflowne?" "Er, yes, Escaflowne, you'd better start eating again. She thinks your stomach won't be able to handle solid foods for a while, so you can start with the cook—Lance, is it?—the cook's broth."
Van took the broth from her, tentatively sipping it. He made a face. "Who made this? Lance? Urrrgh…" Van handed the soupy liquid back to the girl. She seemed nice enough, but she talked too much. Hitomi carefully placed the tray to one side. "I—I wanted to thank you, for saving me from those soldiers." Van closed his eyes. "You're welcome." "My name's Hitomi," she tried again, "what's yours?" Van sighed quietly. She knew his name already; Merla would have mentioned it. Why was she trying to talk to him? Couldn't she see he didn't want to talk? "Van Fanel," he replied in the same dead voice he had used earlier. Maybe it would discourage her. It did.
Hitomi sighed and stood to go. "Wait," Van said, his own reasons for wanting her to stay unknown to himself at the moment. A brilliant smile lit up her face. Van's heart jumped. She was, in reality, very lovely. He shoved these thoughts aside roughly. "I'm Van Fanel," he began again. "But they once knew me as the King of Fanelia."
She stood and stared. "King? You don't look over fifteen—I'm fifteen—you're too young," she said. "I am fifteen," Van replied, mentally berating himself for inviting her to stay. "I slew the earth-dragon as part of the rite to become King." "Dragons?" she said, her eyes wide. "Yes, earth-dragons are the most dangerous. They roamed the mountains around Fanelia," Van said, slumping down dejectedly. Just the thought of his country had saddened him. However, he soon warmed to his topic. "In order to become King, one must slay an earth-dragon. If the Dark Dragons had not attacked and stolen the Escaflowne, the energist from the earth- dragon would have powered it." Seeing the questioning look on her face, he hastily explained, "An energist is the heart of the dragon—well, the proper name for them is drag-energist. Escaflowne is my guymelef, the armor of the past Kings of Fanelia. It would have become mine."
Hitomi was curious. Van was a strange and moody person—even stranger, he was a King. "But who are the Dark Dragons?" she asked.
"The Dark Dragons were a society that pretty much stayed to themselves," Van said. "Now they are led by Folken—my brother." "Your brother?!" "Yes," Van continued, his voice filled with hatred. "Folken failed to slay the earth-dragon as part of the rite to become King, and so fled in shame. The coward! I had thought he never turned his back on the earth-dragon—fought it until the very end… But I was wrong. Folken returned as Folken, leader of the Dark Dragon Clan during the coronation ceremony and massacre ensued. The survivors were scattered. I escaped, and Gaddis found me. Now I fight with the Abaharaki, the Nomad Warriors. Folken wants me dead so his path of conquest will not be blocked." "Oh, Van…" she murmured, "I'm sorry…" Van ignored her. He didn't need her pity.
"We're headed to Freid, to intercept the floating fortress that is carrying the Escaflowne," Van said. "Are you truly the Tsbasi no Kami, the Winged Goddess?" he added. Hitomi shook her head. "I don't know what that is. I'm not a goddess." "If you say so," Van's voice was doubtful. "But I can tell fortunes," Hitomi brightened. "Huh?" Van only half-heard what she had been saying. She pulled a pack of cards from her blouse-pocket. "See, the hermit. The cards are telling you to be patient, Van," she said. "What are those?" Van asked in his I'm-not-that-interested voice. "They're tarot cards," Hitomi said by way of explanation, "they can tell your future. See, this center card represents your future." "A bunch of cards can't tell you your future," Van was skeptical. Hitomi frowned at him as she began to arrange the deck into an appropriate formation.
"Well, fine. I was only trying to take your mind off of things…" she trailed off and flipped the center card. She gasped. Van sat upright. "What is it? Hitomi?" The card fluttered from her hand and landed face up on the floor. La Morte was written in bold, black letters. Death card. Van noticed she seemed to have gone into a trance. Her eyes were vacant, but she writhed with terror and cried for help. He leapt from the bed, ignoring the shooting pains. Van grabbed her shoulders and shook her roughly. "Hitomi? Hitomi!" She shuddered once before her eyes focused again. "V-Van?" "Are you—are you okay?" Van cried, shaking her once more.
Gaddis burst in, scimitar in hand. "Van—what's wrong?" Van looked up and quickly released Hitomi's shoulders. Flushing, he replied, "Nothing." Gaddis was cynical. "Uh huh. Sure. Well, tell me if you need anything. And Hitomi, if he's trying to kill you, don't hesitate to scream again." Hitomi blushed as well. Van glared at Gaddis's back as he went out. "I don't like how he looks at you," Van said, raising himself up with a grunt. "You shouldn't be so suspicious," Hitomi reproached him. "And you shouldn't flirt with him—" Van began to accuse her but he noticed her eyes had glazed over. Gods, she's doing it again, he realized.
"Quick, Van, run!" she cried in a strange, hollow voice. "It's the invisible enemy!" Another scream of pure horror caused her slender throat to tighten. Van panicked. He didn't want to shake her; he didn't want to call Gaddis. But at this moment, Hitomi's safety was his only concern. She seemed to be, after all, the Goddess of Wings. "Gaddis!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "GADDIS!!" Gaddis pounded in, followed by Merla, who was nocking a red-feathered shaft to her bow, and Kio, who had both javelins at the ready. "Gods, Van, now what—" Gaddis began, then Hitomi shrieked again, still in a trance. "They're coming! They're—they're coming!" Merla immediately dropped down besides Hitomi. She pulled at Hitomi's hands, grabbed her face, even shook her twice. Hitomi remained entranced. Van knocked Merla aside in his haste to get to the girl. Her face was pale, her eyes no longer green but two pools of whiteness. Van grasped her hands; they were burning up. "Hitomi?!" he yelled into her face. "Hitomi—As King of Fanelia I order you to stop this!" To the surprise of all, Hitomi's eyes returned to their normal color and she shuddered, as she had done before.
"Gaddis," she said in a shaking voice as Merla wrapped one of Van's blankets around her. "Gaddis, take everyone and run from here. The Dark Dragons are coming to attack you. They are led by a young man—Dilandau, who is as savage and wild as a young wolf in his prime. They will stop at nothing to see the Abaharaki destroyed." "I'm sorry," Gaddis said sincerely, squatting down beside the King. "Perhaps your ordeal has tired you—I'll get you some ale from the kitchens, or maybe some cheese, or bread—" "No!" Hitomi cried. She grabbed Gaddis's hands with her own. "Please, believe me, I—" Van, though shaken, was inclined to believe Gaddis. "He's right," Van said. "The shock had obviously caused you to take leave of your senses."
"But you—you were there! You saw me!" Hitomi was frantic. "Van—all of you—listen to me! You have to believe me, I've been right before—honest—" Merla clasped both Hitomi's hands. "Hitomi, you need to rest. Here," she eased the hysterical girl down onto Van's former sickbed. Merla handed Van a small phial of palm oil. "Rub it on her temples, Van," she instructed. Merla shooed everyone out before closing the door behind her. Van heard her light laughter drifting from the corridor.
"I'm not lying," Hitomi said clearly, in a saner tone. Van let a drop of the golden liquid fall into his palm. He lifted his right index finger and slowly began to dab the oil onto Hitomi's forehead. The aroma washed around them both—pleasant, warm, honey-like and sweet. Hitomi breathed it in and sighed. "But I'm telling you, Van—hey!" She wiped the oil from her cheek where it had dripped to. Van's hands, callused from his training, were directly over her face—not touching, but warm oil droplets fell from them, splattering Hitomi's face. "Jerk—" Hitomi cried, wiping her face. "You pig-headed excuse for royalty!" Van normally would have been insulted, but this time his face rearranged itself into some semblance of a grin. He was amused. Hitomi caught her breath; she'd never seen him smile since he'd rescued her from those soldiers. It was a good thing she did, because Van's fingertips, slick with the amber oil drew patterns all over her face. Greasy and angry, Hitomi spluttered, "Van Fanel—you idiot! Ugh, look at what you—"
Crraaaaaaaaaaaasssshhh.
The little phial went flying from Van's slippery hands and shattered, spraying them both with shards of glass. Hitomi's gasp of pain was drowned out by a creaking, rasping noise. The sound of many gathering around them. Van recognized the sounds of a guymelef pounding toward the airship. Hitomi glanced down at the blood welling from her arm where the glass had cut her. Her eyes glowed white. "Much blood will be spilled. This is but the very beginning," her voice was again hollow. "They have arrived. The invisible giants."
Gaddis came tearing down the stairs and threw the door open. "Van, Hitomi, have you seen Merla?" he asked wildly. "The explosion in the hangar, all was thrown into smoke and haze! She was standing beside me one moment, the next, she was gone!" "Boss!" Kio tumbled down the stairs, smoke clinging to his clothing. "We been hit by somethin'!" "Idiot!" Gaddis said. It was the first time Van had heard him yell at his men. "I know that! Find Merla! Get some guys together and find Merla! Van, you stay here. That's an order! Understand?" Van nodded, smoldering resentment in his savage gray eyes, glowering. Gaddis staggered from the room. "Merla? Merla!" they could hear him yelling brokenly. "Damn, damn…MERLA!"
The moment Gaddis left the room Van yanked his Sword from its sheathe and walked slowly toward the door. "Van! Where are you going?" Hitomi's panicky voice caused him to turn. "To join the battle," Van said calmly. "But—but Gaddis said to stay. Gaddis ordered you, Van!" Van's eyes flashed. "I am a King of Fanelia. No one gives me orders," he said shortly and, sprinting out the door, locked it from the outside. "Van, don't leave me! Van!" Hitomi screamed, pounding on the closed door. She grabbed the knob and twisted it, kicked the door. Nothing. She sunk to the ground in dismay. "Van…be careful…" Hitomi whispered.
Van charged up the stairs and stared, aghast, at what he saw. Three guymelefs were lined up behind a group of fighters. All Dark Dragon soldiers, by their uniforms. He did a quick mental calculation. "About three guymelefs, threescore soldiers…"
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"Sir," a dog-man, tattoos revealing him as a former slave, tugged on the sleeve of the haughty commander. "Yes, what is it?" Dilandau's voice was harsh and insane. "Sir, an attack like this is most unwise. Lord Folken ordered us only to bring him the girl and the Sword." The dog-man gasped as Dilandau knocked him from his horse with an angry swipe. "Yes, Hector, but you realize this is the best way—kill the Abaharaki in the process and Folken will be most pleased." Groaning, the dog-man pulled himself up. "Yes, Lord Dilandau. But you are forgetting it is the Abaharaki we are dealing with." Dilandau smiled diabolically. "Hmmm. Well, Hector, you win. Leran, go find the girl and the Sword," he said to another, a goat-man. "When Leran returns, Hector, you call a retreat, but leave half the unit with me. Hahahahahahaha!"
*************************
Van saw the forces streaming over the sides of the airship. He yelled a defiant cry. "Yaaaaaaaaaah!" Van dashed into the fray, Sword slashing and thrusting. Dead men fell all around him. Van felt something swelling inside him. He wanted blood. To avenge the people of Fanelia. Blood. Blood.
Bloodlust was once again in his eyes. Laughing insanely in the center of the battle, Van swung his Sword like a madman, slaying all that came close to him. Gaddis clenched his teeth as he saw what was happening. He had not been able to find Merla. "Van, you idiot!" he roared, hair flying. "Kio, Allen, Lance, Evanl, Gruven, and you, Celiquo! Follow me!" The seven plunged into the fight. Van's crazy appearance was emphasized by the blood that fell from the sky like a strange red drizzle. Some men were frightened by this spectrum and fled. Van slew indiscriminately now, the Sword picking out twelve men and he tore towards them, yelling. "Fanelia! For Faneliiiiiaaaa!" Gaddis ducked low, scimitar flashing, whizzing, slicing, cutting. Already the eight had killed over twenty in their first onslaught, but Van was still game. Wounded in several places, he dashed blood from his vision and sped into the troops. One word whispered in his mind, rising to a screaming pitch. Blood. Blood.
Van didn't care how he killed, he was just glad to be killing. To avenge his people, to see the Dark Dragons suffer, that was all he wanted. Death and destruction! He chopped heads from shoulders, legs from under bodies, hands from wrists…
*************
Hitomi stared at the floor, concentrating. "Tell me who will win the battle?" she said, and flipped a card. L'amore. Lovers. Hitomi clenched her teeth in frustration. The cards would not answer her. Hitomi failed to hear the click of the bolt as the goat-man opened the door.
Hitomi snapped back to reality with a scream of fear as furry hands grabbed her. "Please, Lady," her captor said softly. "I not wish to harm you. Please, quiet, Lady. I no hurt you if you quiet." Hitomi struggled against him, and for a moment, broke free. "Van!" she screamed, terrified, "VAN!" "I no want to hurt you," Leran said in his soft, clipped voice. He dragged Hitomi from her room, heaved her over his shoulder, and ran out the back of the ship, where his horse was waiting. Hitomi screamed again for help, and received a sharp slap. "Please, Lady. I only following orders. You be quiet, or I have to knock out you." Hitomi shut her mouth, and closed her eyes. So this is where it all ends…she thought. She felt Leran looping cords around her arms, tying her hands together. He did the same with her ankles before throwing her onto the back of the stallion.
"RETREAT!" Hector called, catching sight of the goat-man with his prisoner. Van, still possessed by bloodwrath, was surprised as all the forces surged away from him, tumbling back to the floating fortress they had come from. He chanced a look over the side of the deck. Van cursed—Hitomi had been kidnapped. "No, Folken," he said inaudibly. "Hitomi!" he yelled, slaying a soldier and leaping up onto the enemy's mount. Van slapped the horse's rump with the flat of his Sword several times. "HITOMI!" he shouted, urging the horse into a fast gallop. Hitomi heard someone calling her name and she opened her eyes. "Van!" she exclaimed. Leran tugged her hair, but gently. "Please, Lady, hush." Van kicked the horse. "C'mon, c'mon!" he cried. Leran urged his own horse into a gallop. But Van had pulled up beside him on the foaming roan and grabbed the goat-man's reins. "Van!" Hitomi said again as he forced Leran's horse to a stop by wrenching on the reins. Van lifted her from the horse, carefully undoing the rope around her hands. He rubbed her hands to get her circulation going again. All the while the goat-man made no protest.
Leran turned to the King. "Please, Lord Dilandau be very angry with me." Van stared in amazement at the goat-man. "Leran? I thought the animal-clans were not involved in this." "Lord Van? Lord Van from Fanelia?" Leran couldn't believe his eyes. "We not involved, sire. Dark Dragon force us join fight. Please, sire, let me take girl to Lord Dilandau." "I cannot allow that, Leran," Van said quietly. "But sire—I fight you if I need." "Very well," Van sighed, drawing the Sword. Its blade was blood flecked. "Van, wait," Hitomi said. The goat-man was only following orders; and he had tried to be kind to her. Leran gasped suddenly, falling forward on top of the girl, a spear sticking out from his back. Hitomi shrieked as she felt the warm blood seeping from the dead man's back onto her clothing and skin. The heavy body was suffocating her. Van heaved the goat-man off her body.
********************
From the top of a floating fortress, Dilandau sighed. "What a pity," he said, "I missed the boy." Hector raised his hand. "RETREAT!!" he barked. The red-eyed Dilandau threw his stealth cloak on and vanished from sight.
********************
Hitomi looked up at Van's bloodstained figure. He was breathing lightly after the battle. "Van—I—oh, thank you, Van!" she threw her arms around him and gave him a hug. Van hesitated, then returned her embrace. Gaddis stared out at the two. A light touch on his arm. "Gaddis! Oh, I was so worried about you; the explosion, it threw me into another room and everything collapsed around me—I couldn't get out until now. Oh, Gaddis, I cried, and screamed and no one heard me—I was sure you'd all died…" Merla gasped from behind him. She seemed close to tears. Gaddis turned, smiling broadly. "I was worried too," and he folded her into his arms.
Van released Hitomi immediately and stepped away from her. He frowned. Hitomi looked past his face. A slight ripple in the air, shimmering waves that blew around a shape. She saw Dilandau's pointed face emerge from the cloak, sneering. There was a clink of metal as the albino drew his sword. Dilandau steadied himself for the killing strike. "Van, behind you!" Hitomi yelled. Van grabbed his sheathe and whirled around just in time to deflect the blow with it. The two sparred and slashed at each other. "I should have killed you with that spear!" Dilandau hissed. "Cowardly King of Fanelia, you couldn't even save your people! Folken should have let me kill you in the beginning of the fight, but no, he wanted all the gore to himself! Well, now I get to kill you anyway!" Van knocked the blow away and snatched his Sword from its sheathe. He sliced upward. "You're a coward and a weakling! Hahahaha—arrrrgh!" Hitomi saw the tip of the Sword come away blood-tipped, and she winced. Dilandau sat quivering upon the dirt, his right hand to his left cheek. Blood was dripping from down his face.
Van sheathed the Sword and motioned for Hitomi to follow him. "Hitomi, let's go!" Hitomi nodded, "Oh—right!" The two were fretted over by Merla. She insisted they both wash up and immediately get to bed. "Van, Hitomi, just look at your clothing! I'll go wash these, here, Van, get some of Gaddis's clothing—Hitomi, I'll get you a nightdress." "I don't need your help," Van said shortly. He walked off, his clothing red with blood from the battle. "So stubborn," Merla shook her head and sighed.
***************
"Dilandau!" Folken's voice was soft—dangerously soft. Dilandau knelt upon the floor. "Dilandau, I thought I told you to fetch the girl. Where is she?" "Forgive me, Lord Folken," Dilandau muttered, bowing his head. "I will not fail you again, Lord Folken." Folken's face, wreathed in shadows, turned up as he smirked. Dilandau shuddered; he had seen the same smile turn upon dozens. "Really, Dilandau?" Folken hissed. He lashed out with his power, and Dilandau found himself lifted into the air. He struggled against the invisible force. "Was it not enough, Dilandau, that I granted your wish for many men? Is it not true these threescore were killed by eight Abaharaki? Was it not enough, Dilandau, that you had stealth cloaks? You could have used them to a better purpose."
"Lord Folken—please!" Dilandau pleaded with him, suspended in midair. "Folken-sama, I'll do better next time!" "How do you know there will be a next time for you, Dilandau?" Folken mused. "No, Lord Folken. Please! I'll find you your brother, the girl, the Sword, whatever you desire!" Dilandau rasped. Snap! Folken snapped Dilandau's left index finger. Dilandau gasped in pain. "Promise me you won't fail me again," Folken whispered. Snap! His left ring-finger was broken. "Folken-sama," Dilandau moaned. "I promise, Folken-sama!" "Then let this be a lesson to you, Dilandau," Folken motioned with his left arm and… Snap! Another finger broke. Dilandau collapsed in a sobbing heap upon the floor. "Leave me now," Folken said, missing the glance of pure hatred Dilandau sent at his back.
************
Hitomi whimpered in her sleep. There were no more spare beds as those who were injured in the scuffle were using them. Van insisted he was fine and went off to sleep on the deck, alone. Merla had allowed her to use Van's bed, for the time being. Hitomi dreamed…
She stood on the edge of the world, sunlight and sea-spray splashing her. "It's so beautiful," she murmured. Suddenly the scene turned red, like blood, with the albino soldier's laughter ringing in her ears. 'Hahahaha—arrrrgh! Hahahaha—arrrgh!' With an earsplitting noise, the ground cracked away from beneath her and she was falling…falling…Then an angel with glowing wings reached out and grasped her hand…but it vanished…she was falling…falling…falling…
"Wake up, dear," Merla said, shaking her. "Huh? Keji, stop it…ohhh, I don't want to wake up, tell Mom I just want a bowl of cereal…" Hitomi said groggily, before her eyes completely opened. "Oh god, Merla. I'm so sorry, I was—" "It's all right, Hitomi. Here, Van said you were having bad dreams, so I—" "Van?" Hitomi was puzzled, "I thought you said he was sleeping on deck?" Merla smiled. "Oh no, he came to check on you several times. Van may be a complete moron sometimes, but he really is very thoughtful." Hitomi accepted a bundle from Merla. "There, your clothes," Merla said apologetically. "I—I accidentally shrunk them, but maybe now they'll fit better?"
Hitomi thanked her. "How's Van?" she asked. "He convinced me he was fine; now he's eating breakfast on deck with the rest of the guys. Well, actually, Gaddis is in the engine room, trying to reactivate the levistones. The Dark Dragons will be back for us, so it's in our best interest that we leave immediately. I'll be going now—oh, by the way. Would you really like a bowl of—of cereal?" Merla's face twisted itself around the foreign word. Hitomi smiled. "Nah."
Hitomi slipped into her clothes, not over-large anymore. The shirt was like any normal Asturian uniform, loose, and her breeches didn't feel like they were about to fall off anymore. She tied the red sash around her waist, wincing at the color. Too bright. Well, nothing much could be down about that. Her short dark hair was messy, but no comb was available, so nothing could be done about it. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to get it to lie down flat on her scalp with no success. Hitomi ascended the staircase, entirely aware of the looks she was drawing from the crew. Especially Van.
Hitomi blushed and looked at her sandals. The young King was gawking at her, as if he couldn't believe what he saw. "Struck dumb?" Gaddis winked at the King. Van blinked before growling, "Mind your own business." Gaddis turned to his men, his face radiated sincerity. "Guys, I'm really sorry how I acted yesterday. I was upset, very upset." "Aww, Boss, you ain't gotta apologize t' us! We knows we wasn't the best o' help!" Celiquo called out in his thin, raucous voice. Gaddis smiled brightly—like a child forgiven. "Well, then. Kio and I have figured out what's wrong with our levistones, and it's quite simple, almost easy to fix. We'll be up and running soon." The crew let out a mighty cheer, and even Van allowed himself a quiet smile.
Van played with the tasteless mush Lance had cooked up. As long as he didn't have to eat it, everything was fine with him. He was embarrassed over how he had behaved earlier, staring at Hitomi like that. She had actually looked nice. Boyish, maybe, but there was just something about her…something he couldn't quite put his finger on… Van shook his head. Gods, Fanel. What d'you think you're doing, thinking like that? He was shocked as Hitomi plopped down beside him, holding a steaming bowl of mush. She had used the honey generously, he saw. His own mush was plain; he had never liked sweetness. Besides, a warrior had to have discipline. Van was even more disgusted with himself as Hitomi offered him a gob of honey and he accepted, eating it directly from the spoon. Getting soft, are we?
Hitomi held the honey jar out to him. Van would later regret this extremely, but now it was his honor in question, or so he thought. "No thank you, Hitomi. I'll eat by myself," he said coldly, taking his mush with him to sit out in the grass. Van didn't even eat it. He was so angry, so appalled by his actions. How dare she tempt him? How dare he accept? And most of all, how could he be so…mean? Over such a petty issue, too. Van tipped the mush bowl, the contents spilled out onto the grass. He glanced up and rebuked himself more as he saw Hitomi leave the table, one of her hands scrubbing away tears. In spite of all, she had warned him of the strange albino's attack. Gaddis poked his head over the side of the deck. "You moron, how could you do that to her?" he snapped. Van's voice was more harsh than he would have liked it to be. He was sorry, but his pride wouldn't let him accept the defeat. "Go away, Gaddis. Leave me alone!"
Hitomi sat in Van's cabin, a single tear leaking down her cheek. It was an angry tear. What a jerk. She had only been trying to be nice and thank him for rescuing her twice. "What a jerk," she said out loud. "Hitomi?" It was Van. "Get out, you dumb king. Royalty and their affairs," she sniffed, wiping tears away with the back of her hand. She turned her back to him. "You're forgetting this is my cabin," Van said, coming to stand in front of her. "Hitomi—" he got no further. Hitomi's hand flew and slapped him. "Get out. Get out now!" she cried, more tears coming. Van's expression was hurt, but it was instantly replaced by a look of rage. "All right. I had come to say I was sorry. But I see you won't accept my apology," he said angrily, gripping his Sword hilt to tightly his knuckles turned white. Van turned on his heels and left.
*****************
"Eriya!" a golden-furred cat-woman shouted. Eriya, a silver-furred cat-woman, turned to face her. "Yes, Naria?" Anyone watching the scene could see they were twins, alike as peas in a pod, their only difference their fur-color. Naria bared her fangs at her sister in a cat-like smile. Eriya did the same. Both sisters' eyes were identical, blue with a ring of orange fire around the pupil. "Lord Folken wishes to speak to us," Naria said silkily. Her eyes flashed warmly at her sister. Both cat-women padded silently down the hallway. Folken sat drumming his long fingers on his throne. "Ah, Eriya, Naria," he said smoothly, gliding from the throne. "Lord Folken," Naria murmured, kneeling. Her sister bowed her head before kneeling as well and breathed, "Folken-sama."
"What is it you wish, Lord Folken?" both cats said in sweet, honeyed voices. Folken eyed the two. Naria was clad in a figure-hugging Oriental dress with a slash across the middle, showing her navel and a line of bare flesh. Eriya's sleek figure was hidden beneath a heavy blue cloak. It was easy to see which was the more modest of the two felines. Both cat-girls were completely loyal to him, ever since the day he rescued them from some slavers. They were almost the same age as well, he and his cat twins. "Hmmm. Naria, this is what I want you to do…" he whispered into the tawny golden cat-woman's ears. "Eriya, come and see me for your mission. See that you do not fail me." "We live for your commands, Folken-sama," Naria and Eriya said in a single, melodious voice. Naria turned and marched away while Eriya remained. Folken stood in front of her, his face grave and totally serious. "Eriya," he said softly. "What I am going to ask of you will take some courage." "Anything, Folken-sama," Eriya said. "You are sure then? I won't force you to do this." "Yes, Folken-sama," Eriya purred. Folken sighed. "I ask for a kiss, no more, no less. Here, preferably." He pointed to his lips. "And, again, no penalty if you don't wish to." Eriya hesitated. She had given her word, and was so bound by her honor. The reason why she hesitated was because she feared it might lead to something else. Love. Soldiers were not supposed to love their commanders like that, only respect them. But then, Folken-sama, standing there, his face like that of an eager young one… Eriya tilted her head up, looking into his eyes. They were deep gray, and so, so lonely… She wanted to comfort him. Eriya obeyed.
*******************
Van stood alone on deck. It was past midnight. The stars twinkled from the heavens above and a light breeze ruffled his jet-colored hair. He sighed, fingering the rough canvas of the sails. I was wrong to do treat Hitomi like that… he thought. It was too late to redeem himself, this he saw. Perhaps tomorrow might bring some chance for him to apologize to her. Anger boiled up again. How dare she slap him. He, the King of Fanelia! He shook his head, slumping down onto the deck with his head in his arms. I'm sorry, I'm sorry… His vision blurred. I'm sorry, Mother, Father…I'm sorry…
Hitomi opened her eyes. She had cried herself to sleep, and her pillow, no, Van's pillow, was damp. Hitomi cleared her throat and wiped her eyes, sniffling a bit. She wondered what time it was. Hitomi had not bothered to change into the sheer nightdress Merla had loaned her. Too transparent, anyway. Her Asturian uniform was wrinkled, but she didn't care. Hitomi walked sleepily up the stairs, peering out onto the deck. It was still dark out, but the first pink rays of the sun could be seen slipping over the horizon. She smiled at first, but the events of the day before returned to her, and her smile vanished. "Van's probably sleeping like a baby in some other room; spoiled palace brat," she muttered, stepping onto the deck.
Van was sleeping, but on deck. He had been staring out at the dark mountains which surrounded the meadow, then his head had tipped forward and he had been, for the moment, asleep. Hitomi looked out and saw his dark form against the railing of the airship, his back moving up and down gently with each breath. Though sleeping, Van's keen ears caught the sound of footsteps moving across the hard wooden planks. He stirred, running a hand through his messy raven hair, trying to smooth it down. Van stretched luxuriously, then remembered. He leapt to his feet. I need to tell her I'm sorry, I have to tell her now, perhaps…perhaps she'll listen… They crashed into each other. "Hitomi? Hitomi, listen," Van began, but Hitomi grabbed his hands and knelt in front of him, unsure of what was proper to do with royalty. "Oh, Van! I just wanted to say—I'm sorry I slapped you and called you all those names, and you can behead me if you want—" "Stop," Van said. Hitomi looked up apprehensively, wondering if she would be forgiven.
"I started it," he said so softly Hitomi strained her ears to hear him. "And…" Van had never apologized to anyone outside of his family before. He knelt down beside her, took her hand. How should I continue? I don't know what to say… "And…Hitomi…I'm sorry." He gasped as Hitomi threw her arms around him in a tight hug. She released him very quickly. "Oh, god, Van…I didn't mean to…Are you all right?" she said, concerned. "I'm okay," he grunted, one hand to the slow-healing wound in his side. "Was I really that bad yesterday, Van?" she asked. "No," Van said slowly. "It wasn't you, or the honey…I guess…Everything I ever got close to was destroyed or taken away from me—my people, my family…even…even my brother." He realized what he had just said and drew away from her. "Er, that is…" Van fled the deck before Hitomi could say anything else. Everything he ever got close to…he's close to me? Hitomi was puzzled, a red flush creeping across her face.
Real smooth, Fanel, Van told himself. He slammed the Sword onto his bed. "I'm an adolescent King of a country since destroyed," he said aloud, a slow smile forming on his features. And you've gone and fallen head-over- heels in love with some girl from the Mystic Moon, a voice in his head said. She's not just 'some girl', Van argued, She's the Tsbasi no Kami, the Goddess of Wings. "Besides," he added, "I'm not in love with her."
The moment the sentence came out of his mouth Van knew it was a complete lie.