Chapter Six
Folken cursed under his breath as he tried to think of a solution to his problem. It was proving harder than he'd thought to get Allen Schezar from his brother and his friends. Secretly, Folken was glad that he didn't have to capture Van; the very thought of sacrificing his own brother to the gods was sickening.
"Folken-sama?" a feminine voice asked.
"Yes, Eriya?" Folken replied.
"Why do you look so troubled? It isn't as though your brother is in danger anymore." Eriya said, looking concerned about him. She was right, of course. But why was he so concerned? Did it have to do with the fact that Dornkirk was trying to take control of Fate?
"Is it Emperor Dornkirk's plans to take over Fate that is bothering you, Folken-sama?" Naria asked. Count on Naria to nail his troubles on the head!
"I guess that is what is troubling me. I'm more worried about what will happen to you two and Van when he takes Fate and alters it." Folken murmured, finally telling his loyal cat-women why he was troubled.
"Then why don't we leave? It is almost guaranteed that whatever Dornkirk has planned doesn't include us! He'll eliminate us as soon as he has the power!" Eriya said.
"But where would we go? If I try to go to Van, he'll be more suspicious of me than ever. After all, I have been trying to capture one of his friends." Folken said, with a sigh.
"Then why don't you die and get it over with, traitor?" a voice asked, as the owner appeared from behind a bulkhead.
"Dilandau……….." Folken muttered, reaching for his sword.
"Emperor Dornkirk had sensed that you were going to betray him. He gave me the permission to execute you and whoever else was siding with you. Too bad you won't get a chance to reunite with Van! Kill him!" Dilandau shouted, as the remaining DragonSlayers attacked. Naria and Eriya immediately came to Folken's defense, armed with not only their swords, but also their claws and teeth. Before they mass converged on them, Folken prayed that Van and Allen would find a way to defeat Dornkirk, before Fate could be altered.
Allen awoke to the sound of rain hitting the window beside his bed.
"So, you've finally decided to wake up." Anka said, quietly.
"How did I get here? The last thing I remember is standing in the hallway and getting stabbed in the arm." Allen said, as he looked up at Anka's tired face.
"You nearly died. Millerna had said that the thing that intruder had stabbed you with was some kind of potion administrator. Hitomi had called it a 'syringe'. But I am glad that you are all right." Anka said, quietly. Then Allen sat bolt upright in his bed, eyes wide and far-seeing.
"Allen? What's wrong?" Anka asked, concerned.
"I feel pain……………….Something's attacking…………….so much blood……….must fly…………but where?" Allen muttered, holding himself and grimacing as his wings burst from their places in his back.
"Allen!" Anka screamed, as the golden haired man fell forward into her arms.
"Tell Van……………..Folken is on his way here……………have Millerna standing ready…………." Allen whispered.
"But why should we have Millerna standing ready?" Anka asked.
"Folken will die if she isn't ready." Allen said, with grim certainty. Anka nodded, then left the room to tell Van and Millerna what Allen had told her.
The rain pounded mercilessly on Folken as he flew. Naria and Eriya clung to him, one desperately trying to staunch the bleeding in the stump where his mechanical right arm used to be, and the other talking to him in order to keep him conscious.
"Folken-sama, I see the Crusade! It's right ahead of us! Just keep going!" Naria shouted, over the roar of the wind. It was true; the faint, gray shape of the ship could be seen even in the heavy rainfall.
"Good. You're going to have to guide me, Naria, I can't see straight right now." Folken said, from between clenched teeth. He hadn't felt this kind of pain since the dragon had bitten off his arm almost ten years before. With Naria directing him, Folken found the hangar (which to his surprise, was open) and landed inside, falling to his knees when his feet hit the ground.
"Brother!" Van's voice shouted, though the pain haze Folken was experience.
"Van……………I made it…………" Folken murmured, before passing out.
"Someone help him!" Naria shouted, when Eriya nearly lost her grip on what remained of Folken's arm.
"Oh hell……………look at him!" one man said, as Millerna pushed through and got a good look.
"What happened?" Millerna asked.
"Dilandau and his DragonSlayers tore Folken-sama's metal arm off. Please help him! He'll die if he loses any more blood!" Eriya begged.
"I'll do what I can." Millerna promised, as she ushered two men forward, got Folken loaded onto a stretcher, and disappeared into the sickbay.
"Don't worry, Millerna's a good healer. She even put Sir Allen back together when no one else could!" Merle said, getting an exasperated sigh from Allen (who had recovered his strength rather quickly) for that remark. As the hours passed, the rain abated, then stopped altogether. In the early morning hours, Van and Allen went out for a quick flight to enjoy the fresh, cool air.
"You know, this is rather relaxing. I could get used to this!" Allen said, before somersaulting in midair, then folding his wings and diving.
"I guess it is, when you're not close enough to people where they can shoot arrows at you." Van agreed, before he decided it was time to go back to the ship. Allen had to agree with the young king; since they were in undeveloped territory, they could do what they wanted without being seen. Had they been over a settlement, things could have turned ugly fairly quickly. During this time, Millerna was busy trying to save Folken's life. Both Eriya and Naria were waiting anxiously outside of the makeshift operating room when Millerna emerged.
"How is he?" Eriya asked.
"Is he going to be all right?" Naria asked.
"He's still under the effects of the anesthetic. It will take some time before he regains consciousness. I did what I could to repair the damage to the arm. It's not perfect, but I think it will heal." Millerna said, tiredly.
"Thank you." Naria said, speaking for herself and her sister when she said that.
"Think nothing of it. I'm a healer, it's what I am supposed to do. Now, you two go and get some rest. I'll let you know when Folken wakes up, okay?" Millerna asked.
"Okay." Eriya said, as she and her sister did as they were told. Millerna sighed with relief; she was glad that she had been able to get the bleeding to stop.
"Millerna?" Van asked, suddenly appearing before her.
"Van?" Millerna asked, confused as to why he was there.
"How is he?" Van asked, sounding a little concerned.
"He's still unconscious." Millerna replied, noticing that Allen was right behind him.
"May I see him?" Van asked.
"I guess you can, but he's not going to wake up until the anesthetic wears off." Millerna warned, as she led Van into the room. There, on a makeshift bed, lay Folken. His chest was swathed in bandages, but that wasn't what Van was looking at; he was looking at the stump where Folken's right arm should have been.
"It's so sickening what they did to him. They gave him a right arm, then they took it away. What do they think they are?" Millerna asked, with disgust in her voice.
"They think they are gods." Allen said, solemnly. Millerna and Van looked at Allen and silently agreed.