Slayers REVOLT: The Calm Before
By Elderdrake
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CHAPTER FIVE
Ambush!
The sounds of light rain sifted through a large forest south of Saillune City. The conditions could best be described as a falling fog, and the only actual drips that reached the soaked moss of the forest floor were what had accumulated for several minutes on the multitude of early summer leaves. It was the kind of weather that inspired toadstools and encouraged most everything but slugs and snails to hunker down and find dry shelter until it passed. Even in weather like this, though, there were usually a few curious chirps from birds and adventurous squirrels. Everything here was silent.
Amidst the silence, at least one animal seemed to be ignoring its instincts. A lone fox trotted nonchalantly along a narrow game trail, nose to ground. In drier weather he would have been orange-red, but the misting precipitation, beading on every hair of his fur coat, gave him the appearance little gray fox-ghost instead. Noticing the silence, the apparition gingerly sat down on the wet humus and raised its snout to test the air for several seconds. Abruptly the fox turned his head aside, nose wrinkling. The smell of human had been expected, but not human laced with badly unwashed body, sweaty leather, musty canvas, and oiled metal. To his sensitive nose, that was a gag-inducing miasma.
Most foxes with any sense would immediately have scrammed for cover at that smell. It usually meant trouble of the deadliest kind, like a hunter or trapper. This wasn't an ordinary fox, however, and people didn't really worry him at all. He did crouch down low, but only to avoid tipping off the stinky bandit with a careless movement.
Ears slowly rotating, nose doing double time, and extraordinary senses working hard on the astral plane, Chirk the Mazoku tried to pinpoint the source of the foul smell. Within seconds, he had picked out the bandit's location. His astral senses picked up a half-dozen others in the area, some in trees. Inching nearer the smelly one, he saw the fellow was carefully camouflaged under a dyed canvas cover and a scattering of dead leaves. An odd shape wrapped in oilskins lay close to the bandit's hand. Chirk recognized it as a cocked crossbow, covered to protect the string from the damp.
Lying down, tail covering nose for warmth and to keep out the reek – a luxury for which Chirk adored his fox form – he settled in for a wait. He decided to pass the time worrying at a problem that had nagged ever since his new orders came down. WHY was the Mistress, or at least her Lieutenant, going through so much trouble to keep a stupid human girl alive? Why were they expending him – one of the best at sneaking, spying, and mischief among all the Mazoku – on such a strange job? Why was this Inverse character important to the Higher-Ups? Chirk had been out of the loop for a long time, but had gotten some news while waiting to report on his last mission. A piece of the Boss had been killed, and so had the Hellmaster and the Demon Dragon King. Big eventsmaybe this sorceress he was watching out for was involved? Was she working for the Greater Beast? Aaargh! And why, WHY after loyally serving a thousand years' vigil over that twitchy super-Ryozoku Coldwind, hadn't he been awarded with a paid vacation or something? Jeez! A single day after leaving his frozen snow bank, he had been ordered into chilly, miserable drizzle. Oh well, at least it was in civilized lands where there were humans to toy with. They were a lot more fun than ptarmigans and arctic hares
Chirk's thoughts continued in that vein for an hour or more. The human never made a sound beyond quiet breathing and an occasional faint rasp of canvas as he flexed muscles to keep them from cramping. Finally, Chirk's sensitive fox hearing picked up a different sound. Hooves five horses. Conversation, muffled by the rain three riders, moving fast with spare mounts, it seemed. Chirk strained to hear what they might be saying, while keeping an eye on the bandit. That fellow finally heard the approaching travelers and slowly reached out and began to quietly remove the wrappings from his crossbow. Then, Chirk tensed as his astral senses began to scream warning. Another Mazoku was materializing in the area, and that meant trouble. Chirk was fast, clever and sneaky, not powerful. If the new arrival was even a moderately tough member of a rival faction, Chirk could be squashed like a bug. Try as he might, though, he couldn't pinpoint the enemy's life force. The little Fox Mazoku curled himself as small as possible and tried to rein in his own astral presence.
So this was what Xelloss had sent him here for. A rival Mazoku working with carefully concealed crossbowmen lying in ambush, and obviously waiting for a specific group of travelers. Plots like that required foiling as a matter of course. But what to do? The other Mazoku had begun using its powers to abruptly thicken the mists. Still unable to pinpoint the enemy Mazoku, Chirk realized this was big stakes stuff. Only one of Lord Dolphin's Mist-Wraiths – way out of Chirk's class - could pull something like this, and for one to be so far from the ocean
The riders had been approaching steadily, quietly talking among themselves, oblivious to the danger lurking along the roadside. Suddenly, from very close by, a voice was raised in loud complaint. The fogs swirled, the crossbowman leapt up to take aim through a convenient and suddenly very clear break in the mist
Chirk grimaced. There was only one thing he could do fast enough. Praying the Mist-Wraith was too occupied to notice, the fox coiled for a pounce. He briefly wished for a few sprigs of mint, because a human that smelled that bad could only taste worse
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"Ooohhhhh! I hate this! Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is worse than having to travel in the rain! And on horseback! My backside is killing me. I've ridden more in the last six days than the previous six years! And I'm hungry!" Lina was slumping dejectedly in her saddle. One hand clutched at the fur-lined oilskin cloak wrapped tightly over her shoulders. Her leggings and her horse both were splattered from the knees down with mud, as the road they were on wasn't paved. She looked sourly over at Zelgadis who was riding unconcernedly, and totally dry. "Ggnnnnn! And it doesn't help that you're not being bothered by it at all. That just makes our suffering worse!"
Gourry echoed her sentiments. "Yah that's for sure. Ah-ahCHOO! Ah-choo! And I'm getting a cold!"
Zel turned to look back at them "Well, I'm sorry guys. I've promised to show Lina my notes on how to work this spell when we get to Saillune, but until then nothing can be done. I can only get it to work on the caster, and it has to be renewed every few minutes unless it's placed into an enchanted item anyway!" He fingered the small aquamarine pendant at his neck. "And I'm not going to take it off just to satisfy your perverse need to spread your own sufferings around! As for this horseback travel, at least you're not slogging through this muck on foot. Be grateful for that!"
Lina grumbled under her breath, staring off into the fog. It had begun to thicken noticeably very noticeably. Then she noticed it was awfully quiet.
Gourry looked about. "Hey, Zel? Lina? Does fog normally thicken this fast?"
Zel reined in his horse. "Now that you mention it Gourry no"
The fog suddenly swirled to Lina's left, and a perfectly clear channel appeared. Her head snapped around just in time to see a burly ruffian rising out of the brush no more than twenty feet away with a cocked crossbow pointed right at the spot between her eyes.
Lina gasped, wincing, turning her head aside. There was no time to get off a defensive spell
Gourry, hearing her gasp, turned to look. Seeing, he began to whip out his sword. But a crossbow bolt might cover the twenty feet faster than even he could move and his mount was on the wrong side of Lina's
Zel, who couldn't see the assailant, was momentarily frozen by surprise at Lina and Gourry's reactions. Then in a flash he realized they were under attack. There would almost have to be more than one. He began incanting
Click! went the trigger Twang! went the string. Snap! Went the limbs. The crossbow bolt shot forward
"Yaaaaaagh!" yowled the bandit. Just before firing, a small russet form had leapt up and bit onto his arm, throwing off the aim. The bolt whistled past Lina, the head and fletchings actually grazing her cheek and ear. A single red lock of hair went flying.
Gourry's blade whistled out of its sheath. A second snap! came from behind him. He whirled. Clang! A second bolt, aimed at the middle of Lina's back, was deflected off into the trees. Lina almost dived off her saddle into the swirling narrow space between her horse and Gourry's. She risked a squashing or a nasty kick from a stray hoof, but that was infinitely preferable than a crossbow bolt to the head.
Zel completed his incantation: "Ray Wing!" and a shell of hardened air formed around Lina just in time. Two more bolts, also whistling through clear passages in the fog, ricocheted off and imbedded in nearby tree trunks, quickly followed by two more. Lina's horse screamed and went down as one of the second set of ricochets sank into its shoulder with a wet thwack. Lina was only saved from flailing hooves by the Ray Wing bubble.
Never one to crumble under pressure or succumb easily to surprise, Lina fired off a Burst Rondo. Dozens of small, firecracker like explosions set the roadside wet brush to smouldering heavily, creating a bit of a smokescreen. Zel did likewise on the other side of the road. They followed up with Fireballs fired at random into the undergrowth. This resulted in yells, screams, and then the sound of running as the assailants fled scattering through the brush.
Lina's expression turned vengeful as she paused, muttering under her breath, then yelled "Rune Flare!!" Spears of flame lanced into the woods, in the direction of some of the scrambling noises. Brush flew, raindrops hissed into steam, and trees toppled as she swept her hands in a broad arc. Then, a gargling cry came back. "Got one of the bastards!" she muttered, satisfied. A few sullen flames licked up to be quickly quenched by the drizzle.
The fog suddenly dissipated into nothingness, accompanied by a faint thrum-pop.
Zel and Gourry looked shocked. Lina normally limited herself to painful but ultimately non-fatal punishment against bandits. The strength of a fireball could be tuned to just singe or burn, not kill outright, but a Rune Flare was almost invariably lethal to humans.
Zel found his voice first "That was a little out of character, Lina" His voice seemed to hover between concern and approval. He was a Heartless Mystical Swordsman, after all.
Lina had reached down to pick up the severed lock of her hair, now mud-caked, and was staring at it a little numbly. She turned to her friends, face pale, obviously in real shock.
"Maybe it'll make the others run away faster. Come on those weren't common thugs out roughing up travelers for loot. He got his just desserts! They were hired assassins, pros, obviously after me, and they almost got me." Her voice broke a bit on the last. She reached up, wincing, to run a finger along her cheek, where a thin line of beaded scarlet traced the path of that first bolt. "Ow! That really stings."
Gourry was grim. "Lina? Are you OK?" He dismounted beside her and tentatively placed a hand on her shoulder. She was trembling noticeably. She shrank into herself for a moment, then took a deep breath and looked up, nodding. "Yeah, Gourry. I'll be OK. Just gimme a sec to appreciate I'm still alive." She began casting a healing spell.
Zel had dismounted and walked over to the struck horse that was still neighing and thrashing on the ground, trying to get up. "Gourry! Help me here!" The swordsman glanced at Lina, who nodded and then jerked her head in Zel's direction. He walked over as Zel looked up.
"Gourry. Soothe her and try to restrain her head a little. I don't want to get bit when I pull this out." He then took hold of the bolt and jerked hard. The horse screamed again. Zel looked it in the eye and added his soothing to Gourry's, then cast a healing spell on the poor beast. Glancing at the swordsman, he quietly said: "She'll be fine, I think." Gourry wasn't sure whether he meant the horse, or Lina, or both.
The blonde swordsman looked up. "Lina? Zel? Do we go after them?"
Lina looked back at him. "I'd like to, but"
Zel, looking into with misty distance up the trail, agreed "You're right. It's too dangerous to go chasing after archers in a foggy forest. I say we ride hard for Saillune and try to get there tonight, or at least as far as possible from this forest and into populated lands" He paused. "Although, what worries me is that that may not be enough. Who could have controlled the fog like that but a Mazoku? And why what the?" Zel suddenly positioned his hands for spell casting. Lina and Gourry turned to see what he had reacted to.
A red fox had trotted out onto the road in front of them, seated itself casually, and was looking them over appraisingly. Its actions were obviously not those of a normal fox. Zel looked ready to blast off a Ra-Tilt, the powerful Astral spell able to slaughter all but the toughest Mazoku.
Gourry was the only one who had had eyes open facing the right direction to see what had spoiled that first, most deadly shot. "Zel! Wait!"
"What?"
"I think that might be what saved Lina's life!"
"What?!" Lina and Zel's heads had both snapped around to face the swordsman.
"Something jumped up and bit onto the first guy's arm. That's the only reason that first shot missed!"
Lina and Zel both turned back to study the fox. Zel kept himself ready to fire.
Lina spoke first. "What are you? Who sent you? Why are you here and, uh, thanks I guess" Her voice trailed off to nothing: could it even answer?
The fox stayed silent. Then, slowly and deliberately, it winked. After a pause it raised one forepaw to point in the direction the attackers had fled and cocked its head disapprovingly. Then it whirled, and in a flash dashed off into the forest on the opposite side of the road.
There was a pregnant pause.
Zel broke it. "Well that was clear enough. Let's ride before they get back."
Lina eyed her horse's mud-covered saddle and flanks with distaste, and sighed deeply. The remounts' saddles were cold and soaked, but at least they weren't dirty. Besides, her own mount was still skittish from being wounded. Then she saw Gourry was watching her with poorly hidden worry.
"Lina? Are you really OK? That was pretty close"
"Of course! Jeez, Gourry, we've had closer calls! But, if I EVER find out who's responsible for this - they'll pay! Gnngngn!" She pantomimed throttling someone then forced out a laugh and waved off his concern.
Looking reassured, Gourry nodded and turned to straighten his horse's saddle and bags. Lina only wished she could so easily assuage the little cold knot of worry that had settled in her gut. As they all mounted up and began to move off at a trot, she mulled over her narrow escape. Even against Kopii Rezo and Phibrizzo, there had been an element of honourable duel to the death – of a challenge openly offered and taken up: of a chance, however small and unwillingly conceded, to defend herself to her fullest ability.
This time, though, had been different. No chances had been offered, nor warnings, nor ultimatums. Someone had tried very hard to simply, coldly, quickly end the career of Lina Inverse in a shallow, unmarked grave. Somebody had stopped playing by what she had thought were the rules, somebody who could order up a Mazoku. She shivered a little and unconsciously drew closer to Gourry and his cantering mount. The idea of a Protector no longer seemed so preposterous.
Gourry's intuition, it seemed, had kept up with Lina's rationale. He suddenly spoke up: "Uhhh, we're in big trouble again, aren't we?"
The three riders all looked at each other. Then, wordlessly, they as one shook reins and clucked their horses into a gallop.
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They had ridden hard for many miserable, wet hours and now the forest had long since disappeared behind them. The foggy drizzle had ended and the moon now occasionally shone through clouds gone ragged. It was cool enough, however, that the horses' breath was steaming slightly. Zel seemed comfortable enough, but Lina and Gourry were obviously feeling the chill through their wet overcoats. Gourry was alternating between sneezes and sniffles. At last, after having already passed several small villages, bright lights ahead announced they were finally coming up on a sizeable town.
Lina had to shout over the drumming and splashing of hooves on puddled, wet cobbles. The road had become paved far enough back that their mud-coating had mostly been washed away by splashes, but they were still wet "Okay guys. I'm dirty, tired, cold, sore, and smell of horse. I'm also really, REALLY hungry. We're at least stopping here for a hot meal." Her tone brooked no dissent.
Zel agreed. "You're right. The horses are close to spent, and it's still a ways to Saillune if I'm right and that's the town of Aspelund. Maybe we should get some sleep, too. If we got an early start, we'd still get to Saillune City by midafternoon." He looked up to scan the sky "Faster if the weather is actually breaking again."
Gourry nodded enthusiastic approval. "Do you know a good place in the town?"
The chimera thought for a moment "Yeah, I've passed through here a few times in the last year. The Royal Arms Inn is good, if expensive, and has a tavern so it will likely still be open." He smiled at Lina "It's got hot baths."
Lina stood up in her stirrups and pumped a fist in triumph. "Yesssss!"
Zel's tone turned serious. "It's also all-stone construction with metal shutters. I think it used to be a Sailleese Army barracks. It'll be safe well safe-ER, at least against humans."
"Let's go." Lina was anxious for that hot bath. Safety was only a secondary concern.
After a brief exchange with the guards at the closed gate that required a flashing of Zel's enameled royal crest, they were let into the town. Five minutes later they were in front of the Royal Arms. Two stableboys dashed out to take charge of the horses. They took one look at the spent, soaked, lathered animals and their faces fell. Hours of cleaning and rubbing down awaited them.
Zelgadis looked to Lina and Gourry but they were already trotting for the inviting warmth of the Inn door. He sighed then turned to look with sympathy on the lads.
"Sorry guys, but we need them and their tack cleaned for early next morning." Reaching into a purse that had thinned dramatically since Atlass City, he flipped them a pair of silver coins. "Another silver each if you can get it all done by the second hour after sunrise."
"Thanks, mister!" they replied in unison, all grins – he had just offered them almost a week's wages. They chivvied the horses into the stable. The prospect of an all-nighter didn't seem so bad with a tip like that in the offing. Zel had already turned for the Inn and waved them off without looking back.
Inside, Lina and Gourry had shucked their muddy overcloaks and dumped them into a hamper by the door. A maid was already leading them towards the baths in the basement. Zel pulled off his own outer cloak, threw it in the hamper, and hurried to catch them up.
Downstairs, the maid pointed out two doors.
"Men's bath hall is on that side, women's on the other. There's change rooms first, baths are through a second door. The baths are kinda different, if this is your first stay. Pick a basin room. Each has two spigots, hot water comes out of one, cold from the other. It takes a few minutes to fill, but that way each guest can have the water as hot as they like it. Soaps, scrubbers and towels are already there. Oh, there's an assortment of clean bathrobes in each changeroom, so feel free to leave any laundry you want done by morning in the basket with your room number." She pointed down the hall "There's back stairs down there that go straight to the second floor when you're done. Your baggage will be brought up to your rooms. Only the taproom is open this late, but there's food warming in the kitchen. You can let the maid upstairs know what you want when you're done bathing, and it'll be brought up. Have a nice stay!" She turned and headed back upstairs.
Zel looked to Lina. "What's our rooms?"
"You're in 11, Gourry's in 12, I'm in 14. I'm impressed Zel, this place is awesome."
Zel was sarcastic. "Yeah, the owner insists on the highest quality of service from his employees. Even so, his price is very reasonable: you actually get to keep your choice of one arm or one leg. Well, I'm for my bath. See ya! Coming, Gourry?"
"Right behind you Zel!" They disappeared into the men's change room.
Lina turned, then nearly sprained her neck doing a double take. Had Zel just tried to mix his sarcasm with genuine humour? No way! She must have imagined it! Shaking her head, she went through the opposite door.
Stripping out of her dirty, wet clothes was an unbelievable luxury. She was startled to discover that the room was toasty, despite being in a stone basement. The warmth seemed to radiate from the floor. Briefly wondering how that was done, she decided to leave figuring it out until after her bath. Spotting a full-length mirror, she checked herself out and sighed, just a little displeased with her assessment. Not far from twenty What I got now I'm stuck with. The only thing that can grow anymore is my waistline, and considering my appetite that's thankfully never gonna happen if it hasn't yet. Oh well, petite, trim and athletic has its definite charms She gave her cheek close examination, reassuring herself the Healed cut from the crossbow bolt hadn't left a scar.
Satisfied, she grabbed a bathrobe that looked like it would fit and headed into the bath hall. The first door was shut with sounds of splashing and contented humming leaking out, so Lina picked the second. After a brief struggle to figure out the spigot system and how to close the drain, she filled her bath and slid in with a sigh of pleasure.
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Wishing she could soak forever, Lina knew she had to get an early start and kept her bath to less than an hour. She had begun to feel muzzy-headed, and she still needed to eat, too, after all. As she padded back towards the change room, towelling her hair, the door of the first basin room also opened and its occupant stepped out. Both Lina and the newcomer opened their mouths to offer a polite greeting between strangers.
It died on their lips. Their jaws dropped and eyes widened simultaneously, registering complete and mutual shock.
" M-Miss Lina?"
"S-S-Sylphiel?"
They stood in frozen, flabbergasted tableau for a full minute.
Then Lina fell back to lean against the wall, one arm covering her eyes. Sylphiel slumped against the doorframe, face lowering into palms.
At the same time, both said: "Oh No."
Each knew the other wasn't unhappy because of real dislike. Rather, an ominous feeling had washed over both of them. It had been more than three years since their last meeting. Shortly after the first, Kopii Rezo demolished Sairaag and all its inhabitants. Shortly after the second time, they had faced Hellmaster Phibrizzo. That showdown had got them all killed one way or another, for a while at least, not to mention having brought the whole world to within a hairsbreadth of utter destruction. Lina voiced her worries first.
"Oh Great No offense, Sylphiel, but now I'm almost certain big trouble is brewing."
Sylphiel looked up and ventured a small smile. "And I was just about to ask what calamity you were heralding this time"
"You're on your way to Saillune? Please tell me you are, Sylphiel, and this isn't a total random coincidence?"
Sylphiel perked up at that. "I, well yes? Miss Amelia's Birthday?"
Lina sagged in relief and loosed her pent-up breath. "Phoo. OK, I won't panic completely unless Xelloss makes an appearance."
"Who?"
Lina remembered Sylphiel had never really met Xelloss, only interacting with him once, briefly, just after the fight with Phibrizzo. She also realized that Sylphiel – a shrine maiden and not-very-world-wise White Sorceress – might not take well to the fact that Lina was on friendly terms with the humm, fourth? most powerful Mazoku still alive and in one piece. Lina put on a desperate smile and tried to wave off the comment as unimportant.
"Uhh-hehe. Nobody. Just some guy who usually only shows up when the world is about to come tumbling down around my ears! So How have you been Sylphiel?"
Sylphiel flashed the redhead a suspicious glance, but let it slide.
"Oh, OK, I guess my Uncle died last winter, poor man, and left me most everything. I, uh, I don't suppose Dear Gourry is with you?"
THAT question was inevitable. Sylphiel had a certain fixation that had never really bothered Lina in the past. Inexplicably, though, this time Lina felt herself tense up at it. Trying to emulate the past nonchalance that had escaped her this time, Lina spun and walked into the change room with a half-shrug. Sylphiel followed.
"Yeah, of course he is. So's Zel. We ran into him in Atlass last week."
"And you're going to Saillune together? That's great! Mind if I join you?" Both were now standing in front of the large mirror, brushing tangles out of their hair. Lina hesitated for the briefest instant before answering, wiping at a damp brow with her towel.
"Sure uh, we have horses, though."
"That's OK. I've got a two-horse cart with me. I can keep up with anything less than a gallop."
"A two-horse cart? What's that all about? You were never one to lug baggage."
It was Sylphiel's turn to hesitate a little. "Oh nothing - It's just a lot farther from Uncle's old place to Saillune than Sairaag. And, I needed to pack some formal wear for Court. That's all."
Lina could tell that most certainly was NOT all, but was too tired to press the issue. She also felt rather hot. Using her headband – it was only damp, not dirty – she tied back her hair. Sylphiel was also finishing. The latter suddenly perked up at the sound of male voices from the hall.
Gourry called into their room.
"Hey Lina! You done yet? I'm really hungry, you know!"
"Yeah Gourry. Just a sec!"
Sylphiel had been brushing carefully, trying to get things perfect. She looked down at her shapely reflection, adjusted the just barely modest enough clothes, and blushed.
"Oh my! And me just in my bathrobe! Oh well, no helping it! It will be so nice to see Dear Gourry again and Mister Zelgadis, too, of course." She started towards the exit,
For some reason, something in her tone set Lina's teeth on edge. And despite that blush, the normally overmodest Sylphiel seemed less than completely embarrassed at the idea of Gourry seeing her in a damp robe.
Sylphiel had walked out, producing a surprised babble.
"What the? Sylphiel?? Where did you oh, gods, NO" that was Zel.
"Wow! Miss Sylphiel! What are you doing here" that was Gourry, his voice trailing off just a little at the end.
Lina feeling hotter, caught herself trying to adjust the bathrobe more attractively around her own form. What the? What's UP with me? Jeez! Shaking her head, she hurried to catch up with her friends.
She couldn't resist stepping back to adjust her tied-back hair one last time, so that the ponytail was a little off-center. Then she whacked herself square in the middle of the forehead and growled a bit. She was acting totally weird! She noticed her forehead was definitely a little on the hot side and mumbled to herself as she made determinedly for the exit. "That must be it, a little fever from the cold and fatigue."
Sylphiel, standing close to Gourry, was saying. " no offense taken, Mister Zelgadis. I had the same reaction when I bumped into Miss Lina in there. Haha!"
Gourry, smiling, was rubbing at the back of his head again. "Well what do you know? Fancy meeting you here Sylphiel. What's your room?"
"Number 15. Say, have you eaten yet?"
Zel, blushing a little and carefully averting his eyes from the more salient revelations of Sylphiels' clingy robe, answered. "No. We just got in and were going to grab a quick bite and head straight for bed. Ahem, we have an early start tomorrow!"
Gourry spotted Lina. To the redhead's relief, he seemed oblivious to Sylphiel's flauntings. "Hey Lina! What do you know! It's Sylphiel, who's also going to Saillune. Her room's right across the hall from you. We should invite her to supper with hey, Lina? What's wrong?"
Lina felt herself swaying on her feet. "I I don't know I feel kinda dizzy. And hot." She tried to look up, but everything was swirling, like looking through tears.
Zel's voice was concerned. "You've gone awfully pale what's up?"
"I I don't know, Zel. It feels like a fever, but it's only come on since I finished my bath" Suddenly, the floor seemed to be leaping up toward her.
"Linnnaaa!" The voice was muffled, and she wasn't sure which of Zel or Gourry somehow stopped the flying floor by grabbing her under the arms. She incongruously found herself hoping it was Gourry.
"Oh no! The assassins earlier today! What if the one that hit her was poisoned?" Lina thought that was Zel.
"Assassins? Poison? What's this about!?" Definitely Sylphiel.
"What can we do?" Gourry maybe? Sounds had become kind of fuzzy.
"DICLEARY!" Sylphiel again laying hands to Lina's head and chest?
"Let's get her upst" Lina didn't catch who spoke or what was said, because at that point she passed out.
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NEXT CHAPTER: Old plots given new life? Villains unite!
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Slayers Characters © 1991-2002 Hajime Kanzaka, Rui Araizumi, a whole lot of other people and not a few multinational corporations. I'm not looking for a piece of their action, just paying homage to it. Story and all other content © 2002 D. Robbins
Special thanks to Debbie for editing and Sharlene, Diane and Kelly for their pre-reading and commentaries!
