Chapter 8: A Question of Honor
A/N (yeah, I know, I'm getting SO lazy these days...): Well, no one reviewed that last chapter, so I assume it was the biggest sh*tload of cr*p ever to grace fanfiction.net and no one would care if I stopped posting anyway...but... I am bored out of my mind right now, and I need something to do. So...I'll just post this chapter and maybe the next if I have time.
In this chapter, I kind of made out Gatti to be a gossip... Hey, he could be, right? I don't suppose anyone really knows much about the 'Slayers...
Also, if anybody was wondering why I chose "Riane" as her name in Zaibach, I was flipping through a book of baby names (which I found, and still do find extremely helpful in naming a character), and it means "red." Kinda fitting for the work she's gonna do now, dontcha think?
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne. The only stuff I do own is what doesn't show up in the series. (Which is in other words...the stuff that stinks)
Well, whoever's reading right now, that's enough of your wasted time. One more thing: R&R!
A heavy knock on the frame of the door interrupted her from her reverie. Her head snapped up to see a boy her age, leaning on the frame. His greyish-blond hair shone from a ray of light from a nearby window. She recognized him as one of the people who accompanied "Folken", and as a fellow Dragon Slayer.
"I assume you're the new recruit...? I'm Gatti," he said pleasantly.
"I'm Riane", she replied.
"I'll show you to your room." He gestured for her to follow him and started taking her through the maze of corridors again.
"I get my own room?"
"Well, we get bunks, but we've never had a girl in the Dragon Slayers before now. Besides," his eyes twinkled, "In my opinion, if you can handle a sword well enough to keep Dilandau's neck at the tip of your blade, you deserve your own room."
Something suddenly occurred to Riane. "Is that why Folken wanted me to become a Dragon Slayer?"
"Most likely. Lately, there have been rumors floating around that Lord Folken and Emperor Dornkirk have been discussing the possible induction of a female in our ranks. I think Lord Dilandau was going to town to find liable candidates when you found him. I suppose you saved him a great deal of a hassle." He smiled wryly.
"Gee, aren't you well informed about the current state of affairs? I wonder, do you happen to be the main circulator of these rumors?" she commented sarcastically.
Gatti smirked slyly. "Maybe..." he said slowly, feigning a look of innocence. "What do you think?"
Riane laughed. "I think you are nowhere near as innocent as you make yourself out to be."
"That would be a correct assumption..."
"Then I suppose you know why I was reluctant, to say the least."
"Of course. It's all over the Vione. I don't believe there's ever been anyone who actually refused to become a Dragon Slayer. After all, you are in one of the highest military positions in the empire. It's an incredible honor. Besides, secrets get out." He winked slyly.
An honor for you, not me. On the contrary, I feel as if I have committed an act of great dishonor, to both my family's memory, and...my conscience, Riane thought glumly.
He stopped in front of a door. "Hey, we're here. This is your room. If you need anything, my and the other Dragon Slayers' rooms are on your left. Lord Dilandau's chambers are two doors to your right, but hopefully you'll never need to go there. I'll come get you at dinner."
"Thanks Gatti."
"No problem. I'll see you later."
"Bye."
Riane opened the door, and surveyed the room, which was bare of furnishing, save the necessities, like a cot, chair, table, mirror, lamp, bureau, and such. On top of the table a quill and a jar of ink rested, along with paper. There was also a bathroom, as well as a small window.
The setting sun shone through that same small window, the scarlet light tinting her quarters a blood-red hue. She shuddered, and turned away from the haunting reminder of her new occupation.
The only person she had ever meant to kill was HIM, and even that she wasn't able to accomplish. Riane cursed herself for not being able to just finish it and deliver the final blow. Why did her damn conscience get in the way? As a matter of fact, why did she even HAVE a conscience? His death would be justifiable since he killed so many innocents, so why had she felt sympathy?
He had ruined her whole life! The pyromaniac had killed nearly all her family, and because of him, Riane was now working under the very person she despised!
Remembering the uniform she was to wear, she reluctantly got off the bed and changed. When she was done, she scrutinized herself in the mirror. The uniform/armor was heavy, but she could manage.
Wearily sagging onto her cot, Riane drifted off to a blissfully dreamless sleep.
A/N (yeah, I know, I'm getting SO lazy these days...): Well, no one reviewed that last chapter, so I assume it was the biggest sh*tload of cr*p ever to grace fanfiction.net and no one would care if I stopped posting anyway...but... I am bored out of my mind right now, and I need something to do. So...I'll just post this chapter and maybe the next if I have time.
In this chapter, I kind of made out Gatti to be a gossip... Hey, he could be, right? I don't suppose anyone really knows much about the 'Slayers...
Also, if anybody was wondering why I chose "Riane" as her name in Zaibach, I was flipping through a book of baby names (which I found, and still do find extremely helpful in naming a character), and it means "red." Kinda fitting for the work she's gonna do now, dontcha think?
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne. The only stuff I do own is what doesn't show up in the series. (Which is in other words...the stuff that stinks)
Well, whoever's reading right now, that's enough of your wasted time. One more thing: R&R!
A heavy knock on the frame of the door interrupted her from her reverie. Her head snapped up to see a boy her age, leaning on the frame. His greyish-blond hair shone from a ray of light from a nearby window. She recognized him as one of the people who accompanied "Folken", and as a fellow Dragon Slayer.
"I assume you're the new recruit...? I'm Gatti," he said pleasantly.
"I'm Riane", she replied.
"I'll show you to your room." He gestured for her to follow him and started taking her through the maze of corridors again.
"I get my own room?"
"Well, we get bunks, but we've never had a girl in the Dragon Slayers before now. Besides," his eyes twinkled, "In my opinion, if you can handle a sword well enough to keep Dilandau's neck at the tip of your blade, you deserve your own room."
Something suddenly occurred to Riane. "Is that why Folken wanted me to become a Dragon Slayer?"
"Most likely. Lately, there have been rumors floating around that Lord Folken and Emperor Dornkirk have been discussing the possible induction of a female in our ranks. I think Lord Dilandau was going to town to find liable candidates when you found him. I suppose you saved him a great deal of a hassle." He smiled wryly.
"Gee, aren't you well informed about the current state of affairs? I wonder, do you happen to be the main circulator of these rumors?" she commented sarcastically.
Gatti smirked slyly. "Maybe..." he said slowly, feigning a look of innocence. "What do you think?"
Riane laughed. "I think you are nowhere near as innocent as you make yourself out to be."
"That would be a correct assumption..."
"Then I suppose you know why I was reluctant, to say the least."
"Of course. It's all over the Vione. I don't believe there's ever been anyone who actually refused to become a Dragon Slayer. After all, you are in one of the highest military positions in the empire. It's an incredible honor. Besides, secrets get out." He winked slyly.
An honor for you, not me. On the contrary, I feel as if I have committed an act of great dishonor, to both my family's memory, and...my conscience, Riane thought glumly.
He stopped in front of a door. "Hey, we're here. This is your room. If you need anything, my and the other Dragon Slayers' rooms are on your left. Lord Dilandau's chambers are two doors to your right, but hopefully you'll never need to go there. I'll come get you at dinner."
"Thanks Gatti."
"No problem. I'll see you later."
"Bye."
Riane opened the door, and surveyed the room, which was bare of furnishing, save the necessities, like a cot, chair, table, mirror, lamp, bureau, and such. On top of the table a quill and a jar of ink rested, along with paper. There was also a bathroom, as well as a small window.
The setting sun shone through that same small window, the scarlet light tinting her quarters a blood-red hue. She shuddered, and turned away from the haunting reminder of her new occupation.
The only person she had ever meant to kill was HIM, and even that she wasn't able to accomplish. Riane cursed herself for not being able to just finish it and deliver the final blow. Why did her damn conscience get in the way? As a matter of fact, why did she even HAVE a conscience? His death would be justifiable since he killed so many innocents, so why had she felt sympathy?
He had ruined her whole life! The pyromaniac had killed nearly all her family, and because of him, Riane was now working under the very person she despised!
Remembering the uniform she was to wear, she reluctantly got off the bed and changed. When she was done, she scrutinized herself in the mirror. The uniform/armor was heavy, but she could manage.
Wearily sagging onto her cot, Riane drifted off to a blissfully dreamless sleep.
