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ZELGADISS TORN
Part 10
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Once again, Zelgadiss found himself torn, unable to decide what course of action to take, which way to turn. Was there a right choice to make?
"All right," Zel said in a soft voice. "This is turning out to be a very long night, I'm afraid. But I would like to speak to him one last time first, to explain my way."
Xelloss shrugged slightly, and then passed a waking spell over his minion. "Zelgadiss would like to have a word with you."
The two like, and then again so unalike, men drew closer-- and Greyzel knew. He knew what Zel was about to impart. He lifted a finger to his human master's lips and shook his head. Wordlessly they communicated:
"We must part now, Greyzel."
"We must break the bond, yes? Master Xelloss will help us?"
"That's right. Humans and Demons weren't meant to be bonded this way, after all, I guess."
"We shall work together still?"
"If Xelloss, your master, allows it. We might also be pitched together on opposite sides of a fight someday." Zel looked up sharply to catch Xelloss' eye.
Xelloss simply smiled. "Question?"
"We want to work together to fight off these dragons. Can he stay?"
"I think it would be an excellent opportunity for him to sharpen his skills. Yes, that would be a good assignment. Was there something else you wished to settle?"
Zel nodded. "We would hate to part knowing that we might be set against one another some day. I know such feelings are foreign to such as you, but I…"
"I understand loyally, Mr. Zelgadiss. But since I can't guess what capers you will be involved in… in the future, I can make no promises that you won't meet on unfortunate terms. I can however, say that I will not knowingly set him up against you. That's more assurance than you'll get from any other of my race."
"Yes, I am grateful too, believe me." Zel turned back to Greyzel and said aloud. "Good bye. You have been the closest friend anyone could have…"
"I should say, him 'being' you…and all…" Xelloss chuckled.
"Goodbye, Zelgadissssss," Greyzel said aloud as well with a bow.
By the time he had righted himself, the mind-link was shut down. Zelgadiss was alone in his head. Even Xelloss had cut off his link with the human.
And, what's more, Xelloss was gone.
Greyzel was standing staring as Zel. "I think we ssshall have sssome fun now!" He snapped his thin clawed fingers as he whispered some enchantment, and the green dragon players in the battle sprang to action once again.
Greyzel knew every move of Zel's. He also knew of his weakened defenses without his golem covering and demon speed. With amazing strength and agility, the demon protected Zelgadiss on one hand, while, on the other hand, super-charging Zel's spells with his own hugely powerful spells. Together, Zel and Greyzel lit the nighttime sky with volleys of light-balls and sprays of enchanted sparks, wiping out every one of the green dragons from the valley; that is, with the exception of the caravan leader.
Greyzel hovered over Lina and asked, "Shall I wake them all up, the humansss and ssspecial dragonsss?"
"Yes, although it will be difficult to explain what happened." Zel smiled. "Why not let them all sleep til morning, then we'll think of something."
Greyzel nodded in agreement. "The nasty green dragon has much gold on him and when he wakes up he will not know what happened to his compatriots." Greyzel smirked a fanged grin, and then winked. "I'll take care of sssneaky bussssinesss, you sssee."
Before Zelgadiss could speak, his eyes closed under a weak sleep spell. Greyzel caught him before his head hit the ground, and laid him out near Gourry and the disarmed green dragon leader. Greyzel placed the green dragon's weapons under Zel's legs.
Yes, wait until the sun rises. Let the human's get much needed sleep. Trust Greyzel…
The first flicker of light rays crested the Eastern mountain peaks, painting the sleeping figures of Lina and company with a pale glow. How peaceful they all looked… Enough of that! With a clap, the demon removed the sleeping curse and waited for Lina, he guessed, to awaken first. As the others began to arise, groggy and foggy-headed, Greyzel started to prance and hiss in impish delight at her feet.
"What's yer problem? Where is every…oh…they're all here… What happened?" Lina's voice grew louder and more irate as her mind cleared.
Greyzel, then, gleefully explained how his master had come and removed the green dragon threat. Lina was mollified when he told her of the dragon's treasure and food hoard on the caravan parked nearby. Amelia believed him when he told her that the other dragons had scattered when beset by Xelloss' grandeur. To Greyzel, the difference between 'scattered unharmed' and 'scattered to bits' was negligible, and so, not dwelt upon. The one green dragon leader, Kuralk, remained to guide them peacefully through the valley. So, all had ended well, right?
Right. Zel kept his mouth shut.
The happy company left Kuralk standing there in a daze and set off to search the caravan for some breakfast. It was about half way through the meal that Kuralk put in an appearance. He avoided the others' gaze.
Lina was sorting out the money from the dragon's other valuables, and packing them in separate pouches. A rather deflated Kuralk assisted them with saddling the horses and he actually blushed when Filia quietly passed by him. Had she touched him? Soon the company of humans, dragons and one demon left on the road.
At noon, the Lina called a halt and Gourry got the job of building a campfire while Val and Zelgadiss disappeared into the forest to find firewood. Greyzel shadowed Zelgadiss as usual. Filia could sense both fear and anger as the lone green dragon, Kuralk, crept towards her. Her empathic 'dragon' sense was not really directional, but knowing that someone is within a few paces of her made them easy to locate with her normal senses. Without any fuss Filia turned and faced a clump of bushes.
"You can come out if you wish, I know that you are in there," she said calmly.
Kuralk emerged looking rather sheepish and faced the lovely young dragon lady. Suddenly Filia sensed that Kuralk was about to tackle her and she just had enough time to disable him with a blow from her mace before the man pounced. Filia grabbed the dragon-man's jacket and fell backwards placing her right foot in the Kuralk's stomach. When her back hit the ground Filia kicked as hard as she could with her right leg while maintaining her grip on the jacket until the dragon-man's body passed over her head.
The sickening thud of a body hitting a tree trunk was still echoing in Filia's ears as she bounced back onto her feet. Filia didn't even bother to see if her attacker was still in a fit condition to continue; she adopted a fighter's crouch and faced Kuralk. When Filia could sense fear was emanating from the dragon she stood upright.
"You are beginning to get on my nerves," said the lovely dragon lady, running her fingers through her hair to free it from her headdress.
Her opponent nodded.
"Aren't you going to apologize?" asked Filia, sardonically.
The man looked at the woman as if she were mad and quickly shook his head. Then he walked a big circle round around her. "I-I've never seen anyone as beautiful…as strong as you. You are…not human. Are you…as I believe you are…a Golden Dragon?"
"That's none of your business," said Filia. "What I am, is going to remain…" she chuckled to herself a moment before saying the last words, "…a secret! Now, go back to the camp and stay away from me, understand?"
Kuralk nodded then scuttled back down the path to where Lina was adding a fireball to Gourry's towering stack of logs. A relieved Filia straightened her clothes, and tucked in her tail, which was threatening to appear, just in time to see Val and Zel return with a load of stones to finish off the cooking surface.
Lunch and the remainder of the day's journey went without incident.
No inn was found as their journey took them through lightly forested territory devoid of population. Having no other choice, the company of travelers took lodgings for the night on the ground under the stars. Fortunately, there were no more dragons and Kuralk, with whom Filia had an understanding of sorts, remained silent and sullen, turning out to be an uninteresting guest.
The next morning a mental message from Xelloss reminded Greyzel to 'mind the skies for spies' before starting out. This in no way worried Lina, but Zelgadiss had gotten used to the protection of his demon senses, now missing, and fretted slightly. They were on horseback- thanks to the dragon's leavings- which allowed them to move quickly, but they were also clearly visible on the road through the wide-open valley. About mid-morning, the road dipped back under cover of a forest and Zel calmed measurably.
Filia, however, remembering her previous encounter with Kuralk, began to get seriously tense. "We are in trouble," said Filia suddenly, as she sensed other beings nearby.
Greyzel snarled, "Not dragonsss!"
Before Lina and company could draw their weapons, light-skinned, park-haired men began dropping from the trees all around them. Lina did a quick count and discovered that there were two dozen men, all sword-in-hand against three men, three women, and a boy, Val. Greyzel had 'disappeared', just like a demon, inexplicitly but on cue, sensing trouble in which he wasn't interested in participating.
They dared not to activate their magic and draw too much outside attention, but, given the fact that two of the men were Gourry and Zelgadiss, tried fighters, and the boy was an Ancient dragon partially trained in self-defense, and that all three of the women were adept at hand-to-hand combat as well as sword fighting, the odds were not nearly as bad as they seemed. Especially if the robbers took Lina at face value.
"Dismount," barked the man who appeared to be their leader.
Calmly all three front riders, Lina, Zel, and Gourry, dismounted their mares. The two men were relieved of their swords and knives. Lina was more or less ignored while the warriors were being disarmed, so she passed the time by lifting an ugly looking dagger from one of the men who carelessly came too close to her. Filia, Amelia, Kuralk and Val hopped off their horses when commanded and waited nervously, wondering what Lina was up to. None of them had any visible weapons. Filia's mace was well hidden beneath her skirts. Val's tiny dagger was sheathed by his ankle under his pants. Amelia's sword was handing on the far side of her horse's saddle. In addition, Kuralk's sword and knives were stored on Zelgadiss' horse.
The pouch with the 'lifted' dragon gold seemed to cause the most interest and a lot of attention was diverted to counting the contents.
Pleased with the amount, the leader paid attention to the beautiful girls; Lina first. "Come here lassy," he ordered, and Lina meekly walked over and stood before him.
The man pulled Lina to his side.
"You will come with us; I have some good uses that I could put you to. Tie the other men up. If they are lucky someone will find them before they die," he scoffed. "Oh, and the boy, leave him, but bring along the other lovely lasses as well."
Lina had not liked the man's armed wrapped so possessively around her. No one…absolutely NO ONE owned Lina Inverse! So, she made her move, kicking the leader hard on the back of his knee she brought the man down. In a flash she grabbed a handful of the man's hair and pulled it violently back, leaving his throat exposed. Then she put the dagger across it and pressed just hard enough to break the skin and cause a trickle of blood to run down the man's neck, for theatrical effect. "One silly move and I am holding the hair of a dead man," Lina said, in a calm voice. She did love stealing Xelloss' moves and lines, when the situation suited her!
The man in her grasp was radiating fear and trying desperately not to do anything that might panic the girl. The other bandits signaled confusion, as they had never had any experience of things going wrong before.
Their normal operation involved jumping small bands of travelers-of whom they outnumbered at least 2 to 1- stealing all their valuables, and then tying up their victims in such a way that they would not get free until the gang had made good their escape.
Gourry and Zelgadiss now moved as swiftly as Lina had moved. Seeing that as a signal, Amelia jumped to action too, leaving Filia to cover the dragons apparently under her charge, Val and Kuralk. Within a very short while they had recovered their possessions and had totally disarmed all two dozen robbers. Lina still held the dagger at the leader's throat while Zelgadiss stood ready to dispatch the first of the others with the point of his sword to his guts.
"No, Zel!" said Lina, "We don't wanna leave a blood trail. Remember, we're just a peaceful envoy on our way to Atlas City. Just tie them up."
Zelgadiss gave the plucky redhead an uncertain look, but obeyed, albeit a touch reluctantly. "All right, Lina."
"You take orders from a little girl?" asked the bandit leader with a smirk.
Gourry grinned at the man. "I don't see you disobeying the lassy!"
The appearance of the bandits had actually brought Lina advantageous news, which was: a village must be near. Bandits hanging about usually meant that travelers frequented this area. And, where there were travelers, there were accommodations. Thankfully, they found an inn for the night after only a short march.
Lina raked her eyes over the proprietor. Yes, he was a large and rather plump man. She found this to be a first-rate and encouraging sign in an innkeeper, since it usually indicated that the food was good and plentiful. All three ladies were led to a huge bedroom with a bed large enough to sleep a family of six. "This will do," Lina said, "…for us. What about the guys?"
It would cost a bit more, for another room. They got another room, Lina insisted. Gourry, Zelgadiss Val, and Kuralk would share a room with a similarly sized bed.
"Better'n the ground," Gourry mumbled to Zel who sighed, "I guess…" Sharing space intimately with an enemy (and he did consider Kuralk to be the enemy) was did not bode well with Zel.
The smell of roast pork filled the air as they descended for dinner, causing everyone's mouth to water in anticipation of a good meal. They were delighted to find that the innkeeper's wife was indeed a gifted cook and in the process of roasting a whole pig on a spit above the kitchen fire.
The meal was a jovial affair. The locally-brewed ale flowed freely and plates continued to be handed back for second and third helpings. By late in the evening, it was a more than slightly inebriated trio of girls that went upstairs to their large bed. Val had long gone up to sleep in his huge bed, claiming the dead center for himself.
Zelgadiss drank tea only, and so, kept his head clear. He would watch Kuralk all night, if he had to. As it turned out, he needn't have bothered worrying. Kuralk passed out the moment his bleary head hit the floor, missing the bed entirely. Greyzel put in a brief appearance, promising to 'mind the stupid dragon' for Zel. Relieved of 'watch' duty, the young man settled on the vacant side of Val and slept soundly all night, trusting his safety to the demon, which had once been a part of himself.
The next day dawned bright and clear. They stuffed themselves shamelessly with an enormous breakfast. "That's what the gold's for!" Lina cackled in her brash manner as she settled the tab, and then set out on the course to Atlas City with her comrades at her heels.
A little further along the track they came to a crossroads. At Lina's order the Gourry, Val, and Filia took the paths to the right and Zel and Amelia to the left, while Lina and Kuralk continued on the path that was most likely to lead directly to their goal.
"Now listen, Kuralk," Lina said. She halted mid stride and stood pointing up into his face. "Filia and I had a long talk last night. Well, not long exactly, but a talk just the same."
He nodded glumly.
"Keep yer distance, got that?"
"It's just that," he shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "I think I know her from some time back. Like when we were just kids or so. I was…my folks was like servants to her family's estate."
"And you and she were buddies, huh? And nobody liked that, huh? Then what?"
"They made my whole family leave…away from the entire settlement! We got to the wildlands and teamed up with others. Others who wanted freedom and rights like the Golden's had. I mean, we weren't slaves, but we couldn't run nothing and never got to hold on to much money." He straightened a little and looked Lina in the eye. "You seem to be a right smart lady who don't take nothin' from nobody. I guess that's why I'm tellin' ya all this."
"Yeah, ya got that right!" Lina frowned. "Filia doesn't know you, but I think she thinks you know something about her. You play us straight here, and get us past any dragon outposts and I see what we can do for you when we get to Atlas City. I'm not the one to stick my neck out for others, but the princess with us will."
He nodded.
"Try and trick us and the deal's off, got that?"
"I've seen you fight. I can respect that kind of force."
"You think that was fighting?" she laughed. "You ain't seen nothin', bud!"
He bristled and swung around at the sound of footsteps, lots of them.
"Ya don't think I'd just let my friends go off on their own for long do ya?" Lina grinned and turned to meet Zel's group and Gourry's group. "So? Which was the right path?"
"Yours, Lina," Zel sighed. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"
"Damned straight I did! That innkeeper showed me a map over breakfast…you know when I went back for another helping in back…"
"'Cause they weren't bringin' yer food out fast enough, right, Lina?" Gourry smiled.
"Yep! I just needed at little quality time with our guide here. I think everything will go smoothly at our next checkpoint, which, if I understood the map correctly, is on the other side of this forest!"
Zelgadiss and Amelia had used their time alone to some advantage as well. She had noticed Greyzel's absence and Zel's subdued behavior. Something had happened.
"Mr. Zelgadiss, please. Tell me what has happened. I wouldn't have asked with the others so… close, but, you are acting… different."
"You can tell?" he started, then relaxed. No she was unable to detect mind-links, stupid. "Oh well… I was going to tell you, eventually. Xelloss removed our last link. Greyzel and I had a mind-link left by error following our separation. With it I could communicate with him. However, it was weakening his demon qualities, I suppose, making him less useable to Xelloss. It was…hard."
Amelia understood. Of course she would! Zelgadiss had just given up a part of himself to Xelloss, for all time. "Oh, Zelgadiss," she cried sympathetically.
If it were not for the horses in the way…
Actually, wild horses couldn't stop Amelia! With a spell, Amelia floated out of her saddle and across the short distance to Zel's horse. He saw her coming and decided quickly what to do. He grabbed the reigns to her horse as she dropped them in one hand and guided her to his 'lap' on the saddle-less horse with his other hand.
"Er, come for a visit?" he uttered with a blush.
She smiled and wrapped her arms around his middle, squeezing tightly to hold on. As if he'd let her fall!
He was firm, but not rock-hard. She smiled into his shirt.
He was wishing he had a bit of that rigid surface still to ward off her constricting clutch. But not really. He felt her relax her grip as he told her the entire story and how Greyzel would be learning and helping them at the same time for this mission. It wasn't so much that he'd miss the voice in his head (though he would at times) but the constant company.
Then it was Amelia's turn. She assured him in no uncertain terms that she could be that constant company, if he so chose her.
He smiled. Oh, did he choose! He bravely kissed her, first tentatively in the nose, then as a tiny frown of disappointment creased her brow, he kissed her more deliberately on her lips. Once he had taken that step, the next few steps to further their romance could not be far behind… he thought pleasantly to himself.
"Oh, Mr. Zelgadiss, look! The path circled back to Miss Lina's! Isn't that her?"
Yes, yes it was. Damnit all… With a sigh of some regret, Zel helped Amelia re-situate herself back onto her own steed, and the pair rode on to meet up with Lina. Gourry and Filia, they could see, were also heading their way. So much for privacy!
Lina was sitting on her mare at the edge of the forest observing the small walled city before them. The walls were very new and high. They obviously had been built with a view to keeping would-be intruders out, as they clearly could not be climbed. However a well-guarded gate punctured the fortification and everyone who passed through had to produce papers.
"Okay, Kuralk, this is where you can make a difference. Blow it, and I will surely blow it as well, if you get my meaning?" Lina's eyes narrowed menacingly.
Kuralk certainly did get her meaning and the destruction and death that it implied. He rode to the front, stopping beside Lina, but before he could speak to the gatekeeper, dozens upon dozens of dragon-guardsmen poured from hidden cracks in the formidable wall. Well, obviously more than just cracks; there were carefully disguised openings in the wall just for sneak attacks.
"No!" Kuralk protested. "These are emissaries to Atlas City from Seyruun. One is a princess! They have reason to further our cause, if they are treated with courtesy, and not conspired against!"
Filia could understand the green dragon orders and secret signals far better than she had expected. Protecting Val with one arm, she nudged her mount up to Lina's and translated.
"They seem to speak a dialect of my own language. I thought they were only a few steps up from dragon cuisine," Filia added.
"Lucky fer us," Lina growled. "Seems there's plenty of misunderstanding ta go 'round."
"Not that much!" Filia said indignantly. "I told you they were sneaky, conniving low-lives, and see their treachery!"
"Yeah," Lina agreed as she yanked out her sword. "But that Kuralk dude. He knows ya from the past. Waaaay back an' he's got some family gripe, but still seems to be takin' our side in order to try talkin' it out in Atlas City."
Filia thought deeply a minute. She looked up. Kuralk was explaining the company's peaceful intent and how their services could be used by the green dragons to regain their lands.
"What are they saying?" Lina asked Filia.
"They have some agreement with the black dragons, which siding with us compromises. I think…they have orders to kill us all. Oh, Lina…they're not listening to him!"
Lina nodded and turned, facing back to Zel, Amelia, and Gourry. "Get ready to fight!"
"Kill the humans! Kill the traitor, too!"
That was the last shout Lina and her companions heard before all hell broke loose.
Lina slung 'Fireballs' like afterthoughts, while screaming out offensive orders and managing her terrified horse. Gourry sliced a path for her, driving his horse through the bloody remains as he went. Zelgadiss recommended that Amelia focus on protecting the little boy, enabling the stronger fighter, Filia, to move freely. Even if he mostly meant to keep Amelia out of the fray, there was no way for him to protect her and fight at the same time. Of course, Amelia could hold her own…
Their plan, as always, was to hold off the offense long enough for Lina to pull off one of her more powerful spells. Those, however, had rather lengthy incantations and drew vast amounts of the tiny sorcceress' energy. But, there were too many opponents. Filia couldn't transform without becoming vulnerable. Gourry was strong, but he couldn't hold off the hordes for much longer. Lina had to get off a big blast!
She was frustrated! Her first attempt at a 'Dragon Slave' incantation, ended abruptly when one green dragon warrior broke through and yanked her off her mount. Zelgadiss dove to the ground murmuring the final words to 'DUG HOLT'!
Gigantic spikes of rock grew from the ground near his feet, growing at light speed, piercing dragons, impaling them mid stride. The spikes continued to radiate out from the shaman, separating Lina from her assailants.
"Thanks!" she shouted.
"Right!" he growled and lashed out at his next attacker.
Lina was safe, but still she had no time for a complete incantation. And she couldn't help but note that her friends were losing. "This would be a good time for Greyzel to put in an appearance…"
"At your ssservice, Missss Liina."
"Greyzel! A useful Mazouku at last!"
"Dragon troubless, again? Want me to get rid of them?"
"Heh!" Lina barked in jest. "As many as you like. Be my guest!"
"As you wissshh," Greyzel grinned his fanged grin and bowed low. "Bessst get away…to sssafty, Misss Lina!"
He glanced around, found Zelgadiss, and teleported to his side. He knew they had once been a combined individual, but was very pleased to be a bonded demon and was not attracted to the human now as he had been before, but…still…there was all that past.
"Zel-ga-disssss," he hissed.
"Greyzel! You've come to help?" Zel asked, afraid it might not be so.
"Yesss. Pull back far from the wall. You, Lina, all my friendss, yess? It will be dangerousssoon."
"It isn't now?" Zel smirked, and then sighed. "Sure, I'll get them to back off over that way. Good enough?"
"Yesss. And get down."
Zel nodded, then wheeled his horse on its heels and moved toward Lina, passing on the orders to Amelia and Gourry in turn. Within five minutes, Gourry was leading a retreat path back and to the left. Amelia contacted Filia and they moved back as well.
"What's he going to do?" Filia asked.
Zel answered. "What do you think?"
Filia's eyes went wide, but she knew it had come down to 'them' or 'us' and she wanted Val to have a chance at living at least. "Where's Kuralk?"
Zel was about to ask 'Why?', when Filia bounded away back into the oncoming host, "Filia! No!"
Filia was brought up short, by Greyzel. "Too dangerous for niccce dragonsss."
"Let me GO! I have to save Kuralk! He shouldn't have to die…"
Greyzel had transported the two of them into the air. Filia dizzy with the sudden change in altitude was speechless. The demon located the green dragon 'of interest', and then without warning, teleported to Kuralk's side, grabbed him around the waist. "Hold on…"
Nearly instantaneously, Filia, Kuralk and Greyzel reappeared close to Lina's party. "Lucky dragonssss. Ssstay here. Sstay sssafe!" Greyzel gave them a warning nod, and then disappeared.
"What is he going to do, Miss Lina?" Amelia asked.
"What I couldn't," Lina grumbled. "But can now…" Lina closed her eyes and began repeating the words of a long incantation.
"Better get down!" Gourry and Zel shouted together. Regardless of whatever Greyzel might do, Lina's 'Dragon Slave' would turn those walls and everything within a half-mile circle into rubble in a few moments.
She needn't have troubled herself. Lina could see the flash of brilliance through her closed eyelids. She dropped her hands and opened her eyes. The wall was gone. Not damaged or blown, but just plain gone. The wall was gone. The fighters were gone. The dragons were all gone. The road continued on smoothly as it had done before. It looked cleanly swept, however.
"Dear Cephied…" Kuralk gasped.
"I would thank the great Lord Shabrinigdo, if I were you!" came a disembodied voice.
"Xelloss!" Lina looked up and spotted Xelloss and Greyzel floating serenely overhead. "Did you do…that?"
"Who me? Oh, no…I just came to see what all the excitement was about. Did my general perform to expectations?" Xelloss smiled and drifted closer to where Lina was getting up from the ground.
"Yeah, well he interrupted my plans but," she began a tad grumpily.
"He did fine…great, in fact!" Zel beamed. "He has amazing power!"
Xelloss smiled, "Well, coming from you, that was a compliment indeed! It appears that our job here is done. Time to move along. WE may not be seeing you for a long time, from your viewpoint, Miss Lina. Things are getting busy elsewhere."
"But what about the rest of the dragons?" Lina asked. "There are bunches more between here and Atlas City, right?"
"Yes, I know attacks have been a growing problem, but not…" Xelloss grinned, "…one of ours!" and vanished.
"I can tell you that your path ahead issss…dragon-free. You will be sssafe, Zel-ga-dissss."
"Thank you…Greyzel. I…I will miss you. Visit us, when you can, all right?" Zelgadiss held out his hand to shake.
As best he could with his long claws, Greyzel took hold and shook excitedly. "Yessss, I'll do that. When I can." He dipped his head in deference toward Lina, and then disappeared in a blur.
Zel seemed a little low spirited as he helped ready the horses for their next adventure on the road. Amelia hopped to his side, sensing his needs, and with a passionate kiss, pumped him up like a leaky tire.
He even smiled a genuine smile in return. "Thanks, Amelia," he said in a hoarse whisper.
"My pleasure!" she said brightly. "Just remember, I'm here whenever you feel lonely or could use a hug, okay?"
"I won't forget," he smiled with a blush spreading across his nose. Zelgadiss couldn't hide his attraction for the princess any longer, and from her affirmations of affection for, he assumed that he could proceed 'wooing' her. Maybe, he thought with wry smile, when they got back to Seyruun, he'd have a talk with her father. Being a prince might not be so bad an idea…
"Let's try that again," he whispered and pulled her close.
For the first time in oh so long, Zelgadiss felt complete, undivided, and unbroken. He was no longer indecisive about what direction to take; his future held his dreams, and they were warm, positive, and filled with contentment and joy. He was no longer Zelgadiss torn, but Zelgadiss intact. He had survived a curse which would have killed most any other mortal. He had been torn apart, reformed with parts from another race, and survived, alone and angry. Then, as that unholy mix deteriorated, he fought for his humanity. He made a covenant with the Mazouku Lords, and he survived having his soul in their grasp as…once again…he was torn apart. This time, however, he had friends at his side. But they alone were not enough to cure him completely.
What was needed to make Zelgadiss complete? He was just a young man prepared to make his way in the world. He had friends, plus one other very special person to share that future with-- Amelia. As trite as it sounded, Zelgadiss was whole now that he had discovered, won, and returned love. He gazed into Amelia's eyes, hoping that she would know how much she meant to him, because he knew he was not ready to tell her yet in words. Their lips met and held for what would have been a lingering kiss, when Lina's shrill call worked to separate them.
"Hey, lovebirds! Break it up over there, huh! Let's go to Atlas City and finish the job!" Lina shouted.
"Okay, Miss Lina!" Amelia cried out. She clasped Zelgadiss by the hand, gave it a meaningful squeeze, and dragged him along. "We're coming!"
Filia had been in a close and deeply private conversation with Kuralk. She had finally admitted to recognizing the young dragon man with whom she had grown up as a dragon-child. They had a long way to go to building any kind of a relationship, but at least they were starting a better foundation. She was introducing little Val to him, when Lina's 'commands' were heard. She blushed, thinking that Lina was referring to Kuralk and herself, and was considering firing back a sharp retort, when she spied the actual 'guilty' party. She smiled. At last that strange young human was warming up to the little princess.
"Val? Are you going to ride with me?" she called out to her son.
"Can I ride with HIM?" Val pointed to the tall dragon he had just met. "He's got lots of stories like uncle Xelloss."
Kuralk's eyebrows shot up as his shocked eyes met Filia's amused ones.
"Certainly, if Kuralk doesn't mind. You can even share of few of that Mazouku's stories with him, if you'd like. I'm sure they'll not be akin to any he's heard before." She waited to see if Kuralk would offer the boy a hand up, or refuse to acknowledge them now knowing their close ties with the 'enemy'.
"Sounds very…interesting," Kuralk grumbled. He heaved the child into the saddle with him and continued. "Xelloss is a very old Mazouku. I suppose he has seen many things in his lifetime, eh?"
"Yeah, I guess. Once he gave Lina the wrong directions to a cave and made her circle around for days until she'd nearly run out of food and then…" Val began enthusiastically.
Lina, who had caught a piece of the sentence containing her name shouted, "He did what? Val? Speak up there!"
Gourry strode in front of her, a bold move, blocking her way. "Yer gonna catch up to them faster on yer horse. I…ah…got it here, if yer want?"
Ah, yes…not so quick-witted, but not so dumb either. Handy guy to have around… "Yeah, sure…thanks Gourry," she mumbled as she took the offered reigns. "So how much farther to a place where we can stay tonight, do ya think? Five hours? Six?"
He shook his head. "I dunno, but since Amelia's paying fer the rooms, do ya think we can get more, er…ah…private accommodations?"
Lina's eyes narrowed as she looked at Gourry beneath long eyelashes. What was the man thinking? "Eh?"
"Oh, ah…those two look like they'd like a little time to themselves. To talk and all…ya know…I was just thinking…" the tall man tilted his head toward Zelgadiss and Amelia.
"Yeah, well…I'll do the thinking here. You keep yer eyes open for trouble, got that? Yeah? Well, don't you forget who you're traveling with, Lina Inverse, Sorceress Supreme!"
He smiled good-naturedly and shook his head, "Can't ferget that…"
Some where on the astral plain, two spirits were chuckling in amusement, sharing a mutual moment of pleasure.
"So, you didn't warn them about the Black Dragons, did you?"
"Oh no, Massster. Path isss free."
"Well, yes, for now. But now that Lina and her friends have destroyed their Green Dragon mercenaries, the Black Dragons will have Seyruun targeted for their future strikes."
"Very dangeroussss…"
"Oh, well, yes, but fun too, don't you think? Humans make the best toys. I mean, why not use them to wipe out the Dragons, right?"
"But we are their…friendsss, too? They thanked usss for helping."
"They always do. We make them feel grateful to be human and they provide us with the sport and the game!"
"What do I do next, Masster?"
"I think you can go stir up some trouble, spread some rumors."
"Rumorsss?"
"Yes, like how Lina Inverse has taken on the Green Dragons! And how she won't stop at that…the Black ones are next!"
"Yessss, ass you wish, Masster Xellossss." Greyzel transported to the land and began his next job, like the good demon he was.
The End.
Because… Zelgadiss Torn is now Zelgadiss Intact.