Disclaimer: No, slayers are still not mine. Wish it was though…

Another bountyhunter?

Is he a friend or foe?

They were now only a few days walk away from Seyruun. It was noon, and a very, very hot day. They were walking through and small wood. The shadows of the trees were offering some protection from the rays of the sun, but not enough to make them fell comfortable. Sylphiel suddenly stopped, and looked around. Eruk saw how hesitant she was "Sylphiel, what's the matter?" he got no response "Sylphiel come on now, if there is anything wrong I should know about it". She seemed a little uncomfortable about telling the reason for her suddenly stop. "I know this sounds rather silly" Sylphiel said, looking down and acting a bit embarrassed "you see, there is a small lake right over there behind those bushes, and I was just thinking, that I would love to take a bath".

Eruk started laughing "A bath? So that's what this is all about. I don't mind at all, you just go ahead, I'll wait here". She took a towel from her backpack, and disappeared behind the bushes. Eruk decided that he would rest a bit in the shade. He sat down, closed his eyes and let his mind wander off, as he usually did when he was relaxing, and didn't have the time to sleep. He was a bit jealous of Sylphiel right now, he too would like a bath. But he knew it wouldn't be a good idea to just walk down to the lake as long as she was down there.

A few birds took flight. The sound wasn't coming from the direction of the lake. Eruk opened his eyes, he had a funny feeling of not being alone anymore. He stood up, and looked around. He couldn't see anyone, but he still had that feeling from before. He turned around, just in time to see a shadowy figure casting a flare arrow in his direction. He jumped away, just in time to avoid the blast of fire. "So, you're going to resist?" the voice was deep. It had the sound of confidence. This didn't look like another easy opponent, like the crazy assassin from before. Just from the fact that he was able to use magic, Eruk knew he was facing an opponent, that shouldn't be underestimated.

"Come out here and face me, instead of hiding in the shadows like a coward" Eruk shouted. He hoped his little taunt would work. He figured if his mysterious adversary was as confident in his own abilities as he sounded, he wouldn't want to be called a coward. It looked like it worked. A figure could be seen through the smoke of the exploded flare arrow. The figure was dressed in a beige outfit, that included a hood he seemingly used to cover his face. The man drew his sword, "So, you want to face me head on do you?" Eruk shook his head " Actually, I would rather not fight you at all, but if I have to fight to survive, then I will. Just tell me, why are you doing this?".

The cloaked man raised his sword "I'm doing this because there is a price on your head, and because I need the money to keep travelling". With those words, he made a charge at Eruk. He was fast, much faster than anyone Eruk had ever seen. He was barely able to defend himself against the attack. It was times like this where Eruk was really thankful for his enchanted wristblades. He wouldn't have had time draw a sword, before the attack hit him, but the blades he had, could be ready in less that a second.

His attacker was surprised by learning that his opponent in fact was armed. "Looks like I have underestimated you a bit, but you need more than that to beat me". Eruk knew the mysterious enemy was right, his blows were powerful, much more than he had ever experienced before. And even so, he had a strange felling that his enemy was holding back, testing him in some fashion.

They fought on. Eruk was trying to find weak spots in his opponents style, but he couldn't find any. As a last try he cast levitation, and made a boost jump over the beige man. That worked. His opponent was surprised, and wasn't paying attention. Eruk saw his chance, he made a direct attack at his opponents stomach. His claws pierced the clothes, but when Eruk expected to feel flesh, his blades came to a sudden stop. Eruk was surprised, something was stopping his blades? But his opponent didn't wear any armor. The man removed his hood and mask. Eruk stared in surprise. It looked like the mans skin was made of stone.

Both men took a step back. "Now this is your last chance surrender now, and I might let you live" the stoneman said. Eruk responded by getting into a fighting stance. "If that is the way you want it, then you leave me no choice". Eruk had a feeling that this time, his opponent wasn't playing around. The stoneman raised his arms, and started to gather energy "FIREBALL". The energy flew towards him, but just before it hit, it was stopped by a magical barrier. Both warriors were surprised.

"Eruk! Are you ok?" It was Sylphiels voice. She came through the shrubbery behind Eruk. "Who are you fighting?", Eruk was a bit surprised, couldn't she see it? He looked around and understood her question. The impact of the spell had made a lot of smoke. "So you have an ally? I don't care. I'll just have to take care of both you then." The stoneman cast a wind spell, and blew the smoke away. Eruk was ready for another charge, but it never came.

Eruk could see his opponent staring in wide eyed surprise at something behind him. Eruk turned around. There was nothing special there. Sylphiel were standing behind a bush. He couldn't see her all to clearly. Judging from the towel she still had wrapped around her, she had left the lake at the first sounds of battle. The stonemans look was pure surprise, and Eruk would swear that he has blushing a bit too. "SYLPHIEL!" the stoneman shouted "what are you doing here?" Sylphiel too was surprised "Mr. Zelgadis?". Eruk didn't understand at first, but then he recalled something Sylphiel had told him about her old comrades. So, this was Zelgadis, a swordsman and a master of shamanistic magic. " No wonder he was tough to beat".

It was Eruk who broke the silence first "Sylphiel, is this the Zelgadis you have told me about?" The former shrinemaiden nodded in agreement. The movement almost made her drop her towel. She turned red. Eruk noticed her problems with her temporary outfit, "Why don't you go and get properly dressed? I promise, I wont attack your friend here, unless of course, he makes the first move". To his surprise, Zelgadis agreed.

Sylphiel quickly got behind a bush to get dressed. Meanwhile the two men were staring at each other, none of them felt like they could trust the other. A few minutes passed, and Sylphiel returned, she wasn't fully dressed, but it was better than the towel, apparently she didn't trust the two men to keep up with their little truce.

"Now Mr. Zelgadis, would you please tell us why you were attacking us?" Sylphiel was the first person to ask a question. Zelgadis merely shrugged his shoulders "First, I didn't attack you, Sylphiel, there are somebody who will pay good money to get their hands on your friend here". Eruk looked surprised "A reward? For me? Who would pay money to get me?" Zelgadis shook his head "I don't exactly know. I heard about it from a couple of bounty hunters, and when I saw you, I saw my chance to earn some travelling money".

Eruk was still skeptical of the strange swordsman "So, are you still to be considered an enemy?" Eruk had noticed the rather blunt way the chimera was talking, and decided to ask him as directly as possibly. Zelgadis was silent for a moment, then he answered the question "If it was just you, then I wouldn't give up the chance of earning some extra money. But if you are a friend of Sylphiels, then you are safe. You are not really my concern after all". Sylphiel decided to say something, before the two men started to fight once again. "Mr. Zelgadis, we are on our way to Seyruun, why don't you come with us?" Zelgadis seemed to be a little evasive about the subject. "Perhaps I will, but not until you tell me why you are going there". And so, Eruk and Sylphiel told the chimera the entire story of how the met and why they were going to Seyruun. It actually seemed to catch the interest of the shaman swordsman. He turned to Eruk " So you mean to tell me that you don't remember anything from your past?" Eruk made a nod as an answer. Zelgadis seemed deep in thought. "Helping you could maybe lead to some clues about my cure" he finally said " But I wont come with you just now. I have some other things to look into first".

He got up and started to walk off, just before he reached the bushes he turned around "I'll try to catch up with you in Seyruun, but in case you leave before I get there, just let prince Phill know in what direction you have left, and I'll track you down". With those words he left.

Eruk was amazed, he had never thought Zelgadis would ever help them. Sylphiel told him the entire story of who Zelgadis were, and how he ended up as a chimera. "Perhaps he really think this entire Dark council, hold some information to help him cure his curse". She went silent for a second, she was thinking of another reason. Zelgadis had been rather cruel to her in the beginning, but later on he always had been very protective of her when she was involved in some kind of trouble, perhaps that was the reason this time too? There was no use in wondering whatever the reason was for Zelgadis to help them, at least they had made themselves a friend.

Authors notes:

Again a pretty short chapter. But Zelgadis made an appearance!! YAY!! And don't worry he'll be back. In the next chapter Sylphiel and Eruk will arrive in Seyruun, but not everything is as peaceful as they seem…