Destroying my spirit, stealing my heart

By: Spitfire_Sae

Chapter four: Betrayal

Didication: I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Ice Archer girl, my first official reviewer. No offence to the other guys I love you loads, but you were brought to me by Zadien, and Ice Archer Girl read my fic without prompting, I think. So thankies Ice Archer Girl! Oh and check out her fics, they're really good.

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade. I don't own Amber either, she belongs to Zadien, check out her fics, and check out our combined fic FIGHTING SPIRIT by Spitfire_zadien

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"Kai, wake up!"

A gush of water sloshed onto his face. Kai's eyes snapped open and he jerked up into a sitting position, spitting out water which had invaded his air ways. Furious he looked up and regarded his most trusted companion and Captain, who was watching him with an amused expression on his handsome face.

"What is the meaning of this, Johnny?"

"I apologize my Liege, but you seemed to be having a nightmare and it is imperious that we move today. We cannot stay here any longer, and now that you have recuperated from your escape, we must leave. The soldiers will be here soon."

Kai, who had woken fully during that speech, scrambled to his feet and immediately began rolling up his rugs. Had it really been days since Johnny had found him, lying unconscious in the woods? It had felt like an age had past, yet he wished he could stay here a little longer. While it was true he had recuperated his strength, he still did not feel quite well enough to begin journeying again. He glanced at Johnny. His face was grim as he stamped out the fire and began to cover it, so that no one would suspect anything. Johnny didn't look up to journeying quite so soon either, but they both knew they had to leave soon or risk getting caught again.

"I got that dream again, Johnny."

Johnny looked up surprised. "Again?"

"Yeah, more vivid this time. I saw her again."

Johnny nodded, knowing exactly who he was referring to. She was the woman aided them both in escaping. She had appeared to him when he had all but given up and renewed his strength and hope again. She was an incredibly beautiful woman but not his type.

"I've never seen her before, so what I wonder is how exactly she got into the Keep and managed to help us?"

"Well, from what you said to me about your escape, she seems to be a sorceress of sorts. And strong."

Kai nodded, he had figured that for himself. He approached his child hood friend and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"We should be making our journey now.", Johnny muttered.

Kai nodded. "Where are we going?"

"Tala says he'll meet us in the woods surrounding Kaneite." "Where is Tala?"

Johnny's handsome face turned grim. "He had some work to attend to in Vesta."

"Vesta? But surely he knows that should he be sighted, he'd be recognized immediately.", Kai exclaimed angrily reaching for his dagger as though he was preparing to charge to their friends rescue.

Johnny nodded running his hands through his short reddish hair, his amethyst eyes burning with anger. He had said the exact same thing to his stubborn leader, but Tala wouldn't listen, instead he'd just grabbed his sword and strode to Vesta. Johnny would have chased after him, tackled him and tied him up, but he hadn't wanted to leave his friend lying out cold in the woods.



Rage coursed through Johnny's veins. Tala had taken advantage of Kai being ill. He knew fine well, had Kai been well, he wouldn't have been able to overcome both of them. Tala had gone at that specific time for a reason. He had probably known how dangerous it was, hence why he hadn't told his companions, rather waiting till they couldn't go after him before deciding to go. Stupid, head strong fool!, Johnny thought angrily. He had taken advantage of them and was now right under the enemies nose.

"He said he had to see a friend. A woman, more like.", at that Johnny allowed himself a smile.

Kai groaned. "Do not judge every body by your standards, my friend."

Johnny chuckled. "At least I'll be able to enjoy myself in Kaneite."

"Well then, we should start now, shouldn't we?"

Johnny gathered up his bed mat and followed the Freyan, glancing up cautiously at the sky. Clouds were streaming over the blue of the sky, the sunlight chasing away the darkness. It'd been a long time since he'd seen the sun. The last couple of weeks had been spent under the canopies of forests and sleeping through the day and traveling by night. His last patrol the night before had revealed that a group of soldiers were making camp nearby, so that was why they were moving during the morning. He would have preferred the cover of darkness, but that wasn't to be.

He hefted his bow on his shoulder. As his fingers ran over the engravings on the wood, he remembered the day his Knight had given it to him. It had only taken months for him to get the hang of the weapon. He had become one of the best archers in the Freyan army and it hadn't taken him long to rise to captain.

He'd enjoyed the challenge, and the chance to repay the royal family for taking him in when he'd been so young. He had been glued to Kai's hip ever since he was young. He had gone to all of Kais' studies and when Kai had to learn certain classes to be future Emperor, Johnny had headed down to the soldiers training ground. It was there he'd learned hand to hand combat and to fight with both a Bow and arrow and a rapier. His rapier was now firmly resting at his side, hidden under his dark violet cloak.

When he'd become older he had found a skill in entertaining the ladies of the Keep, much to Kai's gratitude. Kai found the other Ladies tedious and boring, while Johnny on the other hand didn't bother with personalities. They found him handsome and charming and he tried to remember their names. It worked out well enough for him. Everyone had fun.

He sighed at the memory. Wishing for happier times was not going to make things here better. The only way to do that was to kill the Baron, that and only that would end this worthless war. And the only way to do that was the destroy his power source. He nodded in affirmation of this decision and weaved through the forest which linked the Freyan territory to the small valley of Danite.

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"What did you think you were doing? I placed her under your care and what happens; when she attacks me, you stand in the shadows. Instead it was your son that saved me, him and the crone."

Amber kept her eyes shut even though the voice was piercing through the blissful darkness. Still although she was sinking into darkness it didn't stop her mind from rolling the phrases round in her head. The son had to be Bryan, was the crone Ruin? No, crone was another name for a sorceress but if the voice belonged to, wait it sounded like the Baron, but that was impossible.

"That may be true, my lord but was it really necessary to fling her onto the ground?", the voice sounded like Boris. Even more impossible. But 'your son'?

"She was attacking me. It was either kill her or wound her."

"I think she'd rather it if you had killed her.", the one that sounded like Boris murmured.

"Did you say something Balkev?"

"No my Lord.",

"That's what I thought."

Amber opened one eye and looked round. Where was she? It wasn't home any way. The room was cold and dark and smelled of smoke and damp. The walls were wood and the ceiling was low and also made of wood. It was quite dark and she could hear the roar of heavy rain on the roof. There was a warm orange glow of a lamp and there was the crackling of a fire. She opened her other eye and looked up at the two figures who were discussing her. It was the Baron and the other was Boris. She froze and closed her eyes hoping that it was just a horrible nightmare and that any minute she would wake up and everything would be back to normal. She cast her mind back to what had happened earlier that night. Oh she had been foolish to try and take on the Baron. What had she been trying to prove? 'Nothing you were trying to save your friend.', the small voice in the back of her voice argued. Everyone was right, she mused, saving others always came with bad consequences for yourself.

"My Lord, what do you plan to do with her?"

"Not that its any of your business but her magick will be a great asset to me and having her as my bride will be a side benefit."

Bride? She was too young to be a bride besides he didn't have brown eyes. She had her priorities. Also he was evil, he had her parents murdered and from the first comment it seemed he had assigned her to Boris. This wasn't good. Everything she had ever believed, every emotion, every memory, every thing wasn't real. The only real thing in her life she supposed had been Bryans' hate for her. That had to be real, there was no way that hatred couldn't be real. Finally she opened her eyes and sat up.

The Baron jumped and Boris stared at her in horror. Suddenly the Baron was at her side.

"Don't move, your still weak, my dear."

"Your dear? I may have lost some of my senses but not the important ones and I am not your dear. I am no ones dear.", She shrugged him off and swung her feet onto the floor.

"You've had a terrible fall."

"Yeah and a equally terrible wake up call."

Boris took a step towards her and she shied away. "Amber?"

"Stay away from me. Both of you.", she looked around wildly searching for an escape route. "Where am I?"

"Your in my secret hut.", Boris answered.

"Oh wonderful, something new to add to my 'everything in my so called life isn't true' list."

The Baron frowned at her then looked at Boris. "What did she mean by that? I do not understand."

"Amber has a habit of transgressing back in to the old slang when she's angry."

"Excuse me, I'm not angry, I'm furious, raging!"

She stood up and the look in her eyes made the men back off. The Baron waved Boris away. With one last reluctant look back Boris exited the hut. The Baron sat down on the bed making the springs groan. She watched him warily.

"What do you want?"

"Your heart. Of course if you cannot give it me then you could give me your hand in marriage."

"That requires giving you my heart. And I won't do that. I would never betray my family."

"You are mine whether you want to be or not!"

"Ok I don't want to be! Saizo, tabhair se dom!"

He smiled approvingly. He was still smiling even when the breeze carried him out the door and even when the door slammed in his face. She flopped down onto the bed and sighed, feeling the lump in her throat increasing. Every thing she had held dear all her life had dissolved in a matter of minutes. She was now engaged to be married to Baron Revolting and her family was lost completely and more to the point her friends were gone, she'd probably never see Ruin again, or Sonia and Enrique or even Martha. The threatening tears spilled over and cascaded down her cheeks.

***

Outside the door the Baron kicked over a stool and smashed his fists into the wall making Boris watch him warily.

"Did she refuse?"

The Baron whirled round and cursed harshly. "The woman is incorrigible. She absolutely refuses and nothing will budge her."

What did he expect? Boris wondered. He had destroyed everything Amber had going for her in that night. Her friends were missing and her family was ruined. She had fought for her life and for her friends life and had been captured in the end. And now the Baron wanted to trap her in marriage so that he could control her and the power she wielded. He was being over optimistic if he believed she would just consent to marriage. She still hated him so much and Boris doubted that would ever change though every one would be in trouble now. The Baron would take out his anger on every one in the keep later.

"She won't budge because speaking frankly she despises you and always will."

"Really?"

Boris nodded watching the Baron worriedly.

"Then if that's the case I want her dead!"

Boris stared at her. "But my Lord-"

"That's an order, kill her Boris, and I want proof of her death."

Boris stormed into the room where Amber was and lifting her up in a fireman's carry carted her out of the hut and into the forest.

***

"Where are we?"

Boris grunted. He had been carrying her for roughly two hours into the darkest heart of the forest. The landscape had become more treacherous, and unrecognizable. It rose and dipped. There were many hidden cliffs and quagmires were common. The canopy was dense and very little sunlight strobed through. He stumbled over a root and Amber let out a yelp. So far she hadn't said much since leaving the hut, just the odd complaint about where they were. There was a screech above them and some branches shook. A twig snapped to their right. The forest was filled with sounds that could have them jumping like a yo-yo if you weren't use to them but after two hours they were getting very use to them. What they still had to get use to was the clammy warm air. There wasn't even a breeze, to change the body temperature. But he had continued on, although his limbs were aching and his muscles were on fire.

Finally he could take no more. He dumped Amber on the ground and collapsed onto a rock beside her huffing and blowing. She sat up blowing her hair out of her eyes indignantly. She brushed her hands on her outfit. Her eyes were almost glowing luminous with anger. There were small beads of sweat on her Ivory skin. She looked round surveying her scenery.

"So we're in the Dark Forest. What are we to be doing here?"

Boris sighed heavily and tugged out a small sword. Amber gave it a disinterested glance then sniffed miserably. "I don't like this place much. I was told many terrible tales about this place from.....from Enrique."

Boris recognized the hitch in her voice. "You saved his life Amber."

"What's up Boris? You've barely talked two words to me since you took me from the hut. I'm not naive, I know the Baron has not let you take me because he is simply fed up of me. Let me guess he wants you to kill me."

His eyes met hers and she could read the remorse in his eyes and felt the echoing fear move through her. She was afraid, she was about to be murdered but it would be better this way, she decided. No more people getting in trouble because of her and no more getting in trouble full stop.

"So how long have you been licking the Barons boots?"

"I was his second in command during the Great war. He was a great man when he was young. Then after the war he had me positioned in his Keep. He use to tell me the prophesy often, then your parents arrived in the city. Your Father who had left the army several years before to go out and make his name and your mother, the sister to the Imperial Sovereign who was heavily pregnant with twins. Siamese twins to be precise. The Baron was obsessed with the pair of you. He made sure that your parents got a good house and good job.", he rubbed his hands over his face. "I wish that I had realized what had happened. He knew that Mariam had to die seeing she was the oldest."

Amber listened soberly. Here was her whole life story being told to her. He was explaining why her parents had been taken away from her. Why her sister was murdered, when she was so young.

"Then he had fallen in love with your mother, or so he believed. He had followed her round the town always trying to talk to her. Kept pestering her, like. Your father became furious. Yet he couldn't do anything. So then he threatened to take you and your mother away. The Baron became angry and decided to have your parents executed for treason, and he put the fear of God into the townsfolk over your sister. No questions were asked about your sister's death."

"Wasn't she killed with my parents?"

"No there would have been an outrage, had the child been murdered then. But when she finally died, well people were scared of her by that stage. They believed it was the right thing to happen."

Amber swallowed the lump in her throat. "What about me?"

Boris sighed. "I persuaded the Baron to let you live. Told him he could use your power to secure his position."

She stared at him aghast. "You, this is all your fault."

He smirked. "The Baron had no one to look after you and as I already had a son, it only made sense to him that I should look after you and bring you up to worship the Baron."

"But you didn't."

He stood up and crossed to the end of a ledge. "No, I knew you were different. I knew you were special. Maybe I could use your powers to make myself more powerful, and in turn take over from the Baron. I could use the resources much better than he ever could. With you at my side, I'd be unstoppable.", he whirled to look at her greed glittering in his eyes.

Amber shuddered. They talked about her as though she wasn't a person, just a thing that would give them great power, and she despised it. She had never been loved in her life, because everyone who had loved her had been killed. Now she realized she was alone in this life, no longer did she have anyone. From now on she had to look after herself, it was just a pity that she didn't have her staff with her. What she needed to do was to wait for when Boris was vulnerable. Let him believe that she was on his side, that she would help him take down the Baron; while he did, she'd seek out the Resistance and then she'd hand both over to them. But how to find the Resistance she wondered? They couldn't be that easy to find, after all the Baron couldn't even find them. She sighed again, and began putting her plan into effect.

"I suppose by helping, I'd be gaining vengeance for my family, right?"

Boris smiled, he was convincing her. "Yes, of course. There would be no better vengeance then the downfall of their murderer. Only....."

"Only what?"

"He wants proof of your death."

"Proof? Oh that may be trouble.", she began to chew her lip fretfully.

They sat in silence pondering over how to get away from the Baron. A bird screeched above them and further down there was the gush of water and the slow rumble of water careering over the cliff. The sound of made her mouth go dry. She shifted restlessly. It was extremely quiet and the quiet made her uneasy. She disliked the tranquillity. Nothing was that quiet and a forest was definitely not quiet. She began to tremble lightly. She stared up at a young juju bird which was hopping about the ground not far from her. It was then that it hit her.

"I know I'm going to hate suggesting this but there was a fable I once read about a young princess who was ordered to death by her evil step-mother. Anyway a woodcutter took her out to the forest and killed a deer instead of her, and brought the deers heart to the stepmother instead of the princess."

"What happened to the Princess?"

"Oh she went into the forest and lived with seven dwarves. I can't remember the rest but it's a happily-ever-after story."

He smiled cheered a little. "Then all we have to do is find a deer. But what is a deer?"

Amber shrugged. "A grass eating animal with horns. Very stream lined though it couldn't fly or swim. It was a very gentle natured."

"So where would I find one of those?"

Her shoulders slumped. "Not on this planet. They were brought here when we emigrated, but they couldn't adapt to the climate, or the atmosphere. It was a shame though. It would be nice if there were more placid creatures in these forests instead of all the predators."

Her eyes flicked nervously to and fro. Boris caught the stiffness in her neck and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"There's no need to fear. I have Thor with me.", he assured patting the hammer leaning against his leg, "Besides we should be safe here. The predators don't like the light that much."

She nodded trying not to cringe from his touch. She knew it to be true but still the light wouldn't last for ever and sooner or later the creatures would move closer to investigate the visitors. She had never ventured so far into the forests before, and it occurred to her that she may not get out. They definitely wouldn't be able to succeed on their own. Her death might put them off the track for a few hours maybe even a day but still then they would come.

"Maybe we could kill one of his sentry guards and bring the Baron his heart as proof of my death."

Boris nodded. It was a good feasible plan and it would probably work for a while but still he feared Amber being out here in the real world on her own fleeing for her life. Amber rubbed her wrist fervorously.

"Is your wrist itchy?"

"Just a bit."

He pulled her to her feet and examined the vegetation she had been sitting on. "Bayak root. If the sap touches skin it can give a terrible rash.", he reached out and tugged a leaf out of the ground. "Where there's Bayak root, there's always the leaf of Henle, a natural soother. Here rub this on your wrist. We should get moving soon. It'll be dark in a little while and we have to find a donor for you."

It didn't take long for them to find a sheltered place for them to rest their weary bodies and minds. Boris had lit a fire to keep her warm and to keep the beasts away while he searched the forests for edible roots and other things of nutrition. Amber pulled her cloak tightly around her to fight of the chill and nip of the cold nights air. The sky was already dotted with silver stars, they twinkled and sparkled like diamonds on a piece of blue velvet. They provided her with comfort and with companionship. At least, she thought, counting the stars would keep her mind busy and keep her thoughts from dwelling on those she had left behind in the clutches of that madman.

Her features darkened as she thought back on what the Baron had offered her. Marriage, she shuddered at the mere thought of it, it was a disgusting prospect for someone so young and to him, the murderer of her family. He had toyed with her, watched her her whole life, studied her like a guinea pig in a glass cage. She snapped the twig she was holding for defence with a fierceness that was new to her.

She rubbed her hands together and looked about her. Looking into the fire she could see the sticks descending into charcoal before her very eyes, like her life only the Baron was the fire. She rubbed her temples feeling the dull throb of a headache. She muttered a quick enchantment that Ruin had taught her and felt the pain ease. Every so often her gaze was drawn to the east where she knew her townsfolk would be asleep in their beds while her friends would possibly spare her a passing thought before drifting to the land of nod and eventually forgetting about her.

Although she battled against it she couldn't stop her mind thinking about the next day. From this day on wards her life would never be the same. She was off on a journey, to where she could not dare to guess but it would be far from Vesta and her old life. This new life would put her in constant peril, she knew. She hugged herself against an unbidden shiver of excitement mixed with fear. She would be meeting new people, of that she could be sure and she would have to fight. She felt her pulse hitch at the thought of herself in battle against the Baron.

A snap and shuffle to her left made her jump. To calm her nerves she began to hum a tune she had long forgotten and could not for the life of her remember where she had heard it from. It was a slow lament singing of flora and fauna and clouds and snow. Cheerful things to soothe rather than to tell a tale. When she felt her pulse return to normal she reached down taking her eyes of spot the noise had come from to lift the canteen and took a slug of water, which Boris had fetched from the river before darkness had fallen. After her throat was wetted, she set down the canteen and returned to watching out for Boris.

She supposed she could have run away but there was no chance of her getting out of this forest alive. It was so dangerous for her to be here with Boris, it would be more so on her own. And what good could she do if she was dead? Nothing that was all, so she was better off staying put.

The shadows danced on the backdrop, they made her uneasy. She watched the flames lick the wood that she cast on to the gathering pile and sighed heavily. Waiting for him was making her hungry and tired. If he didn't hurry up soon she would fall into a deep slumber and some creature would come along and grab her, or worse still one of the Barons men might come along her and take her back to him. That thought was enough to have her alert to every sound in the Forest. Glancing up she couldn't see the sky anymore. It was strange as she had looked upon it not so long ago. Maybe a cloud had happened by and blocked out the stars in all their brightness.

Another rustling had her head snapping round. A shadow was approaching her from her left. It shuffled into the clearing muttering silently to itself. From where she sat she could see that it was only a foot high at the most. It's shoulders were broad, too broad, it's neck was slender and a small round head sat on it's skinny neck. Just beside it's neck was a small mound that, Amber believed, was a deformed hunch. It hobbled past the fire and as it did the flames lit up it's face. It's skin was a pale ashen gray, it's eyes were crimson, small and beady. It's hair was purple, or a dark navy/violet. The nose was huge, more like a snout than a nose. The breeze stirred them. It's mouth was a thin line below the snout. It watched Amber warily as it hobbled forth.

"Now what strange creature are you to be gracing these dark forests?", it's voice was strange.

It spoke slowly yet clearly, which was strange as it mouth twisted strangely when it spoke.

"Strange creature? Look in a mirror.", she bit off.

"Ah, you must be a human, a Jasnian to be more precise. They always speak cruelly with nasty scathing speech."

Amber sighed feeling the anger drain out of her. It was wrong for her to take out her anger on this creature who seemed quite pleasant, and it spoke politely enough to her.

"I apologize. I did not mean to speak nastily to you."

It shrugged which in itself looked weird. "You seem sincere enough so we'll accept your apology."

Before Amber had time to ponder this statement another voice broke in.

"What is she doing here?", it croaked but it was not the creature.

Suddenly Amber realized where it came from, the squeaky question came from the deformed hunch which she now recognized as a head. She stared at it surprised.

"I am a Diceann. My name is Ian and this is Kevin.", He motioned to the head on it's shoulder. The mound raised it's head, there was a patch of thick, dark moss green hair pulled back in pony tail, it's eyes were lilac, large and round while it's mouth was larger. It was eerily creepy, but there was something trusting an innocent about it.

She smiled and proceeded to introduce herself. Once the introductions were over, Amber offered them a seat opposite her and a drink from her canteen. Ian had just taken a mouthful when he spat it out and both of them made a face.

"What's wrong?"

"Are you trying to poison us?", He demanded.

"Uh, No, I... that water is perfectly fine. I myself drank from it not more than ten minutes ago. What is wrong with it?"

"What is right with it, don't you mean?", Kevin squeaked. "That water is from the marsh for sure, and the marsh water is not clean."

"Well it's the best I can offer.", probably because it was the best she had. This was what Boris had brought her, maybe he was trying to poison her. She closed her eyes and shook her head. It wasn't good of her to think bad of her only alliance out here in the bad lands. Besides he needed her.

"But still this begs the question what would a child of light be doing out here in the Dark forests?"

"I am sorry I cannot answer that."

"Why not?", Kevin demanded.

It was fascinating to watch the small hump on Ian's shoulder speak and think for itself. It seemed to be completely separate from Ian except for the fact that they inhabited the same body. It's facial expressions differed and their voices differed yet they were essentially the same person. It was quite amazing Amber decided. She stared at the mound for many seconds with her ochre eyes.

"Well for one thing, how do I know that you are not spies for the Baron?"

"Ah, so you are hiding from the Baron.", Ian laughed delightedly as he watched the blood drain from the Jasnians face.

"We caught her out!", Kevin cheered. "She would not tell us why she was here but we were smarter than her and found out! Ha!"

Amber swallowed painfully and reached for a log lying by her feet, to hit out at the creature should it decide to report her whereabouts to the Baron. She did not wish to kill this creature but should she would defend herself. She was not willing to return to the Baron so that she would be returned to the terra.

"Do not fear child of light!", Ian stated grandly. "For we are not Friends of the Dark Lord, neither do we wish to be enemies but we have no love for him and wish you no harm. You have been kind and you have an aura about you which exudes good grace and power, surprisingly, great power."

Amber squirmed uncomfortably. From what she had heard from Boris, people having power was a curse as others always wanted to wield it for themselves.

"Surely you do not fear little old us?", Kevin mocked.

Ian reached up and hit Kevin over the head. Kevin retaliated by biting the hand making Ian roar out loud.

"Excuse me but I don't mean to intrude, actually I do. I am hiding from the Baron, and as you two seem to know you're way around this forest, could you tell me the quickest route out of this Forest with the least amount of soldiers? I'd be much obliged."

Ian and Kevin looked at each other and then Ian shrugged making Kevin nod, "I do not see what harm it would do to help you, in exchange for something for us."

"What?", she asked fearing the worst.

"You must take us with you.", Ian stated.

"Take you with me? But-", she sighed exasperated.

How could she get past the Vestites if she had a two headed creature tagging along, besides how did she know she could trust them? Although, maybe they wouldn't want to come along once they saw Boris and Boris would know what they were and if they were trust worthy, and for the moment she could do with some company. "Ok then. But understand this, what I'm doing is likely to endanger your lives. The Baron will have people looking out for me, which means we are not likely to get far without being caught and possibly executed."

Kevin's eyes rounded with fear while Ian's glittered with excitement.

"What did you do? Kill some one?"

"Close."

"Did you wound someone important?"

"Maybe she attacked someone.", Kevin added.

"Yeah, the Baron."

This time both their eyes rounded with fear. They had never heard of anyone attacking the Baron, never mind escaping from him alive. This Jasnian was truly powerful. She had attacked the Baron and lived, not many could do that.

"So you see why I am in mortal peril, and so will you two be should you choose to journey with me."

"What dangerous mission are you embarking on, Sorceress?"

"I am not a Sorceress. I am not anything magickal.", she watched their crest fallen appearances. "But I am friends with the High Priestess Ruin. Have you heard of her?"

They eyes lit up immediately. "Ruin, daughter of the moon? Yes we have heard of her, we have talked to her too."

"She even let us watch her do a ritual. It was very enlightening."

Amber smiled. "So you are friends of Ruins'?"

"Yes. We would lay down our lives for Ruin, daughter of the moon. She has saved many creatures in this forest from the dark powers which fill this forest with Shadow. She has battled to exhaustion with the Dark Priest.", Kevin gushed, then realizing just what he had said, quickly covered his mouth as Ian slapped him violently.

"Now it is she who has tricked you, foolish cursed piece of flesh. Ruin will not forgive us this grievous error."

"No, no. I am Ruin's most trusted companion. But I do not know who you speak of, this Dark Priest? Who is he?"

"Do not speak of him, he has spies every where.", Ian warned glancing around him nervously.

Suddenly a thought occurred to her. "Is Ruin in danger? For if she is, I don't not wish to leave her."

"Ruin can fight her own battles."

Everyone jumped at the deep voice that came from behind them. A tall figure stood just inside the clearing holding some roots and leaves. Even surrounded by large trees his towering height seemed to loom over them. Kevin whimpered at the sight of the tall lean man with vibrant blood red hair and an angry expression. Amber stood up and Ian moved until he was just behind her leg, so he could still see the man but so that she was between them. She stepped forward towards the figure. He was familiar but she just couldn't place him. Where was Boris and why hadn't he come yet? Had he sent this man for her, or was this man one of the Baron's men, here to make sure that Boris carried out his duties.

"Do not tell me you do not remember me little sister?"

Amber's eyes widened. Only one person ever called her little sister, but he had long gone. She had not seen him in years, yet here he was. And if it was him, then she may not have to worry about finding the rebels, because it seemed their leader was standing before her. She felt the Diceann clutch her leg tightly.

"Tala?"

The man stepped forward, his face expressionless but a look of warmth filled his usually cold Siberian blue eyes. Amber watched him. He had grown a bit, filled out here and fined down there. His skin was a porcelain, snow white, and probably felt as smooth as it looked. The skin was a perfect canvas for his sculpted features, the sharp red eyebrows and the enigmatic blue eyes. But no matter how handsome Tala was, she knew he was always too determined to bother with wenches. He was still taller than her, it had always been a problem for her. She'd always got a crick in her neck when she used to hang out with him. His hair was a shaped like two wings with twin bangs framing his aristocratic face. The bangs gave him a gentler look, but the look in his eyes took that way. He wore a pair of black pants, black leather boots, a red tunic and a long black cloak. A sword dangled by the side from a sheathed hooked through the belt.

Amber couldn't describe the feeling on relief that poured through her. If there was anyone in this world that could help her escape the forest and defeat the Baron then it was Tala. Tala Valkov had always been strong, loyal, honorable and honest. Always he had been there for her, until he had left to join the rebels. It had been Ruin who has told her that he had become leader of the rebels, so with Tala's help she'd bring down the Baron. She stepped forward, removing Ian and flung her arms round the only person that Boris had introduced to her, that she'd actually cared about. Tala stiffened for a few moments then relaxed hugging her back.

"I missed you Tala. Where've you been? Why did you leave me? Did you know about what the Baron wanted with me, about my powers?"

The rebel leader sighed. "Yes, but I'm sorry I can't answer those other questions. Some other time. Now, Amber who is that with you?"

"This is Ian and Kevin, they are a Diceann."

"I know what they are."

"Well, uh, they offered to show me and Boris a quick route out of the Forest which isn't filled with soldiers."

"Did they, heh? Well there is no such way."

"Oh, well-"

"In exchange for what?"

"Excuse me?"

"Diceann don't just offer to do something for nothing, so what reward did they want?"

Amber shrugged. "They just wanted to tag along with us."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Diceann are untrust worthy."

"Well I'll just add them to my list shall I?", Amber retorted bitterly.

Tala flinched. He knew he had let her down by letting her stay with Boris and he didn't need to be reminded of it all the time. He exhaled frustratedly rubbing his hands over his face. Tonight would be a rough night and tomorrow rougher still. They would have to journey far and also think of a plan to put the Baron and Boris off their tracks for a while. He had made contact with a comrade to meet them tomorrow in a small tavern in Badgan. He would help her get to the rebels. He sat down opposite them on a log and studied the creature behind her leg. It was a typical Diceann, the second head wasn't completely formed properly. The eyes were darting to and fro, and every so often the muscle in the host's cheek twitched. No, he didn't trust them but it seemed they were attached to Amber and they would not leave her quickly. Plus they may be able to keep her company when he wasn't there.

"Very well then. We have a long day's journey ahead of ourselves tomorrow, so we must get away from her and get some sleep."

Amber nodded stifling a yawn. After a short walk they found a place to sleep for the night. She clambered over a piece of exposed terra and curled up in a ball. The temperature had dipped quite a lot and although she was lying beside the fire, the cold of the ground penetrated her clothes and her body. She began to shiver. a footfall behind her had her eyes snapping open. Tala loomed over her, he leaned down and placed his jacket over her still frame. After he left she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. After a while she fell asleep to the peaceful breathing of Tala and the rumbling snores of Ian and Kevin.

___________________________________________________________________________

To my reviewers:

ChibiKai02: Hiya, um this chapter has Kai, not a lot of Kai but there is Kai.

ChRiSTiZ: Yeah me and Gemsie have the weirdest coversations when I stay at her house, we don't get to sleep until like five in the morning, sometimes but then other times, Gems gets into one of her moods and tells me to shut up! *Zadien glowers* Eep! Yes Amber does have the worst luck. And you'll not find out about Enny until some other chapter. Did you want "Cabraigh se sios" translated 'cos it means help him down! More Johnny in this chapter.

ChibiTari: Nice Job spotting Reenie, and it's from something else I was working on at the time. Yeah Johnny was pretty damn cute in that chapter. So when will you're next Christmassy chapter come out? It's good. I have a one shot to come out as well, it'll be joined to united we stand.

Ice Archer Girl: Um....I suppose I could shorten them but I like long chapters, they're fun to read. As for Johnny, technically in this fic he is Miyami's Johnny and it's in his DNA to flirt with the female species. Sorry ¬¬! Tala is in this chapter, woo-coo-coo-choo! (Borrowed that from ZD) Ozuma, Kane and Michael will turn up soon. Our sometime, don't worry won't forget them. Ya see Boris isn't exactly great now is he? Yeah I love writing Amber, though she isn't my character. She's just so much fun with her remarks, and ass whopping characteristics. Pairings are as they are in all our fics. Amber/Kai, Johnny/Miyami, Tala/Ruin, Sonia/Ozuma, Kane/Aspin, Enrique/Arista, and there is another pairing that I just can't figiure out....Beth/Michael. So no all three boys don't fall for Amber, 'cos first of all totally idealist, second of all ewww. No offence I love the three guys, but after reading Zadien's fic it would be weird for Amber and Tala or Johnny to be together, it would be like being with your brother or shit. Yikes, I wrote a lot. And i use Irish 'cos I think it sounds cool and pretty close to celtic at times. It suits this type of fic.

Grandsummon: Thankies I try my best at the writing, sometimes my writing just goes awol though.

Yin: Well not much Enrique or Miyami and Johnny action for awhile.

colourless: Soz, Reenie was something I was working on

Rayne-Neko_Punk: Yep it's Irish, and though I, like everyone else, loathed it at school, it's fun to put it in to the fic since not many others know the language.

AzN*PyRo*ArCaDa: Amber screamed no! Cos ya know Miyami was somewhere else. So thank you for your review. Hopefully this fic met your expectations.

Zadien: I'm still not talking to you, so pssh!

PLease review!!!