Hiya!!! Welcome once again to Vision of Escaflowne: Homecoming. It has been a journey, but another chapter is out for your enjoyment. I have to thank all the readers and reviewers. You are all inspirations. Secondly I'd like to point out that I AM STILL WRITING. I haven't forgotten my story although I admit other things have sidetracked me lately. I'll go into more explanations in my author's note at the end of the chapter, as I know that you're all anxious for this chapter. Almost as anxious as I am for wanting to have you all read it.
Anyway, here's the disclaimer: I DO NOT IN ANY WAY OWN Escaflowne, its characters, plots, themes, ideas, etc… I DO HOWEVER wish I were the lucky bastard that did.
Now that I've gotten the disclaimer out of the way, I hope you enjoy this next installment of my ongoing project.
Chapter Eight: The Light at the End of the Tunnel
~Dream World~
"Hitomi, Hitomi."
Hitomi sat up from her bed and gazed groggily at her surroundings. It seemed that the bed she was in was somehow placed in the middle of a huge field of lowers. The skies were clear blue and the sounds of birds flitted around her ears.
"Hitomi, Hitomi."
There it was again. Hitomi threw the blankets off of her legs and began to rise from the bed, "Hello?"
"Hitomi, Hitomi." The voice whispered into the small gust of wind.
"Who's there?" Hitomi left the bed and headed in the direction of the voice.
The voice continued to whisper to her as she walked through the field. It led her into the small forest at the edge of the meadow. Hitomi was hesitant to enter the woods, but she knew that if she were going to find out who was calling she'd have to go inside. Cautiously, Hitomi stepped into the trees.
"Hitomi, find me."
"Tell me where you are. Do you need help?" Hitomi automatically responded. She methodically searched through the tall trees.
"The lake." It whispered.
Hitomi caught on and began to run. Something told her the lake was straight ahead and the sooner she got there the better. Faster and faster Hitomi ran, her feet almost flying across the firm ground of the forest. Hitomi saw the break in the trees and just as she broke through into the clearing, she dug her heels into the ground, stopping abruptly on the shore of the large lake. "Okaa-san!"
~Myami's room~
Hitomi stirred, "Okaa-san!" Her voice whispered out.
Myami's head shot up from her body, "Hitomi-chan?" Myami jumped out of the chair she had been napping in and knelt by the bed. She watched her sister grimace, "Hitomi-chan? Tom-Tom?"
Van, Allen, Ryley, Yil, Tardus, and Dryden had all left to further secure the castle. It was nearing evening and although their "guests" wouldn't be arriving for some time, the women, including herself and Hitomi were due to leave within the hour. All the preparations had been made and Myami knew that Celestas was awaiting their arrival in the Gypsy Grove. Cid had been informed of the situation and he agreed to await further instructions once they had all reached safety.
Hitomi grumbled something incoherent and Myami telepathically called out for Pristelle and their female friends. Then focusing her attention on Hitomi, Myami laid her head on Hitomi's hand, "Wake up and say hi to me Tom-Tom."
~Dream World~
"How?" Hitomi fell to her knees, "Oh, Okaa-san." Hitomi began to sob. "I'm dead aren't I?" The memories of what had occurred before this moment flooded her senses.
Hitomi's mother placed her hand on her daughter's down-turned head, "No, my dear Hitomi-chan. You're not dead." She knelt next to Hitomi, "I knew you would find me."
Hitomi dried her tears, "If I'm not dead, where am I? And where's Van? Oh my god, and Onee-chan? The visions. There's something coming." Hitomi continued to ramble.
"Yes, Hitomi-chan," Hitomi's mother interrupted her tirade and began to stroke Hitomi's hair. "With you and your sister reunited, the path will become clearer. But there are still many things that you need to face and to uncover."
Hitomi took in a calming breath and allowed her mother's ministrations soothe her, "Tell me, Okaa-san. Tell me what to do."
Hitomi's mother smiled, "You know, Myami called out for my help. She needs you, just as much as you need her and just as much as you need Van. Only once you have all the pieces will the puzzle be solved."
"What does that mean?" Hitomi stared quizzically at her mother. "Why are you speaking in riddles?'
"You are surrounded by good people, my daughter. Don't be afraid to rely on their strength. They too are a part of your puzzle."
"Okaa-san?" Hitomi gasped as her mother began to fade.
"So many things to do, Hitomi-chan. Time is moving so fast." The last part was uttered so softly that Hitomi almost missed it.
"Don't leave, Okaa-san!" Hitomi reached out to grab onto her mother.
"Find the last piece. The immortal. Find it and it will all fall into place." Hitomi's mother faded into nothingness.
Hitomi jumped up and yelled into the now calm expanse, "Where? Where do I find what I need?"
Silence answered her. Hitomi could feel her consciousness leaving. Her eyes became heavy and the last thing she thought of was getting back to Van and Myami.
~Myami's room~
"It looks like she's going to be fine." Pristelle announced after examining Hitomi, "She's just had a dream sequence, which explains all her mumblings."
An audible sigh could be heard in the room. They had all rushed to Myami's room when Myami's telepathic call was received and they were all relieved that everything was going to be all right.
"Everything's ready," Selena informed the women. "It'll be dark soon. The guys are down stairs waiting for us so that they can see us off."
Myami nodded, "Okay, I'll carry Hitomi. Can you guys grab her bag and mine? It's over there on the settee."
"I'll do it!" Merle smiled and went to the settee to collect the bags.
Myami grinned at Merle's exuberance. It was refreshing to have someone so cheerful around. Millerna helped Myami gently settle Hitomi into her arms and preceded to cover Hitomi in a light blanket, "For the ride," The young queen patted Myami on the shoulder.
Once they were sure that they had everything, they left the room to meet up with their friends downstairs. The small procession of women made their way to the back entrance of the castle. They had been in agreement to leave quietly, without alerting anyone to their plans, by exiting through the back roads of the castle. Because of their intruders the night before, it was sure that they were still in Astoria to complete their plans, they could not leave through the front gates.
As they stepped out into the late afternoon sun, Myami looked down at their small traveling force. Reluctantly Dryden had agreed not to send any soldiers with them. Myami had explained that their presence would not be welcome in the gypsy camp and that between herself and Pristelle they would remain safe on the way to their destination.
Myami walked down with the women to the one carriage and two horses. After settling Hitomi safely in the carriage, she stepped aside to let Dryden assist his wife. Millerna would ride inside the carriage with Hitomi. Myami wished she could be the one riding with her sister, but she couldn't stand the small-enclosed space of such a vehicle. Selena and Merle jumped onto the front of the carriage; they would lead the horses. Finally Myami and Pristelle mounted the two horses.
"Luck and speed," Van clasped arms with Myami, "Guard her well, for both our sakes."
Dryden turned to Myami as well, "If things go well expect us there in two days." Then stepping up to Myami's horse, Dryden looked expectantly at Myami, "Watch over my wife. She is my life Myami and I will hold you responsible for anything that happens to any of these women, especially Millerna."
Myami nodded in understanding. Tardus, Yil and Ryley each took a turn saying goodbye. Ryley took a bit longer with Pristelle, while Tardus was acting suspiciously sweet to Merle. Myami raised a brow at Tardus only to earn a shrug. Finally Allen said his farewells. He talked softly with Selena for a bit and Myami watched the exchange of affection between the siblings. She found that she couldn't wait for Hitomi to finally awaken.
After Allen had finished he made one last stop in front of Myami. Extending his arm, he waited for Myami to grasp it before speaking, "If Van and Dryden trust you, I trust you. I know things have gotten off on the wrong foot, but I spent the entire day with your men. They are loyal and honorable, which reflects on their leader. Guard them well. Winds of favor for you all."
Myami was surprised. Allen could actually be a gentleman. It seems that at least some of the nice things that Selena had said about her brother had been true. As of the other things, Myami had yet to see if those were true. Smiling to herself, Myami nodded, "I agree things started off a bit wrong, but your friends are now my friends, and my friends are now your friends, so it would only seem logical that we try at being friends as well." Myami released his hand and waved goodbye. She turned her horse around and began leading the small band of travelers out of Astoria.
Van stood with the other men watching as their female counterparts disappeared over the horizon. He didn't realize they had been standing there for such a long time until Tardus, Myami's right hand man, placed a hand on his shoulder, "Van-sama. I think it's time that we all finish the preparations."
Van turned to Tardus and nodded. As he followed everyone inside the castle, Van couldn't resist glancing back at the direction Hitomi had left in.
~Trundle Inn~
Nigel lay silently preparing his mind for the late night ahead. Dorser was outside the palace walls awaiting the arrival of the contingent that Master Kirok had promised. It seemed that Kirok was making the once "silent strike" mission a very loud one.
From what Dorser had told him, the master had seemed impatient for some reason. Although he knew that this was the way the mission should have gone in the first place, it wasn't his place to question Master Kirok. Nigel was glad though that this was the way things were to be. He too was getting impatient. He was told that the Isle of the Immortal had finally revealed itself, which meant that their goal was close at hand.
Dorser had said that the master had wanted their power established. It was better to squash the enemy instead of letting them fester. When Nigel had asked what had caused Master Kirok's change of mind, Dorser had just shrugged.
Nigel snorted and emptied his mind, except for one thought, "At least my guymelef is being delivered to me."
Dorser looked up towards the direction of the castle. It was early evening and the two moons of Gaea had just made their appearance in the sky and the last rays of the sun were disappearing over the horizon. Devastation was the order for that night and Dorser was anticipating confronting Myami.
It had been ten years, with no sign, no sound, and not even a trace of her. Now after so many years, she still had the ability to invade his senses.
He ordered himself to stop fidgeting. IT was the only weakness that Dorser ever allowed himself. He rarely did it anymore, except when he was excited or extremely angry. Smiling to himself, Dorser caught sight of the oncoming troop.
He was to hide with them in the forests next to the castle. Using their cloaking mechanism that had been developed by Zaibach and perfected by their scientists, they would be undetectable in the lush overgrowth. His skin was itching to be inside his guymelef again. After they retrieved the page from the royal scepter, they had been instructed to destroy all of Astoria. Then they would continue and move on to Freyd, where another page was discovered to be.
"Fun, fun, fun." Dorser began to walk over to the small contingent.
~Inside the palace library~
"It wont' be long now." Tardus broke the silence with his statement. After the women had left, the men had finished the final preparations for the upcoming battle and then holed themselves up in the library. Each had decided that this would be the place they would await their so-called guests.
It had been almost six hours and still they waited. Now nearing midnight, Yil, as well as the others, were becoming impatient. The entire palace had been on full alert for most of the day and Allen knew that everyone was getting restless. Something in their minds was telling them that what they would face that night wouldn't be just two people.
On the other side of the room, Van sat staring out the window at the surrounding forest. Somehow he knew that that was the place the danger was going to come from. He had already voiced his observation to the small group and the largest concentration of soldiers was already posted in that area. Van had tried many times to douse their exact location, but it seemed to be continuously hitting a dead end. Just when he thought he had found what he was looking for the pendant would just drop limply in his mind and he could no longer sense the presence. It was frustrating him to no end.
Van sighed. He wished that Hitomi were there with him. Although the gypsy camp was only a half-day's ride away and they were going to meet up with them there, he couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that had entered his mind the moment the women left.
Van knew that Myami was more than capable of taking care of them. With Pristelle and Millerna's healing skills, not to mention the training that Merle and Selena had received, they should all be fine. He thought back to earlier that afternoon, while they had been organizing the soldiers, when Myami had been sparring with Tardus and Yil.
~Flashback~
"Still not fast enough!" Myami yelled at Tardus and Yil.
Van looked up as he heard Myami's voice echo throughout the practice field. Allen had been walking along with him as they had made their final check before going to join Myami and her two friends for some practicing. Myami had had some pent up energy and she had caught up with them to ask for some sparring partners. They had all agreed, being that they also had to work out some frustrations.
Allen turned to Van, "She certainly seems the hard taskmaster."
Van nodded and continued to walk on till they were standing next to Myami. Myami was standing nonchalantly holding her sword over her shoulder. Her face was lost in concentration as she examined the motions between the two combatants.
Van and Allen stood quietly as they watched Tardus and Yil face off. Their skills were exceptional, and Allen found himself wondering how good Myami was.
Van observed their speed and accuracy. It was amazing. The technique was a more refined version of the technique he had been schooled in. Van glanced at Allen. From the look on Allen's face, he too was amazed.
"Incredible," Allen whispered to Van, "Speed, strength, and accuracy are all balanced. No move is wasted. This was what Balgus was striving for."
Van arched a brow at Allen, "He learned from the people that taught them, didn't he?"
"Whoever they learned from has probably perfected it since then. I would assume that Balgus learned from that same teacher." Then Allen turned a worried face to the young king, "If the enemy is as good as they are, we need to step up on training."
Van once again nodded in agreement and was about to speak to Myami when her voice spoke softly, "I was wondering when you two would show up." Myami turned to smile at them. "Tardus and Yil are almost done. Then you two can spar and show me what you know. Then I can decide what I can teach."
"Teach?" Allen asked crossing his arms across his chest, "What makes you think that we aren't the ones to be teaching you a thing or two?"
Myami shrugged and turned her attention back to Tardus and Yil. Myami stuck the sword she had been holding into the ground of the practice field and stepped up to the fighters. Tardus and Yil knew what was about to occur. Myami was going to attack.
Tardus let up on his snap kick to Yil and was just in time to block the punch that Myami had thrown for his chest. Sidestepping and spinning, Tardus lashed out with a front kick. Yil joined the counterattack and aimed slightly higher with a roundhouse kick, hoping to catch Myami as she avoided Tardus' kick.
Myami smiled, she had read their moves and made a mental note to remind them to conceal their motions. Swiftly, she turned her body to avoid the front kick and extended her right leg to sweep Yil's left foot underneath his roundhouse. Then in a blink of an eye, Myami moved back to stand away from her adversaries. Her actions had left Yil on his back and Tardus catching his slipping balance.
"Tisk, tisk, boys." Myami wagged a finger at the two men, "I can see you both have swords, yet you do not use them."
This type of teasing, no matter how many times they had heard it, always managed to get Tardus' and Yil's ires up. Although they would never admit it to Myami, they envied her skill. It irked them both that they, as men, could not even match her. In the end it usually took at least four of them to call it to a draw, and even then it was a draw slightly in her favor. Tardus smirked at Myami. Yil and he both knew that these training sessions with Myami was what had kept them the best of the best and for that they tolerated Myami's quirky way of testing them.
Yil grumbled something incoherent and went at Myami full force, not really angry but annoyed enough at her childishness. He might be at a slight advantage with a weapon, but he knew enough to be cautious. Yil swung the blade down at an angle, trying to catch Myami in mid-motion.
Myami's eyes caught the action and she deftly moved under the blade and sent a right-handed chop at Yil's wrist. Yil automatically dropped the sword and found himself barely dodging a left hook to the nose. He sneered at Myami and released a devastating right cross. Myami merely dodged his efforts and stuck her tongue out at Yil, knowing that he couldn't bare her childish antics. "Like I said, faster!"
Yil could feel Tardus setting up behind him and as he avoided Myami's next kick, he left her open to Tardus' charge. Myami smiled to herself at the clever way they had tried to leave her defenseless. She had yet to disarm Tardus, but that would be simple. Myami began to concentrate in earnest. It was time to teach everyone a lesson and to take out some of her anger constructively on willing participants.
Yil and Tardus eyed the look of determination that fell upon Myami's features. Turning to each other they knew that this was going to be rough. Van and Allen, who had been watching from the sidelines, saw Myami quickly disarm Tardus and begin to pummel her two friends into the ground. It was clear, almost from the beginning, that the two men were no match for the young woman.
When it was all over Myami stood proudly over Tardus and Yil, extending her hands out to help them up. They had fought hard, but in the end, as it always seemed to be since she was ten, they had lost. They reluctantly accepted her help and bowed to her. She in turn bowed to them and then turned to Van and Allen, "Now it's your turn."
~End Flashback~
Van smiled at the memory. He looked to Allen and saw him rubbing his shoulder absentmindedly. No doubt because of the training they had undergone with Myami. He too had a couple of bruises but nothing serious. Myami had said that the session that they had today would be just a sample of the actual training sessions that she and her friends endured every day. They liked to keep in shape and at the top of their game.
Van didn't know about Allen but he was looking forward to learning more of their way of combat. The sword fighting technique was almost flawless. As with all forms, improvements were always made which was why he didn't dub the art perfect, just almost perfect. It was the hand-to-hand combat that interested him the most. He had thrown punches here and there and was versed in the ways that he knew that his hands and feet were weapons too. But he had never seen anyone fight as Myami did.
Myami was fluid and powerful, like a tigress hunting her prey. During their training session that day, Van and Allen had been given a taste of her skills. Van had also discovered that Myami also knew how to operate a guymelef. He had already discovered that her friends could pilot the large combat suits from the preparations earlier that day. Van placed his chin thoughtfully on his folded hands. He found himself wondering what a battle would be like against Myami in a guymelef and he inside Escaflowne.
Dryden turned to the large clock adorning the back wall of the library. "About fifteen minutes until two in the morning. I don't know about all of you, but waiting like this is getting me very antsy."
Various degrees of agreement could be seen on the men's faces. After the women left, they had stayed in the library awaiting their uninvited guests. They had briefly left the room to eat a light supper, no one really wanting a large meal. Since then they had all sat and lightly chatted or napped or read. Mostly though, they were silent, each dealing with their own thoughts.
"I wonder how far the girls have gone." Ryley got up from his seat and went to stand next to Yil by the window, "Celestas should be happy to see Myami again."
"How is it that Myami knows Celestas?" Dryden was interested. For years he had tried to establish a good link between Astoria and the Gypsy tribes, but unfortunately was turned down at every offer he had extended.
Tardus turned to Dryden, "When we first left with Myami, we wandered for weeks. We couldn't find a decent place that would take us in without money. So whenever we entered a town we worked odd jobs and the like. Besides we were all only teenagers. Some of us pre-teens. One night we were camping out and a band of robbers appeared." Tardus paused, thought a moment and continued, "Of course we were able to protect ourselves, but the robbers didn't know that and neither did the gypsies that were watching us. Just when we were about to show the robbers a thing or two, our gypsy observers came out from hiding and lent a hand. Soon the robbers were taken care of and we had made new friends."
"They brought us into their haven to see their leader, Celestas." Yil spoke almost too quietly from the window. "She took a liking to our little rag-tag band of friends."
Ryley smiled at the memory, "Celestas took care of us for a bit before we headed off. That was when we found the perfect area to start up our own home. It was the togetherness and safety of their home that led us to create The Haven. Since then many have come to join us. Few leave and if they do they are sworn to never tell anyone of its location. They are only allowed to five the information out if the person is in trouble and in need of a safe place."
"Celestas used to visit us often, until two years ago when an accident took away her sight." Tardus smiled a wry smile, "But she was always a tough old bird. So instead of visiting she would always send people she felt that needed to be in the environment The Haven offered. It was our way of saying thank you, whenever we took someone in."
"From what you've said about The Haven before, it truly is a marvel." Allen added, "I hope that someday we'll be able …."
Allen stopped speaking as an explosion rocked the outer walls of the castle.
"It has begun." Van stood and led the way as they all rushed to the castle battlements.
~Outside~
"Nigel," Dorser spoke into the communication device attached to his head. He shifted his guymelef deeper into the brush, "When the front line moves in, make sure that the spells are triggered on time. That will give us the ample diversion to raid for the lost page and Myami's sister."
"Will do," Nigel was getting into the action. He felt his adrenaline run as he easily took out the palace guards, who were putting up a feeble attempt at protecting the castle against their superior guymelefs.
Nigel turned and went through the destroyed front gates of the palace. Positioning his guymelef, Nigel extended his arms and began to release the spells' powers. Dorser watched in anticipation. He didn't realize until now how much he had needed to fight. With Myami in the palace, Dorser couldn't wait until their confrontation.
~Inside~
The explosions with the vault area and Hitomi's vacated room shook the left side of the castle. Dryden turned to his friends, "Go!"
All of the men had already joined the battle except Allen and Yil. Allen faced Dryden, "As King, we must get you to safety."
"You will do no such thing."
Dryden's denial threw Allen off, "What?"
"I will take command of our ground forces. From the sounds outside, guymelefs are needed and you should be in one protecting this country."
Yil, who had been standing behind the two men, had sensed something like this would happen, "I will stay with the king and the ground forces," Yil placed a hand on Allen's shoulder, "Go assist our friends."
Allen took one look at Yil and at Dryden. He couldn't fault Dryden for wanting to be involved, but he also knew he couldn't let Dryden come to harm. Finally deciding that Yil would suffice in being Dryden's protection, Allen nodded to the both of them and ran out of the room.
Dryden had watched the war of thoughts that had occurred in Allen's eyes. He was pleased his friend had accepted his decision, "Yil, we have posts to get to."
"Yes, your majesty." Yil followed Dryden down to the battlements.
~Outside~
"Damn!" Van slashed through a guymelef on his left. Although he wasn't seated in Escaflowne, Van was handling his own. He scanned the area and maneuvered his guymelef to assist one of the many soldiers out on the battlefield. It seemed that the enemy was well prepared for battle and kept on coming upon them in waves. So far the main part of the battle had spread within the castle walls and the docks and water behind the castle. Unfortunately the homes and places of business closest to the palace had suffered the most. They were no longer standing and the many people that had once lived and worked in those areas were most likely no longer alive. Van turned as Sheherazade made its entrance onto the battlefield. "Allen!" Van yelled through his communication device, "There's more than we had anticipated. We need to evacuate the rest of the city!"
"All right!" Allen responded. His mind now in battle mode, Allen cut his way through the enemy force. As he surveyed the battle, Allen noticed that for the most part, the rest of the city was being left alone. The attack was almost strictly centered on the palace itself. The people of the city had caught on to the situation and Allen watched as the people were quickly evacuating their city under siege. Allen got to the signal tower, "Send out the alarm. Make sure that the city is empty. We don't want anymore unwanted casualties," Allen commanded as he saw the destruction that had obliterated the homes and shops nearest to the castle. The guards at the signal tower turned on the signal, blaring its loud sound through out the city.
"It's Kirok!" Ryley grunted out frustrated at the immense numbers that kept on coming from the forests and the front side of the castle. If this kept up they would be herded into the waters behind the castle and the palace would be utterly destroyed. Ryley caught sight of Tardus and quickly dispatched of the guymelef he had been battling. "Tardus!"
Tardus turned in the direction of the call and saw Ryley about to be ambushed by three enemy guymelefs. Tardus shouted and slashed the enemy to his right while front kicking the large guymelef to his front. Then moving his large combat suit, he maneuvered himself to block the blow meant to take off Ryley's headpiece. "Dorser and Nigel are here. This is their dirty work. I should have known when the spells were discovered."
Ryley pierced the enemy and turned quickly to cut down another one that had appeared to his back, "I haven't caught sight of their guymelefs. What does Kirok want from here?"
"Whatever it is it's in the castle." Tardus swung his sword down in a large arc cutting through three opposing guymelefs, "It looks like the ground troops are coming in from the front gates."
Ryley turned to look as he blocked a blow, "It seems that Yil is protecting Dryden down there. We should provide coverage."
"You can handle that, I'm going to find Dorser and Nigel."
"Damn it, Tardus. You can't take both of them alone." Ryley was about to follow Tardus but was stopped by oncoming enemies. Ryley tore through the opposition, "Tardus!"
At Ryley's yell, Van and Allen turned their attention towards Tardus' guymelef. "What's going on?" Van asked over the communication line, "Where's Tardus going?"
"This is Kirok's work," Ryley maneuvered closer to Van and Allen, "Dorser and Nigel are here. They were the ones that set up the spells in the castle."
"Dorser and Nigel, the two men that are still followers of Kirok?" Allen questioned as he fended off another guymelef.
"Yes. I've got to help him. When last we were with Dorser, he was Myami's equal. Tardus won't be able to take him on his own, especially if Nigel is with him."
Van blocked and tore the arm off of an enemy. "Go we'll handle it from here."
Ryley turned and went to join Tardus.
"Nigel, go and advance into the vault room and get the missing page then retrieve the sister." Dorser commanded as he swung his giant sword across three opposing guymelefs. "Make sure that they're secure and then take them to our safe zone. Once there you'll know what to do."
"Of course." Nigel hummed with anticipation. After he secured Hitomi and the page, he would get to command the final onslaught. Nigel maneuvered to the side of the castle that housed the large vault and after dispatching of another guymelef, Nigel slammed his hand into the area that the vault was. Nigel's guymelef opened up to reveal its controller. Stepping out, Nigel quickly ran down the arm of his guymelef and found himself inside the large room. Although many riches surrounded him only one thing interested him, the scepter.
"There it is." Nigel ran into the back of the chamber and lifted the scepter off its pedestal. It was a beautiful item, encrusted with jewels and made of gold. Nigel smirked, "Now for the sister."
Tardus saw Nigel's guymelef move to strike at the castle itself. From what he could tell, Dorser was covering Nigel's back, "Dorser! I should have known this was all because of you."
Dorser looked at the direction of the familiar voice, "Tardus, still following Myami around I see."
"Look at all the innocent people you've hurt and for what?" Tardus ran straight for Dorser and rammed his shoulder into the large guymelef. Dorser was lifted and thrown back from the force of the blow.
As he stood back up, Dorser blocked the onslaught from Tardus' blade, "You would never understand the depths of Master Kirok's plans." Dorser's leg lashed out and sent Tardus falling onto the ground.
Ryley picked up his pace, "Tardus! Watch out!"
Dorser smiled evilly within his battle suit. He slammed his foot onto the chest of Tardus' guymelef, "Didn't Myami teach you how to control your anger. That mistake was one a first year would have made at the camp." Holding Tardus down, he sliced the arms off of his guymelef. "A quick end to you and then I'll go after your precious Myami." Dorser lifted his blade as he swung it down to pierce the area the rider would be in, Ryley blocked him.
"Hiya Dorser, long time no see." Ryley deflected the blow and pushed Dorser's guymelef back. "When will you realize you can't kill us?"
Dorser growled, "Well, well another one of Myami's lackeys. Whatever happened to that pretty little thing, Pristelle?" Dorser goaded Ryley.
With quick reflexes, Ryley turned and clashed swords with Dorser. That gave Tardus the necessary time to get his armless battle suit onto its feet. Ryley glanced at Tardus and saw that he was up. He was holding his own for now, but Ryley could tell that Dorser wasn't even trying that hard. "Tardus!"
Tardus caught on and used one of his legs to trip up Dorser. As Dorser fell, he cursed his foolishness for thinking Tardus was completely out of commission. Ryley seized the opportunity and stabbed his sword through the midsection of Dorser's guymelef, making sure the other end stuck itself deep into the ground.
"Stay there!" Ryley yelled then turning to Tardus, "I saw Nigel go around to the vault area. They've probably gotten what they came for."
Tardus saw that the battlefield seemed to be clearing, "Ryley."
Ryley looked up and saw what Tardus had seen, "Shit. They brought the cannon."
Dorser smirked. Quickly he climbed out of his guymelef while Tardus and Ryley were occupied. He ran into the cover of the woods and made his way towards the oncoming cannon. He had realized during his battle with the two men that Myami had fled. He wouldn't be surprised if she had taken her sister with her. The attack certainly wasn't a surprise as they had planned. The castle's forces were too quickly assembled for their attack to have been a surprise. Sometime between the time they had set the spells and this onslaught, they had discovered what was to occur. Dorser wasn't too disappointed though.
He was sure he would soon see Myami again. It was just a matter of time. There were still more missing pages and they still had some time, whatever little of that time they did have. As he approached the cannon area, Dorser turned to Nigel.
Nigel threw the scepter to Dorser, "Myami's sister was gone."
"I know. They knew we were coming." Dorser attached the scepter to his belt, "Start the firing sequence."
"With pleasure." Nigel bowed and made his way to the cannon's control area.
End Chapter Eight
Author's note
First off, I'd like to apologize for the lateness of my chapter. All I can offer as an excuse was a huge case of writer's block. As always I appreciate all of my readers and I want to assure them that I am still writing, however long it takes for me to get a chapter out, but I am still going to complete this story. Anyway, I hope that you all forgive me and continue to read and then review my work. As always hearing from all of you is what inspires me to write. But constructive criticism is welcome as well, as well as any flames. I figure I deserve those since I've been such a tardy writer.
Please watch for the next installment, Chapter Nine: The Calm Before the Storm.
Once again READ AND REVIEW!!!
Thanks you so much for your patience.
Jayli