Chapter 6: Chaono Lake
Twenty more riders, who they encountered six miles from Chaono Lake, escorted them into the camp. Only half of the original twenty were with them, two of them grievously injured, but had somehow managed to conjure the stamina to endure their escape. Xander ordered that they be immediately tended to. "Sergeant", he said to Dricoi, "have my retainers issued quarters," as he dismounted, greatsword in its scabbard upon his back.
"Yes, my lord," replied the Ankylan, who quickly instructed a small, green-skinned demon to escort Willow and the others to a tent. Xander recognised the type pf demon from Sash Fortress, where it had also been a servant.
{Dawn, can you tell where Buffy headed from here?} asked Xander.
{Aaah,} thought Dawn, {that way} and pointed east.
{As in straight into the battlefield?} asked Anya. {Maybe there's a detour?}
{Great} thought Xander, {what excuse am I supposed to come up with to walk straight into the battlefield?}
{Doesn't bleedin' matter what excuse you give him. You're supposed to be a general. Just tell him you want to go and pick daisies or something.}
{Oh gee Spike, any other words of wisdom to share?} asked Xander sarcastically.
{Yeah}, he replied, {don't bloody screw up.}
{You'll do great} thought Willow. {But seriously, don't screw up!}, she thought, stifling a giggle. Shaking his head, Xander said,
"Sergeant, lead me to Colonel Sash's pavilion."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The camp was filled with Buntine and Chaos Soldiers, among a plethora of less numerous various demons (some of which Xander actually recognised, like a few Fyarl demons). All, save the small green-skinned demons raised their palms in salute as he passed. He didn't return the salutes, knowing they would be at ease once he had left their view.
Dricoi led him past several riders leading their krus, and followed him into the largest tent in the camp. Inside was the largest Ankylan Xander had ever seen. Dricoi was powerfully built and six-foot four inches tall, but was dwarfed by this Colonel whose only uniform were the black tippets at his shoulders and the red cloak on his back. Sash was over seven feet tall and massively built, rivalling all and bettering most Chaos Soldiers for sheer mass. Still, he had to arch his neck to look up to Xander, saying, "My lord, I have been expecting you," in a dry, flat voice devoid of all emotion, while saluting.
"As you should have been," replied Xander. {The captain at Sash Fortress must have somehow sent word to the colonel} he thought.
"Yes, I received word via aeraich from Captain Creill, eight days ago. Strangely, he omitted your name, my lord?"
"That's because I didn't tell him my name, Colonel." {Let him know who's in charge}, thought Xander. "I am Lord-General Ver-Tal, Colonel." His face contorted in confusion.
"I was led to believe that you were putting down a rebellion in Northern Modalstiar."
"True, Colonel," replied Xander who was thinking frantically, "but I trust my lieutenants to continue the campaign with full competency in my absence." {Think, man, think!} I have come here to take stock of the overall status of our troops in Mesu from a reliable first-hand perspective." {How the hell did I think of that?} he wondered.
"Of course, my lord." Sash hesitated, "May I ask, however, why you visited Fortress Sash?"
"You may, replied Xander stiffly. Only his pseudo-soldier training was preventing him from running off screaming. "I had sought to accompany you to Chaono Lake. That is no longer important." Sash nodded, saying
"I understand that my lord's journey to Chaono Lake was not without event." Xander indicated Dricoi. Sash said "Report, corporal."
"Sergeant," corrected Xander. At Sash's uncomprehending look, he added "Field Promotion." Dricoi stepped forward, and began to report the events that had taken place in the last day.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Why can't we talk to Xander like before, Willow?" asked Dawn. They were in a large tent and Anya was lying in a long half-barrel in the corner, taking a bath. Willow stopped reading to answer Dawn.
"Oh, we can honey," replied the witch. They were all back in their human forms, but Willow had placed a charm so they could hear anyone approach the tent. "But we couldn't hear what he's hearing, so we'd just distract him. That's the last thing he needs," she said, looking again at the book in her lap. Dawn unfolded her arms and said,
"I hope he does okay." Willow nodded and went back to her book.
"Oh, don't worry, Dawnie," said Anya unconcernedly from her bath, "its Xander. He'll be fine." Dawn made a little half-smile.
"Um," Dawn mumbled. "Did anyone notice the way Xander changed, y'know, during the fight? Can all Chaos Demons do that?"
"Do what?" asked Anya.
"I'm not too sure..." Dawn began, but Spike helped her.
"You mean the way his skin turned into a bleedin' suit of armour?" Dawn nodded, and Anya frowned.
"It wasn't just that," said Dawn, "his sword – it was – I mean – he had-"
"One of these?" asked Spike as he lifted his sabre. "I saw it too, Niblet. He just held up the thing and it transformed into that gigantic meat-cleaver he has now. Good thing, too, 'cos he cut down a lot of the bastards with it." For Spike in any way to praise Xander, she knew he must have been phenomenal.
"Chaos Demons aren't supposed to be able to do anything like that," informed Anya, "and in eleven hundred and twenty-two years, I've seen a few. Why don't you ask Willow?" she said, pointing to the book- engrossed Willow, who looked up at the mention of her name.
"What?" she asked, "sorry, I wasn't listening. I've been trying to find out something about the Chaos Generals, here."
"Did you find anything?" asked Dawn.
"Yep," replied Willow, "I realised that Xander is a different type of Chaos Demon when I saw those riding earlier. So, I thought that maybe he was one of a different clan. Y'know, like the Buntine and the Seshni clans of Ankylans?" They said they did. "Well, the Chaos Soldiers come from this huge place just west of us called Chaono, and its separated into two clans called the Destals of Dest Chaono," Willow indicated where it was on the map, "and the Aelstans of Aelst Chaono, further north."
"So which one is Xander," asked Dawn, a Destal or an Aelstan?"
"Neither," answered Willow. "It says here that Aelstans are copper-skinned and Destals are bronze-skinned. We've seen plenty of them so far, but Xander's skin is way darker."
"Maybe, its something to do with rank?" suggested Spike from near the entrance. "They all seem to think dough-boy's a general just by looking at him, so maybe its some ritual they do when they're made a general; some sort of Rite of Passage. I've seen it before. Fyarl demons burn themselves when they reach a new rank. Bloody lunatics."
"But that wouldn't explain those things you said he did," said Anya from the bath.
"I'll keep looking," said Willow as she closed the book on her lap and was already reaching for another.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I am relieved you arrived safely, my lord," said Colonel Sash, "may I ask what your intentions are?" Dricoi's report had given Xander enough time to formulate a plausible response to this inevitable question.
"I will survey the camp today, Colonel. Tomorrow, I shall ride east toward the eventual battlefield, and from there I shall journey to the camp if the Great Lord-General Mart-Jik at the River Aelst." His memories of soldier training had not allowed Xander peace until he had memorized the map, like a good soldier should, Now, he was really thankful for that.
"Then, good journey, my lord," responded Sash. "I doubt I will be able to speak with you again. Preparations must be attended to. You will of course require an escort on your travels."
{Damn it!} thought Xander, {I knew I'd forgotten something}. "True, Colonel," said Xander. Sash turned to Dricoi.
"Sergeant, have a party ready for the morning." Said Sash. Xander nodded.
"We leave at first light." {Better the devil you know} he thought sardonically.
"Yes, my lord," said Dricoi, Xander saluted, as did the other two present, and left, flanked by Dricoi.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
{This cannot be coincidence!} thought Colonel Sash again when he was alone. {A Chaos General here, at this time? They must suspect me And Dricoi...} But to even incur Deetai's suspicion was to bring his wrath down upon you. {But why send a Chaos General? From the Modalstian border of all places?} This made no sense, but one thing that was crystal clear was that if they knew even a fraction of what he was planning, his head would currently be ordaining a pike in the centre of the camp. {I have no choice but to proceed as planned. My god protect me, if I fail...} The fate of all Ankylans was balanced on a knife edge. Should he fail, his death would be but one amongst tens of thousands.
{If only those damn Truscho 'bandits' hadn't failed,} he grimaced. Should Lord Ver-Tal have perished then, in the attack, Sash would be free of suspicion. But he had undoubtedly relayed the events back to Deetai, "Once to Deetai's Eye, you never leave his gaze," Sash quoted to himself. If the Chaos General died now, Deetai himself would know instantly, and order his other generals to Chaono Lake. No, the general could not be killed, but something had to be done, and Sash already had something in mind.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Xander had intended to make a show of inspecting the camp; a cursory glance there, a small comment there. But once again, his pseudo-soldier training came into play, and he found himself taking detailed, mental notes about the camp. During his inspection, he found something odd; amiss. The Ankylan soldiers seemed to outnumber the Chaos Soldiers, but not in any way that were noticeable or that seemed significant. But he could tell it was. Also of note, all key areas seemed to be guarded solely by Ankylans. True, Sash himself was an Ankylan. This camp looked normal; well organised and disciplined, but something was going to happen here. He suddenly felt a great urge to be out of there as soon as they could be, as if an arrow were pointed between his shoulder blades. Not that it would matter with that armour... - that was strange. He hadn't had an opportunity to think about what had happened when the Truscho demons had attacked them.
Xander could hear speech from their tent, but it abruptly ceased as he approached it. He entered asking "Guys, what -?"
"Xander!" exclaimed Anya, "where have you been all day?"
"I was surveying the camp and – all day? I was gone all day?" Anya pointed out at the night sky. Xander shook his head, "How did that happen? Must have got carried away inspecting the camp." Then he paused a moment. "Why did go hush-hush when I came in?"
"We figured you for one of them," answered Spike. "Few of the buggers came in today with food and the lot. So, did you bollox it up?" Willow frowned at Spike and asked,
"So, what did you say?" Xander shrugged,
"I just told him that I was here making a first-hand survey of all the major camps in Mesu. He looked like he bought it. We'll be leaving in the morning, going east."
"Great, Xander," said Dawn happily, "I knew you could do it. You're the best." Xander shifted a little, and said
"There's a teeny-tiny problem."
"Which is?" asked Willow. Xander cleared his throat and said,
"We're gonna have an escort. Probably a big one."
"Oh, you stupid wanker!" scoffed Spike.
"Hey, I couldn't think of a reason to get rid of them," Xander said defending himself. "Listen, once we're far enough away, I'll just order them to turn around and go back. They should obey me."
"SHOULD?" said Spike dubiously.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Later, Anya and Dawn were asleep. Xander sat beside Willow and said, "Will, I was just thinkin',"
"Now there's a surprise," interrupted Spike.
"Hey! Private conversation here. D'you mind?" said Xander.
"Well, if you'd keep it down, I could get some bloody sleep," retorted Spike. Rolling her eyes at this, Willow asked,
"About what, Xander?"
"About what we're gonna do if Dawn says Buffy's trail leads into Estyarth's territory," he said seriously. "An says she can't disguise me the way she does the rest of you, and from what we've seen and you've read, I won't be too welcome over there. Is there any spell you could do?"
"I don't think so, Xander," came her troubled reply. "My powers are completely different here, than from back home. Its just luck that dreads can do the mind link like I was using for helping us slay. I wouldn't want to experiment on you." He rubbed his chin.
"I need a shave," he complained. "But if you or Anya can't do anything Will, and we do have to go there, I'm probably going to have to... to go back." Willow's look was sad as she took a deep breath.
"I know. But if Dawn brings you back, we'll all have to go too." Xander's expression became confused and he asked why. "If Dawn goes back home, and then returns to Ri'Oth, who's to say she'll come back where she left? She might even end up back in the MistWall without us. No, if you go, we all go," she said with finality. "then Dawn can bring the rest of us back."
"But Will, if that happens and you asll end up in the MistWall again, you'll lose weeks," he replied.
"Doesn't matter Xander," said Willow, "we're not going to risk you any more than the rest of us. Don't make me bring out the resolve face."
Changing the subject later on, Willow remarked, "The guys said that you were awesome during the fight today. Well, Spike didn't say you were awesome, just less of a pillock than usual, but that's good coming from Spike, don't you think?" she said cheerily.
"Yeah, I meant to ask you and Anya about that earlier," said Xander, "but I got so caught up in everything."
"What happened?" she asked, "I mean, the guys filled me in on the whole huge sword plus armour skin stuff, but what happened to you?" clarified Willow.
"I'm not really sure," he replied. "I was just getting ready to fight, and this small sword I had turned into one extra large super-sword with fries! And before I even know it, I was wearing armour all over. It was like just thinking about the fight made it happen." Willow visually inspected Xander and said
"Your skin is back to normal," and turned to face the greatsword lying in the corner, "but the sword is still different." She gnawed on her knuckle. "Xander?" she asked.
"Yeah?"
"Where did you keep that sword all day?"
"In the scabbard on my back," he shrugged, "it"-. He reached and felt his back, finding no scabbard. "Wait a minute," he insisted, "there WAS a scabbard there earlier."
"But not now?" He shook his head. "When did it go away?" asked the redhead. Xander thought a moment, scratching his ear.
"I suppose when I took off the sword when I came into the tent tonight. That's weird, I was sure I..." he trailed off.
"When did you first have it?" she pressed.
"After the battle, when I put it away – woah."
"Xander," said Willow standing up, "I have an idea." She walked toward the black sword and tried to move it. It barely budged. "Maybe, it'd be better if you picked it up," she laughed. Xander walked over and hoisted the massive blade in one hand. "Now, instructed Willow. Sheathe it." Xander effortlessly placed the sword on his back, and Willow's eye's widened as his dark skin slicked and shaped itself around the weapon, and then hardened into a scabbard around the blade. Xander's eyes were also wide.
"Okay, what was that? I felt that," said Xander, as Willow picked up Spike's sabre. She levelled it at Xander, and his whole body shifted into black armour, only his eyes and antlers visible. He looked at himself, "What the?!", he muttered as his skin turned back. "Can all Chaos Demons do that?" he asked giddily.
"No, said Willow, "you're a special type of Chaos Demon: elite amongst all Deetai's forces. You're not any type of Chaos Soldier it mentions in the books.
"Oh, great," he moaned, "I'm SPECIAL." Ignoring the remark, she held up a book and continued,
"But this one hints at something. Listen," she instructed. "It says 'To the Sea of Deetai the Chaos Soldier goes to be anointed. Once to Deetai's Eye you never leave his gaze. Thus, Chaos Generals are born'."
"Sounds pretty deep," he murmured, "Hey!" he realised, "the map has a 'Sea of Deetai'
"Very little of it is shown here," pointed out Willow. Xander indicated an area on the extreme west of the map.
"Yeah, but you can see some sort of island right there," he said. "The map ends there, so the island could be bigger."
"It seems kind of a moot point anyway Xander," explained Willow. "This is over a thousand miles west, and Dawn says we have to go east. It seems unlikely that we'll ever have to go near there."
"Kinda hope not," he replied. "I mean, how creepy is that? 'Once to Deetai's Eye, you never leave his gaze'." He shifted uncomfortably. "You may as well get some sleep, Will." He stretched his arms. "We'll be leaving in a couple of hours."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As Willow and the others slept, Xander sat up pondering the words 'Once to Deetai's Eye, you never leave his gaze'.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
False dawn passed as he sat motionless, arms on his knees, wondering if they'd find Buffy; if he'd have to go home it her trail led into Estyarth's territory. A hand on his shoulder broke him out of his reverie. He turned to see Dawn, shorter standing than he was sitting. "Hey, Xander," she said, "are you okay? You looked majorly zoned out."
"Ah, its nothing Dawn," he sighed. "Better wake up the guys. They're probably already waiting for us with the krus." Dawn wilted, as the prospect of another painful day in the saddle materialised, before she turned to wake up Spike.
Twenty more riders, who they encountered six miles from Chaono Lake, escorted them into the camp. Only half of the original twenty were with them, two of them grievously injured, but had somehow managed to conjure the stamina to endure their escape. Xander ordered that they be immediately tended to. "Sergeant", he said to Dricoi, "have my retainers issued quarters," as he dismounted, greatsword in its scabbard upon his back.
"Yes, my lord," replied the Ankylan, who quickly instructed a small, green-skinned demon to escort Willow and the others to a tent. Xander recognised the type pf demon from Sash Fortress, where it had also been a servant.
{Dawn, can you tell where Buffy headed from here?} asked Xander.
{Aaah,} thought Dawn, {that way} and pointed east.
{As in straight into the battlefield?} asked Anya. {Maybe there's a detour?}
{Great} thought Xander, {what excuse am I supposed to come up with to walk straight into the battlefield?}
{Doesn't bleedin' matter what excuse you give him. You're supposed to be a general. Just tell him you want to go and pick daisies or something.}
{Oh gee Spike, any other words of wisdom to share?} asked Xander sarcastically.
{Yeah}, he replied, {don't bloody screw up.}
{You'll do great} thought Willow. {But seriously, don't screw up!}, she thought, stifling a giggle. Shaking his head, Xander said,
"Sergeant, lead me to Colonel Sash's pavilion."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The camp was filled with Buntine and Chaos Soldiers, among a plethora of less numerous various demons (some of which Xander actually recognised, like a few Fyarl demons). All, save the small green-skinned demons raised their palms in salute as he passed. He didn't return the salutes, knowing they would be at ease once he had left their view.
Dricoi led him past several riders leading their krus, and followed him into the largest tent in the camp. Inside was the largest Ankylan Xander had ever seen. Dricoi was powerfully built and six-foot four inches tall, but was dwarfed by this Colonel whose only uniform were the black tippets at his shoulders and the red cloak on his back. Sash was over seven feet tall and massively built, rivalling all and bettering most Chaos Soldiers for sheer mass. Still, he had to arch his neck to look up to Xander, saying, "My lord, I have been expecting you," in a dry, flat voice devoid of all emotion, while saluting.
"As you should have been," replied Xander. {The captain at Sash Fortress must have somehow sent word to the colonel} he thought.
"Yes, I received word via aeraich from Captain Creill, eight days ago. Strangely, he omitted your name, my lord?"
"That's because I didn't tell him my name, Colonel." {Let him know who's in charge}, thought Xander. "I am Lord-General Ver-Tal, Colonel." His face contorted in confusion.
"I was led to believe that you were putting down a rebellion in Northern Modalstiar."
"True, Colonel," replied Xander who was thinking frantically, "but I trust my lieutenants to continue the campaign with full competency in my absence." {Think, man, think!} I have come here to take stock of the overall status of our troops in Mesu from a reliable first-hand perspective." {How the hell did I think of that?} he wondered.
"Of course, my lord." Sash hesitated, "May I ask, however, why you visited Fortress Sash?"
"You may, replied Xander stiffly. Only his pseudo-soldier training was preventing him from running off screaming. "I had sought to accompany you to Chaono Lake. That is no longer important." Sash nodded, saying
"I understand that my lord's journey to Chaono Lake was not without event." Xander indicated Dricoi. Sash said "Report, corporal."
"Sergeant," corrected Xander. At Sash's uncomprehending look, he added "Field Promotion." Dricoi stepped forward, and began to report the events that had taken place in the last day.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Why can't we talk to Xander like before, Willow?" asked Dawn. They were in a large tent and Anya was lying in a long half-barrel in the corner, taking a bath. Willow stopped reading to answer Dawn.
"Oh, we can honey," replied the witch. They were all back in their human forms, but Willow had placed a charm so they could hear anyone approach the tent. "But we couldn't hear what he's hearing, so we'd just distract him. That's the last thing he needs," she said, looking again at the book in her lap. Dawn unfolded her arms and said,
"I hope he does okay." Willow nodded and went back to her book.
"Oh, don't worry, Dawnie," said Anya unconcernedly from her bath, "its Xander. He'll be fine." Dawn made a little half-smile.
"Um," Dawn mumbled. "Did anyone notice the way Xander changed, y'know, during the fight? Can all Chaos Demons do that?"
"Do what?" asked Anya.
"I'm not too sure..." Dawn began, but Spike helped her.
"You mean the way his skin turned into a bleedin' suit of armour?" Dawn nodded, and Anya frowned.
"It wasn't just that," said Dawn, "his sword – it was – I mean – he had-"
"One of these?" asked Spike as he lifted his sabre. "I saw it too, Niblet. He just held up the thing and it transformed into that gigantic meat-cleaver he has now. Good thing, too, 'cos he cut down a lot of the bastards with it." For Spike in any way to praise Xander, she knew he must have been phenomenal.
"Chaos Demons aren't supposed to be able to do anything like that," informed Anya, "and in eleven hundred and twenty-two years, I've seen a few. Why don't you ask Willow?" she said, pointing to the book- engrossed Willow, who looked up at the mention of her name.
"What?" she asked, "sorry, I wasn't listening. I've been trying to find out something about the Chaos Generals, here."
"Did you find anything?" asked Dawn.
"Yep," replied Willow, "I realised that Xander is a different type of Chaos Demon when I saw those riding earlier. So, I thought that maybe he was one of a different clan. Y'know, like the Buntine and the Seshni clans of Ankylans?" They said they did. "Well, the Chaos Soldiers come from this huge place just west of us called Chaono, and its separated into two clans called the Destals of Dest Chaono," Willow indicated where it was on the map, "and the Aelstans of Aelst Chaono, further north."
"So which one is Xander," asked Dawn, a Destal or an Aelstan?"
"Neither," answered Willow. "It says here that Aelstans are copper-skinned and Destals are bronze-skinned. We've seen plenty of them so far, but Xander's skin is way darker."
"Maybe, its something to do with rank?" suggested Spike from near the entrance. "They all seem to think dough-boy's a general just by looking at him, so maybe its some ritual they do when they're made a general; some sort of Rite of Passage. I've seen it before. Fyarl demons burn themselves when they reach a new rank. Bloody lunatics."
"But that wouldn't explain those things you said he did," said Anya from the bath.
"I'll keep looking," said Willow as she closed the book on her lap and was already reaching for another.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I am relieved you arrived safely, my lord," said Colonel Sash, "may I ask what your intentions are?" Dricoi's report had given Xander enough time to formulate a plausible response to this inevitable question.
"I will survey the camp today, Colonel. Tomorrow, I shall ride east toward the eventual battlefield, and from there I shall journey to the camp if the Great Lord-General Mart-Jik at the River Aelst." His memories of soldier training had not allowed Xander peace until he had memorized the map, like a good soldier should, Now, he was really thankful for that.
"Then, good journey, my lord," responded Sash. "I doubt I will be able to speak with you again. Preparations must be attended to. You will of course require an escort on your travels."
{Damn it!} thought Xander, {I knew I'd forgotten something}. "True, Colonel," said Xander. Sash turned to Dricoi.
"Sergeant, have a party ready for the morning." Said Sash. Xander nodded.
"We leave at first light." {Better the devil you know} he thought sardonically.
"Yes, my lord," said Dricoi, Xander saluted, as did the other two present, and left, flanked by Dricoi.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
{This cannot be coincidence!} thought Colonel Sash again when he was alone. {A Chaos General here, at this time? They must suspect me And Dricoi...} But to even incur Deetai's suspicion was to bring his wrath down upon you. {But why send a Chaos General? From the Modalstian border of all places?} This made no sense, but one thing that was crystal clear was that if they knew even a fraction of what he was planning, his head would currently be ordaining a pike in the centre of the camp. {I have no choice but to proceed as planned. My god protect me, if I fail...} The fate of all Ankylans was balanced on a knife edge. Should he fail, his death would be but one amongst tens of thousands.
{If only those damn Truscho 'bandits' hadn't failed,} he grimaced. Should Lord Ver-Tal have perished then, in the attack, Sash would be free of suspicion. But he had undoubtedly relayed the events back to Deetai, "Once to Deetai's Eye, you never leave his gaze," Sash quoted to himself. If the Chaos General died now, Deetai himself would know instantly, and order his other generals to Chaono Lake. No, the general could not be killed, but something had to be done, and Sash already had something in mind.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Xander had intended to make a show of inspecting the camp; a cursory glance there, a small comment there. But once again, his pseudo-soldier training came into play, and he found himself taking detailed, mental notes about the camp. During his inspection, he found something odd; amiss. The Ankylan soldiers seemed to outnumber the Chaos Soldiers, but not in any way that were noticeable or that seemed significant. But he could tell it was. Also of note, all key areas seemed to be guarded solely by Ankylans. True, Sash himself was an Ankylan. This camp looked normal; well organised and disciplined, but something was going to happen here. He suddenly felt a great urge to be out of there as soon as they could be, as if an arrow were pointed between his shoulder blades. Not that it would matter with that armour... - that was strange. He hadn't had an opportunity to think about what had happened when the Truscho demons had attacked them.
Xander could hear speech from their tent, but it abruptly ceased as he approached it. He entered asking "Guys, what -?"
"Xander!" exclaimed Anya, "where have you been all day?"
"I was surveying the camp and – all day? I was gone all day?" Anya pointed out at the night sky. Xander shook his head, "How did that happen? Must have got carried away inspecting the camp." Then he paused a moment. "Why did go hush-hush when I came in?"
"We figured you for one of them," answered Spike. "Few of the buggers came in today with food and the lot. So, did you bollox it up?" Willow frowned at Spike and asked,
"So, what did you say?" Xander shrugged,
"I just told him that I was here making a first-hand survey of all the major camps in Mesu. He looked like he bought it. We'll be leaving in the morning, going east."
"Great, Xander," said Dawn happily, "I knew you could do it. You're the best." Xander shifted a little, and said
"There's a teeny-tiny problem."
"Which is?" asked Willow. Xander cleared his throat and said,
"We're gonna have an escort. Probably a big one."
"Oh, you stupid wanker!" scoffed Spike.
"Hey, I couldn't think of a reason to get rid of them," Xander said defending himself. "Listen, once we're far enough away, I'll just order them to turn around and go back. They should obey me."
"SHOULD?" said Spike dubiously.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Later, Anya and Dawn were asleep. Xander sat beside Willow and said, "Will, I was just thinkin',"
"Now there's a surprise," interrupted Spike.
"Hey! Private conversation here. D'you mind?" said Xander.
"Well, if you'd keep it down, I could get some bloody sleep," retorted Spike. Rolling her eyes at this, Willow asked,
"About what, Xander?"
"About what we're gonna do if Dawn says Buffy's trail leads into Estyarth's territory," he said seriously. "An says she can't disguise me the way she does the rest of you, and from what we've seen and you've read, I won't be too welcome over there. Is there any spell you could do?"
"I don't think so, Xander," came her troubled reply. "My powers are completely different here, than from back home. Its just luck that dreads can do the mind link like I was using for helping us slay. I wouldn't want to experiment on you." He rubbed his chin.
"I need a shave," he complained. "But if you or Anya can't do anything Will, and we do have to go there, I'm probably going to have to... to go back." Willow's look was sad as she took a deep breath.
"I know. But if Dawn brings you back, we'll all have to go too." Xander's expression became confused and he asked why. "If Dawn goes back home, and then returns to Ri'Oth, who's to say she'll come back where she left? She might even end up back in the MistWall without us. No, if you go, we all go," she said with finality. "then Dawn can bring the rest of us back."
"But Will, if that happens and you asll end up in the MistWall again, you'll lose weeks," he replied.
"Doesn't matter Xander," said Willow, "we're not going to risk you any more than the rest of us. Don't make me bring out the resolve face."
Changing the subject later on, Willow remarked, "The guys said that you were awesome during the fight today. Well, Spike didn't say you were awesome, just less of a pillock than usual, but that's good coming from Spike, don't you think?" she said cheerily.
"Yeah, I meant to ask you and Anya about that earlier," said Xander, "but I got so caught up in everything."
"What happened?" she asked, "I mean, the guys filled me in on the whole huge sword plus armour skin stuff, but what happened to you?" clarified Willow.
"I'm not really sure," he replied. "I was just getting ready to fight, and this small sword I had turned into one extra large super-sword with fries! And before I even know it, I was wearing armour all over. It was like just thinking about the fight made it happen." Willow visually inspected Xander and said
"Your skin is back to normal," and turned to face the greatsword lying in the corner, "but the sword is still different." She gnawed on her knuckle. "Xander?" she asked.
"Yeah?"
"Where did you keep that sword all day?"
"In the scabbard on my back," he shrugged, "it"-. He reached and felt his back, finding no scabbard. "Wait a minute," he insisted, "there WAS a scabbard there earlier."
"But not now?" He shook his head. "When did it go away?" asked the redhead. Xander thought a moment, scratching his ear.
"I suppose when I took off the sword when I came into the tent tonight. That's weird, I was sure I..." he trailed off.
"When did you first have it?" she pressed.
"After the battle, when I put it away – woah."
"Xander," said Willow standing up, "I have an idea." She walked toward the black sword and tried to move it. It barely budged. "Maybe, it'd be better if you picked it up," she laughed. Xander walked over and hoisted the massive blade in one hand. "Now, instructed Willow. Sheathe it." Xander effortlessly placed the sword on his back, and Willow's eye's widened as his dark skin slicked and shaped itself around the weapon, and then hardened into a scabbard around the blade. Xander's eyes were also wide.
"Okay, what was that? I felt that," said Xander, as Willow picked up Spike's sabre. She levelled it at Xander, and his whole body shifted into black armour, only his eyes and antlers visible. He looked at himself, "What the?!", he muttered as his skin turned back. "Can all Chaos Demons do that?" he asked giddily.
"No, said Willow, "you're a special type of Chaos Demon: elite amongst all Deetai's forces. You're not any type of Chaos Soldier it mentions in the books.
"Oh, great," he moaned, "I'm SPECIAL." Ignoring the remark, she held up a book and continued,
"But this one hints at something. Listen," she instructed. "It says 'To the Sea of Deetai the Chaos Soldier goes to be anointed. Once to Deetai's Eye you never leave his gaze. Thus, Chaos Generals are born'."
"Sounds pretty deep," he murmured, "Hey!" he realised, "the map has a 'Sea of Deetai'
"Very little of it is shown here," pointed out Willow. Xander indicated an area on the extreme west of the map.
"Yeah, but you can see some sort of island right there," he said. "The map ends there, so the island could be bigger."
"It seems kind of a moot point anyway Xander," explained Willow. "This is over a thousand miles west, and Dawn says we have to go east. It seems unlikely that we'll ever have to go near there."
"Kinda hope not," he replied. "I mean, how creepy is that? 'Once to Deetai's Eye, you never leave his gaze'." He shifted uncomfortably. "You may as well get some sleep, Will." He stretched his arms. "We'll be leaving in a couple of hours."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As Willow and the others slept, Xander sat up pondering the words 'Once to Deetai's Eye, you never leave his gaze'.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
False dawn passed as he sat motionless, arms on his knees, wondering if they'd find Buffy; if he'd have to go home it her trail led into Estyarth's territory. A hand on his shoulder broke him out of his reverie. He turned to see Dawn, shorter standing than he was sitting. "Hey, Xander," she said, "are you okay? You looked majorly zoned out."
"Ah, its nothing Dawn," he sighed. "Better wake up the guys. They're probably already waiting for us with the krus." Dawn wilted, as the prospect of another painful day in the saddle materialised, before she turned to wake up Spike.
