Chapter 5
(Surprise in the Hot Springs)
Sniper was the first in the room to open his eyes, weary after the night's darkness. He took in and let out a deep breath to get his circulation going again, looking around at everyone else who was sleeping soundly. He tried to stretch, but was pinned down by Ryo, who was snuggled up against him.
-When the hell was she down here? The floor really isn't that comfortable… -
He moaned in confusion; his arm was going numb. He slowly slipped his arm out from under her, noticed her shiver, and draped his blanket over her to keep her from waking. Quietly he slipped on his armor and headed towards the door, only to have Kana fly in and land on his shoulder. He rolled his eyes, it being too early to fuss over a bird, and headed out the door into the hallway.
The ballroom was dimly lit with lamps and soft music was being cast across the room to the awake guests. He stumbled to the buffet table, catching himself at the last moment.
"Bird…how can I knock you off?" He mumbled to the creature on his shoulder.
He was surprised to see that none of the other guests thought anything of the bird on his shoulder. It must've been too early for them too. He poured himself a mug of cain and began to walk away, only to stop when Kana fluttered.
"What?" He asked.
Then it hit him, the bird must've been hungry. It probably stuck around the mansion to keep an eye on Ryo, but now food had taken hold. He cut up some scraps of a roast leftover from the night and tossed them up to the bird, which quickly ate without a sound.
"Satisfied?"
He sipped from the mug, feeling a little life return to his flesh. He turned and headed for the door, only to find the doorman from the other night. He tossed Kana off of his shoulder and the bird startled the man as it headed out the door. He walked toe to toe with the doorman, glaring at him.
"Y-your goods, sir?" He asked with a tone of respect. "Good show, by the way."
Sniper said nothing. The man quickly fumbled about for Sniper's weapons and held them out for the warrior to take. He attached them to his belt and walked out with the sheath.
In the sky the clouds hung low, blocking out most of the sun. Sniper nodded to a few of the guest's guards and walked the gravel path that rounded the mansion. Once he found a spot that he liked, he leaned against a stone wall, sipping his cain.
"Not a bad fight. You shouldn't have accepted, though." He heard from his right.
He peered over to find a cloaked and hooded man, strolling towards him. Sniper nodded.
"But, I can see that your specialty is not with your fists." The man said, gesturing to the sheath that lay in the cool grass next to Sniper.
Kana flew by, chasing a dove.
"You name?" The man asked.
"Sniper."
"I see…that's unfortunate. Yuler knows this too, and will probably try to smite you at any cost."
"Let him try." Sniper responded coldly.
The man laughed smoothly, removing the hood to show his face of about twenty-five. But, having the wingly platinum hair, you really couldn't be sure, as they aged differently.
"I am Lloyd. I too share your specialty, though a little enhanced." Lloyd introduced.
The clouds parted and the sun shone through. The temperature was rising and Sniper was getting warm under his armor.
"You travel with King Albert?" Lloyd asked.
"Yeah."
"He is a good man. You are lucky."
Sniper watched his expression go from cheerful to sad, then back. He loosened the straps on his hookshot and dropped it to the grass, relieved to let air get to his skin. Lloyd looked around the path.
"Care for a warm up, or is it too early? I sometimes am not awake by this time, so I fully understand if you do not wish to take up the offer." He said, tugging at his cloak as if it was a shield and he was in battle.
Sniper blinked a few times, thinking it over. "Fine." He unstrapped his kneeplates and tossed them to the ground as well, along with a few things that would weigh him down. He slipped on his fingerless gloves, which granted him better grip on the hilt of his blade, even though the heat told him not to.
Sniper stood on the walk, sheath on back, watching his opponent. Lloyd rubbed his hands together to warm them up and tossed off his cloak to reveal his blade, frozen in a motionless flame.
"Then let us begin." He announced.
Lloyd held his sword at the ready, waiting for Sniper to do something. But after waiting a while, he grew bored and charged the boy, who drew his own blade and deflected the attack. They danced back and forth, metal clanging repeatedly, warriors' faces stuck in concentration.
Lloyd was quicker than the teen, but Sniper's light broadsword had the advantage of reach. He could keep deflecting without Lloyd getting close enough to strike.
"Let's try something else." Lloyd said, launching in the air on glimmering wings.
Sniper's eyes never lost his opponent and jumping around, dodged the strikes coming his way in waves. He yelped as a shot of blue energy shot into his unprotected left arm. He cursed at taking off the hookshot and glared at Lloyd, who had his hand raised to release another blast. Sniper's arm became numb.
"You should always have a second weapon." He said, grinning at the boy's helplessness.
Sniper spun and released a knife from his belt, sailing right at Lloyd, who caught it in a mere flicker of movement. Sniper stared, wondering if he'd lost.
-How the fuck did he DO that?! -
Lloyd chuckled at the boy's expression and dove for him, blade out. Sniper quickly spun to deflect, but noticed that the blade he hit wasn't there, and that Lloyd stood behind him, sword lying against his opponent's shoulder.
"You lost." He stated, sheathing his blade and returning for his cloak.
Sniper cursed at his stupidity, slamming the blade into the hard sheath and walking back to the wall. He swore he could hear Rose laughing at him in his mind.
"You did well, but do you want to learn a little trick?" Lloyd asked before he left. "Look at this symbol. Memorize it, over and over…" He held out his hands and a faint "Q" like symbol appeared. " Hold that in your mind and focus on a target…see what happens."
Sniper watched, confused, as the hooded man left down the trail.
-How was he so fast? Meru's not even that fast. Although, he wasn't toting a big freakin' hammer, either. -
He sighed and saw that Kana was still chasing the same dove around the skies. He shrugged, focused on the symbol and kept an eye on the dove. He instinctively raised his hand and a faint blue glow appeared in front of it. It grew a little and then shot towards the target, stunning it. He watched Kana swoop and scream, obviously mad at Sniper for interrupting it's food flight.
He stared at his hand, wondering if he actually did what he saw.
-Can humans use wingly magic? Or was that just something anyone can do if they are trained? -
-It depends on the person. - Rose replied in his mind.
-What do you mean? -
-Well, you need a strong will in order to conjure up the needed energy for a spell, and you have to know how to do it. It just so happens that you are able to do that spell. When in a Dragoon state though, you can conjure up much more powerful spells of your ally, the darkness, and maybe a few tricks from the Ice Dragon as well. -
He snapped out of his talk as Kana swooped down and grabbed the stunned bird.
"Still hungry?" He called to the bird, which squawked as it flew to a tree to feast.
-
Ryo woke up in a heap on the floor where Sniper had laid the night before. She was covered in two blankets. Sniper must have draped his over her to keep her warm. She smiled slightly, maybe he didn't mind her after all? She rubbed the last bit of sleep out of her hazel eyes and stood. Stumbling to the door she wondered where everyone else was, as the scent of cain had drawn her to the ballroom.
There stood Meru, sitting on Kongal's shoulders, leaning forward against his head for support and engaging conversation with Dart and Ice. She smiled in greeting, but her stomach had ordered to be filled, and she went to the buffet table for a light breakfast.
"D'you think we pissed the snobby guy off with the fight?" Meru asked.
"Pissed is an understatement. He was thoroughly humiliated by one traveling with the person he hates most, and to his own challenge, mind you!" Dart replied. He glanced around to make sure no one out of their group had over heard. The other guests had been quite silent to the group since the "incident" the night before.
"But, d'you think he was in the right, beating down the guy in his own house like that? I don't know." The night before, Meru got caught up in the fight, rooting for Sniper, but since she came to her senses she had begun to question the past events.
"He was. I would do same thing." Kongal muttered, nodding as if to convince himself.
"Ohhh, got a little something for Ryo? Huh, huh?" Meru teased. Kongal's grumble warned her to shut up or be thrown off her perch. "Just kidding, ok!?"
"I know if Shana we're in Ryo's shoes, I would've done much more than Sniper had. I think he held back." Dart said after glancing at Shana who sat next to Ryo.
"Man, why can't I find someone like Shana? It's just not fair I tell you. Why do I always have to be the single one around here?" Meru complained. She'd been pretty lonely lately.
"What about that guy from the Wingly Forest? You're lifelong buddy?" Dart asked.
Meru averted his look and fidgeted about on Kongal's shoulders. "We're just good friends.
Besides, I think he's got an interest in someone else in the forest. I'm never there so we've grown apart."
"Too bad." Kongal grumbled, which received a soft pat on the head from the freeloader above him.
"Ok, what about speedy, there?" Dart asked, pointing to Ice down the other side of the ballroom. He and Kongal had been racing back and forth to see who could snag a bagel from the buffet table, eat it, and race back to the bench that served as a starting point. Kongal frequently came up with challenges such as this, it was just in his outgoing nature.
"Ice? He's just weird."
"I heard that!" Ice called with a mouth full of bagel.
"Well, it's true!"
"I never said it wasn't!"
Meru slouched forward, mouth agape. How did he always get the last word? This drove her crazy, as she was used to dominating the arguments she partook in. She closed it after noticing that both Kongal and Dart were watching her. Dart simply grinned and nodded. Kongal looked confused.
The iron door creaked as Sniper entered the great ballroom, staring at the floor ahead of him and thinking. He did this frequently, which he knew everyone noticed some time or another. It added to his low-profile appearance. He wondered why the doorman hadn't haggled him for his weapons as he came in. Maybe he might just have gained the annoying man's respect, maybe.
Ryo saw him come in and gestured for him to come and sit by Shana and herself.
"Your bird's outside." He said as he plopped down between the two.
Ryo stared at him coldly.
"Kana is outside. Kana." He said in an annoyed apology. He didn't understand why she insisted on the bird being one of the group.
"So, what did you do so far this morning? Hungry?" Shana asked. She was always nice to Sniper, which he appreciated more than she would ever know.
"Nah, I already ate, and fed Kana too."
"So where were you?" Shana asked again.
"Just walking around." He decided against telling anyone about Lloyd. Not that he was embarrassed about being defeated, he just felt like keeping the meeting to himself.
"So, Shana tells me that there are some Hot Springs near the Volcano Villude. Wanna go? It really isn't that far." Ryo asked, looking directly into Sniper's crystal eyes, hoping to persuade him into going.
"Don't know. Ice, you look like you need a bath. Wanna go?" He called.
Ice slid to a stop, tripping Haschel onto the floor. "Huh?"
"There's some hot springs around here. Wanna go?"
"If it's ok with Albert and Dart. I could use a swim."
"We know, we can smell you over here." Ryo teased. "And, you-" She looked Sniper up and down. "definitely could use a scrub."
"Black armor, hot sun, can't help it." He declared, stretching.
Ice ran over to ask Albert what the situation was at the moment. Haschel still lay groaning on the floor. Ryo and Shana got up and helped him get to his feet. He gave Sniper a quick wink as they helped him to a chair.
Sniper had a suspicion that was his plan all along. If a man can't take a fall, he can't do anything that Haschel, martial arts Master, can do. He spread out on the bench to await the decision, still thinking about the magic trick that Lloyd had taught him.
-
Albert had decided on going. He had learned a few years back that Basil once had an outpost near the Volcano Villude and he wished to see for himself if it still existed. He was quite surprised that Yuler hadn't thrown them out at the party.
The road was narrow and covered over in vegetation. He sent Kongal to the front with his axe to clear-cut the path again so the could continue to the springs. Kongal stopped in a clearing, where Albert saw a glimpse of water. He rushed over to see if it was a spring, but was disappointed to find nothing but a flowing brook.
"Only a stream…"
"It's coming from the cavern along the volcano. Why don't we just follow it and see if it comes from a spring?" Dart suggested. He was as eager to find the springs as the rest, though he barely showed it.
"But, it's cold…" Albert said sadly, plunging his hand in the stream to check the temperature.
"That's ok, it probably had tome to cool off if it came from the other side. Let's go."
The cavern was dark, but all could see glimmers off the surface of the stream with the speckled light shimmering through the cracks in the rock. Meru repeatedly apologized for running into Ice. Ryo held onto Sniper's sword sheath so she wouldn't get lost, and Shana did the same with Dart.
In the middle of a complaint led by Haschel, the group came into a steam filled chamber.
"Hot springs, baby! Now that's what I'm talking about!" Ice cried as he ran toward the water, shredding off armor as he went.
"Yahoo!" Meru cried, following suit with the man with the mullet.
Ryo too ran for the spring, forgetting to let go of Sniper's sheath and pulling it over his head, knocking him off balance. "Oh shit! Sorry, sorry."
After a great bit of laughter from the rest of the group, Sniper, Ryo, and Shana went off to find a slightly bigger spring, while everyone else soaked with pleasure. Everyone except Kongal, who didn't like water very much, so his just sat on a rock and watched.
"Where's Kana?" Shana asked as the three walked along the cavern.
"Oh, he's somewhere around here." Pointing outside the walls. "Probably hunting some mice or something. He does that constantly."
"I've noticed." Sniper remarked, shrugging his shoulders to make his point.
"Oh, you've watched him?" Ryo asked, a glint in her hazel eyes.
"You were asleep, so I had to give him some scraps. Then he went out and caught prey of his own. He eats like Ice."
Both girls laughed greatly for minutes, gasping for breaths. "On that I can agree with you!" Shana cried, wiping tears.
Suddenly Sniper froze, glancing around without moving his head. Shana too, stopped and instinctively knocked an arrow in her bow. Ryo turned and trotted back to them, somewhat embarrassed, and drew her rapier.
"What is it?" She asked quietly, a little nervous.
"Don't move." Shana commended.
"They've got us." Sniper added, slowly making for his sword on his back.
Ryo looked around frantically, searching for what was there, until she saw a glimpse of green. Green in a cave? That is not normal. One by one, she saw others, the points of arrows. They were indeed surrounded.
"Throw down your weapons and we won't harm the women!" A gruff voice called. He was obviously speaking to Sniper.
"The women are not under my control. They will do as you ask if it is there will." He replied, still frozen in an alert stance.
"I will not ask again!" The voice boomed in the cavern.
Ryo leaned in close and whispered. "Ryo's outside, should I order him to attack?"
Sniper slowly shook his head. "no way. Get him to get help." He quickly grabbed Shana's arm, for she was about to transform into a dragoon.
She glared at him. "What?"
"Don't. We can't fight them off and defend Ryo. Besides, if they see the light, they'll shoot." Very slowly he unstrapped his daggers and sword, laying them ever so gently on the ground ahead of them. "Do it." He commanded quietly.
The other two did the same, looking bitter and beaten.
-Why didn't I hear them earlier? Dammit! - Sniper thought, kicking a stone as he backed away.
-Well, if you hadn't made them laugh, you probably would have heard them…not that that's any consolation now. - Rose responded.
-It doesn't help me now! -
-Don't be foolish! Your top priorities are to keep your Dragon Spirits a secret and the girls safe. If anything were to happen to Shana, Dart would kill me! -
-But you're already dead! -
-He'd find a way. I have faith in him. Just hold on till her bird gets help. I'll be with you. -
-That helps. Just don't abandon me, all right? -
-Deal. -
":Hey-" Ryo jabbed him in the ribs. "Kana's on his way right now. What are we gonna do?"
Just as she finished her sentence, two rather burly me grabbed her and drug her away with Shana. "You hurt them and I'll be coming for YOU." Sniper mumbled as they bound his hands.
"Shut up and get movin'!" the man beside him ordered, kicking at his legs as an incentive.
They were led far into the west face of the rock bed, moving around the volcano. Time passed and the moon came up over the face as a crumbling structure came into view.
"Home, sweat home, eh?" The man said. "We'll make you nice and cozy…if you get along with field mice, that is."
Sniper sighed as he was thrown into his cell. He could hear the girls in the next cell gripe at the accommodations to the guards. He sat on the creaking bench, feeling the cool rock wall, wondering if this was the outpost that Albert had mentioned. He hadn't seen Basil's insignia, but it could just be covered up or on the other side of the outpost. Because they were so close to the Volcano Villude, the weather was always warm, even in the dark of night. And that didn't hurt his feelings any since he wasn't given any bedroll.
-You still there? - He asked.
-Always. Figured anything out yet? Can you use that trick Lloyd taught you? -
-Nah, I shouldn't do that around these people. That'd make the draw their attention to me. Do you think this is Yuler's doing? He doesn't live that far away. He could've sent word. -
-Could be. He wasn't too happy when you beat his ass down. -
-He deserved it. - Sniper thought sternly.
-Yes, but at what cost? Would you have done it for Shana, Meru…or me? -
-Without thought. -
He frowned when he heard Rose laugh.
-Oh, sorry. Zeig says he trusts you more now. - She laughed again.
-What? He can hear me? -
-Through me ha can. Him and I have a bond, you know. We can tell what's in each other's hearts, as well as minds. -
-Downright weird, Rose. -
Again, laughter. Something made him sit uncomfortable in his position and he reached around to the back of his belt to see what it was. It was his throwing knife he kept in a sheath on the inside of his belt in case he lost his sword in a fight.
-Thought of anything yet? - Rose inquired.
-Maybe. We'll see what happens. -
Sniper drew the knife and threw it, sticking it to the crossbeam above the cell door. He would need it later. Flashes of shadows flickered past his eyes as two guards met in front of the girls' cell.
"No, man. It's you own damn fault! Don't blame me for your stupid mistakes!" One cried.
"Don't start that with me, you bastard! If I catch you with her again I'll kill you, so help me Soa!" The other argued.
Sniper stood at the door, checking the sturdiness of the bars and listening to the argument. Rose made a few comments, but he ignored her. Eventually, Sniper had had enough.
"Shut the hell up, both of ya! You-" He pointed at the first. "Cheated with his wife! And You-" He pointed at the other. "Cheated on your own wife with the bar maid in Bale! You were both in the wrong, so get over it! I've never heard so much damn babbling in my whole fucking life!"
He spun and sat down on the bench, grinning. That would get them off his scent for a while, until they had the courage to speak to him again. The guards just stood rigid, eyes darting around the room as if nothing had happened. Then both men left in opposite directions without a word said.
"Sniper's the only one I know who can win an argument without even being in it." Shana mused to Ryo.
Ryo stared for a moment, then rushed to the cell wall, reaching around inside the neighboring cell. "Hey, how did you know that?" She inquired.
"Oh, just someone I know."
"Who? You're alone!"
"Not quite."
"There's nobody in there with you! What do you mean you're NOT alone?!"
"I'll tell ya sometime. For now, take this." He put his Dragon Spirit in her grasp. "Just wear it until we get outta here. If I'm found with it, I'll surely lose it. You should be more inconspicuous."
Ryo blinked in confusion as she drew it back. Without thought, she slipped it over her neck and sat back down. "What is it for?" She asked.
"Well, its kind of difficult to explain, so here…" Shana held her spirit so they both resonated.
She winked and lied down to rest. Who knew how long they might be in there. Ryo sat in the corner, staring at the stone, wondering how it glowed. Maybe if she was nice to Sniper, he would give it to her. It did match her outfit…sort of.
-
"What's taking them so long?" Dart asked the others, fearful for Shana.
"Well, the bird's back, and it never leaves Ryo's side, so she must be around here somewhere." Meru stated, trying to soothe her good friend.
Haschel stood and watched the hawk, perched above on a ledge and squawking irritably. Without word, he began to walk down the caverns, humming a little tune. The others stared at each other, then followed, with Kana swooping over them.
"What're you thinkin'?'" Meru asked as she danced up to the martial arts Master.
"As I see it, that bird's acting frantic, so something's up. If we follow this thing to it's end, we might find some trace of what has happened to them."
"Maybe they just found a nice spring and are still floating around?" Ice suggested, picking up Meru and running around as she shouted in anger at him. He was quite surprised how light she was.
"But I'm getting tired!" Meru cried from Ice's grasp.
Albert waved everyone to a halt. He was silent for a moment, observing the road ahead of them and the position of the moon through the cracks. "We aren't going to get far, unless Ice wants to carry Meru the whole way."
Ice chuckled s Meru flailed, trying to get a belt to his face. But he stopped as he began to rise. Meru had tried to fly away, but his grip was too tight. Eventually she dropped them both and they collapsed in a heap, where neither wanted to move.
"Well, I guess that decides it. Kongal, some firewood from the other side of the wall please." Albert asked.
"But there's no way out!" Meru said.
Kongal grunted and slammed through the rock face. Everyone stared as he began to gather wood as he was asked.
"Man, those Gigantos are BAD! I'm gonna be buff like Kongal someday!" Meru said.
Ice sat silent, trying his best to contain himself, but in the end his will failed.
-
Sniper sat on the bench, back against the wall, contemplating what he could do to get the girls out of the building. Dart and the others hadn't shown up yet, so it was solely in his hands. He'd only slept a few hours and it was early morning, the moon still on the horizon. Bored and stuck in his thinking he began to quietly sing.
"Strangers passing in the street. By chance two separate glances meet. And I am you and what I see is me. And do I take you by the hand. And lead you through the land. And help me understand the best I can…"
Ryo woke to this, wondering if it was a guard on watch. But after getting her bearings, she found it to be Sniper. He didn't exactly have a singer's voice, but he was managing. The song wasn't that hard to sing.
"Cloudless everyday you fall upon my waking eyes. Inviting me and inciting me to rise. And through the window in the wall. Come streaming in on sunlight wings. A million bright ambassadors of morning…And no one sings me lullabies. And no one makes me close my eyes. And so I throw the windows wide. And call to you across the sky…"
Ryo moved over to the bars so she could see into Sniper's cell. "You're not what I'd call a singer."
"Me neither."
"Not very popular in Serdio, I gather. I've never heard it before, and I'm usually in the pubs all night."
"Ice would know it. Our uncle always sang it to us after we practiced, said it would calm us down."
"I see…" Ryo had heard of their uncles passing and it saddened her, though she had never met him.
"So what IS popular with the pubs these days?"
"You should know, you worked at the Inn in Seles, right?"
"Ryo, nobody ever really came in from out of the village."
There was silence, then her voice quietly rang throughout the cells.
"You don't remember me but I remember you. I lie awake and try so hard not to think of you. But who can decide what they dream? And dream I do…"
Sniper stared at the cobblestone floor, wondering why she chose that song.
"I believe in you. I'll give up everything just to find you. I have to be with you to live, to breathe. You're taking over me."
Again he wondered what she was thinking, but passed it through his mind and regained control of his thoughts, or so he thought.
-Think she likes ya, huh? - Rose teased.
-Did I ASK you to read my thoughts? Did I? -
Nope. But I don't care. It's my way. I never thought it could be so fun to be dead. Good thing I was a Dragoon when I was alive or I'd just be a memory. -
-Oh, wouldn't THAT be a shame. -
"You'd better get some more sleep, Ryo. I know I'm going to need some."
"Ok, see you in the morning."
-
As soon as the sun rose, guards were rousing Sniper in his cell. They told him they wished his presence be in their master's chambers.
"And who is your so called 'Master'?" He asked in an acid tone.
"You will never know until you meet him, so get a move on, ya!" The guard outside he door commanded.
Sniper merely shrugged as he walked to the door, secretly grabbing the knife from the ceiling, faking to be stretching. As he was led past the girls' cell, he slipped the knife into Shana's hands with a reassuring wink.
Ryo waited until after they'd gone to say anything. "Where are they taking him?"
"My guess is to be interrogated."
"Meaning?"
"Beaten until he talks." Shana replied gloomily. "But he's strong in will. They won't get anything out of him easily."
"Now what do we do?"
"Hey, bub!" Shana yelled to the standing guard. "Yeah, you. Feeling lucky?" She asked, raising a brow.
Ryo stared, appalled until she caught her drift. "yeah, we're awful lonely in here. Wouldn't mind some company."
She watched as the guard took notice, looking up the stairs to see if anyone was coming. "Wouldn't want nice ladies getting lonely." He chuckled, opening the door.
He sat between the girls, caressing Shana's hand. "Now, how about you give me what's due, eh? I might just be able to sneak some wine down here later."
"Sure thing." Shana replied coldly, plunging the knife into his ribs for a soundless kill. "Let's get out of here!" She announced as she grabbed the guard's keys. "I've had WAY too much of prisons in my lifetime!"
They ran down the hall, slipped around the corner, and opened the door marked 'armory'. Inside a man sat at a desk, observing Ryo's rapier.
"He's mine." Ryo whispered. "Dirty bastard…grubbing up my blade…"
She snuck in the shadows of countless broad shields that hung on racks on the left end of the room. She crept upon the man, quickly taking the rapier from him. "Beauty, ain't it?" She asked, then slit his throat. She had no respect or pity for anyone who laid a finger on her weapons.
The girls quickly found the confiscated weapons and set off in search of Sniper.
-
Hours later, after much sneaking around and checking rooms, the girls finally found the chamber where they kept him. Shana slowly peaked around the corner, observing the status of the room, then jumped back.
"Anyone there?" Ryo asked in a hushed tone.
She shook her head. "No, not except Sniper."
"Well? Let's go get him."
"Something's not right…" She peeked again.
She noticed various vials on the table next to the plate he laid on. They must've drugged him. He lay on his back, legs in line with the arms. Sniper always slept on his stomach. It had to be set up.
"He's not laying right." She announced.
"What?"
"I'm the one who always had to wake Ice and Sniper up back at the Inn, and Sniper always sleeps on his stomach."
"What if he rolled over?"
"He would've rolled off the plate. No, he was placed there to draw us in."
"So what do we do?"
"Snipe them out."
"What about Sniper? I didn't catch it."
"Never mind, just stay back for a second." Shana said, pushing her back.
She knocked an arrow in her bow and slowly rested it on the corner. The best place to observe the room would be from a small slit in the wall, but she didn't have a clear shot. She sighed and aimed just outside the slit, hoping for a reflection inside. She gasped as she heard a gurgling yelp. It worked.
Quickly the girls pulled Sniper off the plate and out the door. It was a hard pull of 200 pounds dead weight.
They had made it to the grounds before the alarm was sounded. They pushed Sniper against a tree and prepared for a fight. As expected, guards by the dozen came out from the woodwork.
Sniper awoke in a haze, holding his head. Those drugs had really done one over on him, he could barely see strait. He began feeling around, trying to gain his balance, but tumbled over in failure. Shana quickly healed his condition with her Dragon Spirit in between shots. Sniper reached for his broadsword.
Now he was pissed. He raided the blade and charged toward where Ryo was fending off three attackers, grunting like Kongal as he ran. Ryo quickly ducked as the blade swung, lobbing off all three of the attacker's heads off. Sniper had sharpened the blade after leaving home, so the edge was extra potent.
-Use stealth! That's how you fight, not insanely mad. You're not Dart! - Rose cried in his mind.
He climbed a tree near the main gate while Ryo and Shana drew their attention. He waited until more guards arrived before leaping down upon them in a tireless fury.
Ryo and Shana trotted over to him. "It's time to run, now!" Shana said.
"Damn. I was just getting my rhythm…" He trailed off to wipe a streak of blood off Ryo's cheek. "Crimson doesn't suit you."
They ran, for close to an hour, until their legs couldn't go any farther. Ryo hoped that they weren't being pursued, or they'd have to fight again, and she had no energy left. She stretched and Kana landed on her arm. This surprised her so much that she fell backward, sending Kana spiraling upward.
Dart walked over and sat next to an exhausted Sniper. "So, did you find any good springs?"
Sniper stared, horrified. "Maybe later."
EN- It was a little rushed, but I guess I pulled it off…but that's up to you to decide, isn't it? BAD ME!!!
Big Bad Lloyd B back, yall! Get used to it.
SONGS- the first one was Echoes, by Pink Floyd. The other was Taking Over Me, by Evanescence.
Private Comments? TOO BAD!!! Just E-mail me and I'll get to them…if I like ya.
(Surprise in the Hot Springs)
Sniper was the first in the room to open his eyes, weary after the night's darkness. He took in and let out a deep breath to get his circulation going again, looking around at everyone else who was sleeping soundly. He tried to stretch, but was pinned down by Ryo, who was snuggled up against him.
-When the hell was she down here? The floor really isn't that comfortable… -
He moaned in confusion; his arm was going numb. He slowly slipped his arm out from under her, noticed her shiver, and draped his blanket over her to keep her from waking. Quietly he slipped on his armor and headed towards the door, only to have Kana fly in and land on his shoulder. He rolled his eyes, it being too early to fuss over a bird, and headed out the door into the hallway.
The ballroom was dimly lit with lamps and soft music was being cast across the room to the awake guests. He stumbled to the buffet table, catching himself at the last moment.
"Bird…how can I knock you off?" He mumbled to the creature on his shoulder.
He was surprised to see that none of the other guests thought anything of the bird on his shoulder. It must've been too early for them too. He poured himself a mug of cain and began to walk away, only to stop when Kana fluttered.
"What?" He asked.
Then it hit him, the bird must've been hungry. It probably stuck around the mansion to keep an eye on Ryo, but now food had taken hold. He cut up some scraps of a roast leftover from the night and tossed them up to the bird, which quickly ate without a sound.
"Satisfied?"
He sipped from the mug, feeling a little life return to his flesh. He turned and headed for the door, only to find the doorman from the other night. He tossed Kana off of his shoulder and the bird startled the man as it headed out the door. He walked toe to toe with the doorman, glaring at him.
"Y-your goods, sir?" He asked with a tone of respect. "Good show, by the way."
Sniper said nothing. The man quickly fumbled about for Sniper's weapons and held them out for the warrior to take. He attached them to his belt and walked out with the sheath.
In the sky the clouds hung low, blocking out most of the sun. Sniper nodded to a few of the guest's guards and walked the gravel path that rounded the mansion. Once he found a spot that he liked, he leaned against a stone wall, sipping his cain.
"Not a bad fight. You shouldn't have accepted, though." He heard from his right.
He peered over to find a cloaked and hooded man, strolling towards him. Sniper nodded.
"But, I can see that your specialty is not with your fists." The man said, gesturing to the sheath that lay in the cool grass next to Sniper.
Kana flew by, chasing a dove.
"You name?" The man asked.
"Sniper."
"I see…that's unfortunate. Yuler knows this too, and will probably try to smite you at any cost."
"Let him try." Sniper responded coldly.
The man laughed smoothly, removing the hood to show his face of about twenty-five. But, having the wingly platinum hair, you really couldn't be sure, as they aged differently.
"I am Lloyd. I too share your specialty, though a little enhanced." Lloyd introduced.
The clouds parted and the sun shone through. The temperature was rising and Sniper was getting warm under his armor.
"You travel with King Albert?" Lloyd asked.
"Yeah."
"He is a good man. You are lucky."
Sniper watched his expression go from cheerful to sad, then back. He loosened the straps on his hookshot and dropped it to the grass, relieved to let air get to his skin. Lloyd looked around the path.
"Care for a warm up, or is it too early? I sometimes am not awake by this time, so I fully understand if you do not wish to take up the offer." He said, tugging at his cloak as if it was a shield and he was in battle.
Sniper blinked a few times, thinking it over. "Fine." He unstrapped his kneeplates and tossed them to the ground as well, along with a few things that would weigh him down. He slipped on his fingerless gloves, which granted him better grip on the hilt of his blade, even though the heat told him not to.
Sniper stood on the walk, sheath on back, watching his opponent. Lloyd rubbed his hands together to warm them up and tossed off his cloak to reveal his blade, frozen in a motionless flame.
"Then let us begin." He announced.
Lloyd held his sword at the ready, waiting for Sniper to do something. But after waiting a while, he grew bored and charged the boy, who drew his own blade and deflected the attack. They danced back and forth, metal clanging repeatedly, warriors' faces stuck in concentration.
Lloyd was quicker than the teen, but Sniper's light broadsword had the advantage of reach. He could keep deflecting without Lloyd getting close enough to strike.
"Let's try something else." Lloyd said, launching in the air on glimmering wings.
Sniper's eyes never lost his opponent and jumping around, dodged the strikes coming his way in waves. He yelped as a shot of blue energy shot into his unprotected left arm. He cursed at taking off the hookshot and glared at Lloyd, who had his hand raised to release another blast. Sniper's arm became numb.
"You should always have a second weapon." He said, grinning at the boy's helplessness.
Sniper spun and released a knife from his belt, sailing right at Lloyd, who caught it in a mere flicker of movement. Sniper stared, wondering if he'd lost.
-How the fuck did he DO that?! -
Lloyd chuckled at the boy's expression and dove for him, blade out. Sniper quickly spun to deflect, but noticed that the blade he hit wasn't there, and that Lloyd stood behind him, sword lying against his opponent's shoulder.
"You lost." He stated, sheathing his blade and returning for his cloak.
Sniper cursed at his stupidity, slamming the blade into the hard sheath and walking back to the wall. He swore he could hear Rose laughing at him in his mind.
"You did well, but do you want to learn a little trick?" Lloyd asked before he left. "Look at this symbol. Memorize it, over and over…" He held out his hands and a faint "Q" like symbol appeared. " Hold that in your mind and focus on a target…see what happens."
Sniper watched, confused, as the hooded man left down the trail.
-How was he so fast? Meru's not even that fast. Although, he wasn't toting a big freakin' hammer, either. -
He sighed and saw that Kana was still chasing the same dove around the skies. He shrugged, focused on the symbol and kept an eye on the dove. He instinctively raised his hand and a faint blue glow appeared in front of it. It grew a little and then shot towards the target, stunning it. He watched Kana swoop and scream, obviously mad at Sniper for interrupting it's food flight.
He stared at his hand, wondering if he actually did what he saw.
-Can humans use wingly magic? Or was that just something anyone can do if they are trained? -
-It depends on the person. - Rose replied in his mind.
-What do you mean? -
-Well, you need a strong will in order to conjure up the needed energy for a spell, and you have to know how to do it. It just so happens that you are able to do that spell. When in a Dragoon state though, you can conjure up much more powerful spells of your ally, the darkness, and maybe a few tricks from the Ice Dragon as well. -
He snapped out of his talk as Kana swooped down and grabbed the stunned bird.
"Still hungry?" He called to the bird, which squawked as it flew to a tree to feast.
-
Ryo woke up in a heap on the floor where Sniper had laid the night before. She was covered in two blankets. Sniper must have draped his over her to keep her warm. She smiled slightly, maybe he didn't mind her after all? She rubbed the last bit of sleep out of her hazel eyes and stood. Stumbling to the door she wondered where everyone else was, as the scent of cain had drawn her to the ballroom.
There stood Meru, sitting on Kongal's shoulders, leaning forward against his head for support and engaging conversation with Dart and Ice. She smiled in greeting, but her stomach had ordered to be filled, and she went to the buffet table for a light breakfast.
"D'you think we pissed the snobby guy off with the fight?" Meru asked.
"Pissed is an understatement. He was thoroughly humiliated by one traveling with the person he hates most, and to his own challenge, mind you!" Dart replied. He glanced around to make sure no one out of their group had over heard. The other guests had been quite silent to the group since the "incident" the night before.
"But, d'you think he was in the right, beating down the guy in his own house like that? I don't know." The night before, Meru got caught up in the fight, rooting for Sniper, but since she came to her senses she had begun to question the past events.
"He was. I would do same thing." Kongal muttered, nodding as if to convince himself.
"Ohhh, got a little something for Ryo? Huh, huh?" Meru teased. Kongal's grumble warned her to shut up or be thrown off her perch. "Just kidding, ok!?"
"I know if Shana we're in Ryo's shoes, I would've done much more than Sniper had. I think he held back." Dart said after glancing at Shana who sat next to Ryo.
"Man, why can't I find someone like Shana? It's just not fair I tell you. Why do I always have to be the single one around here?" Meru complained. She'd been pretty lonely lately.
"What about that guy from the Wingly Forest? You're lifelong buddy?" Dart asked.
Meru averted his look and fidgeted about on Kongal's shoulders. "We're just good friends.
Besides, I think he's got an interest in someone else in the forest. I'm never there so we've grown apart."
"Too bad." Kongal grumbled, which received a soft pat on the head from the freeloader above him.
"Ok, what about speedy, there?" Dart asked, pointing to Ice down the other side of the ballroom. He and Kongal had been racing back and forth to see who could snag a bagel from the buffet table, eat it, and race back to the bench that served as a starting point. Kongal frequently came up with challenges such as this, it was just in his outgoing nature.
"Ice? He's just weird."
"I heard that!" Ice called with a mouth full of bagel.
"Well, it's true!"
"I never said it wasn't!"
Meru slouched forward, mouth agape. How did he always get the last word? This drove her crazy, as she was used to dominating the arguments she partook in. She closed it after noticing that both Kongal and Dart were watching her. Dart simply grinned and nodded. Kongal looked confused.
The iron door creaked as Sniper entered the great ballroom, staring at the floor ahead of him and thinking. He did this frequently, which he knew everyone noticed some time or another. It added to his low-profile appearance. He wondered why the doorman hadn't haggled him for his weapons as he came in. Maybe he might just have gained the annoying man's respect, maybe.
Ryo saw him come in and gestured for him to come and sit by Shana and herself.
"Your bird's outside." He said as he plopped down between the two.
Ryo stared at him coldly.
"Kana is outside. Kana." He said in an annoyed apology. He didn't understand why she insisted on the bird being one of the group.
"So, what did you do so far this morning? Hungry?" Shana asked. She was always nice to Sniper, which he appreciated more than she would ever know.
"Nah, I already ate, and fed Kana too."
"So where were you?" Shana asked again.
"Just walking around." He decided against telling anyone about Lloyd. Not that he was embarrassed about being defeated, he just felt like keeping the meeting to himself.
"So, Shana tells me that there are some Hot Springs near the Volcano Villude. Wanna go? It really isn't that far." Ryo asked, looking directly into Sniper's crystal eyes, hoping to persuade him into going.
"Don't know. Ice, you look like you need a bath. Wanna go?" He called.
Ice slid to a stop, tripping Haschel onto the floor. "Huh?"
"There's some hot springs around here. Wanna go?"
"If it's ok with Albert and Dart. I could use a swim."
"We know, we can smell you over here." Ryo teased. "And, you-" She looked Sniper up and down. "definitely could use a scrub."
"Black armor, hot sun, can't help it." He declared, stretching.
Ice ran over to ask Albert what the situation was at the moment. Haschel still lay groaning on the floor. Ryo and Shana got up and helped him get to his feet. He gave Sniper a quick wink as they helped him to a chair.
Sniper had a suspicion that was his plan all along. If a man can't take a fall, he can't do anything that Haschel, martial arts Master, can do. He spread out on the bench to await the decision, still thinking about the magic trick that Lloyd had taught him.
-
Albert had decided on going. He had learned a few years back that Basil once had an outpost near the Volcano Villude and he wished to see for himself if it still existed. He was quite surprised that Yuler hadn't thrown them out at the party.
The road was narrow and covered over in vegetation. He sent Kongal to the front with his axe to clear-cut the path again so the could continue to the springs. Kongal stopped in a clearing, where Albert saw a glimpse of water. He rushed over to see if it was a spring, but was disappointed to find nothing but a flowing brook.
"Only a stream…"
"It's coming from the cavern along the volcano. Why don't we just follow it and see if it comes from a spring?" Dart suggested. He was as eager to find the springs as the rest, though he barely showed it.
"But, it's cold…" Albert said sadly, plunging his hand in the stream to check the temperature.
"That's ok, it probably had tome to cool off if it came from the other side. Let's go."
The cavern was dark, but all could see glimmers off the surface of the stream with the speckled light shimmering through the cracks in the rock. Meru repeatedly apologized for running into Ice. Ryo held onto Sniper's sword sheath so she wouldn't get lost, and Shana did the same with Dart.
In the middle of a complaint led by Haschel, the group came into a steam filled chamber.
"Hot springs, baby! Now that's what I'm talking about!" Ice cried as he ran toward the water, shredding off armor as he went.
"Yahoo!" Meru cried, following suit with the man with the mullet.
Ryo too ran for the spring, forgetting to let go of Sniper's sheath and pulling it over his head, knocking him off balance. "Oh shit! Sorry, sorry."
After a great bit of laughter from the rest of the group, Sniper, Ryo, and Shana went off to find a slightly bigger spring, while everyone else soaked with pleasure. Everyone except Kongal, who didn't like water very much, so his just sat on a rock and watched.
"Where's Kana?" Shana asked as the three walked along the cavern.
"Oh, he's somewhere around here." Pointing outside the walls. "Probably hunting some mice or something. He does that constantly."
"I've noticed." Sniper remarked, shrugging his shoulders to make his point.
"Oh, you've watched him?" Ryo asked, a glint in her hazel eyes.
"You were asleep, so I had to give him some scraps. Then he went out and caught prey of his own. He eats like Ice."
Both girls laughed greatly for minutes, gasping for breaths. "On that I can agree with you!" Shana cried, wiping tears.
Suddenly Sniper froze, glancing around without moving his head. Shana too, stopped and instinctively knocked an arrow in her bow. Ryo turned and trotted back to them, somewhat embarrassed, and drew her rapier.
"What is it?" She asked quietly, a little nervous.
"Don't move." Shana commended.
"They've got us." Sniper added, slowly making for his sword on his back.
Ryo looked around frantically, searching for what was there, until she saw a glimpse of green. Green in a cave? That is not normal. One by one, she saw others, the points of arrows. They were indeed surrounded.
"Throw down your weapons and we won't harm the women!" A gruff voice called. He was obviously speaking to Sniper.
"The women are not under my control. They will do as you ask if it is there will." He replied, still frozen in an alert stance.
"I will not ask again!" The voice boomed in the cavern.
Ryo leaned in close and whispered. "Ryo's outside, should I order him to attack?"
Sniper slowly shook his head. "no way. Get him to get help." He quickly grabbed Shana's arm, for she was about to transform into a dragoon.
She glared at him. "What?"
"Don't. We can't fight them off and defend Ryo. Besides, if they see the light, they'll shoot." Very slowly he unstrapped his daggers and sword, laying them ever so gently on the ground ahead of them. "Do it." He commanded quietly.
The other two did the same, looking bitter and beaten.
-Why didn't I hear them earlier? Dammit! - Sniper thought, kicking a stone as he backed away.
-Well, if you hadn't made them laugh, you probably would have heard them…not that that's any consolation now. - Rose responded.
-It doesn't help me now! -
-Don't be foolish! Your top priorities are to keep your Dragon Spirits a secret and the girls safe. If anything were to happen to Shana, Dart would kill me! -
-But you're already dead! -
-He'd find a way. I have faith in him. Just hold on till her bird gets help. I'll be with you. -
-That helps. Just don't abandon me, all right? -
-Deal. -
":Hey-" Ryo jabbed him in the ribs. "Kana's on his way right now. What are we gonna do?"
Just as she finished her sentence, two rather burly me grabbed her and drug her away with Shana. "You hurt them and I'll be coming for YOU." Sniper mumbled as they bound his hands.
"Shut up and get movin'!" the man beside him ordered, kicking at his legs as an incentive.
They were led far into the west face of the rock bed, moving around the volcano. Time passed and the moon came up over the face as a crumbling structure came into view.
"Home, sweat home, eh?" The man said. "We'll make you nice and cozy…if you get along with field mice, that is."
Sniper sighed as he was thrown into his cell. He could hear the girls in the next cell gripe at the accommodations to the guards. He sat on the creaking bench, feeling the cool rock wall, wondering if this was the outpost that Albert had mentioned. He hadn't seen Basil's insignia, but it could just be covered up or on the other side of the outpost. Because they were so close to the Volcano Villude, the weather was always warm, even in the dark of night. And that didn't hurt his feelings any since he wasn't given any bedroll.
-You still there? - He asked.
-Always. Figured anything out yet? Can you use that trick Lloyd taught you? -
-Nah, I shouldn't do that around these people. That'd make the draw their attention to me. Do you think this is Yuler's doing? He doesn't live that far away. He could've sent word. -
-Could be. He wasn't too happy when you beat his ass down. -
-He deserved it. - Sniper thought sternly.
-Yes, but at what cost? Would you have done it for Shana, Meru…or me? -
-Without thought. -
He frowned when he heard Rose laugh.
-Oh, sorry. Zeig says he trusts you more now. - She laughed again.
-What? He can hear me? -
-Through me ha can. Him and I have a bond, you know. We can tell what's in each other's hearts, as well as minds. -
-Downright weird, Rose. -
Again, laughter. Something made him sit uncomfortable in his position and he reached around to the back of his belt to see what it was. It was his throwing knife he kept in a sheath on the inside of his belt in case he lost his sword in a fight.
-Thought of anything yet? - Rose inquired.
-Maybe. We'll see what happens. -
Sniper drew the knife and threw it, sticking it to the crossbeam above the cell door. He would need it later. Flashes of shadows flickered past his eyes as two guards met in front of the girls' cell.
"No, man. It's you own damn fault! Don't blame me for your stupid mistakes!" One cried.
"Don't start that with me, you bastard! If I catch you with her again I'll kill you, so help me Soa!" The other argued.
Sniper stood at the door, checking the sturdiness of the bars and listening to the argument. Rose made a few comments, but he ignored her. Eventually, Sniper had had enough.
"Shut the hell up, both of ya! You-" He pointed at the first. "Cheated with his wife! And You-" He pointed at the other. "Cheated on your own wife with the bar maid in Bale! You were both in the wrong, so get over it! I've never heard so much damn babbling in my whole fucking life!"
He spun and sat down on the bench, grinning. That would get them off his scent for a while, until they had the courage to speak to him again. The guards just stood rigid, eyes darting around the room as if nothing had happened. Then both men left in opposite directions without a word said.
"Sniper's the only one I know who can win an argument without even being in it." Shana mused to Ryo.
Ryo stared for a moment, then rushed to the cell wall, reaching around inside the neighboring cell. "Hey, how did you know that?" She inquired.
"Oh, just someone I know."
"Who? You're alone!"
"Not quite."
"There's nobody in there with you! What do you mean you're NOT alone?!"
"I'll tell ya sometime. For now, take this." He put his Dragon Spirit in her grasp. "Just wear it until we get outta here. If I'm found with it, I'll surely lose it. You should be more inconspicuous."
Ryo blinked in confusion as she drew it back. Without thought, she slipped it over her neck and sat back down. "What is it for?" She asked.
"Well, its kind of difficult to explain, so here…" Shana held her spirit so they both resonated.
She winked and lied down to rest. Who knew how long they might be in there. Ryo sat in the corner, staring at the stone, wondering how it glowed. Maybe if she was nice to Sniper, he would give it to her. It did match her outfit…sort of.
-
"What's taking them so long?" Dart asked the others, fearful for Shana.
"Well, the bird's back, and it never leaves Ryo's side, so she must be around here somewhere." Meru stated, trying to soothe her good friend.
Haschel stood and watched the hawk, perched above on a ledge and squawking irritably. Without word, he began to walk down the caverns, humming a little tune. The others stared at each other, then followed, with Kana swooping over them.
"What're you thinkin'?'" Meru asked as she danced up to the martial arts Master.
"As I see it, that bird's acting frantic, so something's up. If we follow this thing to it's end, we might find some trace of what has happened to them."
"Maybe they just found a nice spring and are still floating around?" Ice suggested, picking up Meru and running around as she shouted in anger at him. He was quite surprised how light she was.
"But I'm getting tired!" Meru cried from Ice's grasp.
Albert waved everyone to a halt. He was silent for a moment, observing the road ahead of them and the position of the moon through the cracks. "We aren't going to get far, unless Ice wants to carry Meru the whole way."
Ice chuckled s Meru flailed, trying to get a belt to his face. But he stopped as he began to rise. Meru had tried to fly away, but his grip was too tight. Eventually she dropped them both and they collapsed in a heap, where neither wanted to move.
"Well, I guess that decides it. Kongal, some firewood from the other side of the wall please." Albert asked.
"But there's no way out!" Meru said.
Kongal grunted and slammed through the rock face. Everyone stared as he began to gather wood as he was asked.
"Man, those Gigantos are BAD! I'm gonna be buff like Kongal someday!" Meru said.
Ice sat silent, trying his best to contain himself, but in the end his will failed.
-
Sniper sat on the bench, back against the wall, contemplating what he could do to get the girls out of the building. Dart and the others hadn't shown up yet, so it was solely in his hands. He'd only slept a few hours and it was early morning, the moon still on the horizon. Bored and stuck in his thinking he began to quietly sing.
"Strangers passing in the street. By chance two separate glances meet. And I am you and what I see is me. And do I take you by the hand. And lead you through the land. And help me understand the best I can…"
Ryo woke to this, wondering if it was a guard on watch. But after getting her bearings, she found it to be Sniper. He didn't exactly have a singer's voice, but he was managing. The song wasn't that hard to sing.
"Cloudless everyday you fall upon my waking eyes. Inviting me and inciting me to rise. And through the window in the wall. Come streaming in on sunlight wings. A million bright ambassadors of morning…And no one sings me lullabies. And no one makes me close my eyes. And so I throw the windows wide. And call to you across the sky…"
Ryo moved over to the bars so she could see into Sniper's cell. "You're not what I'd call a singer."
"Me neither."
"Not very popular in Serdio, I gather. I've never heard it before, and I'm usually in the pubs all night."
"Ice would know it. Our uncle always sang it to us after we practiced, said it would calm us down."
"I see…" Ryo had heard of their uncles passing and it saddened her, though she had never met him.
"So what IS popular with the pubs these days?"
"You should know, you worked at the Inn in Seles, right?"
"Ryo, nobody ever really came in from out of the village."
There was silence, then her voice quietly rang throughout the cells.
"You don't remember me but I remember you. I lie awake and try so hard not to think of you. But who can decide what they dream? And dream I do…"
Sniper stared at the cobblestone floor, wondering why she chose that song.
"I believe in you. I'll give up everything just to find you. I have to be with you to live, to breathe. You're taking over me."
Again he wondered what she was thinking, but passed it through his mind and regained control of his thoughts, or so he thought.
-Think she likes ya, huh? - Rose teased.
-Did I ASK you to read my thoughts? Did I? -
Nope. But I don't care. It's my way. I never thought it could be so fun to be dead. Good thing I was a Dragoon when I was alive or I'd just be a memory. -
-Oh, wouldn't THAT be a shame. -
"You'd better get some more sleep, Ryo. I know I'm going to need some."
"Ok, see you in the morning."
-
As soon as the sun rose, guards were rousing Sniper in his cell. They told him they wished his presence be in their master's chambers.
"And who is your so called 'Master'?" He asked in an acid tone.
"You will never know until you meet him, so get a move on, ya!" The guard outside he door commanded.
Sniper merely shrugged as he walked to the door, secretly grabbing the knife from the ceiling, faking to be stretching. As he was led past the girls' cell, he slipped the knife into Shana's hands with a reassuring wink.
Ryo waited until after they'd gone to say anything. "Where are they taking him?"
"My guess is to be interrogated."
"Meaning?"
"Beaten until he talks." Shana replied gloomily. "But he's strong in will. They won't get anything out of him easily."
"Now what do we do?"
"Hey, bub!" Shana yelled to the standing guard. "Yeah, you. Feeling lucky?" She asked, raising a brow.
Ryo stared, appalled until she caught her drift. "yeah, we're awful lonely in here. Wouldn't mind some company."
She watched as the guard took notice, looking up the stairs to see if anyone was coming. "Wouldn't want nice ladies getting lonely." He chuckled, opening the door.
He sat between the girls, caressing Shana's hand. "Now, how about you give me what's due, eh? I might just be able to sneak some wine down here later."
"Sure thing." Shana replied coldly, plunging the knife into his ribs for a soundless kill. "Let's get out of here!" She announced as she grabbed the guard's keys. "I've had WAY too much of prisons in my lifetime!"
They ran down the hall, slipped around the corner, and opened the door marked 'armory'. Inside a man sat at a desk, observing Ryo's rapier.
"He's mine." Ryo whispered. "Dirty bastard…grubbing up my blade…"
She snuck in the shadows of countless broad shields that hung on racks on the left end of the room. She crept upon the man, quickly taking the rapier from him. "Beauty, ain't it?" She asked, then slit his throat. She had no respect or pity for anyone who laid a finger on her weapons.
The girls quickly found the confiscated weapons and set off in search of Sniper.
-
Hours later, after much sneaking around and checking rooms, the girls finally found the chamber where they kept him. Shana slowly peaked around the corner, observing the status of the room, then jumped back.
"Anyone there?" Ryo asked in a hushed tone.
She shook her head. "No, not except Sniper."
"Well? Let's go get him."
"Something's not right…" She peeked again.
She noticed various vials on the table next to the plate he laid on. They must've drugged him. He lay on his back, legs in line with the arms. Sniper always slept on his stomach. It had to be set up.
"He's not laying right." She announced.
"What?"
"I'm the one who always had to wake Ice and Sniper up back at the Inn, and Sniper always sleeps on his stomach."
"What if he rolled over?"
"He would've rolled off the plate. No, he was placed there to draw us in."
"So what do we do?"
"Snipe them out."
"What about Sniper? I didn't catch it."
"Never mind, just stay back for a second." Shana said, pushing her back.
She knocked an arrow in her bow and slowly rested it on the corner. The best place to observe the room would be from a small slit in the wall, but she didn't have a clear shot. She sighed and aimed just outside the slit, hoping for a reflection inside. She gasped as she heard a gurgling yelp. It worked.
Quickly the girls pulled Sniper off the plate and out the door. It was a hard pull of 200 pounds dead weight.
They had made it to the grounds before the alarm was sounded. They pushed Sniper against a tree and prepared for a fight. As expected, guards by the dozen came out from the woodwork.
Sniper awoke in a haze, holding his head. Those drugs had really done one over on him, he could barely see strait. He began feeling around, trying to gain his balance, but tumbled over in failure. Shana quickly healed his condition with her Dragon Spirit in between shots. Sniper reached for his broadsword.
Now he was pissed. He raided the blade and charged toward where Ryo was fending off three attackers, grunting like Kongal as he ran. Ryo quickly ducked as the blade swung, lobbing off all three of the attacker's heads off. Sniper had sharpened the blade after leaving home, so the edge was extra potent.
-Use stealth! That's how you fight, not insanely mad. You're not Dart! - Rose cried in his mind.
He climbed a tree near the main gate while Ryo and Shana drew their attention. He waited until more guards arrived before leaping down upon them in a tireless fury.
Ryo and Shana trotted over to him. "It's time to run, now!" Shana said.
"Damn. I was just getting my rhythm…" He trailed off to wipe a streak of blood off Ryo's cheek. "Crimson doesn't suit you."
They ran, for close to an hour, until their legs couldn't go any farther. Ryo hoped that they weren't being pursued, or they'd have to fight again, and she had no energy left. She stretched and Kana landed on her arm. This surprised her so much that she fell backward, sending Kana spiraling upward.
Dart walked over and sat next to an exhausted Sniper. "So, did you find any good springs?"
Sniper stared, horrified. "Maybe later."
EN- It was a little rushed, but I guess I pulled it off…but that's up to you to decide, isn't it? BAD ME!!!
Big Bad Lloyd B back, yall! Get used to it.
SONGS- the first one was Echoes, by Pink Floyd. The other was Taking Over Me, by Evanescence.
Private Comments? TOO BAD!!! Just E-mail me and I'll get to them…if I like ya.