The sun rose all too soon for the quartet. All were oddly quiet and failed
to mention the previous night. Kilik was avoiding all eye contact with
Talim. When he had awoken that morning he found himself in bed alone and
found his little priestess upon the roof once more, playing her flute.
Maxi and Xianghua seemed to have also had an odd night, for their usual
bickering was at an all time low.
Maxi's crew was loading the last of the needed supplies upon the vessel when the warriors arrived at the dock. Maxi smiled with pride at the diligence this crew seemed to possess. He remembered vividly the loss of his first crew those many years ago courtesy of Astaroth.
"Set sails for Venice." Maxi ordered his pirate crew and they quickly obeyed. He looked back at his three companions and winked.
"Looks like the sea calls." He told them with a casual shrug.
Talim was a bit uneasy upon the ship. She had never before traveled the sea. However, the wind was especially strong upon the waves and she found some comfort in that.
Xianghua approached the railing that the teenager was leaning upon. "I think we got off on the wrong foot. Would you like to start over?"
Talim offered Xianghua a smile. "Worry not about such things. However, I warn you to not underestimate any fighter, especially when that opponent is me." She turned back towards the waves and closed her eyes to listen to the words of the winds.
"It's just that I have fought this battle before. I am afraid that you are too inexperienced for the trials that await is all." The older woman tried to explain.
Talim sighed and then walked towards her bag in her room, leaving Xianghua upon deck staring after her. She returned shortly holding her elbow blades. "You and your friends are not the first people searching for Soul Edge that I have encountered since leaving my tribe. I have already fought. Would you care to spar?"
The stubborn Xianghua was never one to turn down a challenge. She gave a curt nod and unsheathed her blade. "I will not go easy on you."
"So be it." Talim flipped her twin blades and grinned a wicked grin. And before Xianghua could blink Talim was nowhere to be seen. However a quick kick into the back of her head helped in locating the teen. Talim landed smoothly and looked as her victim stumbled after receiving her blow.
Xianghua charged at her but Talim easily deflected the blows and swept her leg under her feet and knocked her to the floor. The crew had begun to crowd around the fight and began forming a ring. Maxi and Kilik had been discussing Venice near the wheel of the ship but noticed the lack of crew around them. Soon they discovered the show that held everyone's attention.
Talim had not even broke a sweat and was growing annoyed with the lack of skill from her opponent. Currently she found Xianghua slamming her palm upon the ground after being knocked down, again. Talim hit her once more with the handle of her blades upon the back of her skull knocking the woman unconscious.
"You did your best, I respect that." Talim walked away from the unconscious woman and the crowd parted before her revealing a stunned Kilik and Maxi. Talim offered an innocent smile and then continued below deck to put back up her blades.
Maxi and Kilik rushed over to check up on their fallen friend. They found her unconscious but relatively unharmed. Kilik quickly followed the path leading towards Talim below deck. He found her idly twirling one of her blades. She glanced over at him briefly before redirecting her stare to the wall.
"What happened out there?" Kilik asked as he sat beside the girl on the floor.
"I'm sorry, please try to understand. I am a warrior that deserves respect. She speaks of experience, but I find wisdom is far greater than experience." Talim answered.
"The two usually come as a package deal." Kilik replied.
"No. It is foolish to assume such a thing. Thus far on this quest, you are the only other who seeks the evil sword with a soul capable of destroying it. The others either have good or bad intentions, however, regardless of their intentions they are incapable of safely possessing the sword." Talim answered. She gently laid her blades upon the floor and stood up, offering her hand to Kilik.
He took it and stood as well. "We shall reach Venice soon enough. I do not want you to fight in any frivolous displays of pride."
Talim glared at him coldly. "I thought you more wise than that. Nothing I do is frivolous." She left the room and returned to the upper deck of the ship. She climbed to the look-out tower and played her flute for the watchman on duty.
Kilik watched her leave and pondered her words. Perhaps foolishness comes with experience, for he could not take her advice seriously. She was still a child, more or less, she lacked the knowledge of the way the real world worked. Her life was too sheltered.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maxi's navigator had found an extremely effiecient route towards the cave in Venice that was to hold the next clues to the location of Soul Edge. An uneventful week had passed. The only excitement was the spar on the first day between the two women warriors.
Talim had avoided speaking with her new companions. The only one to have held a conversation with her during the week was the night watchman. She spent a great deal of time speaking with him, although he never really spoke to the rest of the crew. Maxi said he was a mute, but used wonderful hand gestures and his sight was so keen that he was an excellent look out.
Kilik couldn't get her words out of his head. Perhaps he was underestimating the young woman. For he had decided that she most definitely was not a child. He had been watching her from afar the entire journey and was extremely jealous of the mysterious blond haired lookout.
The evening before they were to land at their destination the four warriors had their dinner separately from the rest of the crew, with the exception of the look-out. Talim had insisted that he be allowed to join and since he could not speak, Maxi saw no need in excluding him.
"This cave here, is where the beast lives." Maxi explained pointed to a position on the map he had laid across the table after their dinner dishes had been cleared.
"What sort of beast is it?" Talim asked.
"He is not in your league, girl." Xianghua replied, not even offering a glance in the youth's direction.
Talim ground her teeth in rage, but the silent visitor put his hand upon her shoulder and shook his head. Talim calmed and decided to let the insult pass. She needed to focus on maintaining a sense of calmness if she wanted to prove victorious in any future matches.
Kilik watched the exchange and felt his a stab in his stomach. Jealousy had reared his ugly head and this mute, mysterious, keen eyed pirate had suddenly befriended the one he was supposed to be the confidant for. "Could you remove your hood, sir?" Kilik asked of the look-out.
Instead of the young pirate crew member removing his hood he turned towards Talim to silently ask advice.
Maxi looked up from his precious map and was curious what his crew member actually looked like. "It's okay, you can remove your hood. We shall not judge you." He told the hooded fellow. "He's probably got hideous scars that prevent him from speaking." He rationalized to the others.
"Before you say anything, I want you to know that he is trust worthy. His goal is similar to ours and he will be leaving our company once we reach France." Talim answered while holding the mute's hands down to prevent him from removing his hood.
"How do you know about France?" Maxi asked bewildered. Only his first mate and Kilik knew about the plans to go to France.
"It matters not." Talim told him and then released her hands allowing the figure to remove his hood. Three gasps were emitted as the hood fell to reveal a young man who appeared to be Talim's age with long blond hair, keen blue eyes, and long pointy ears.
"An elf?" Kilik asked directing his question towards Talim.
"Yes. He is not from our world and he does not speak our language." She answered.
"But you have been speaking with him every night for the past week." Kilik argued.
"So you did notice?" Talim teased.
"What do you mean?" Kilik asked confused.
"I didn't think you would notice my absence. And while we speak different languages we can both read and speak through the winds." She pointed to her flute and the elf pulled an Ocarina out of his pocket.
"His name is Link. He is a fighter as well." Talim explained. "Now, tell us about the beast."
"His name Voldo. He was said to have been driven mad while keeping watch over his master's buried fortune in the caves of Venice. However, there are rumours of a samurai and ninja in the area. We must be on our guard for all of them." Kilik informed while locking eyes with Talim.
Talim reached over and clapped her hand upon his shoulder. "Thank you for finally sharing that with me. What are their weapons?"
"The latter both use fairly long swords while the former uses double blades of a very fine cut. He is especially dangerous." Maxi replied.
"I shall take the Ninja." Xianghua announced.
"I plan on taking the Samurai." Maxi answered.
"I will destroy Voldo." Kilik replied.
Talim shook her head. "Those are poor matches. Maxi, your weapons are not suited for fighting long distance attacks of a Samurai. Kilik I suggest you take him. I would be happy to take Voldo, it sounds as if our skills will be well matched."
"No." Kilik answered her sternly.
"Your right, perhaps Link should take the Ninja. He is very talented with the sword and bow." Talim misunderstood.
"I do not know of Link's skills, but I do know that I do not want you to risk your life against the likes of Voldo." Kilik replied.
"Did you find fault in my reasoning of matching up fighting styles?" Talim asked.
Kilik shook his head. "The weapon matters not, it is the heart behind the warrior that welds the weapons."
Talim stared at him very hard. "Are you questioning my heart?" She asked him softly.
"No, look, let you and I discuss this later, alone." Kilik suggested.
"Fine." Talim answered crossing her arms, trying her best not to appear a temperamental child. She was sure that Link understood what had just transpired, but was keeping his composure, so she would do the same.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kilik had lead Talim to the cabins of the ship after the congregation had settled about the plans of battle. He felt unease at the stiffness of the arm he grasped. Talim was not making this easy for him.
"Let us sleep on this for tonight. We shall speak in the morning. I shall awaken you at dawn or when we reach land. Which ever comes first." Kilik told Talim. Talim nodded her head in acceptance but vowed silently that she would win her case.
At dawn the ship reached land and Kilik went to awaken Talim. He found her already up and waiting his arrival.
"Explain." Talim demanded finally looking at him and piercing his very soul with her chocolate eyes.
Kilik suddenly felt his throat contract and grow very dry. "Its just, that although, I have confidence in your fighting skills, it is not necessary for you to fight in this battle. Maxi, Xianghua, and I have fought many opponents together and proved victorious."
"If you were victorious then I wouldn't be here to fight today, now would I?" Talim countered.
"True enough. In that case, it is our responsibility to risk our lives to set those wrongs right. I don't think you realize how dangerous this is." Kilik tried to reason.
"No. It is you who underestimate me, once again. I did not abandon my tribe so that I could travel the world in peace and make new friends. I left my home because I have a responsibility. You of all people should know of what I speak. Or do you not remember the dream?"
"You remember the dream?" Kilik asked softly.
Talim shook her head. "Bits and pieces only. But I do remember that it is you and I who must defeat this evil. And that ultimately you must allow me to vanquish the evil for you lack the ability despite your desire."
Kilik took the upset girl into his arms and crushed her to his chest. He moved his right hand to circle her neck placing two of his fingers upon her pressure point. She relaxed in his embrace and he leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Look, I'm sorry to do this to you. You'll have to forgive me, but I need you to stay down."
He pressed hard upon her pressure point and the priestess collapsed within his arms. He picked her up bridal style and laid her upon her bed. He leaned over and kissed her forehead softly before running back on deck to join his fellow fighters.
The elven lookout had left the ship once it landed and his whereabouts were unknown. Kilik nodded at the duo and they nodded back recognizing that he had taken care of the girl. They had convinced themselves that they were protecting her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Talim wished the shaking would stop. She swatted the annoying hands away from her shoulders but they held firm. Finally she opened her eyes to meet the blue orbs of her foreign friend, Link.
"Link? What's going on?" She asked confused. Link pointed towards her door and to her weapons. Suddenly Talim remembered.
"I'm going to kill him!" She declared as she grabbed her elbow blades and ran from the room with Link close behind. Link had been looking over the map ever since the three had left and was fairly certain he could find the cave they sought. He was determined to help his friend.
"Do you think this is the place?" Talim asked Link as they approached an area hidden from most eyes. There appeared to be several caves littering the area. Link pointed towards the middle cave and to their respective weapons. Talim nodded her head in comprehension. The two approached the caves.
Suddenly shouting could be heard. Talim turned in the direction of the feminine shouts and noticed Xianghua fighting a female ninja. She did not appear to be fairing too well. Talim looked over towards Link and he too had noticed the shouts but merely shrugged his shoulders. Apparently, he didn't care much for Xianghua either.
However, another match could be heard not far off. Link recognized the voice of Maxi and decided to make sure his captain survived. He would need transportation to arrive to France. He nodded his head in that direction to warn Talim of his intentions and she smiled in understanding. He pointed towards the middle cave for her to continue towards.
Talim continued on her own towards the unknown of the middle cave. All she knew was that a creature by the name of Voldo lived here and that Kilik was most likely engaged in a battle with him. What she did not expect was the mounts of treasure that piled along the cave floor.
She temporarily forgot her reason for entering the cave as a particular item crossed her attention. It was a pair of Double Crescent Blades. She picked up the deadly elbow blades and inspected them closely. She moved them through the air in a couple of practice moves and was very pleased with the strength they possessed.
She smiled and placed her original blades into their sheathes while she welded this new pair.
She could hear the clash of metal in the distance. She recognized Kilik's voice. Perhaps she would watch and be a spectator in this fight.
When her eyes caught up to the sounds her ears hear she gasped. Kilik was fighting a hideous beast. He looked like some sort of mummy from ancient Egypt and he had two vicious blades that looked like the guillotine used in so many bloody revolutions.
"This rod will be your doom!" Kilik taunted the hideous remains of a madman.
Voldo seemed to not be intimdated in the least and continued to approach the young man in a drunken walk while swinging his deadly blades. Kilik already had the misfortune of being to close to those blades.
A bloody trail marked his most recent path upon the cave flooring. "I see you!" Kilik answered the glint of the blades in the dark.
His rod hit true and a gasp of pain could be heard from the raspy voice. "Take this!" He thrust into the body of his opponent repeatedly jabbing into the soft flesh of the stomach and other lower regions. He knocked the brute off his feet and hit him very hard upon the head.
Voldo gasped in fury. "Forgive me." Kilik replied before he crashed his rod onto the forehead of the miserable creature, forever ending his days of darkness.
Kilik reached down to pluck the shard from the body of his defeated foe. He did not expect to hear someone clapping for his battle. Least of all did he expect to see Talim on two feet approaching him with a smile on her face.
"That was excellent." She told him while playing with her new blades. "What happened to him?" She pointed to the body lying on the ground.
"He was a lost soul. His purpose was to guard his master's treasure but his master died and he continued to guard it none the less." Kilik replied.
"So he was a man. That is unfortunate." Talim replied. She kneeled before the body. "I am sorry for your fate. But thank your master for his gift."
Kilik eyed the woman curiously. "How's your head?"
"I'm surprised I didn't hit the floor after you knocked me unconsious." She answered while staring him in the eye.
Kilik went to rub his hand nervously on the back of his neck but withdrew it sharply when his hand encountered a bleeding wound sliced recently there. Talim rushed over to inspect the wound. Her hands traveled down his back and arms as well.
"You are covered in many flesh wounds. None appear too serious, but you must clean them at once." She told him. She lifted his left arm and wrapped it around her neck to rest upon her left shoulder. She then wrapped her right arm around his waist and helped him to walk out of the cave. She looked at her new toys that she had precariously dropped upon the ground with sadness.
"Hand them to me. I shall carry them for you since you are carrying me." Kilik offered. Talim smiled and handed him the blades. "So, did Link show you where to go?"
"Yes, I believe he went to aid in Maxi's battle. He is very determined to get to France and it would serve him no good to be minus one captain!" Talim told him with her joyous spirit back in full effect.
"I am sure that Maxi was able to prove victorious in the end. Did you run across Xianghua as well?" Kilik inquired.
"Yeah, but she is so determined that she has so many skills that I can not possibly understand we decided to let her fight her own battle." Talim answered while looking over at Kilik and meeting his eyes. He bit his lip slightly and Talim cocked an eyebrow at the action.
"Perhaps we should double check, just to make sure." Kilik replied. He knew that Xianghua was strong, but she was not the most cunning of fighters and many fine warriors could claim strength.
Talim smiled. "Yes, Kilik, but only if you give me permission to join in if it looks a little difficult."
"Is there no other way?" He asked.
Talim shook her head and he reluctantly agreed to her request. They approached the battlefield to find that Maxi was sitting calmly beside an annoyed Samurai. It would seem that the Samurai had lost. And that Xianghua also was sitting on the sidelines with a sour expression.
Link was fighting the female ninja. Kilik sighed with relief that his friends were unharmed and that he wouldn't be forced to see Talim put her life on the line. Link was an impressive combatant. The ninja really didn't have a chance and soon enough she was defeated.
Link calmly walked toward Talim with his newly acquired shard. She held out her hand and he gave it to her. She smiled in gratitude. The ninja and samurai left quickly later apparently they knew one another.
"Kilik! Are you okay?" Xianghua asked upset at her friend's appearance.
"It looks worst than it is. Talim will take care of it. Let's get back to the ship, we have all we came for." Kilik and Talim began to head back towards the ship with Maxi standing on Kilik's other side to help support his weight.
Link was carrying Talim's new weapons and smiled at her in approval. He secretly looked over towards Xianghua and then winked at Talim. The shared another smile in satisfaction that they were able to prove their worth to their companions.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
How about that? I gave you four battles, another hero, and some Kilik/Talim fluff! ~Belle
Maxi's crew was loading the last of the needed supplies upon the vessel when the warriors arrived at the dock. Maxi smiled with pride at the diligence this crew seemed to possess. He remembered vividly the loss of his first crew those many years ago courtesy of Astaroth.
"Set sails for Venice." Maxi ordered his pirate crew and they quickly obeyed. He looked back at his three companions and winked.
"Looks like the sea calls." He told them with a casual shrug.
Talim was a bit uneasy upon the ship. She had never before traveled the sea. However, the wind was especially strong upon the waves and she found some comfort in that.
Xianghua approached the railing that the teenager was leaning upon. "I think we got off on the wrong foot. Would you like to start over?"
Talim offered Xianghua a smile. "Worry not about such things. However, I warn you to not underestimate any fighter, especially when that opponent is me." She turned back towards the waves and closed her eyes to listen to the words of the winds.
"It's just that I have fought this battle before. I am afraid that you are too inexperienced for the trials that await is all." The older woman tried to explain.
Talim sighed and then walked towards her bag in her room, leaving Xianghua upon deck staring after her. She returned shortly holding her elbow blades. "You and your friends are not the first people searching for Soul Edge that I have encountered since leaving my tribe. I have already fought. Would you care to spar?"
The stubborn Xianghua was never one to turn down a challenge. She gave a curt nod and unsheathed her blade. "I will not go easy on you."
"So be it." Talim flipped her twin blades and grinned a wicked grin. And before Xianghua could blink Talim was nowhere to be seen. However a quick kick into the back of her head helped in locating the teen. Talim landed smoothly and looked as her victim stumbled after receiving her blow.
Xianghua charged at her but Talim easily deflected the blows and swept her leg under her feet and knocked her to the floor. The crew had begun to crowd around the fight and began forming a ring. Maxi and Kilik had been discussing Venice near the wheel of the ship but noticed the lack of crew around them. Soon they discovered the show that held everyone's attention.
Talim had not even broke a sweat and was growing annoyed with the lack of skill from her opponent. Currently she found Xianghua slamming her palm upon the ground after being knocked down, again. Talim hit her once more with the handle of her blades upon the back of her skull knocking the woman unconscious.
"You did your best, I respect that." Talim walked away from the unconscious woman and the crowd parted before her revealing a stunned Kilik and Maxi. Talim offered an innocent smile and then continued below deck to put back up her blades.
Maxi and Kilik rushed over to check up on their fallen friend. They found her unconscious but relatively unharmed. Kilik quickly followed the path leading towards Talim below deck. He found her idly twirling one of her blades. She glanced over at him briefly before redirecting her stare to the wall.
"What happened out there?" Kilik asked as he sat beside the girl on the floor.
"I'm sorry, please try to understand. I am a warrior that deserves respect. She speaks of experience, but I find wisdom is far greater than experience." Talim answered.
"The two usually come as a package deal." Kilik replied.
"No. It is foolish to assume such a thing. Thus far on this quest, you are the only other who seeks the evil sword with a soul capable of destroying it. The others either have good or bad intentions, however, regardless of their intentions they are incapable of safely possessing the sword." Talim answered. She gently laid her blades upon the floor and stood up, offering her hand to Kilik.
He took it and stood as well. "We shall reach Venice soon enough. I do not want you to fight in any frivolous displays of pride."
Talim glared at him coldly. "I thought you more wise than that. Nothing I do is frivolous." She left the room and returned to the upper deck of the ship. She climbed to the look-out tower and played her flute for the watchman on duty.
Kilik watched her leave and pondered her words. Perhaps foolishness comes with experience, for he could not take her advice seriously. She was still a child, more or less, she lacked the knowledge of the way the real world worked. Her life was too sheltered.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maxi's navigator had found an extremely effiecient route towards the cave in Venice that was to hold the next clues to the location of Soul Edge. An uneventful week had passed. The only excitement was the spar on the first day between the two women warriors.
Talim had avoided speaking with her new companions. The only one to have held a conversation with her during the week was the night watchman. She spent a great deal of time speaking with him, although he never really spoke to the rest of the crew. Maxi said he was a mute, but used wonderful hand gestures and his sight was so keen that he was an excellent look out.
Kilik couldn't get her words out of his head. Perhaps he was underestimating the young woman. For he had decided that she most definitely was not a child. He had been watching her from afar the entire journey and was extremely jealous of the mysterious blond haired lookout.
The evening before they were to land at their destination the four warriors had their dinner separately from the rest of the crew, with the exception of the look-out. Talim had insisted that he be allowed to join and since he could not speak, Maxi saw no need in excluding him.
"This cave here, is where the beast lives." Maxi explained pointed to a position on the map he had laid across the table after their dinner dishes had been cleared.
"What sort of beast is it?" Talim asked.
"He is not in your league, girl." Xianghua replied, not even offering a glance in the youth's direction.
Talim ground her teeth in rage, but the silent visitor put his hand upon her shoulder and shook his head. Talim calmed and decided to let the insult pass. She needed to focus on maintaining a sense of calmness if she wanted to prove victorious in any future matches.
Kilik watched the exchange and felt his a stab in his stomach. Jealousy had reared his ugly head and this mute, mysterious, keen eyed pirate had suddenly befriended the one he was supposed to be the confidant for. "Could you remove your hood, sir?" Kilik asked of the look-out.
Instead of the young pirate crew member removing his hood he turned towards Talim to silently ask advice.
Maxi looked up from his precious map and was curious what his crew member actually looked like. "It's okay, you can remove your hood. We shall not judge you." He told the hooded fellow. "He's probably got hideous scars that prevent him from speaking." He rationalized to the others.
"Before you say anything, I want you to know that he is trust worthy. His goal is similar to ours and he will be leaving our company once we reach France." Talim answered while holding the mute's hands down to prevent him from removing his hood.
"How do you know about France?" Maxi asked bewildered. Only his first mate and Kilik knew about the plans to go to France.
"It matters not." Talim told him and then released her hands allowing the figure to remove his hood. Three gasps were emitted as the hood fell to reveal a young man who appeared to be Talim's age with long blond hair, keen blue eyes, and long pointy ears.
"An elf?" Kilik asked directing his question towards Talim.
"Yes. He is not from our world and he does not speak our language." She answered.
"But you have been speaking with him every night for the past week." Kilik argued.
"So you did notice?" Talim teased.
"What do you mean?" Kilik asked confused.
"I didn't think you would notice my absence. And while we speak different languages we can both read and speak through the winds." She pointed to her flute and the elf pulled an Ocarina out of his pocket.
"His name is Link. He is a fighter as well." Talim explained. "Now, tell us about the beast."
"His name Voldo. He was said to have been driven mad while keeping watch over his master's buried fortune in the caves of Venice. However, there are rumours of a samurai and ninja in the area. We must be on our guard for all of them." Kilik informed while locking eyes with Talim.
Talim reached over and clapped her hand upon his shoulder. "Thank you for finally sharing that with me. What are their weapons?"
"The latter both use fairly long swords while the former uses double blades of a very fine cut. He is especially dangerous." Maxi replied.
"I shall take the Ninja." Xianghua announced.
"I plan on taking the Samurai." Maxi answered.
"I will destroy Voldo." Kilik replied.
Talim shook her head. "Those are poor matches. Maxi, your weapons are not suited for fighting long distance attacks of a Samurai. Kilik I suggest you take him. I would be happy to take Voldo, it sounds as if our skills will be well matched."
"No." Kilik answered her sternly.
"Your right, perhaps Link should take the Ninja. He is very talented with the sword and bow." Talim misunderstood.
"I do not know of Link's skills, but I do know that I do not want you to risk your life against the likes of Voldo." Kilik replied.
"Did you find fault in my reasoning of matching up fighting styles?" Talim asked.
Kilik shook his head. "The weapon matters not, it is the heart behind the warrior that welds the weapons."
Talim stared at him very hard. "Are you questioning my heart?" She asked him softly.
"No, look, let you and I discuss this later, alone." Kilik suggested.
"Fine." Talim answered crossing her arms, trying her best not to appear a temperamental child. She was sure that Link understood what had just transpired, but was keeping his composure, so she would do the same.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kilik had lead Talim to the cabins of the ship after the congregation had settled about the plans of battle. He felt unease at the stiffness of the arm he grasped. Talim was not making this easy for him.
"Let us sleep on this for tonight. We shall speak in the morning. I shall awaken you at dawn or when we reach land. Which ever comes first." Kilik told Talim. Talim nodded her head in acceptance but vowed silently that she would win her case.
At dawn the ship reached land and Kilik went to awaken Talim. He found her already up and waiting his arrival.
"Explain." Talim demanded finally looking at him and piercing his very soul with her chocolate eyes.
Kilik suddenly felt his throat contract and grow very dry. "Its just, that although, I have confidence in your fighting skills, it is not necessary for you to fight in this battle. Maxi, Xianghua, and I have fought many opponents together and proved victorious."
"If you were victorious then I wouldn't be here to fight today, now would I?" Talim countered.
"True enough. In that case, it is our responsibility to risk our lives to set those wrongs right. I don't think you realize how dangerous this is." Kilik tried to reason.
"No. It is you who underestimate me, once again. I did not abandon my tribe so that I could travel the world in peace and make new friends. I left my home because I have a responsibility. You of all people should know of what I speak. Or do you not remember the dream?"
"You remember the dream?" Kilik asked softly.
Talim shook her head. "Bits and pieces only. But I do remember that it is you and I who must defeat this evil. And that ultimately you must allow me to vanquish the evil for you lack the ability despite your desire."
Kilik took the upset girl into his arms and crushed her to his chest. He moved his right hand to circle her neck placing two of his fingers upon her pressure point. She relaxed in his embrace and he leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Look, I'm sorry to do this to you. You'll have to forgive me, but I need you to stay down."
He pressed hard upon her pressure point and the priestess collapsed within his arms. He picked her up bridal style and laid her upon her bed. He leaned over and kissed her forehead softly before running back on deck to join his fellow fighters.
The elven lookout had left the ship once it landed and his whereabouts were unknown. Kilik nodded at the duo and they nodded back recognizing that he had taken care of the girl. They had convinced themselves that they were protecting her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Talim wished the shaking would stop. She swatted the annoying hands away from her shoulders but they held firm. Finally she opened her eyes to meet the blue orbs of her foreign friend, Link.
"Link? What's going on?" She asked confused. Link pointed towards her door and to her weapons. Suddenly Talim remembered.
"I'm going to kill him!" She declared as she grabbed her elbow blades and ran from the room with Link close behind. Link had been looking over the map ever since the three had left and was fairly certain he could find the cave they sought. He was determined to help his friend.
"Do you think this is the place?" Talim asked Link as they approached an area hidden from most eyes. There appeared to be several caves littering the area. Link pointed towards the middle cave and to their respective weapons. Talim nodded her head in comprehension. The two approached the caves.
Suddenly shouting could be heard. Talim turned in the direction of the feminine shouts and noticed Xianghua fighting a female ninja. She did not appear to be fairing too well. Talim looked over towards Link and he too had noticed the shouts but merely shrugged his shoulders. Apparently, he didn't care much for Xianghua either.
However, another match could be heard not far off. Link recognized the voice of Maxi and decided to make sure his captain survived. He would need transportation to arrive to France. He nodded his head in that direction to warn Talim of his intentions and she smiled in understanding. He pointed towards the middle cave for her to continue towards.
Talim continued on her own towards the unknown of the middle cave. All she knew was that a creature by the name of Voldo lived here and that Kilik was most likely engaged in a battle with him. What she did not expect was the mounts of treasure that piled along the cave floor.
She temporarily forgot her reason for entering the cave as a particular item crossed her attention. It was a pair of Double Crescent Blades. She picked up the deadly elbow blades and inspected them closely. She moved them through the air in a couple of practice moves and was very pleased with the strength they possessed.
She smiled and placed her original blades into their sheathes while she welded this new pair.
She could hear the clash of metal in the distance. She recognized Kilik's voice. Perhaps she would watch and be a spectator in this fight.
When her eyes caught up to the sounds her ears hear she gasped. Kilik was fighting a hideous beast. He looked like some sort of mummy from ancient Egypt and he had two vicious blades that looked like the guillotine used in so many bloody revolutions.
"This rod will be your doom!" Kilik taunted the hideous remains of a madman.
Voldo seemed to not be intimdated in the least and continued to approach the young man in a drunken walk while swinging his deadly blades. Kilik already had the misfortune of being to close to those blades.
A bloody trail marked his most recent path upon the cave flooring. "I see you!" Kilik answered the glint of the blades in the dark.
His rod hit true and a gasp of pain could be heard from the raspy voice. "Take this!" He thrust into the body of his opponent repeatedly jabbing into the soft flesh of the stomach and other lower regions. He knocked the brute off his feet and hit him very hard upon the head.
Voldo gasped in fury. "Forgive me." Kilik replied before he crashed his rod onto the forehead of the miserable creature, forever ending his days of darkness.
Kilik reached down to pluck the shard from the body of his defeated foe. He did not expect to hear someone clapping for his battle. Least of all did he expect to see Talim on two feet approaching him with a smile on her face.
"That was excellent." She told him while playing with her new blades. "What happened to him?" She pointed to the body lying on the ground.
"He was a lost soul. His purpose was to guard his master's treasure but his master died and he continued to guard it none the less." Kilik replied.
"So he was a man. That is unfortunate." Talim replied. She kneeled before the body. "I am sorry for your fate. But thank your master for his gift."
Kilik eyed the woman curiously. "How's your head?"
"I'm surprised I didn't hit the floor after you knocked me unconsious." She answered while staring him in the eye.
Kilik went to rub his hand nervously on the back of his neck but withdrew it sharply when his hand encountered a bleeding wound sliced recently there. Talim rushed over to inspect the wound. Her hands traveled down his back and arms as well.
"You are covered in many flesh wounds. None appear too serious, but you must clean them at once." She told him. She lifted his left arm and wrapped it around her neck to rest upon her left shoulder. She then wrapped her right arm around his waist and helped him to walk out of the cave. She looked at her new toys that she had precariously dropped upon the ground with sadness.
"Hand them to me. I shall carry them for you since you are carrying me." Kilik offered. Talim smiled and handed him the blades. "So, did Link show you where to go?"
"Yes, I believe he went to aid in Maxi's battle. He is very determined to get to France and it would serve him no good to be minus one captain!" Talim told him with her joyous spirit back in full effect.
"I am sure that Maxi was able to prove victorious in the end. Did you run across Xianghua as well?" Kilik inquired.
"Yeah, but she is so determined that she has so many skills that I can not possibly understand we decided to let her fight her own battle." Talim answered while looking over at Kilik and meeting his eyes. He bit his lip slightly and Talim cocked an eyebrow at the action.
"Perhaps we should double check, just to make sure." Kilik replied. He knew that Xianghua was strong, but she was not the most cunning of fighters and many fine warriors could claim strength.
Talim smiled. "Yes, Kilik, but only if you give me permission to join in if it looks a little difficult."
"Is there no other way?" He asked.
Talim shook her head and he reluctantly agreed to her request. They approached the battlefield to find that Maxi was sitting calmly beside an annoyed Samurai. It would seem that the Samurai had lost. And that Xianghua also was sitting on the sidelines with a sour expression.
Link was fighting the female ninja. Kilik sighed with relief that his friends were unharmed and that he wouldn't be forced to see Talim put her life on the line. Link was an impressive combatant. The ninja really didn't have a chance and soon enough she was defeated.
Link calmly walked toward Talim with his newly acquired shard. She held out her hand and he gave it to her. She smiled in gratitude. The ninja and samurai left quickly later apparently they knew one another.
"Kilik! Are you okay?" Xianghua asked upset at her friend's appearance.
"It looks worst than it is. Talim will take care of it. Let's get back to the ship, we have all we came for." Kilik and Talim began to head back towards the ship with Maxi standing on Kilik's other side to help support his weight.
Link was carrying Talim's new weapons and smiled at her in approval. He secretly looked over towards Xianghua and then winked at Talim. The shared another smile in satisfaction that they were able to prove their worth to their companions.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
How about that? I gave you four battles, another hero, and some Kilik/Talim fluff! ~Belle