Well, here's my next chapter. Master Dragon, you make a valid point,
my story is well loaded with action. I don't particularly think it to be
gratuitous but I admit, I seem to have placed an emphasis upon it. But its
all purposeful, Ryu is a murdering bastard, and he expresses himself
through violence. But you're right, action was the locus of my story and
that's probably not going to change too much, I'm almost done with the
story anyway so there's not much reason to change it just yet. Also,
Gunslinger, Ryu's twin brother is named Ryudo because of that whole twin
thing where parents will name their twins with similar names like Sean and
Seana. That was my reasoning behind it. That and, it was the only name I
could think of.
Chapter Seven: The Boss
Nina felt herself getting jostled about as she lay down on the semi- hard surface beneath her. There was definitely a cushion of sorts beneath her but it did little to prevent her from being sore at her current position. The way the surface beneath her jumped and jostled Nina surmised that she was in a carriage, and one that was moving at a pretty good clip. Nina pushed herself of the lumpy, nearly down less cushion and looked about.
Her breath caught in her chest as she saw Ryu leaning back in his seat across from her, staring out the window, a smirk playing across his features. Nina wasted no time in gathering up some of her replenished energy and launched it into the face of her detested enemy. A bolt of fire erupted into being and the conflagration slammed home into Ryu's chest. A blinding flash and a cloud of smoke replaced the magical bolt but the smoke was quickly wiped away by Ryu's hand. Nina was about to fire another bolt of fire to finish the job but Ryu's hand gripped onto hers with viselike tenacity.
A burning hole was torn into his armor and his chest was burnt and blackened but slowly, before her very eyes the dead skin gave way to a healthy, flawless chest again. "Please refrain from doing that in the future." Ryu said, his voice unnervingly polite and calm. Ryu let go of her hand and she quickly brought back to her, debating whether or not she would risk trying it again. "There's no need for us to be enemies, we're all mature, intellectual individuals." Ryu admonished smiling that oh so smug smile. Nina wanted to rip it off his face but she knew he would kill her just like he killed everyone else.
"You are the sickest individual I've ever met. You are the worst excuse for a sentient being I've ever met." Nina spoke each word with a rage filled pause spacing them out, she was composed but her anger seethed inside of her. Ryu looked at with surprise, as if the very accusation which she had just uttered had been so off the mark so as to be laughable.
"Clearly your mind has been frazzled by the recent events. I've done nothing but protect you from a wide variety of villainous characters. I aided you with the Kuriks, fought with you against the Risen and the Sorcerer, did battle with Bo and Cizrai to save you from the clutches of Murnab and Ryudo. I've been nothing but a veritable knight when it comes to our escapades." Ryu listed, categorically dismissing her charges.
Nina mulled this over in her mind, it was true he had been nothing but the perfect gentlemen to her and had rid the world of a variety of shady characters. Nina remembered what had happened with Bo and Cizrai after they had gotten a safe distance from the town. She had tried to fight back but Bo's grip was too strong and the poison too debilitating. She shuddered at the memory and focused more upon the matter at hand. "What about Mezzryn, Aleric, and the other Rangers?" Nina asked, waiting with furiously bated breath, anger helping cure her fear.
"Lamentable deaths I admit, and I can't help but feel responsible..." Ryu started, his features melding into a sorrowful form.
"Aha! I knew it, you did it!" Nina accused her fist curling into a ball and ready to launch into his lying face.
"But I did not kill them." Ryu finished, all of the vigor suddenly left Nina's body and she sat listlessly, staring at Ryu, waiting for his elaboration. "Bo, Cizrai, and Ryudo were working in concert under the direction of Murnab, not only to kill me but also to destroy as many Ranger outposts as possible. When they realized that one of the Rangers nearby was a Windian they made it their business to capture her, and destroy anyone who would complicate matters. Of course Mezzryn and Aleric were the first to go seeing as they were your partners. The Ranger Headquarters burning down was to rob you of a security base and then the fact that I was with you and hiding under a pseudonym just made things easier for them." Ryu finished his explanation and let out a sigh, his eyes seemingly filled with sorrow.
"But what did Murnab want with me, who is Murnab for that matter?" Nina asked exasperatedly. She wasn't sure if he she could believe everything that Ryu said but at the same time he wasn't her enemy. If anything, he would likely be her staunchest ally against Murnab.
"Sit back and I shall regale you with my knowledge on the matter. I'll step back a bit in time to the war with Janabis, at least what would've been a war if he hadn't died. I was slave warrior at the time along with my brother Ryudo. Ryudo and I hated each other with a fiery passion, it seemed that from birth we had been trained to fight and eventually kill each other to see which was stronger, apparently I am since the Ryudo I knew is no longer alive. He has merged with Murnab but I digress. At the time me and Ryudo were simply competing for a top spot within Janabis' military structure. Unfortunately that came to an end when Janabis up and killed himself trying to make a pact with some Archdemon. Well suffice to say that everything fell apart and I was a freelance mercenary.
"Now, here's where Murnab comes in. He was the only man who had the kind of money to actually purchase all of those slaves and he turned it into a neat little business of the gladiator ring. Murnab also happened to pick up my brother, Ryudo which explains why the two captured you. Now, Murnab wants you for the very simple reason that you are a Windian and well, if he splices your soul within his own he becomes a much more powerful individual. This was before I knew about him being a magic user already so he might actually want you for something else that requires you sacrificed in a ceremony." Ryu completed his explanation, letting out a long breath, apparently glad that he didn't have to explain the story any longer.
Nina sat back and remained silent, her eyes fixated upon a nonexistent figure within the carriage. She chewed on her lower lip as she absorbed all this information. She looked at Ryu who was watching her speculatively, his green eyes focused upon her with unnatural intensity. "How do you play into all of this? Why were you there when I seemingly needed the most help?" Nina enquired meeting his gaze steadily.
"Like I said, I'm a mercenary, and a very good one at that. I was hired to find and protect you." Ryu explained simply, putting his hands behind his head and leaning back, his eyes glancing out the window into the lush forest environs.
"But who hired you?" Nina asked, leaning farther towards Ryu.
"All will be revealed in time." Ryu answered simply, his mind elsewhere in the world. Nina huffed in indignation as she stared out an opposite window, her fear and loathing of Ryu forgotten as the carriage drifted on lazily.
* * *
Ryu sighed deeply as he looked out on the swiftly rolling plains beneath the violently rotating wheels beneath the carriage. His green eyes surveyed the environs around him as the evening sun cast a single red glance to the land before it hid itself beneath the horizon. It had been three days since his last big conversation with Nina, though she may trust him with her life she didn't want to entangle herself too deeply with a man she was taught to loath. The only real conversation they had had in the past was more questions about the nature of his employer. 'You'll know in good time was all that he'd told her.' *The time is coming upon us now though.* Ryu thought as he saw an increase of Windian patrols flying overhead.
From the moment they had entered Windian territory Ryu had been on guard for any sort of scuffle. He would normally not shy away from a conflict with his second favorite prey but with the job near completion and the money almost his, he didn't really want to risk any last minute slip ups. He was a professional after all. Ryu sighed and climbed down his perch and into the carriage itself to find Nina staring dully out the window into the setting sun. "We should reach Werzingrad later this evening." Ryu informed her as he took his seat directly opposite from her. At the sound of this news she immediately straightened in her seat and stared at him with wide, shock filled eyes.
"Werzingrad?" Nina asked, the questioning expression on her face turned onto Ryu. Her eyes immediately shot to the door and she sidled closer to it as she weighed her chances of escape. "I'm not going back there. You'll simply have to get your business finished without me or in another city. But I am not going to enter the Windian capitol." Nina announced, inching even closer towards the door.
"You must not have too much experience with mercenaries and how these things work out. I take you to the guy who hired me regardless of where that may be and then I wash my hands of the subject, leaving you with whatever the guy wanted you for. Though, to allay your fears, my employer is not the type to do anything too evil or cruel to you." Ryu jokingly conversed with Nina flashing his patented smile at her. The look she gave him was so devoid of the humor he had hoped to instill in her that Ryu's smile slowly slid off his face. *Oh well, there goes any chance of levity.*
They both rode along in silence, Nina chewing her lip nervously as they drew closer to their final destination. Ryu leaned back in his seat and looked out the window as more and more houses with small gardens were occurring with greater frequency. "Won't be too long now." Ryu continued his joke, mildly enjoying the torment Nina was going through. The silence continued after that comment and the darkness grew deeper around them, as if to fit the dark mood of the carriage.
The carriage slowed to a halt and Ryu stood up and began to step out of the carriage. He looked pointedly at Nina, implying that she should follow willingly. Nina sighed and got up and smoothed her skirt before walking farther out of the carriage and into the moonless night. Before them hovered the great city of Werzingrad and directly in front of them were the great barges, built at the end of the Dragon Wars to only allow friendly forces into the city. They were said to malfunction if any dragon were to ever step into them but that was probably a lie. Ryu was surprised to find so many guards awaiting them at the barge. *Royal Knights. It's enough to make the stomach churn.* Even in the dark of night their armor seemed to gleam from too much polish.
One of them stepped forward, a Captain by the emblem upon his shoulder, and bowed deeply to Ryu and Nina. "We can take care of her from here Mercenary Ryu." He declared in a flawless tenor voice.
"I think not, I don't trust Windians, especially when it comes to them and their money. Besides, I take orders from The Boss, and no one else." Ryu retorted, planting a hand firmly on the breastplate of the Captain keeping him from reaching Nina. He seemed ready to fight him over this but he quickly regained his composure and acquiesced to Ryu's wishes.
"Very well, if you will follow me." He said tersely before swiveling upon his foot and moving back to his guards and the barge. The shadow of the vessel was somewhat intimidating to Nina and Ryu as it loomed before them, its propellers jutting out to the side and its great hull was marred by the opening of a giant drawbridge leading deeper into its recesses, like a gaping maw, prepared to swallow a tasty morsel. Amidst the score or so of Royal Knights stood another figure, his pearly wings spread slightly as if to show off their own opulence. The figure wasn't armored but looked like a man fully capable of taking care of himself. Ryu immediately recognized the man as his employer and hollered over to him as they got near.
"Hey Boss, I've got her for you. Prime condition, hardly a hair out of place." Ryu informed, ushering forth Nina into the circle of Knights. Nina stared at the ground, not wanting to meet the man's eyes. He looked sternly down at the young Ranger after shooting an acid glance at Ryu.
"We were very worried about you Nina. It is unbecoming of a young lady, let alone royalty to behave in such a manner." He intoned gravely, his voice a deep bass used to giving orders and having them followed. Ryu, who had previously been fiddling with his sword handle as he gauged his chances of beating these guys in a fight clenched his hand tightly upon his sword hilt and he looked at both Nina and The Boss in surprise.
"You mean to say that Nina is the Princess Nina. The Princess Nina next in line for succession, Princess Nina the fabled beauty of the Windian Race who was to be the betrothed of the late Prince Elric, I've been busting my ass to save a Princess this entire time? Talk about irony. I'm surprised you trusted me." Ryu chortled, amused at the situation. Apparently his humor was lost upon the group of Windians for they stared at him coldly.
"Anyways, come Nina, back to the castle with you. We have much to discuss." He intoned again in his regal voice, waiting to see her reaction.
Nina finally lifted her eyes to meet those of The Boss and Ryu could see a complete vacuum of emotion. "Yes, Father."
* * *
Here we go, the chapter is finished. It was shorter than usual since I didn't really plan on having much in this chapter. It goes along with my writing style of planning all my chapters around a single event and depending on how much I have to do to get that event done is how long it takes. Later people, be sure to read and review cause otherwise I'll feel terrible about myself and you wouldn't want that on your conscience.
Fact of the Chapter: Did you know that the buttons on women's clothes are on the opposite side to men's because in the Victorian age the servants who dressed the women found it easier to button them that way since they, the servants, were right handed for the most part? Ass clenching excitement in that fact.
Chapter Seven: The Boss
Nina felt herself getting jostled about as she lay down on the semi- hard surface beneath her. There was definitely a cushion of sorts beneath her but it did little to prevent her from being sore at her current position. The way the surface beneath her jumped and jostled Nina surmised that she was in a carriage, and one that was moving at a pretty good clip. Nina pushed herself of the lumpy, nearly down less cushion and looked about.
Her breath caught in her chest as she saw Ryu leaning back in his seat across from her, staring out the window, a smirk playing across his features. Nina wasted no time in gathering up some of her replenished energy and launched it into the face of her detested enemy. A bolt of fire erupted into being and the conflagration slammed home into Ryu's chest. A blinding flash and a cloud of smoke replaced the magical bolt but the smoke was quickly wiped away by Ryu's hand. Nina was about to fire another bolt of fire to finish the job but Ryu's hand gripped onto hers with viselike tenacity.
A burning hole was torn into his armor and his chest was burnt and blackened but slowly, before her very eyes the dead skin gave way to a healthy, flawless chest again. "Please refrain from doing that in the future." Ryu said, his voice unnervingly polite and calm. Ryu let go of her hand and she quickly brought back to her, debating whether or not she would risk trying it again. "There's no need for us to be enemies, we're all mature, intellectual individuals." Ryu admonished smiling that oh so smug smile. Nina wanted to rip it off his face but she knew he would kill her just like he killed everyone else.
"You are the sickest individual I've ever met. You are the worst excuse for a sentient being I've ever met." Nina spoke each word with a rage filled pause spacing them out, she was composed but her anger seethed inside of her. Ryu looked at with surprise, as if the very accusation which she had just uttered had been so off the mark so as to be laughable.
"Clearly your mind has been frazzled by the recent events. I've done nothing but protect you from a wide variety of villainous characters. I aided you with the Kuriks, fought with you against the Risen and the Sorcerer, did battle with Bo and Cizrai to save you from the clutches of Murnab and Ryudo. I've been nothing but a veritable knight when it comes to our escapades." Ryu listed, categorically dismissing her charges.
Nina mulled this over in her mind, it was true he had been nothing but the perfect gentlemen to her and had rid the world of a variety of shady characters. Nina remembered what had happened with Bo and Cizrai after they had gotten a safe distance from the town. She had tried to fight back but Bo's grip was too strong and the poison too debilitating. She shuddered at the memory and focused more upon the matter at hand. "What about Mezzryn, Aleric, and the other Rangers?" Nina asked, waiting with furiously bated breath, anger helping cure her fear.
"Lamentable deaths I admit, and I can't help but feel responsible..." Ryu started, his features melding into a sorrowful form.
"Aha! I knew it, you did it!" Nina accused her fist curling into a ball and ready to launch into his lying face.
"But I did not kill them." Ryu finished, all of the vigor suddenly left Nina's body and she sat listlessly, staring at Ryu, waiting for his elaboration. "Bo, Cizrai, and Ryudo were working in concert under the direction of Murnab, not only to kill me but also to destroy as many Ranger outposts as possible. When they realized that one of the Rangers nearby was a Windian they made it their business to capture her, and destroy anyone who would complicate matters. Of course Mezzryn and Aleric were the first to go seeing as they were your partners. The Ranger Headquarters burning down was to rob you of a security base and then the fact that I was with you and hiding under a pseudonym just made things easier for them." Ryu finished his explanation and let out a sigh, his eyes seemingly filled with sorrow.
"But what did Murnab want with me, who is Murnab for that matter?" Nina asked exasperatedly. She wasn't sure if he she could believe everything that Ryu said but at the same time he wasn't her enemy. If anything, he would likely be her staunchest ally against Murnab.
"Sit back and I shall regale you with my knowledge on the matter. I'll step back a bit in time to the war with Janabis, at least what would've been a war if he hadn't died. I was slave warrior at the time along with my brother Ryudo. Ryudo and I hated each other with a fiery passion, it seemed that from birth we had been trained to fight and eventually kill each other to see which was stronger, apparently I am since the Ryudo I knew is no longer alive. He has merged with Murnab but I digress. At the time me and Ryudo were simply competing for a top spot within Janabis' military structure. Unfortunately that came to an end when Janabis up and killed himself trying to make a pact with some Archdemon. Well suffice to say that everything fell apart and I was a freelance mercenary.
"Now, here's where Murnab comes in. He was the only man who had the kind of money to actually purchase all of those slaves and he turned it into a neat little business of the gladiator ring. Murnab also happened to pick up my brother, Ryudo which explains why the two captured you. Now, Murnab wants you for the very simple reason that you are a Windian and well, if he splices your soul within his own he becomes a much more powerful individual. This was before I knew about him being a magic user already so he might actually want you for something else that requires you sacrificed in a ceremony." Ryu completed his explanation, letting out a long breath, apparently glad that he didn't have to explain the story any longer.
Nina sat back and remained silent, her eyes fixated upon a nonexistent figure within the carriage. She chewed on her lower lip as she absorbed all this information. She looked at Ryu who was watching her speculatively, his green eyes focused upon her with unnatural intensity. "How do you play into all of this? Why were you there when I seemingly needed the most help?" Nina enquired meeting his gaze steadily.
"Like I said, I'm a mercenary, and a very good one at that. I was hired to find and protect you." Ryu explained simply, putting his hands behind his head and leaning back, his eyes glancing out the window into the lush forest environs.
"But who hired you?" Nina asked, leaning farther towards Ryu.
"All will be revealed in time." Ryu answered simply, his mind elsewhere in the world. Nina huffed in indignation as she stared out an opposite window, her fear and loathing of Ryu forgotten as the carriage drifted on lazily.
* * *
Ryu sighed deeply as he looked out on the swiftly rolling plains beneath the violently rotating wheels beneath the carriage. His green eyes surveyed the environs around him as the evening sun cast a single red glance to the land before it hid itself beneath the horizon. It had been three days since his last big conversation with Nina, though she may trust him with her life she didn't want to entangle herself too deeply with a man she was taught to loath. The only real conversation they had had in the past was more questions about the nature of his employer. 'You'll know in good time was all that he'd told her.' *The time is coming upon us now though.* Ryu thought as he saw an increase of Windian patrols flying overhead.
From the moment they had entered Windian territory Ryu had been on guard for any sort of scuffle. He would normally not shy away from a conflict with his second favorite prey but with the job near completion and the money almost his, he didn't really want to risk any last minute slip ups. He was a professional after all. Ryu sighed and climbed down his perch and into the carriage itself to find Nina staring dully out the window into the setting sun. "We should reach Werzingrad later this evening." Ryu informed her as he took his seat directly opposite from her. At the sound of this news she immediately straightened in her seat and stared at him with wide, shock filled eyes.
"Werzingrad?" Nina asked, the questioning expression on her face turned onto Ryu. Her eyes immediately shot to the door and she sidled closer to it as she weighed her chances of escape. "I'm not going back there. You'll simply have to get your business finished without me or in another city. But I am not going to enter the Windian capitol." Nina announced, inching even closer towards the door.
"You must not have too much experience with mercenaries and how these things work out. I take you to the guy who hired me regardless of where that may be and then I wash my hands of the subject, leaving you with whatever the guy wanted you for. Though, to allay your fears, my employer is not the type to do anything too evil or cruel to you." Ryu jokingly conversed with Nina flashing his patented smile at her. The look she gave him was so devoid of the humor he had hoped to instill in her that Ryu's smile slowly slid off his face. *Oh well, there goes any chance of levity.*
They both rode along in silence, Nina chewing her lip nervously as they drew closer to their final destination. Ryu leaned back in his seat and looked out the window as more and more houses with small gardens were occurring with greater frequency. "Won't be too long now." Ryu continued his joke, mildly enjoying the torment Nina was going through. The silence continued after that comment and the darkness grew deeper around them, as if to fit the dark mood of the carriage.
The carriage slowed to a halt and Ryu stood up and began to step out of the carriage. He looked pointedly at Nina, implying that she should follow willingly. Nina sighed and got up and smoothed her skirt before walking farther out of the carriage and into the moonless night. Before them hovered the great city of Werzingrad and directly in front of them were the great barges, built at the end of the Dragon Wars to only allow friendly forces into the city. They were said to malfunction if any dragon were to ever step into them but that was probably a lie. Ryu was surprised to find so many guards awaiting them at the barge. *Royal Knights. It's enough to make the stomach churn.* Even in the dark of night their armor seemed to gleam from too much polish.
One of them stepped forward, a Captain by the emblem upon his shoulder, and bowed deeply to Ryu and Nina. "We can take care of her from here Mercenary Ryu." He declared in a flawless tenor voice.
"I think not, I don't trust Windians, especially when it comes to them and their money. Besides, I take orders from The Boss, and no one else." Ryu retorted, planting a hand firmly on the breastplate of the Captain keeping him from reaching Nina. He seemed ready to fight him over this but he quickly regained his composure and acquiesced to Ryu's wishes.
"Very well, if you will follow me." He said tersely before swiveling upon his foot and moving back to his guards and the barge. The shadow of the vessel was somewhat intimidating to Nina and Ryu as it loomed before them, its propellers jutting out to the side and its great hull was marred by the opening of a giant drawbridge leading deeper into its recesses, like a gaping maw, prepared to swallow a tasty morsel. Amidst the score or so of Royal Knights stood another figure, his pearly wings spread slightly as if to show off their own opulence. The figure wasn't armored but looked like a man fully capable of taking care of himself. Ryu immediately recognized the man as his employer and hollered over to him as they got near.
"Hey Boss, I've got her for you. Prime condition, hardly a hair out of place." Ryu informed, ushering forth Nina into the circle of Knights. Nina stared at the ground, not wanting to meet the man's eyes. He looked sternly down at the young Ranger after shooting an acid glance at Ryu.
"We were very worried about you Nina. It is unbecoming of a young lady, let alone royalty to behave in such a manner." He intoned gravely, his voice a deep bass used to giving orders and having them followed. Ryu, who had previously been fiddling with his sword handle as he gauged his chances of beating these guys in a fight clenched his hand tightly upon his sword hilt and he looked at both Nina and The Boss in surprise.
"You mean to say that Nina is the Princess Nina. The Princess Nina next in line for succession, Princess Nina the fabled beauty of the Windian Race who was to be the betrothed of the late Prince Elric, I've been busting my ass to save a Princess this entire time? Talk about irony. I'm surprised you trusted me." Ryu chortled, amused at the situation. Apparently his humor was lost upon the group of Windians for they stared at him coldly.
"Anyways, come Nina, back to the castle with you. We have much to discuss." He intoned again in his regal voice, waiting to see her reaction.
Nina finally lifted her eyes to meet those of The Boss and Ryu could see a complete vacuum of emotion. "Yes, Father."
* * *
Here we go, the chapter is finished. It was shorter than usual since I didn't really plan on having much in this chapter. It goes along with my writing style of planning all my chapters around a single event and depending on how much I have to do to get that event done is how long it takes. Later people, be sure to read and review cause otherwise I'll feel terrible about myself and you wouldn't want that on your conscience.
Fact of the Chapter: Did you know that the buttons on women's clothes are on the opposite side to men's because in the Victorian age the servants who dressed the women found it easier to button them that way since they, the servants, were right handed for the most part? Ass clenching excitement in that fact.