Hello! –hides from angry reviewers- I'm sorry I didn't get updated for so long! It's just that the gamescript on Gamefaqs only goes up to chapter 23, and so I had to wait till I myself got to Pale Flower of Darkness. Sorry. x.X
Well, without further ado, I present to you the long-awaited next chapter of Fire. Review responses at bottom of page. Thanks. Oh, and the muses are on vacation. –relieved- For a little while, at least...
I waited, trying to compose myself. Another glance at Taelia revealed that the silvery-grey mare was still tired, but recovering. She was of hardy Sacaen blood and did not tire easily; I was glad for that.
I tapped a foot impatiently on the cobblestones of the village street, watching Lord Eliwood and his small army leave the area. Where were they going now? The girl with the green ponytail was leading them.
North. They were going north. North was the direction of the Black Fang fortress.
It could be a coincidence, I tried to reassure myself. After all, the fortress isn't the only thing in the north, is it? And they wouldn't be able to find it, either.
Don't be so sure, replied my mind. They've Sacaens among them, remember? And they're tracking Vaida's puny troops.
I gritted my teeth. Of course. Her stupid soldiers would leave tracks in the snow, plain as day. I had to go now. If they reached the fortress before me...
Taelia jerked her head up, surprised, as I shoved everything back into her saddlebags and re-saddled and –bridled her again.
"Sorry," I murmured as I tucked the Elfire tome under my arm and mounted back up. "But this is urgent, you know?"
Her tiredness restrained us to a painfully slow trot, with frequent walking breaks, as we headed east, then north, taking a shortcut I had learned long ago. Hopefully, it would allow us to reach the fortress before Lord Eliwood. After all, they were a large group.
The both of us exhausted, we finally reached the mountain fortress, hours later. It had never looked so welcoming before.
"Lady Ursula!" exclaimed a startled member as he rushed up to take Taelia's reins. I dismounted stiffly, joints aching from the long journey.
"Make sure she's well taken care of," I gasped to the man. He nodded, frightened, and led Taelia off.
I have to reach Lady Sonia, I thought as I dashed through the winding corridors of the fortress. Please, let her not be too angry. Please...
I drew to an abrupt halt outside the closed door – not closed all the way, I realized; it was open a crack – of one of the meeting rooms, hearing voices drift from inside. Voices I recognized.
"So, in the end, you failed to defeat them, didn't you?"
I knew that mocking, sarcastic voice all too well. It was Lady Sonia, no doubt about it.
"I only introduced you to Lord Nergal out of respect for your rank," she continued. I wondered who she was speaking to. "I was mistaken, though –" and I could just see that familiar smirk spread across her face – "to think a former royal soldier would be—"
She was cut off abruptly. "Next time will be different, I swear it!" said another female voice anxiously.
Vaida. I bit my lip. Well, at least it didn't sound like she was being praised.
"I beg of you, give me one more chance!" pleaded Vaida. Now this was a side of her I had never seen.
Ringing, mocking laughter echoed through the room, something I well recognized.
"One more chance?" echoed Lady Sonia's voice mockingly. "Surely you jest."
"Without Lord Nergal's good word, I'll never fly again!" whined Vaida. "Not as a royal wyvern knight, at least! Please! Another chance!"
I risked a glance through the crack of the door. Vaida was facing Lady Sonia, looking ready to fall begging to the floor at any moment, her hands clasped together nervously in front of her, eyes alarmed. The other's arms were folded across her chest as usual, glittering gold eyes staring venomously down at the wyvern lord.
"Ah, but you're quite skilled at begging, at least," commented Sonia spitefully, stepping backwards, eyeing Vaida like she was a bug on the floor. "Desist," she said, coldly. "You have fallen from our grace, and nothing will change that. Just be grateful. You are an outsider, so you are spared the Fang's judgement."
The other woman was silent. I gloated silently outside the door, happy to finally be rid of her.
But was it right to think like that? She was stealing all the glory, that was true; and not even a member of the Fang. And she had failed. We knew the price of failure. So it was reasonable to think like that...
"You stink of failure," said Lady Sonia icily, eyes hard. "Leave me to breathe in peace."
Vaida stared at her for a moment, hate brewing in her eyes, then turned towards the door. I stepped back hurriedly as the door banged open, and she stormed past me, muttering curses under her breath.
Sonia's head whipped around, dark hair flying, and she sighted me. "Ursula, are you there?" she queried.
"Yes, Lady Sonia," I answered cautiously, peering around the doorway.
"Come in," she ordered, and I obediently entered the room.
"Tell me. Where have you been?" Her eyes met mine, boring into them, like she could read my thoughts. I shuddered inwardly, but remained standing where I was.
"I'm sorry," I began. "I...was delayed." I swallowed. From what I had seen with Vaida, she did not appear to be in a good mood. "It...was my horse."
"And you let yourself be delayed by your horse?" she asked mockingly.
"I –" My voice trailed off, and I nodded briefly.
She looked at me coldly like she was going to say something; apparently thought better of that, and tossed her head. "Very well then. Now, listen closely."
I braced myself, ready for an explosive lecture.
"There are two types of people in this world, Ursula," she said softly, and dangerously, but not angrily. "Those chosen to lead and those fit only to serve: human refuse. That's all. Only two types."
I blinked. What was she talking about?
"I am the former, a perfect specimen chosen by Lord Nergal." A small smile curved across her red lips. "You want to be like me, don't you, Ursula?"
The question was laid out there in the open, like she was inviting me to contradict her. What should I say?
"Yes, of course," I answered respectfully, bowing my head slightly.
"Then you must use the refuse to your advantage. Treat them as equals, and they will only drag you down." She nodded, and continued. "That woman Vaida is a good example. She treats the trash as though they were people. That dooms her to failure..." There was a malicious glint in her golden eyes, that told me what exactly she thought of Vaida. "She truly is a fool."
I was silent, processing all this information. Did that mean I should become like her, looking down coldly upon everyone, caring about no one but herself?
"You, however," she said softly, leaning closer to me, golden eyes drilling into me again. "You, I like. You must take care." She paused, regarding me. "It would be a shame to see you fail as Vaida did."
I blinked. "I...I understand. Thank you, most gracious Lady Sonia."
She nodded once, briefly, then turned and exited with a flourish, dark waves of hair rippling behind her, long red sash trailing on the ground.
I watched her go, puzzled, frozen in the middle of the chamber. What exactly was she trying to implicate?
Her words still rang in my ears, whispering, asking, nagging.
Treat them as equals, and they will only drag you down.
Did that mean I shouldn't have given that staff to that girl back in the village? Did that mean I should look down coldly on the Reed brothers as she did? Did that mean it was right to despise Vaida?
She treats the trash as though they were people.
But how could you determine who was 'trash' and who wasn't? What about the Reed brothers and the Angel of Death, my fellow Four Fangs? What about the girl Nino? For all her timidness, she was quite gifted with a magic talent. Or was she just another tool to be used, like Brendan?
Like Lloyd and Linus? Like Jaffar?
Like me?
That dooms her to failure...
Trying to banish the thoughts from my mind in vain, I turned down the opposite corridor and fled.
She truly is a fool.
A/N: I apologize for the shortness. Hopefully, next chapter will be longer. I'm kind of more focused on working on Jealousy right now, but...yeah. And I wrote this Sonia one-shot...if you want to, read it.
Nino: SHAMELESS PLUGGING!
Winteress: Oh, nuu. They're back.
Miss Daisy: -wearing sunglasses- Oh yeah.
Quickening: -nods-
Woodbark: -wearing mini-sunglasses- Te-te.
Winteress: Okay now, be good. Otherwise you're goin' on vacation again. XD
Quickening: But we like vacation, Winty-sama. We get to hang out with all the hot guys like Morgan Leah-
Winteress: STOP SPOILING THE DRUID OF SHANNARA! Now, get to work! And shut it!
Lady Fencer: Hey! Yes, we all love Woodbark...And we're all in on the Lloyd fan club, aren't we? XD Send me your fic. I'll edit it before you post it.
Random Person: Uh, well, thanks for reviewing! XD
Genocideking Archfiend: Yup, banes of existence. It's kind of a love/hate relationship, ne? You two have a funny argument on your bio. And yeah, I do write about her cuz she's neglected. Poor Ursula. Her story is sad, isn't it? And the Reed brothers, too. And I like making people feel more sympathetic towards characters. (-hinthint-coughSoniacough- XD) Thanks so much for reviewing!
Nino: Well, ha ha! This fic is better than the Sonia one!
Sonia: ¬.¬ THAT IS NOT TRUE!
Ursula: THIS one is the best!
Miss Daisy: -.-;; You're not a muse. Get out of here.
Ursula: -grumbles and leaves-
Quickening: -sighs and puts Woodbark to bed- It's late guys, get to bed...And review! –smiles-
Nino: -yawn- Review! Yes! Review! –falls into bed and promptly goes to sleep-