And now, the story continues.
An Eternal War
Chapter Sixteen
By IceWing (icewing@one.net)
Buffy crossed the distance to the first intruder with a fluidity of motion which most dancers would be hard pressed to match. The Roman short sword cleaved through the air towards the chest of her target.
Now, normally when one is being attacked there is a reaction. Shock, or perhaps in a large majority of the attacks where at least one of the participants is more than mundane, a move to block or counter the incoming attack. Demons have a typical reaction, especially in Sunnydale, to a young woman attacking them with an edged weapon. All of the above points made the reaction the intruder displayed to the Slayer's attack all the more bizarre.
Xander couldn't believe it when he saw the hulking figure roll his eyes at Buffy's attack.
But what was even more amazing was what happened when the gladius actually connected with the figure's jacket. There was a pop, almost like a circuit breaker, and the smell of electricity in the air. And then the most entertaining sight, for some involved anyway, of Buffy flying through the air, back the way she had come. With a resounding thunk, she fell in a heap behind the couch, the gladius skittering across the floor like a deranged beetle.
A voice from behind the group spoke before anyone could react to Buffy's attempt at gravity defiance. "Does she always greet visitors that way?"
Giles and Willow turned to see Harlequinn sitting nonchalantly on the stairs leading upstairs. As they were trying to comprehend how the elf had somehow managed to get to such a position without any of them noticing, Faith and Xander were sizing up the other two figures who had come through the door.
The first of the two was a female who appeared to be human. Long red hair spilled down to almost the small of her back, cascading across the mid-length black leather jacket she wore. She moved across the room like a panther, before coming to a halt beside and slightly in front of the first being who had entered the apartment. Xander couldn't help but notice the figure inside those jeans and that jacket was one that would start men, and some women, drooling. Faith took note that the flat boots the woman wore made not a sound as she walked.
The second figure was a male. His hair was a dark as space itself, pulled up into a short ponytail. John Lennon style glasses were perched on his nose, almost as a decoration. He wore a duster which seemed to be bordering on being a cloak, and Xander notices a large bulge on his hip, almost as if he had a purse under the coat. It almost seemed as if he was looking at them in a kind of clinically detached way, more like examining them than just looking at them. Faith got the feeling there was something more to this guy than met the eye, especially since she felt almost some kind of double presence, as if he was were he was, and then there was someone, or something, else behind him.
Neither of the strangers made any kind of offensive move, so both Faith and Xander waited to see what happened next. The only outward indication they were concerned at all was shown by a subtle squeeze of Xander's hand by Faith.
Giles sighed. "Well remember, when you live on the Hellmouth, and something which appears, well, rather demonic, bursts into your living room, it does tend to be a natural reaction from a Slayer." He paused and thought for a moment. "But yes, she does tend to react that way quite a bit."
The hulking figure began to laugh, as did its two companions. "A demon? Me? That's rich. But then again, you probably have never seen a troll before, have you?"
"Oh, I've seen trolls before," piped Buffy as she picked herself off the floor. "Slayed two of them last month when they thought they could just waltz into town and have a barbecue consisting of some people relaxing at the park."
"Those weren't trolls," replied the supposed troll.
"Sure they were," came the response. "Big, green, hairy and stinky with horns. Seems like a match to me."
The redhead joined in. "Now, with the exception of the horns part, do you really think that Kylar here fits that description you just gave? He's not green. I'm willing to bet that the so called trolls you faced were dressed like Viking rejects weren't they?"
"Well, yeah. But so what, he has horns, so did they!"
"But notice, Kylar is dressed in modern, not archaic clothes. And other than needing a shave and a shower, he is far cleaner than what you faced. What you faced were demons, which have been given the convenient label of troll, when in fact they are not the real thing. A real troll is not green nor inherently odorous."
"Well, unless they just had some bad hurlg," said the guy with the glasses, with a grin. "Then they'll turn green and puke all over the place, but Kylar hasn't done that in years."
"That's cause nobody even MAKES hurlg anymore," said Kylar, sounding somewhat reminiscent.
Buffy turned to her Watcher, looking like a petulant child. "But Giles! You told me they were trolls."
"Well, yes I did. However that is technically a convenient grouping for several races of demons."
"None of which are actual trolls," said the big guy.
"Ok fine, you're a troll. They weren't. Who cares?" Buffy was edging closer to the weapon's chest. "Now, tell me this, is there any reason why I shouldn't deal with you like I dealt with those trolls that weren't really trolls?" she asked as her hand closed around the handle of a mace.
"Actually, I have a reason for you," said Harlequinn as he stood from the steps and moved towards one of Giles' chairs. "You see, they're here to help train you for what's ahead."
The door to the apartment swung open again. The Scooby Gang turned as one to see who, or what, was going to intrude next. All were pleasantly relieved to see it was only Oz.
The guitarist took in the entire scene before him, noting that Buffy was armed and there was an extremely imposing figure brushing the ceiling with its horns. "Sorry I'm late. There was a big truck double parked." He turned to the troll, looking him up and down, then added, "Your lights are on."
Kylar chuckled, and thanked Oz for telling him. The room once again fell into a tense silence.
Xander raised his hand. "Excuse me, did you say they were going to be training us?"
Harlequinn nodded as Oz took his seat next to Willow. "These are the friends I mentioned to you last time we met. They are old hands in this fight. Allow me to make the introductions. The big guy is Kylar, who, as we have already established, is a troll. The lady is Sonja and the odd one is called Terral, both humans by the way. The three of them made quite a name for themselves in days long past. And, as a favor to me, they have agreed to train you, to help you take your place in the opening battles of this cycle of the war. Do you all agree to this training, to stand firm in the tasks that are set before you and take on the task with all you can offer?"
Xander and Faith nodded after a moment of silent communication, followed by Willow and Oz, then finally Giles and Buffy. The elf took a deep breath, and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, all joviality and humor was gone, as was the flippant elf. In his place stood a seasoned veteran of hundreds of campaigns and countless battles. When he spoke, it was with an accent from a language which had faded from the living memory of mankind long before the currently recorded history began.
"There is a long tradition among my people. When a young person had heard their calling, the elders of the clan would set before them tasks to be completed, in order to prove their dedication and commitment to face the trials and tribulations which would stand in their way along the Path. Spirits of ancestors long past and descendants still to be, I ask you to bear witness to what happens here today and spread word through the Netherworlds that a new generation has taken the first steps on the Paths. The Paths are arduous and difficult for even the strongest of Name Givers, but those who walk the Paths no matter the cost, no matter the peril, are amongst the honored whose legend shall be remembered, and their Names spoken with the reverence they deserve.
"In the case today, we have a group waiting to continue their Journey. They did not have Elders who had walked the Paths before them, although they have had an mentor who taught and aided them the best he could. We honor him for his efforts and shall help him in his aid of these young ones. They have begun the Journey, so the initial trials on the Path have been met and surpassed. Their worthiness has been shown by the lives they have led and the lives they have saved.
"I call upon the Passions to watch their Journey. I call upon the Elements to sustain them. I call upon the Spirits to hear them and I call upon these six to step forward now." All six awkwardly shuffled into a line, not quite sure of themselves. "Each of you shall walk the Path you shall chose. Each of you shall face your own trials and each of you shall face yourselves. The journey shall be long and you may stumble and fall along the way. I call upon you to help each other and help yourselves, least all of you fail. If any of you have any reservations, please step back now." No one moved.
"Excellent. Now, as was done to teach the young before shall be done again.
"I, Har'lea'quinn, last of the Knights of the Crying Spire, born of Shosara in ages long gone, do call for teachers and mentors for those who stand at this crossroads. I shall mentor their mentor, teach him what has been forgotten. I call for teachers for the Ones known as Willow Rosenburg, Alexander Harris and Daniel Ozbourne. Are their any present who shall take the training of this next generation as their task and prepare them for the hardships ahead?"
Sonja glanced at both Kylar and Terral, who moved behind her.
"Sir Knight, there are present those who would receive this task. I, Sonja of the Rockshorn Moot, Leader of the Circle of Light, pledge myself and my companions present to the training of the three you bring before us."
"This thing I ask, cannot be forced. Do you do so of your own volition, not to satisfy a debt or to curry favor."
"We do this thing because they are worthy and if the Circle of Light does not step up to such a task, there are none else to do it."
"Very well. Shall your companions take up their tasks as you have pledges?"
"We shall," came the dual reply.
"Then so it is said, so it shall be. Their quest shall be lead by your light. Your knowledge shall guide their steps." The three bowed, while the Scooby gang looked dazed. "Present today are two Slayers. Both of you step forward. You have been taught by Sir Giles, who has done more than could ever be hoped for by one of his position, but in the battles ahead, that knowledge shall not be enough. You have both shown you have the innate gift which makes a great warrior. But there is much you have yet to learn, much you have to be taught." The elf pulled out a saucer sized coin of some strange metal and laid it on the ground between himself and the Slayers. "Spirits of the Dead. I call for the First. I call for she who lit the way in the darkness. I have two of the line of Slayer who need taught by she who was the prime of their calling. I call upon the spirit of Katrina." The air over the disk rippled and a shadowy form could be seen.
"Why have I been summoned from my slumber?"
"Honored spirit, I call upon thee to help thine daughters walk the Path you charted in years long ago. The talents you had have been lost to the passage of time. But they are needed again, less the darkness prevail. By the power of your True Name, I plead of thee this service."
The spirit looked almost amused. "The line has been sundered? Then it is time once more for the true power and nature of the Slayer to walk once more. I shall grant you this boon Sir Knight, but as always there is a cost. The beast which slew my mortal form still roams the darkness. For my spirit to know peace, it must be slain. Do these Slayers agree to allow me that rest?"
Harlequinn looked at Faith and Buffy. "You must answer this. It is a task for you, not I."
Both the Slayers paused. They realized that they were being asked to kill a creature which had survived a very long time. And in supernatural terms, old meant strong.
Faith answered first. She agreed to do her best to kill it and set Katrina's spirit to rest once her training was completed. Buffy agreed to help within a second of Faith finishing her sentence.
"Then I shall train them in the ways of the Slayer."
Harlequinn smiled. "And so the next steps have been taken. They shall not be easy, but they shall be done. Let all who stood witness today spread the word, new feet tread the Paths, and the Darkness shall be pushed back!"
With that, he clapped his hands and feeling of completion filled the room and all those within it.
"Welcome to the next level," said Harlequin. I advise you to all get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow you start to train." He handed a card to each of the Slayerettes, then turned and left the room, followed by Kylar, Sonja and Terral.
As soon as the door closed, the Scooby Gang all collapsed in chairs and on the couch, looking like deer in the headlights of an oncoming truck.
Xander broke the heavy silence. "Umm, I probably should have asked this before, but what exactly did we just agree to?"
The unknowing silence was all the answer any of them had.
END CHAPTER 16