Kai Hiwatari: Course I remember! *waves a tonz* Glad you liked it, I love medieval fantasy too, I'm hoping it WILL be my best one! ^_~
RBMIfan: Thank you kindly. ^________^ Ever since I saw your name, it's been bugging, what does RBMI stand for???
Saffron: Sarcastic humor is THE best! There's actually a reason why he calls her that, you'll see, I'm blurting too much away. X_X Tala IS here, good or bad you ask? Read the chapter and find out, then tell me if you think it's good or bad, either way could work. XD Johnny's eyes…right…after your review, I actually went on my forum and asked the people there what color they think his eyes are, they all say lilac/amethyst/purple, so that's what I'm sticking with.
whisper*2*imaginary: A what? O_o It's okay, take deep breaths, don't you hate it when people say that to you? Then why am I saying it? XD Tala…*dances* Tala's an interesting edition to the fic!
Reicu: *pats on the shoulder* Don't strain, stay in bed. O_o Poor you, I hope you're feeling better and can talk, I hate having no voice, I MUST talk. *ahem* Anyways, yes, LOTR is ultra cool, and yes, total glompz and Legolas.
Yin: ^____^ Glad you agree! Carly's not exactly very polite, but she does take up to her duties. Tala's in, *winks* Word of warning, he's not what he seems to be…
bimbo_blonde: Oh yeah! Totally Johnny! XD Well, you won't find out why Flora knows Tala today. XD That will come later. But you will learn a great deal about Tala's personality and his ambitions. ~_^
Silver Swiftness: You know, every time I review your fic, it always shows up as an updated fic in review history when it's really not and then I don't know when the heck it's IS updated. X_X Ah well, I'll check regularly then. :P Thanx!
Spitfire-Zadien: You got my email right? Cuz I'm not mentioning it here. X_X It's all new and shiny? ^_^ I love reading love reviews, reminds me of myself, lol! Enrique IS cute, he's boyish cute. I'm trying to make Carly human, not exaggerate her skills beyond belief and still point out her faults. Johnny is hot, lol, there's many sides to him, lol! And Tala…oh Tala…take a took at him this chapter! ^_~
Cry of the red phoenix: ^____^ Every time you say it's like Inuyasha, I try to steer it away from there. XD *coughs* I do watch Inuyasha, but it's not supposed to have anything to do with it. *coughs again* But I can't say anything. *zips up mouth like a zipper*
dark-night-sky: Thank you!!!!! I will!
The Great Kuro Neko: Tala's in, he's…interesting to say the least in this chapter…*clamps hand over mouth* Ahhh, me going to blurt it all out soon! COMPLIMENT! ^_________^ Don't we all love those? I've never watched X-Men…lol, but I'm honoured! ^_^
Magical Soul: Impossible ships? Reminds me of the Titanic, lol! *turns on a spooky voice* Questions will be answered in time… *coughs and switches back to normal voice* Yes, it totally can't happen straight away, it'll be interesting! Yes, I've got tonz of homework, but thankfully I type fast when ideas bloom in my head. XD
¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤
Author's Note: XD I love all you reviewers, it's a great deal of encouragement!! So this chapter is up way before I intended it to be, I was actually aiming for a week and a half to get it up, but it turns out to be less than a week. So keep those reviews coming, then I can type faster! XD I've decided to add someone else to the fic, see if you can guess who it is! I might add other people as I develop the fic, I mean, obsessing over Kane as I am right now, I havea real urge to shove him into this fic.
Kane: *topples in* WHOA!!!! NOT YET!!!!! *jumps back out*
Hmph, guess he ain't ready yet, I might include him later if inspiration strikes and Ozuma and Kai too. If I do, what do you think about Ozuma/Mariam? I know I didn't like this pairing at first, but now I see the possibility! Guess who this young warrior is!! It's not that hard to guess, but still I give thumbs-up to those who do guess it, means you've been reading carefully! XD I would like to thank ChRiSTiZ for taking time to beta-read this chapter to make it as free of mistakes as possible! ^_~ This is a long chappie, hope you all enjoy it as much as I did writing it!
¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤
Chapter 5: Through Deceitful Eyes
Flora dropped the rest of what she was holding and ran to him, her eyes shining, "Tala, say something! Oh, I missed you so much!" She hugged him tightly.
Carly stole a quick glance at the red-haired warrior, watching as he cringed when Flora practically threw herself at him. //Man, what in the name of Hell is she doing? How is she sure that this is Tala? Even worse, how could she just THROW herself at him like that? Ugh. Well…it's not like I KNOW who this 'Tala' is, anyways…// From the perplexed look on the warrior's face and the stony way he reacted to Flora's outburst, Carly was quite sure that this guy had absolutely no clue who Flora was.
The young man smiled rather reluctantly and spoke with more certainty than his face showed, "It's good to see you again Flora."
That surprised Carly as she surveyed the warrior with narrowed eyes. She was almost certain that this guy didn't know Flora anymore than the people knew what laid in the depths of Hell. But, he was talking to her. Not wanting to jump to conclusions, she decided to test things a bit. "You – know each other?"
"Carly!" Flora said in disbelief, "Don't tell me that you don't remember what I told you about Tala??"
Carly's grimace matched the cringe on the man's face, //How could I forget…?// She turned to the man, "You – know her?"
The man hesitated and slowly nodded, "I suppose."
"Suppose?"
"Well, yes I do," the man answered with much more certainty, "My name is Tala Ivanvov and as I said before, I'm a wandering knight."
"So you are Tala?" Carly asked in a pointed voice, it was just way too crazy, and she didn't believe for a second that this was the man that Flora had been talking about all her life.
"Carly," Flora hissed, "Why are you doing this? It's Tala, okay? I'm sure it's Tala, I'd recognize him anywhere!"
Carly winced again, now she was just obsessing, not the greatest sign in the world. "Forgive me Flora, but I assure you that I must treat all newcomers in a similar fashion. Tala…may I call you Tala, or would you prefer Lord or Sir before your name?"
Tala shook his head, "My name is fine, princess, do forgive me, I seemed to have momentarily forgot my manners –"
"Don't bother, just call me Carly," Carly said dismissively. She didn't like the look in Tala's crystal clear blue eyes, he seemed…false. //What do I do with this guy? He seems like he's up to something…but Flora's so wrapped up with him that it isn't very funny! If I state my suspicions now, then he'll know I suspect him if he IS indeed up to no good. No…it's better to let him think that I have no doubts towards him, that way, I'll be ready when he lets his guard down. I can sense another sinister force…// "Anyways, Tala, you should've stated that you were Flora's friend the moment you entered Ithildin, then you wouldn't have to go through this whole disarming process. Flora is very well-respected in Ithildin."
Flora suddenly withdrew, sadness brimming in her silver eyes.
Tala smiled again, this time Carly was sure it was false, "I'm sure she is, but I didn't think I'd be meeting up with her so soon, best to not cause a riot and just follow the authority, that way no one will suspect me of anything."
//Too late…// Carly thought dryly. She didn't like this guy one bit and she trusted him as much as a mouse would trust a lion. "Forgive this little questionnaire I'm constructing over here, you can never be too careful these days. What did you say that your business here was again?"
"I didn't," Tala replied, "I'm merely passing through now. I have journeyed quite a way to speak to the king of Ithildin."
"Then I fear that wherever you come from receives news awfully slow," Carly said, trying not to sound as if she disliked him, "My father died a year ago and since then, life has been hell."
"My apologies princess, I did not mean to upset you," Tala said with a slight bow, "Would it be possible for me to stay a while? It's been a long while since I've stopped at a kingdom."
"Of course you can!" Flora said rather excitedly before Carly could even reply, "I'll show you to a room Tala! We have so much catching-up to do!"
Carly thought Tala had winced again but he merely nodded and followed the overly excited girl up the tower. //Exactly what I needed…more trouble. I don't think that now would be the greatest time to tell Flora to keep her guard up…that is, if she hasn't completely destroyed her guard at the sight of this Tala Ivanvov. I must speak to Enrique about this.//
¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤
"There," Enrique carefully bandaged Aquana's shoulder wound securely, smiling into her aqua eyes, "Do you feel better?"
"Yes, thank you so much," Aquana said, smiling and blushing as well, "I'm healing faster than I had expected. But…" She clutched the material of the garments she was wearing, "Where will I go after I am well again? I cannot return to Lanthir, yet I cannot stay here and be a bother."
"You can stay here," Enrique said sternly, "I don't think Carly's going to send you anywhere." He took her hand in his, "I don't want you to worry about that now, just concentrate on getting well again, that's what is most important." Hazel eyes gazed deep into turquoise ones, new warmth floating between them.
"All of a sudden Enrique, you have become a healer," a sarcastic voice said in the background.
Enrique and Aquana both jumped and Enrique quickly dropped the girl's hand, turning beet red at the sight of Carly leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. "C-Carly, how long were you there?"
"Long enough," Carly said with a brief snicker, "I would comment more, but now is not the time to be courting young women!"
Aquana giggled, hiding her own blush as Enrique blushed even harder.
"I have two things to ask, first of all, do you have any idea what Pelekta yassen runya means?" Carly questioned, "You know, that cursed flame attack that the Nonda`Kanoste used."
"How would I know?" Enrique replied, "I can't even say it without twisting my tongue up. It's not any language I've ever heard of, unless it's…no…it can't be…"
"Can't be what?"
"Nothing," Enrique said lightly with a small smile, "Forget that it ever crossed my mind."
"It's so familiar though, this tongue," Carly said repeating the words, "Pelekta yassen runya…but I just can't remember. I feel like I've known this language."
"That's impossible princess," Enrique said, looking slightly anxious now, "You've never learnt any other languages."
"Very well," Carly said, sighing, "I shall let it go for now. But the more important thing is that we have a guest – someone named Tala Ivanvov."
"Tala?" Enrique said in a hushed voice, "You can't mean the Tala that Flora had told us all about years ago?"
"Apparently Flora is convinced that it IS Tala," Carly said in an exasperated voice, "So she's totally all over him. I do not believe for one second that it IS this Tala. There's something extremely suspicious about this knight, and he is dangerous as well. When he first arrived, he was armed with a star mace and various daggers and knives. If you had seen this guy, you would know that he has no clue who Flora is! I want you to be very careful while he's here Enrique, extremely alert, be aware of his movements and tell me of anything suspicious."
Aquana blinked at both of them, looking confused, "Am I supposed to know something here?"
"Carly, about Aquana…" Enrique started hurriedly.
"Don't worry Enrique, you know I wouldn't just kick her out onto the streets," Carly said, sounding a bit irritated, "Aquana, if you wish, I'd be happy to let you stay here for as long as you wish."
"Really?" Aquana squealed, her eyes shining like sapphires, "You mean it?? Oh thank you so much Carly! And you too Enrique!"
Carly sweatdropped and grimaced when Aquana flung her arms around the blond boy and hugged him tightly in excitement. Enrique immediately blushed, but he was grinning as well. Carly waited patiently for Aquana to calm down and started speaking again, "I think we should move you to a permanent room –" And casting a sideways look at Enrique, she added hastily, "Some distance away from him even though we're in the same facility. Our rooms are in the Eastern Tower, I'll find you a place there. When you get better, I would like to test your sorcery powers."
"Oh," Aquana said, nodding even though there was reluctance in her eyes.
"Carly," Enrique protested, "She's still injured and she just lost her home in Lanthir, can't you go a little easy on the training part? She needs time to recover."
"You are right, of course," Carly said with an apologetic smile at Aquana, "Yes, I tend to rush things, forgive me, but take your time to recover, stress only tends to worsen things. The Nonda`Kanoste isn't going to wait for time to rot by, he'll be back again…soon…I have to be ready."
¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤
"Knight, Daeloth would like to see you," an ugly Orc guard snarled, poking Johnny unpleasantly with his spear, "On with it, you fool!"
The Nonda`Kanoste snorted and flicked away the Orc's weapon with a brief flick of his axe, "Leave me alone."
"You best obey the wishes of Daeloth," the Orc growled, his voice sounding like nails scratching on a chalkboard, "He is not pleased with your progress."
Johnny was lying on the cold, stone floor and spat at the Orc in insult, "Get out of my face before I'm forced to bring my axe into this discussion. If Daeloth wants to see me, he can get off his lazy legs and come here, otherwise he can rot in Hell for all I care." He smirked in silent satisfaction when the Orc scurried off, no doubt he was going to get an earful from Daeloth. First, for his pathetic failure against the princess again and second, for the impudence he had shown a few minutes ago. //The girl can fight, she can attack…she killed one of my best guards…// Johnny was so angry that the glass he was holding shattered in his hands. Johnny growled, trying to keep his anger under control as the fragments of glass sprinkled down his gauntlet-covered hand. //You stupid girl, you are going to pay so bad Tariena. I should have just killed her when she was injured today…there's something about her…something different…//
"And your excuse this time is…?" a silky voice inquired.
Johnny didn't even look up, he just lay on the ground with his arms behind his head in a lazy fashion, "You finally got on your royal legs huh?"
"You had better have a good excuse," Daeloth warned, "I warn you knight, my patience is growing thin, I will not tolerate this failure any longer."
Johnny lazily opened one eye, catching sight of the previous Orc sniggering behind Daeloth and made a mental note to deal with him later, "Now tell me Daeloth, what would be the fun of taking the Imperium Gem straight away? I want to terrorize Ithildin, weaken its moral bit by bit until even the princess will be on her knees before me."
"And you really think you can do that?" Daeloth inquire, raising one bony hand to gesture with, his eyes glowing dark red, "After the princess single-handedly slew your best soldier?"
"Soldiers can be replaced," Johnny said flatly, "Leave the princess to me. I'll strike you a deal, let me terrorize Ithildin five times, and as proof that I was truly threatening the kingdom, name five items you wish for me to bring back. That way, I'll have my fun and you'll know that something is being done."
"Very well knight, your first task would be to bring the golden goblet from the Ithildin church tower," Daeloth said silky. He was staring at Johnny, unmoving, as if he had been expecting a request of the similar fashion.
"The golden goblet?"
"Yes…is that a difficulty?" Daeloth asked slyly as a slithering figure slowly coiled itself around him.
Johnny wrinkled his nose in disgust, he didn't mind snakes, but he didn't exactly love them either. And right now a gigantic six-foot cobra was slyly coiling itself around Daeloth, "Of course not, I just thought that you would've had enough of gold by now, it's not like you don't already have enough."
"No gold is enough," Daeloth hissed, lovingly stroking the cobra's head, "And the golden goblet designates the moral of the Ithildin church, if that is taken, surely the moral of Ithilian people will drop a few notches. And besides, without the golden goblet, their sacred ceremonies are at an end."
"Consider it done then," Johnny said, propping up and briskly clasping on his chest plate, tightening his mail armor, "I'll be back by midnight." Daeloth nodded silently in response and glided away with his cobra slithering after him. The Orc that had reported Johnny was scampering right after Daeloth. Johnny reached out his axe and slowly hooked the Orc back in, "Leaving so soon?"
"I-I have o-other d-duties…" the Orc stammered, his ugly face now curled in fright.
"Well, now that's too bad," Johnny said with a wicked sneer, his eyes glittering maliciously, "I'm sure you can be replaced."
"B-but Daeloth c-commanded me t-to…"
"We're going to have a little chat," Johnny continued smoothly, enjoying the way the Orc was quivering like a leaf in the wind.
"But I-I…p-please don't h-hurt me…I-I was just f-following orders…" the Orc stuttered.
Johnny raised his axe and brought it down swiftly, there was a strangled gasp and the sound of crushing bones. A moment later Johnny was stepping over the silenced carcass, leaving only the sound of trickling blood.
¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤
Tala warily looked around the room where Flora had dropped him off. The girl had been squabbling nonsense for the last half an hour and with a lot of effort, Tala had finally managed to convince her that he was exhausted and that they could converse later. //What a relief…finally I can get away from her…man…she must be insane. I wonder what the hell she was gabbing about, I've never met her before in my life! But still…if pretending to know her will help me get what I want, I'll do it.// Tala scowled when he reached down to find that his tool belt was gone, then he remembered that the princess had ordered for his knives and daggers to be taken away for security purposes. No matter to him, he could use Flora to get them back. Dropping his mace on the ground, he snickered as he stared out the window. People could be so naïve, so trusting, so gullible and easy to fool.
The door opened again and Flora came in with a tray, "Here Tala, I thought that you might be hungry. Well, in case you are, here's some food."
Tala smiled charmingly, his blue eyes sparkling with false sincerity, "Thank you Flora. I'm very lucky I ran into you."
"Don't thank me," Flora said, "I'm so glad you came back, I missed you so much!"
Tala cringed slightly on the inside, how he hated it when she said that, talking to him like they were long lost friends or something. He forced another smile, it was highly uncomfortable, when she was looking at him like she was expecting the same answer from him. Tala couldn't bring himself to say the obvious 'I missed you too,' so instead he said, "It's good to be back. Flora…could I ask a favor…?"
"Sure, what is it?" Flora asked energetically.
"My knives and daggers that I brought along, I just don't feel complete without them. Could you see to getting them back for me? I won't use them here unless I have to," Tala said.
"Oh, sure, I'll ask Carly to give them back to you," Flora said enthusiastically.
"No, not her," Tala said, a bit too abruptly. He knew the princess would never fall for an obvious request like that. He didn't know how he knew, but he had a feeling that it wasn't going to be as easy to get around the princess as it was wrapping up this Flora girl. He didn't want to admit that the little dagger demonstration that Carly had performed in front of him earlier had alerted several warning bells in his head. He quickly swallowed his words, "Sorry for the outburst, could you just fetch them for me and I'll tell the princess later myself."
"Oh okay," Flora said, nodding, "If you need anything else, just ask me. I'll see you later! Get some rest, you must be exhausted." She hurried away.
Tala almost laughed out loud as he slipped by the window overlooking Ithildin, his turquoise eyes sparkling spitefully, //People are so trusting, it's almost pitiful. Pity for Ithildin…it won't be standing for much longer if I have something to say about it. Once the Imperium Gem is mine, I'll trade it in for something of greater value to me. There is naught but one great Potions Master in this universe, the one and only Daeloth. His skills for creating potions are legend and incredible. Others who claim the title of Potions Master have no skill to match him, since only he can create the Potion of Lost Souls. Once the Imperium Gem is in my grasp, I will seek out Daeloth and make him an offer he can't refuse…//
¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤
The sunset was glorious as usual, the beautifully enriched colors streaking like water color paints across the sky. Not long after that, when there was nothing but darkness in the sky to show that night had struck; a young warrior was approaching the Ithildin gates, sweat trickling down his face. Reaching up one gauntlet covered arm to wipe his forehead, his navy-grayish eyes glowed with weariness. //Finally…Ithildin…I'm hoping that Lord Tala did stop by this place, I don't have much strength to carry on much further.// Tensing up because it was dark and the slightest noise made him whirl about in wary, the young man strained to hear the incoming noise. Finally targeting where exactly this sound of trampling hoof beats was coming from, he looked up, squinting in the darkness. To his shock, he saw dozens of soldiers riding on black horses, heading fast to the Ithildin gates. Shifting his navy eyes to the rider in the front, he didn't recognize the knight, but was sure that he was not dropping by for tea. With a gasp, the young man swept his maroon-colored hair out of his eyes and dashed off as fast as he could to Ithildin.
¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤ ~ * ~ ¤
Let me know your thoughts, opinions, everything! What do you think of Johnny's actions and Tala's? I'll give you a small hint, Enrique dropped a little foreshadow when they were talking about the words Carly didn't understand. Review, review, review! All good things come in review packages! XD