Usual disclaimers yet again apply. Suikoden, the characters and places and suchlike, belong to Konami. The new characters, Andrew, Elaine and Avara, are technically mine since I have permission to use them.
---
Andrew's Story - Chapter Eleven, Elaine's Story - Chapter Eight & Avara's Story - Chapter Three
Plan's Gone Wrong...
(Location – Muse/Highland Border)
---
"Halt. No-one is allowed past the border, on order of Lady Anabelle of Muse."
Jowy was well prepared for this, "Jess should have informed you of our arrival."
The guard nodded and quickly opened the gate. Jowy smiled as he led the others through the gate. The guard stood at the entrance to a forest path.
"Take this path to get to the Highland camp. Good luck to you all."
The guard resumed his post at the border gate. Jowy turned back to face everyone.
"Now, we'll all head in there, but only myself and Riou are going into the camp."
Nanami looked a bit dismayed, but only said, "Wow, we're really spies now...it's so romantic."
Avara, who had remained pretty quiet throughout the walk here, rolled his eyes, "It's so boring. Enough talk, let's go already."
Nanami and Avara looked at each other spitefully, only stopping to catch up with the others - who had walked ahead already. Andrew and Elaine walked ahead of everybody, Riou, Jowy and Nanami behind them and Avara just behind. It was a lovely place to walk around. It was pretty peaceful, considering they were heading into enemy territory.
Andrew and Elaine chatted animatedly, while Riou and Jowy had a sense of determination about them. Avara stayed quiet, and Nanami just ignored him.
Andrew brushed some leaves out of his hair, "So, Highland territory. You okay being here?"
Elaine looked at the treasure hunter, "A little nervous...I can't imagine they'd be too happy to see me."
Andrew nodded, recalling the events at the White Deer Inn, "Well, they won't do anything to you while we're all here."
Elaine eased up a bit, "Yeah...Riou and Jowy are so brave going into that camp...I couldn't do it."
Andrew patted her on the shoulder, hoping it came across as comforting, "It's nothing to be ashamed of."
He was a little surprised when Elaine placed her hand on his, "Thanks."
Elaine walked a little further ahead; leaving Andrew a little bit confused. He shrugged it off and walked on. Elaine couldn't help remembering her dreams...she turned back around to face Andrew.
"You don't suppose Rowd is there do you?"
Andrew shrugged, "Couldn't say. It's not like he has the balls to do anything anyway."
Elaine managed a smile, before turning back and walking along. He makes me feel so at ease...he's a good friend.
"We got company."
Everybody turned around to face Avara, who was pointing his staff at some nearby bushes. It didn't take long for the group to break out their weapons. Just in time, as a gang of Armadillion approached.
Elaine looked sideways at Avara, "Fine time to start speaking."
Avara didn't look at her, "Shut up and fight already."
Andrew angrily turned to face Avara, "Be nice to the lady."
Elaine felt a blush form on her otherwise pale skin. Oooh...he called me a lady. How strangely sweet.
Avara didn't bother responding, as the group of Armadillion approached.
Nanami pointed to the odd looking one in the middle of the group, "Aw...that one's kinda cute."
Avara didn't look at her, "The cute ones tend to be the most dangerous, you'd do well to remember that."
Nanami gave Avara a dirty look, but didn't respond.
Elaine jumped forward, twisting in mid-air and landing right behind one of the Armadillion. She wasted no time, and brought her knife out and slashed it's throat. It crumpled to the ground as Elaine kicked the one behind her, and she jumped away again. And as she jumped, Andrew charged forward, catching the one Elaine kicked with a mighty blow from his sword. It never stood a chance, and it joined its dead brother on the ground. Riou and Nanami looked at each other, nodded, and then charged another one together. They struck it with a series of almost identical moves, which was enough to put it down for the count. Avara took a step back before raising his Right Hand, he looked one of the remaining Armadillion in the eyes. The Armadillion never saw the Bolt of Wrath crash into it, another victim of the ThunderShot Rune. Jowy then summoned the Black Sword Rune's power to finish off another Armadillion. The Piercing One spell ripped through the monster, and obliterated it.
Which just left the strange looking one. Not an Armadillion, but an Armadilloid. It whimpered as it looked at the six people who had destroyed his gang of Armadillion, and it did the only thing it could do.
It ran away...or at least it tried to. But as it turned its back on the group, Avara summoned another Bolt of Wrath to strike it down.
Nanami turned to face Avara afterwards, "That was unnecessarily cruel you know..."
Elaine also turned to Avara, "Yeah, and not very subtle either. What if someone saw that big flashy bolt thingy?"
Avara shrugged, "Then they'd be next in line for the big flashy bolt thingy."
Avara walked on ahead with the others as Andrew restrained a very pissed off Elaine, "Let me at him! Annoying bastard."
Andrew sighed, "Now who's causing all the commotion?"
Elaine stopped, "Well....ah. Damn. Heh...got me there..."
Andrew grinned as he walked after the others. Elaine couldn't help grinning either as she ran to catch everybody up.
---
They had halted outside the Highland camp, in a little concealed clearing. Jowy and Riou were changing into the Youth Brigade uniforms, the others had turned away to let them.
"It's a good thing Kahri's not here to see this." Elaine said, letting out a small giggle.
Andrew, however, looked utterly confused, "What ARE you talking about?"
Elaine looked at Andrew, and she scratched her forehead, "Um...you don't know?"
Andrew shook his head, and Elaine let out another small giggle, "I can't believe you don't know."
Andrew now looked exasperated at Elaine's mind game, "Don't know WHAT?!?"
But before Elaine could answer his question, Riou and Jowy had returned in the Youth Brigade Uniforms.
"Well, don't you two look handsome." Elaine said sweetly. Or as sweetly as an ex-assassin could say something.
Nanami looked really concerned by this point, "Please be careful! I...oh go on already, I'm just upsetting you."
They both said they would be careful as they entered the Highland camp.
Andrew walked over to Nanami, "Don't worry. They'll be back before you know it."
Nanami nodded, "Yeah...they'll be fine. It's Riou and Jowy...they'll be okay."
And so they waited...
---
It was about half an hour later when anything happened. Nanami was now pacing nervously. Elaine and Andrew had sat under a tree to get out of the hot sunrays, and Avara just stood there silently. Avara's ears picked up the sounds before anyone else did. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the sounds...
"Princess Jillia might have taken pity on you two, but I shall not. You've caused enough trouble for me. Now I shall end this!" This voice was unfamiliar to Avara.
"No you won't Rowd." Avara recognised this voice as the boy with the staff, Joseph or something like that, "Riou, run back to the others, I'll take care of them for you."
"I'm not leaving you Jowy!"
Avara opened his eyes again and turned back to the others, "They're in trouble."
Nanami ran over to Avara and shook him by the shoulders, "What do you mean? How do you know?!?"
Then they all saw the symbol of the Black Sword Rune high in the air. Elaine and Andrew quickly got to their feet and ran towards the entrance of the Camp, only to be stopped by Riou running towards them.
Nanami ran over to him, "You're okay! But where's Jowy?!?"
Riou was breathing a little too hard, "He...said he'd catch up with us back at Muse. He's buying us some time."
Andrew unsheathed his sword, "We can't just leave him in there!"
But Elaine shook her head, "Be serious for a minute, there's five of us and hundreds of them! We have to trust Jowy this time."
Avara walked towards the opposite side of the clearing, "Well, we'd better move quickly. The guards are heading our way."
They wasted no time, as they began running back towards the border. Andrew took one look over his shoulder at the camp, and then he ran away with the others...
---
More madness back at Muse City next chapter.
