Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Escaflowne or the Slayers.
Chapter 1
Toy Soldiers- 300 Years Later -
~ Lateni Borders ~
- Abyss Main Deck -
Several young men stood on the deck, a few elfin half-breeds and pures, six among them human, including their leader and Strategos. Each young man stood proudly, stern faced and obedient, almost all of them. The six humans were all dull eared, but beautiful young men, their Strategos with sapphire hair and their silver haired patron Master Dilandau Albatou standing out the most. Chesta Akilion was the blonde with the bowl cut hairstyle, looking utterly cherubic for a Dragon Slayer elder, he stood by Hiero Vendetta, the sapphire haired Strategos closely along with Dilandau. The others stood by the older elder, Gatti Maateo, Lord Dilandau's second in command, his silvery blonde hair short and shimming in the light of the double moons of Gaia.
Beside him was Val Schezar, Dilandau's cousin and trusted dragon tamer. His hair was aqua in color, very light. It was held up in black leather strap, the hair up in three soft spikes, the rest hung around the back of his head neatly like knight's helm. His stunning golden eyes were like those of dragons, but not as alarming at Hiero's demon slits of sapphire and jade. There had been rumors that he was another cousin of Dilandau's, but it was squashed and slapped out of anyone that considered it.
Then there was Migel Lavariel, a rather proud Slayer, but most of them were. He was simply stubborn, all be it intelligent and an excellent fighter. He was always training the others and those up and coming in the line of being Dragon Slayers. Dragon Slayers were rare, mostly boys who were orphaned or sold into slavery. Hiero Vendetta had a knack for locating lost children, Dilandau stressing that only males would due. Dilandau had no hope for female Dragon Slayers, not for the stereotypical fact he once held that women were weak. He didn't believe it that much anymore in watching the all female race of the Artemis Kingdom, their entire armed forced and dragon riders were females.
"Male, female, what does it matter? Fighting one or the other doesn't matter, they all bleed and scream." Dilandau had commented fondly years ago. The only reason he did not want women among his Slayers as comrades was he didn't trust his men's hormones to control themselves. Females on their side or let to stay among them would only cause problems. Killing them all off in Artemis would do nicely for him, as they would all soon see. The Abyss was taking them to Lateni, a kingdom of male and females. The kingdom of Artemis, superior in their fighting skills, for females, was too much for the Lateni forces. It was evident enough, the kingdom had sent numerous pages out to spread word to other kingdoms that they were in need of military aid.
Dilandau had been more than eager for a fight, the ears of Gaia were running very thin. Hiero had offered nothing against it. His visions had not been up to par since his wife had vanished. Hiero couldn't concentrate as well, he was quite unstable, as much as Lord Dilandau. Hurting people seemed to make him feel better. He'd taken to eating raw meals, bothering more people than normal, and indifferently harming opponents. Dilandau thought it was wonderful progress.
The other boys knew little of it, they hadn't been born when Hiero's wife vanished. This group of new Dragon Slayers didn't know their elders were over 1,000 years old. Dilandau had decided that the knowledge of their age should die out more or less. Hiero's spells kept them ignorant even when outsiders spoke of it.
Hiero may have gone insane ten times over, but he was not stupid and he was most loyal to Dilandau. Hiero even slept in the same room, on Dilandau's plush couch, as their patron. He refused to sleep in his own room anymore, too many fond memories of his beautiful wife were breaking his heart by just being there. He didn't want to stay with Val, more so since Val was quite popular with the ladies.
~
Dilandau cast his garnet eyes upon his newest Dragon Slayers. He was pleased with this generation, most of them anyway. There were a few who were too big for their britches, their egos doing thus. He looked at two in particular who had great egos and would bully the others in hopes of being seen as tough and perfect Slayer material, what they believed was perfection in Slayers. Hiero named them nearly all of them, first and last names, though occasionally Chesta was with him to help. Hiero treated Chesta like a baby brother, as opposed to the brotherly love he felt for Val and Dilandau himself.
He smirked at the tall platinum blonde Slayer, Link Dwyer, the boy's icy blue eyes watching the castle in the distance grow larger. Link was very, very vain, so much he put Dilandau's own vanity to shame. He was very prissy and stuck up, but Dilandau always put the little snot in his place. Link only valued himself and looked down upon the other for not being as handsome and learned with the ladies as he was. For a grunt, he had a lot of balls to think himself better than the others.
The one beside him was slightly better, Grego Trostel, but a bully. His hair and eyes were dark brown, just like his heart, which was refreshing. Dilandau liked a Slayer with edge, with feral intent on those in his path, but he was too proud of himself. He went too quickly into battle and made too much noise, he was poor at surprise attacks. That was why he was restricted to training alongside Gatti with the other grunts. He had ruined one too many dragon hunts during training runs.
He was easily made jealous of others, especially those Dilandau or Hiero seemed to favor over him. He, oddly enough, hung around the younger grunts, like Reese and Rao. To Dilandau, Reese Scarobos was an upstart. Hiero took the boy in for only one reason, Reese was his only descendent left in Gaia. The boy had nearly been drowned a month after birth of an Artemis warrior. It was the law of the Artemis kingdom that male born children were to be cast into the river. Only females were allowed. Hiero got the majority of up and coming Dragon Slayers by rescuing the drowning babes from their overzealous mothers.
Reese was a beautiful boy with cyan hair and eyes, though didn't resemble Hiero. He looked more like Gatti with spiky hair and Chesta's adorable face, but there was a sparkle in his eyes of mischief. Naturally, Reese was Hiero's great grandson, but Hiero told the boy he was his father's twin brother. It convinced Reese at an early age that his Uncle Hiero could do no wrong or tell a lie. Reese was far too trusting of his elders, save for Dilandau himself. Reese was loyal, but he knew the boy spoke poorly of him behind his back.
Rao Olita was a rather withdrawn young grunt with short red hair, always slicked back, his green eyes contrasting with them, keen and quick. He had a few cherry freckles on his cheeks, but nothing to be considered gross. He was an excellent shot, a sharp shooter in training and surpassing most of his predecessors and his trainer Migel. He had a bit of big mouth when playing cards, but was mostly quiet and serious. He also had a lingering hate of women, mostly those of Artmeis. He claimed that in this war he would be let loose upon those bitches, their generals and finest soldiers and enjoy it.
Hiero had softened his hate in telling him about his wife. Rao said he'd never date the horrid woman of the east. He'd prefer the human women really compared to elfin females. Rao was a full-blooded elf, as were Grego and Trova, the rest being half-breeds, a race of mistakes. Dilandau found that stupid, but he wasn't in charge. He never wanted to be in charge of a continent, it was too much stupidity. He was content with fighting forever.
Trova Bolero was another admirer of Hiero's ways, in how Hiero constantly took hits meant for the new Slayers and talked back to Dilandau as if he had no fear of beatings. Trova reminded Dilandau of Gatti, the boy always made a stern, defiant look on his face after being struck. He disliked Dilandau a lot because he hated being struck for sharing slight opinions and showing some wisdom. He reported to Hiero most often due to liking him and out of spite, resulting in more hitting. Dilandau didn't like Hiero being an upstart, but it was his way, and Hiero was a good enough fighter and friend to let it slide sometimes. Trova was the spy, wonderful at scouting perimeters and infiltrating the enemy. One would not know it to look at the young man, he was a full blooded elf, with more delicate features than that of Grego and Rao, almost feminine with his shoulder length violet hair kept in a neat ponytail, his similar eyes shining gently on everything and everyone.
Even his voice was soft, but he was terribly strong and fast despite his looks. Hiero teased him a little sometimes about being so, but in good form. He even allowed Trova to tease back. They talked on occasion, even of what girl's Trova was attracted to in passing. He never spoke ill of Dilandau, he was a very loyal Slayer and Reese's best friend. The spy and the young alchemist always seemed to get along swimmingly. They needed other people to help in repairs of Abyss and the machines that still worked and Trova and Reese did their best at that.
They worked with another half elf, Blake Ritcher, a brunette with frosty blonde streaks in his hair. He was more or less mute, a boy from the slave pits Hiero came across when the boy's master tried to accost Blake. His father had dumped him in the streets for being too obviously human, murdering the boy's mother later on. Hiero got revenge for the child and castrated the man. Blake was more or less too traumatized to speak again after being in the pits since age two to age seven. Hiero kept him and Reese closest early on, training him to be a mechanic, saying it would be less stressful for such a disturbed boy.
Dilandau didn't care, he didn't want Blake in battle, even if he was seriously loyal. He spoke only when spoken to and never questioned orders. He loved to work with the machines and repair work, and that kept him content. He was a decent fight at least on a dragon, so he wasn't a complete waste of flesh.
Then there was the one Dilandau took most of his frustrations on because the boy stuttered and wasted time. Morse Reichert was truly the most innocent of the Slayers, quiet, conservative, and incredibly empathic. The hazel-eyed dirty blonde haired boy was very nervous. He wasn't the best at fighting, but he was very good dragon riding and delivering messages, so he was in charge of training the dragons with Val. He annoyed Dilandau because he was as meddling as Gatti and Chesta still were, always questioning his orders and actions, getting a well deserved slap, but kept at trying to ensure Dilandau safety.
Hiero never got in the way for Morse, even if the boy fell down as Chesta did, Hiero never interfered. He said it would toughen him up since Dilandau didn't scare Morse enough to stop worrying about his patron's well being and sanity, as Chesta and Gatti still had not learned against. He did defend Gatti and Chesta a lot, mostly Chesta.
'All in all, I have fine Dragon Slayers, even if not all of them are human. It matters little, so long as they fight and remain loyal to me. May Gaia help them if they cross me….' He thought passionately, eyeing Hiero slightly. He would frown, knowing most of the young Slayers felt loyalty to Hiero, but Hiero was solely loyal to Dilandau. Hiero was a truer friend than any of the other angels were. Hiero cared for him like a brother of pure blood, admired his ways and cared for his well being. He never said it as the others did. He said it more man to man, friend to friend, trusting and never repeating it to anyone. If there was anyone Dilandau trusted his life to more than himself, it was with Hiero.
"Lord Dilandau….we are over Lateni Palace. Should I stop the Abyss, sir?" Val sounded. Dilandau looked at his golden eyed cousin and nodded, then looked at the others. "Dragon Slayers, fall in." he barked. They all obeyed, in two perfect lines of six Slayers each. "Yes, Lord Dilandau." They chorused out together.
He scrutinized them a moment, his garnet eyes falling on innocent Morse. "Get to the hangar immediately and get the dragons ready to fly. We shall meet Lateni's rulers on their own ground and show them our superior might. Move out. Strategos! Schezar! You remain with me." He ordered, getting quick nods and immediate obedience. As soon as they were gone, Hiero pulled his hood over his head, a mild smile on his pale mouth, Val coming up beside him, his hair bobbing a bit.
"Let's go….they know better to wait for us to get to the hangar before leaving." Dilandau commented snidely, leading the way.
Val snickered as they walked on. "Far be it for little kids to upstage you. We might offend your ego again."
Slap!
Val staggered back with a stunned look of pain on his face, then his golden eyes flared at Dilandau for striking him. Hiero got between them, shoving Val back a bit. "Val-chan….you know better. Dilandau hates his ego being trampled. Easy as it is to rile him….you asked for it same as I did last week." Hiero tutted absently, his eyes hooded with shadow, only his mouth to be seen in the soft smile.
Val nodded a bit, but was still scowling. "Why do you always defend him?" Val sneered as they started walking again. "Someone has to….really. I don't want family fighting, is all. We're all cousins, let's try and not beat the shit out of each other just once, hmm? You can beat up Grego for saying he saw you watching Trova bathing and getting all hot over it."
Val growled louder. "That little bastard said that?"
"He laughed about it….the boy is far to arrogant, even for a good fighter. He needs therapy, as mother once said about Dilandau." Hiero lolled out.
Dilandau sneered a bit but didn't comment. Hitomi was dead, and it had been said about his former self. The past didn't matter, only the now did. Fighting for Lateni was all that mattered in the now, getting his war and carnage again. He smiled then, oh, how lovely the flames and blood would be this time, a war to end them all.
~ Lateni Palace ~
- Court of Pasquale Latenia -
Dilandau kept at the front of the group after they landed in the courtyard. They weren't expected until a few moments after the stealth engine was turned off, so Lateni was ill prepared to be rid of them. It was rather simple to knock over the guards who tried to stick them with swords and spears, not wanting 'their kind' in such a beautiful kingdom.
Dilandau and the Dragon Slayers made them regret that, most painfully. No one had been killed, but he knew they wished Dilandau had allowed it. None of them would walk again.
The halls of Lateni Palace were the same as most, tapestries, soldiers near nearly every large door, snotty nobles and skittish servants all about. The halls were all made of gray stone, the floors the same and lined with crimson carpets. He found it endearing.
"Dilandau, I hear the king is as vain and fat-headed as the queen of Artemis. A shock they never married….must be the feminist kick of hers. He holds a lot of fighting tournaments….its our ticket into this war. Win one of his silly contests and you'll be running his armies in no time." Hiero said softly behind him.
Dilandau nodded, returning in a bored tone," If we must, we must. War keeps changing, but there will always be destruction. Best this contests is quick or Lateni will be crowning the prince very soon. Their names again, Strategos? They are less familiar with us than we are with them. I want them looking foolish, not us."
Hiero chuckled softly, patting Dilandau's shoulder a moment. "The king is Pasquale Latenia, very greedy, stocky and ugly….the only thing he values more than himself are his treasure troves. He has two sons, Vincent and Jago, Vincent being the eldest. He has a an attraction to Princess Lacey of Artemis….hopeless romantic, but she turned him down….but he's still looking for a woman to wed. He is a touch more conservative than his younger brother, who's as loud and greedy as his father. Both boys have black hair and blue eyes, their father's hair is gray….he's very old." Hiero sounded out as they neared the throne room, stopping at the great doors.
Dilandau nodded at the guards that stood there, smirking when they refused to move. "Strategos….left." he announced to the puzzled elfin men. Before they could blink, Dilandau's sword sliced off the right guard's arm, Hiero doing the same to the guard on the left. They howled and fell over. Dilandau sighed playfully, putting his sword away as he pushed open the doors. "Strategos, watch our flank, then enter, understood. We have already disciplined plenty of Lateni's army….ensure that if more try to bother us again, the number climbs."
"Yes Dilandau." Hiero said softly.
"You call him Lord Dilandau, you ingrate!!" Link shot out. Hiero smiled blandly at the platinum haired Slayer's icy blue eyes flaring hatefully. Dilandau was not in the mood for ass kissing, so he slapped Link hard, so hard he sent him sprawling. "Silence, I did not say you could speak. Now, pick your sorry ass off the floor, Slayer Link, and follow the others. Move!" Dilandau growled, stalking off into the short hall to the actual throne area.
Link whimpered a bit, then growled a little, more at Hiero. Link hated Hiero, always saying Hiero was a terrible Slayer, a disgrace for not calling Dilandau by his title, for being a trickster, a wild card, insubordinate, not the ideal Dragon Slayer in Link's opinion. He always had something to say in Hiero's face about this, getting chuckled at or even ignored, which flared the boy's vanity all the more.
Dilandau didn't care so long as Link remained vigil in his fighting skills. He wouldn't have to be replaced if he kept himself strong. AS he walked, he hard Hiero chanting his Resurrection spell, and had to sneer. Hiero, as insane as he was, still had a caring heart. He'd reprimand him for saving the guards' lives later, right now, business needed attending.
~ Throne Room ~
The king sneered as the fourteen young men entered, humans before elves, the silver-haired Dilandau heading the pack. The old elf wanted to shout for his guards, but they were tracking in blood tracks and smelled of that and cinders. Dilandau's red eyes stopped the man's heart a moment. His sons stood on either side of him, young Jago counting his recent allowance to his left and Vincent stood diligently to his right, eyes bored and bothered. He wanted to just wed a good woman and that was it, he had no interest in war or profit. Jago, however, loved the thought of dominating and hurting girls and gaining their lands for money and power. It was shame the boy was only 50 years old and Vincent was ahead at 200 years.
Vincent was a hopeless romantic and had nearly run off as a child to join the Dragon Slayers to have an adventure, not the 'drab' royal life. The king worried about letting someone so innocent and loving on the throne. He had more pressing problems now, the Dragon Slayers in question.
"Your highness….we have come to offer our….services to your ailing country against the Artemis Kingdom." Dilandau Albatou stated perfectly. His voice was rather nice, it only matched his beauty, for a human dog. Most of the others, probably young orphans and former slaves from the looks of them, were of elfin heritage. He knew little of the Dragon Slayers himself, only that they were ruthless, the best fighters in Gaia, and from the western continent of Jotunheim, the land of the flight-retarded land dragons.
He found them quite pathetic, dragons that couldn't fly were like a king without money. Dilandau had royal grace to him, but arrogant. It could be played upon, everyone was with weakness, but why make it easy. The king smiled crudely, looking at his knights on opposite walls of the throne room. He had ten on each side, more than enough to kill these whelps, if they were just common braggarts.
"We do not approve of your kind here, human." He stated icily. Dilandau smiled, and it froze the king's blood cold. Such a cruel and seductive smile, like the devil had taken human form. He squirmed in his throne a bit, a few knights taking notice. They took a few steps forward, and no sooner had they moved, each Slayer had his sword out, even the platinum blonde who the bruised cheek. He was standing close to Dilandau as was another, one with dark brown hair and eyes. He was looking at the king directly, putting a bit too much anger into it.
'Anger is such a nasty habit. That can be used as well….oh this might prove interesting, but first, a bit of fun.' The king thought, waving his hand a bit. The knights backed off, back in their places, but the weapons of the young men never went down. They were all protecting Dilandau from any possible attack, and from the look on Dilandau's face, he was pleased and cynical about it. "Stand down, Dragon Slayers, but if just one knight proves he has poor manners, teach him a lesson." Dilandau said casually, stroking his scar affectionately.
"You didn't specify you had racist rules. The message was that any and all help was welcome….so what are you going to do about it, hmm?" Dilandau snickered, the door of the room sounding its close.
The king looked up a bit as a final figure came down the carpets, drenched in a black cloak. It was like a gothic nightmare had taken shape, its features all but hidden. He could see a fair elfin chin, chiseled perfectly and a smooth mouth. It didn't strike him as a man, perhaps it was a woman slayer. There were rumors that there was one, but no one had seen her. He couldn't see her hair, just the slender body hidden within the cloak. The thing looked very tightly wrapped about her like a death shroud, the hood obscuring the rest.
The figure stopped behind Dilandau, and let out a slender gloved hand, shoving the brunette away. The Slayer sneered at the figure, but obeyed. Dilandau had shot the Slayer a look as well, so that was probably it. The king smiled slightly, this was going to be a lot of fun.
He looked to Vincent, who seemed very in awe of the new person. "Might that be the female Slayer father?" he whispered to the king. The king nodded a bit. "We know no man with such a face, but we really don't know. It can't be a full elf male at that height, she's nearly as tall as Dilandau. We think it best that a contest should be held to see if they are worthy, yes." the king said quietly.
Vincent looked at him, a touch of awe still there. The boy admired too many people. Vincent would have to go once this war was over, but it would teach him to know his father could take things he wanted away in the blink of an eye.
"Very well then, General Albatou….but first a test of your skills. One of your Dragon Slayers by my choice….against ten of my best knights. Right here and now."
Dilandau nodded. "Agreed, but this best not be a waste of my time. Slayers, step forward to the king!" Dilandau ordered, all Dragon Slayers obeyed the second it came out of his mouth.
The king snickered, the cloaked one was still next to Dilandau, an amused smile on her lips. "We choose the cloaked one….bad form for you to not include her." the king said boastfully. A few of the Dragon Slayers paled, the humans and few of the elfin breeds. Dilandau looked to the figure, whose mouth seemed to freeze in humor. The woman was trying not to snicker. "Dilandau came back at the king with a smug smirk. "Are you sure? There is time to back out of this and keep your men alive, your highness." Dilandau said in a devil may care tone.
The king stood up, his belly rumbling a bit under his fine silk robes and gave a sneer with great authority. "We want the woman in black to fight. Do so or leave, coward." He rumbled. Dilandau stiffened, letting out a feral sneer, growling a bit.
Dilandau looked to the cloaked one and smile darkly. "No mercy…." He said crisply, then clapped his hands a bit," Dragon Slayers, fall back to the door. Kill anyone that interferes, even if they be one of our own. This is for the honor of all Dragon Slayers."
The young men obeyed and all stood in a row, making space for Dilandau as the cloaked one took to the center of the room, and dagger in hand. The mouth smiled a bit, rather like Dilandau. The king, this close, could almost see a scar on the left cheek, but it was faint in the shadowy embrace of the hood.
"My knights, attack!" the king roared, and in seconds, ten armor elves came rushing at the figure.
The king watched in anticipation of the woman being torn apart, to hear her screams, begging for mercy, but he didn't get it. He got blood in the face. Three knights reached her first and all she had done to ward them off was turn full circle with the odd dagger. The next thing he knew was that the first man was headless, the neck on the floor bleeding at the neck, and the third had his helmet knocked off. Seconds later, the dagger went through his face and the cloaked figure jammed her boot on the second's throat, crushing it to pieces.
The other knights faltered a bit at the gore the figure made. She was still moving, doing a sudden back flip and landing near the others. They blinked a bit and surround her, swords drawn. The king smiled, it was over.
He wanted to rub it in with Dilandau, but he smile froze, melting with fear as he saw the general's tell-tale smirk. Screams erupts as the Dragon Slayer leapt out of the circle of steel and armor, leaving the cloak behind on two of his knight's heads. They looked positively pathetic flailing around like poorly made ghosts, trying to fight their way out of the fabric.
His face paled as the Slayer landed dead in front of him, the jade eyes with sapphire dagger pupils staring into his soul. He barely heard Vincent gasp as he realized what an ass Dilandau had made out of him. Before him stood a tall, young man of angelic beauty, his head decked with short and silky looking sapphire hair. The bangs spiked a bit downward, cradling his face gently. Worst of all, he wore Dilandau smirk, giving his own cheek scar a single stroke.
The king feared the Dragon Slayer would take him down for thinking him a woman and for sending the guards after him. Time just seemed to stand still as the Slayer stared at him, his eyes shifting after what seemed like an eternity to Vincent. A drop of blood fell from the tip of the dagger as the smirk became an increasing vicious grin. In a breath, the Slayer back-flipped and stole a sword off one of the knights, slashing its owner into a wet, red pulp.
The knights remembered themselves as the blood showered upon them, all attacking at once, only to be cut down in mere minutes. Soon only one remained, cowering and trying to crawl away from the violent Slayer. The king stood up quickly, he had to stop his mistake. He couldn't be made fool so soon, or at all. This shouldn't have happened, the Dragon Slayers should have failed. Sadly, he knew he was a fool to them now, he'd been suckered, but he could still save one.
"Stop this! You win, I'm convinced. Call him off, Dilandau!"
"Lord….Dilandau." Dilandau purred out languidly, watching the Slayer tower over the cowering knight. The blade was at the man's throat, Dilandau watching this with great, sadistic interest. He rubbed his scar, his on the opposite side of the Slayer's. The young Dragon Slayer's psychotic expression terrified the king, even the scar upon the man's left cheek seemed to tick with anticipation. He looked up with his eyes, never moving his head an inch.
Dilandau smiled broadly and nodded. The king yelped as the sword came up, and the knight's head rolled across the room to shatter wetly on the wall, bone shards and brain matter swimming in the crimson rivers that it once was. He fell back in his chair as easily as the body slumped to the floor, pouring out its life at the Dragon Slayer's feet. "You said defeat all of them, you highness, to us, that means killing our opponents. We never fail to follow a challenge or a good order….next time you should be more specific. Am I right, Strategos Vendetta?" Dilandau smoothed out as the king shivered with fear and fury.
'Strategos? This is their strategist? A…..psychotic boy?!' the king thought wildly as his eyes went to the boy in question, who was putting his cloak back on. He kept his hood off, and smirked at the king and his sons. "Yes. Be careful with your orders, your highness….we are very, very serious with our profession. War….is very important." He stated in his velvety voice. The king's heart nearly melted at the sound, but he was too angry with the youth to consider the notion.
"U-understood…I will remember it in the future, since you'll now be serving Lateni in its time of need." He said as strongly as he could.
Vendetta and Dilandau just snickered in tune with each other, the Strategos standing beside his leader once more, proudly. "Yes, we played you silly waste of time, now it is time for the real games to begin. We will begin immediately in your war against Artemis….and try not to get in our way, your highness. It is not very smart to annoy me." Dilandau spouted with cold arrogance that froze the king's blood even more. The king managed a faint nod and gave a gesture of dismissal.
Dilandau nodded a bit and then left, his Slayer's all following second later. The one with platinum blonde hair was mutter obscenities about Vendetta being a disgraceful Slayer to show off so much, the brunette beside him agreeing, commenting slightly that Dilandau indulged the bastard too much.
The king waited until they were gone, and ordered his remaining knights to clean up their comrades from the floor. "It won't be long, Dilandau, before you regret coming here No one plays me for a fool, especially not some psychotic human." He growled out, both his sons watching him curiously. He didn't care what they heard, so long as this war didn't cost him more than he was willing to pay. The Dragon Slayers were here, but not humbled. He had time though, time enough to make this war turn out in his favor, not Dilandau's.
~ Two Years Later ~
- Artemis -
"I don't know why we are bothering anymore….the king never gives us good orders." Dilandau growled softly. Hiero looked at him, frowning slightly. "Yes….but like I said, my visions aren't up to par lately. He doesn't want me in the palace or he'll cut us loose. The man is arrogant enough to do so….kidnapping the youngest Artemis princess isn't so bad compared to all the boring missions he's sent us on."
Dilandau sneered a bit at the reminder. "His soldiers ruin most of the battles for us anyway….this time, its just the Dragon Slayers this time, thank Gaia. But I'd do this differently, Hiero….this is child's play. This is beneath us." Dilandau scowled.
Hiero sighed a bit, lightly, looking up at the sandstone colored palace of the female kingdom of Artemis. Lateni's was stone and gray, boring as all castles were, but this place had many towers joined to one another, like gargantuan sandcastles shaped like ivory towers. It was very smooth and well sculptured, like those of beauty were. It was also well guarded. Artemis had very well decorated generals, even if they dressed like the Amazons of his mother's home, the Mystic Moon. Most of the lesser soldiers wore such clothing, generals and others of great reputation and strength wore different attire.
They were great men haters, only using the men of Lateni and travelers as good breeding, then leaving them out to dry, even going so far as to drown their babies if the children were male. He hated them for this most of all, he hated a lot of people, but none as much as these women. It was good enough revenge for the orphans he took in as Dragon Slayers to hurt their tormenters, those who cast them away heartlessly.
Lateni wasn't any better. He knew the king was up to something, but his visions had suddenly left him when he needed them. After he lost Alessa to the dark pillar, they had been scatter shot in his brain. He only got bits and pieces now, nothing solid, just images. It was nothing really helpful anymore, unless his grief would leave him, which he strongly doubted would ever happen. Life was just so incomplete without his beloved Alessa, his one true love.
Still, he knew strategy and was highly intelligent in all things, especially the ways of war. Getting in would be no problem with his magic and their wings. The Dragon Slayers would distract the guards while he, Migel, Grego and Dilandau slipped into the young woman's room and stole her. Simple to the smallest detail. Their dragons were hidden a ways off, far enough away not to be noticed and close enough for everyone who was strong enough to escape. Nothing could go wrong.
'Then why do I have this nagging feeling something will?' he wondered.
'You worry too much, Hiero.' Dilandau thought back.
Hiero grimaced a bit. He was the same as Dilandau, not used to being in telepathic contact when close to another. He had his slip up with Val and others, but never had a stray thought to himself gotten out, until he and Dilandau became in synch. Hiero depended on Dilandau as much as Dilandau did with him. They were good friends, they understood the pain of loneliness, betrayal, loss of self, and the agony of being an outcast. Dilandau felt it secretly, he knew he was different and that hurt all the more. To take his pain out on others was the sole solution. Hiero's was to lash out as well, but also to close off his emotions, to stop feeling.
He simply looked at Dilandau and shrugged. "Its only natural. It's probably best that we left Reese, Morse and Trova to guard the base. Not that I'd trust the cook with watching the Abyss ever." Hiero stated quietly.
"True enough. Oh, that reminds me, we need a new cook." He drawled out.
Hiero frowned a bit. "Another one? What happened this time?" Hiero sighed in a bored tone.
Dilandau shrugged. "This one tried to poison us….Link caught him pouring Skyln venom into the wine. He killed him on the spot." Dilandau stated plainly.
Hiero nodded. He didn't bother to question if it were tested. To have a name for the venom was enough. Hiero would have survived it, but would have woken up annoyed and enraged, knowing full well his comrades flesh would have all fallen off and leaked out their blood. Skylns were very rare serpents that resided in the mountains, venomous, but not viscous unless attacked. The deathly gray-green slimy serpents were the deadliest creatures alive. If bitten, it would be a long painful death if the anti-venom were not injected within an hour after the bite.
Hiero had kept a few as pets to be applied to arrows for the sharpshooters, and the deaths were pleasantly gruesome, until one of their own suddenly became afflicted with the symptoms. He had snuck a swig of wine, which had been laced with the venom by their first cook. Dilandau killed the man when the poisoned young man told him what he had been doing prior to growing ill. The wine was tested, but too late for the young man to be saved, the tests weren't fast enough to tell what poison had been used. Hiero killed the boy quickly and painlessly as the flesh started to rot off and bleed, casting sleep spell upon him so he wouldn't feel a thing when he cut his head off.
After that, a new cook was assigned, but he mouthed off to Dilandau's picky tastes, and got a dagger in the throat for using his voice box improperly. The next three were lousy cooks, killed in Dilandau's rage for their stupidity, the next one and apparently their current one as well tried to poison them again. Dilandau always had a Slayer watching the cooks during meal preparation. Another one bit the blade for being as foolish as to think the Slayers would ever allow another of their group to die so horribly again.
Hiero was still bit worried about the mission, mostly since Grego was there. Grego was training to ascend from grunt status tonight to a high ranking Dragon Slayer. Dilandau believed in real life situations to be the perfect ways to weed out the weaklings. He felt Grego needed to be tested, since the young man was only good at beating up his own lately. If Grego was strong enough, he'd survive this, as Dilandau felt he would. Hiero was unsure, as strong as Grego was, he didn't think so well on his toes. He never thought for himself very well. Hiero only hoped he wouldn't screw this up.
Hiero turned back to the castle, his thoughts fading out as shouting began a ways off, men and women alike shouting war and death cries into the still night air. "Time to fly." Dilandau uttered, standing up as he pressed the button in his armor. Hiero did the same, as did Migel a ways behind them.
Dilandau and Hiero spread their six wings at the same time, red and sapphire dragon scales flashing in the moonlight and feathers of purest white and brown-laced twilight blue danced through the air. Grego gasped a bit, and Hiero nearly laughed at his oblivious response. His wings were no surprise to him anymore, to hear people gasp all the time was boring. Grego had to have heard rumors from villagers and passer-by's about the humans' wings. It was a tiche pathetic to Hiero. Wings weren't that big a damn deal, at least he didn't think so.
"Is everyone clear on their orders? If not, I'll kill you right now." Dilandau hissed, more at Grego than anyone else.
"No Lord Dilandau…..I know my orders. To guard the door and kill anyone that comes in." Grego said soundly. Dilandau nodded sharply and spread his wings all the way.
After Migel grabbed up Grego, they took to the sky quickly as the shouts became littered with steel clashing, the only shouts now the death cries of the Artemis women.
~ Princess Rheanna Artemisu's Chambers ~
Rheanna was having beautiful dreams of her ideal man, a tall dark and handsome elf on a wonderful pale white horse. He rode her into the sunset, the sky as red as a rose, or blood, running his supple and cool fingers through her shoulder length blonde hair. It seemed like she was still dreaming when she saw two red orbs staring at her, coolness along her throat like a breeze. Then it nipped at her, and warmth streamed down her neck. Only then did she realize she was awake, staring into the eyes straight from a fiery hell.
She stayed deathly quiet as the pale, red-eyed human held the dagger to her throat, a cruel smile playing upon his flawless lips. The scar on his right cheek practically screamed danger all the more to her frightened soul. Still, she could not manage to voice it, even as dark hands lifted her up, her quick eyes seeing two more humans. There was an elf a ways off by her shut door. He had dark hair and eyes and looked to be the angriest person alive. She didn't know whether to fear for herself or fear for the guards outside. He looked as if he'd ram through the wooden door any second just to kill.
The silver haired human wore blood red armor, his eyes never leaving hers once, feral and dangerous. The human to her left had brown hair and deep blue eyes and a very serious expression, focused on the one in red, but the one on the other side caught her attention all the more. He was simply too beautiful for a man, his eyes strange and hypnotic and sapphire hair that shimmered perfectly in the moonlight. He had sort of a sneaky grin on his face, also looking at the one in red. He had a scar on his left cheek, nearly similar to the one on their leader's, only a small scar lay upon the side of the bridge of his nose.
He was still fascinating to behold. If she weren't so scared, she might have asked his name or said something about his looks, but now was not the time.
"Lavariel….Vendetta….get the princess to the base. Grego….with ….Grego!" the one in red said in a harsh and hushed tone.
He seemed angry and alarmed, and she soon saw why. The Grego person, the lone elf, had pushed open her door to peek outside. He looked back at his leader the instant the words came out, but it was too late. Her door creaked and seconds later steel sounded outside and hollering.
"Dammit!" the leader growled. 'Do something….now!' her mind screamed, and she did the first thing that came to mind. She stomped on the brunette human's foot.
"IE!" he yelled in her ear, hopping away. The other human shoved her on the floor hard at the leader's feet. "Shimmata! Abort now. He's ruined everything." The blue haired human said harshly.
The strange word didn't translate for her, it was very alien. The human was glaring at Grego as the younger slayer was backing off from the door. "Argh, damn!" the brunette muttered, jumping out the window to her astonishment. "Tell the others to fall back, and take as many of those bitches with them as they can." The one in red shouted out the window, then Rheanna's door burst open, guards flooding into the room.
"It's a trap!" the sapphire haired one shouted, drawing his blade. The one in red growled, swiftly beheading two guards' head off. "There's going to hell to pay from the king. Sorry ladies, we don't have time to dance…." The one in red growled, slicing off another guard's arm. The woman fell to the floor wailing, holding the stump pitifully.
Rheanna backed away, ramming into the elf Dragon Slayer's leg. He struck her in the face with the back of his hand as the two humans were backing towards her window. "Grego, stop fooling around with that slut and get over here!" the one in red yelled, jumping out the window with an insane look of rage.
"Not without the Princess, Lord Dilandau!" Grego shouted, grabbing the young lady by her pale arm, tearing the sleeve of her nightgown in the process. Her arm was throbbing from how tightly he gripped her, his dark eyes full of rage as he put her in front of him. He started to force her towards the sapphire haired human, who was still fighting off the guards.
He would have made it, if he'd bothered to pay more attention to what was behind him as well as what was in front of him. She heard a sharp cracking sound, and then the Slayer's grip tightened a moment. A moment later he collapsed onto her, breathing softly, a warm trickle of blood gracing her cheek from his head wound.
She looked up at him a moment, seeing he was fully out, then to the human by the window. The sapphire one sliced three guards in half with a twist of his wrist, his sword screaming with crimson as his strange eyes fell upon her.
He looked gravely serious, to her then to Grego. "This doesn't end….until I say it does." He said softly, then leapt out the window in the blink of an eye. After a few moments, she saw only the sister moons of Gaia in her emerald eyes, her blonde hair absorbing what little blood was dribbling on her.
Then, at last, her mind gave in, and she fainted.
To Be Continued….
Teaser: Introducing the all powerful bad ass warrior Raven Ai, the perverted elder princess, and the secret behind the war….revised slightly.
