Chapter Fifty Four

Phalyssa felt tears spring from her eyes. "Aruka…Please, be okay…you have to be…" The silver haired young woman heard a noise behind her. Rising fluidly to her feet, she pivoted to glare at the figure, dichromatic eyes glowing dangerously.

It was the woman in the tiger armor. Phalyssa snarled wordlessly and advanced, drawing on the double weapon technique her mother had insisted she learn. Phalyssa had always complained, but now she was about to put those drills to good use.

The "tiger" woman seemed taken aback—something Phalyssa used to her advantage. She attacked, her thoughts cold and calculating, her anger frozen to ice.

Phalyssa's aim was not to kill—she'd had enough of that—she intended to force surrender, after rendering the woman helpless.

That didn't mean she was merciful or that the woman didn't fight back. Both soon sported minor cuts and colorful bruises. Phalyssa worked very systematically, her goal very clear. She cut the woman's armor off her one piece at a time, until only the full helm remained.

By this point, the dragon warrior had risen and joined his partner. Phalyssa removed him of his armor too, hands and feet dancing faster than most eyes could see. The Shadow warrior was putting every ounce of ability and knowledge to she had into this fight. For the first time, Phalyssa Kimsteed was fighting to her full potential; truly, she was a perfect blend of all of her parents' greatest strengths. Incredibly strong, lightning fast, she had a sharp focus, clear mind, and high intelligence; all of which she pushed to the limits of her endurance now. There was no doubt to anyone just who would win. It was all a matter of when.

With a vicious twist, Phalyssa knocked the man unconscious, disarming him effortlessly. With a sad smile, she turned to the tiger warrior, shattering her enemy's sword brutally.

The woman watched her in quiet shock. Phalyssa motioned to the ornate helm. "I win," she growled. "As victor, I demand to know my adversaries faces. Remove your helm."

The woman shook and glanced nervously at the crowd, all of which were watching anxiously. Phalyssa's voice came again, dangerously soft. "That was not a request. Do it." The tiger warrior gazed at Phalyssa's impassive face, marked by drying tears. With a nod, she acquiesced.

"The victory is indeed yours," she murmured thoughtfully, her voice distorted inside the helmet. Reaching up, she undid the clasps and removed it. Long black hair cascaded down her shoulders, and Phalyssa found herself meeting the liquid brown eyes of Xiera Lao.

"You!?" the quarter elf gasped. "What?!"

Xiera Lao nodded as the crowd broke into an uproar. The emperor was on his feet in his private box, screaming. Xiera winced, and, sighing heavily, she bent to remove her partner's helmet.

"Phalyssa, meet my brother, Xiao Long." Carefully, the young woman tapped her brother's forehead. "Wake up, idiot."

The silver haired teen didn't hear. Now that the battle had ended, her thoughts returned to Aruka. Fresh tears started, and Phalyssa hurried back towards his limp form.

Once again on the ground, she wrapped her arms around him as best she could, burying her face in his neck. Sobbing again, she felt warm breath on her cheek…

—Wait a second…Breath? He—He's alive!!— Phalyssa's tears became those of joy and she rose to inspect the wounds on his back. They were ugly and deep, but not deadly. He'd passed out from pain and exhaustion.

"Aruka, c'mon, wake up." Phalyssa roused him gently.

Xiera woke her brother, meanwhile, and spoke to him quietly in the native tongue. He nodded and turned as a contingent of the royal guards surrounded them all. The soldiers moved to attack the kneeling Phalyssa and unconscious Aruka.

Xiao Long barked an order. "Leave them!" he ordered. "I wish to see my father now!"

Xiera crossed her arms defiantly at the guards. They all murmured nervously, but sheathed their weapons. Xiera and Xiao nodded to the two winners before the guards led them out.

Phalyssa helped Aruka up, supporting most of his weight. She led the staggering Were towards the exit. The red head mewed curiously, "Who…were…they?"

Phalyssa shrugged. "Not quite sure. Now, let's get you to Mom."

They worked their way back to the camp, weary, aching, and wounded. Jea and Laguna rushed to take Aruka from their daughter and prop him up on the hay. Phalyssa collapsed carefully near him.

Jea, ever the vigilant healer, cast a large healing spell on the youth, closing the gaping sword wound and preventing infection. Pivoting, she gave her child a once over and mended the cracked ribs.

Phalyssa groaned in relief and crawled over to Aruka, finding Lupin asleep between them. With a smile she cuddled the puppy close and worked her way against Aruka's chest. In his sleep, the young Werelion drew her against him and held tight.

* * * * * *

Jea ran a hand through her mane of reddish brown hair, tucking a few strands behind her pointed ear. Laguna sat down next to her, reaching over to stroke her cheek.

"Hey," he murmured quietly. "You okay?"

The ranger smiled gratefully at him. "Yeah, I guess. I'm just worried."

"About what?" the knight queried.

"Ambermist and I devised an escape plan, but we can't seem to get a moment to escape. Everyday they work one or two of us to exhaustion—particularly the youngsters…"

Jea frowned. "I'm scared, Laguna. How long until one of them slips up and a stray sword ends their lives? I want to get out of here before that happens…" Her stress and worry over the last few days had caused dark circles to appear under her multicolored eyes.

Laguna put an arm around her and hugged her close to his warm body. "It'll be okay, Jea. I promise. Nothing will happen to Phalyssa—after all, she's her mother's daughter!"

He tipped the half elf's chin to look up at him. "Everything will work out in the end," he whispered in a velvet voice. "You have to keep faith. The our gods won't desert us."

Jea smiled tenderly at him, emotion shining in her eyes. "Oh, Laguna, what would I do without you? You always seem to know what to do or say in the worst of times to keep me up. I think that's why I fell in love with you in the first place…"

Laguna raised an eyebrow. "You mean you didn't fall for my gorgeous good looks?" he asked in mock arrogance, teasingly.

His wife snorted. "Yeah, right…What makes you think I'm that shallow, Pally-boy? I fell for my friend—not some good-looking, empty brained fop." She kissed him lightly. "I love you—for you…"

Laguna grinned, his blonde hair falling into his laughing blue eyes. "I know, Jea. I love you, too. I always will, no matter what. And that's why we'll get through this." He leaned down and kissed her, a soft gentle kiss, filled with warmth and still an underlying passion.

Jea deepened the kiss, embracing her husband tightly. His hand slowly found its way under the back of her shirt, lightly stoking her flesh.

A throat was cleared loudly, breaking the mood. Both ranger and paladin jerked apart quickly and looked to the source of the sound. Several guards were poised at the door. "Yes?" Jea demanded in annoyance.

One stepped forward. "You and your people must come with us."

Jea grunted and stood. Carefully, she woke her companions. "C'mon. Get up and get your stuff. Be ready for anything. Even escape." Phalyssa groaned in pain, but gathered her stuff together.

Ambermist chuckled maliciously and checked all of her blades, before rising heavily to her feet. Jea snuffed the fire and threw the supplies into the Bag of Holding. On the way out, Laguna led Arkadia and Lifeblood, and Aruka scooped Lupin up into his arms.