The forest was quiet...too quiet...and it had Bryan on edge. He should have heard the creatures of the night roaming around, but he heard nothing. There were no wolf cries or cricket chirps. There was nothing but an unending silence and that screamed danger. Bryan sat beside the fire sharpening one of his knives as Ray slept soundly on the other side of the fire. The neko-jin must have had no instincts at all to sleep so soundly when something was so obviously wrong. Then again, Bryan had years of training from the best merc the country had ever seen and that went a long way to keep him on his toes. But most of all he sensed that what was out there was not so unfamiliar.

Bryan knew he was being observed and was sharpening his knife to give an impression of obliviousness. In reality he was completely aware and in tune with his surroundings. The knife was out to give him a quick weapon should someone attack. His sword was close by and could be pulled quickly, but he was a skilled fighter and didn't necessarily need a weapon to kill. He was hoping it wouldn't come to that, but if needed he wouldn't hesitate.

Then something moved in the corner of his vision. Bryan stilled his movement, but kept the façade of being completely relaxed. He slid his knife into its sheath and pulled one of his longer daggers to clean. It wasn't dirty, in fact it gave the impression that it had never been used. But that was a false impression as it was his favorite dagger and had seen him out of a few sticky situations. It was the dagger that his mentor, Jata, had given to him when he turned thirteen. It had been more like a short sword then and some might have viewed it as a gift one shouldn't give a kid, but Bryan had always had an affinity for sharp things and as an apprentice to a merc he had needed a weapon.

The dagger was simple. The blade was six inches long and had a narrow taper and full tang making it very strong and durable. The handle was made to fit snuggly in the hand and provided excellent grip. It had no jewels or decorations, yet to Bryan it was beautiful.

There was movement again and on instinct Bryan leapt to his feet while simultaneously swinging the dagger in a wide arc. Nothing was there. Still, Bryan sensed there was something out there. He knew his instincts weren't wrong and his temper flared. Someone was messing with him and he didn't like it. Then a gentle wind brought a scent to him that made his hair stand on end. It was an ice-wielder who had been tainted by shadow. It was someone who was probably after the Eye of Drigger. But how did they know that Ray was carrying it? Someone had to have tipped off the Shadow Masters.

He sensed movement behind him and spun quickly with the dagger outstretched. This time there was a clang of metal on metal and Bryan got a brief look at his attacker. The person was clothed in all black including a head piece that kept the identity of the person unknown. Sharp, icy blue eyes were all that Bryan could see and he thought there was something vaguely familiar about them. There was no time to think about it though as he focused on the fight. His attacker was swift and well trained, but the fighting style was one he knew well and he matched the warrior move for move.

A blast of ice to the face caught Bryan off guard and as he threw his hands up to clear it away he was kicked solidly in the chest. The blow knocked him onto his back, but he rolled instantly and heard a blade dig into the dirt. He kicked out at the space where his attacker was and felt a small thrill of satisfaction as his steel-toed boot connected. Bryan flipped to his feet and dove for his sword, which he pulled from its sheath with record speed. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his opponent lunge with a sword and swung around to knock the weapon aside.

"Wha's goin on?" Bryan heard Ray's groggy voice.

The sudden voice drew his opponent's attention for a split second. It was all the time Bryan needed. With alarming speed Bryan tackled the intruder and knocked the sword away. He placed the tip of his own sword to the exposed throat and fixed his piercing glare onto the wide arctic eyes staring up at him. With one hand holding the sword in place he reached out with the other one and pulled the headpiece away to see who his attacker was. Vibrant red hair and a startlingly familiar face were revealed. Bryan's breath caught in his throat and he stared stupidly at the man pinned below him.

"Tala…?" Bryan whispered. He could hardly believe it. For a moment he forgot that this man had been trying to kill him just moments ago as he felt joy for the first time in years. His long lost best friend wasn't so lost anymore. But the subzero glare he was still receiving brought his heart back to the reality that Tala was trying to kill him. "What's happened to you Tala?"

As he expected he received no answer. Bryan debated about what to do when a muffled shout from behind him caught his attention. In a swift move he slammed the hilt of his sword against Tala's temple and knocked the young man out. He then spun while simultaneously pulling one of his throwing knives from the inside of his cloak. The knife never left his hand. Instead he was faced with the second surprise of the night, though this one was not as welcome. He matched the fiery crimson glare with the same intensity and hate being generated by the other.

"Kai." Bryan snarled with a death threat laced in that simple word.

Bryan took in the situation. His once friend and now nemesis, Kai, had Ray captive. One well toned arm was wrapped under the neko-jin's armpit and around the chest to grip the opposite shoulder while Kai's other hand held a knife to Ray's throat. There was no immediate action Bryan could take that wouldn't get Ray killed. He knew Kai was every bit as skilled as he was having been Jata's other apprentice.

"I bet you're enjoying this Kai. Stabbing me in the back like this." Bryan said icily. He hoped to get his rival going to lose concentration.

"You can only stab friends in the back." Kai replied with calm venom.

Oh that hurt. They hadn't been friends since Jata's death-the death being the reason-but hearing Kai say it hurt more than Bryan wanted to admit. He didn't let on though, his icy composure never cracked.

"What do you want Kai?" Bryan asked. He knew the answer of course. Kai was after the same thing as Tala-the Eye of Drigger.

"I think you know what I want. Unfortunately for you I have it." Kai replied. The hand on Ray's shoulder moved to the neko-jin's neck and fingered the simple chain that was connected to the most sought after item in the country.

Bryan's eyes flickered to meet Ray's frightened gaze. The neko-jin was understandably terrified and that struck a cord of protectiveness deep inside. It wasn't a feeling he was used to but it didn't seem completely out of place.

"You don't have what you want yet. You still have to get away." Bryan said, hoping to spark Kai's arrogance.

"Oh? You won't risk the little cat's life will you?" Kai's tone was cold, but Bryan could hear the confidence in it. Overconfidence Kai.

"Will you risk your own?" Bryan retorted. "You kill him and I'll kill you. You leave with him and I'll hunt you down and then kill you."

"You assume too much."

Bryan let a little smirk twitch his lips. "Do I?"

"You assume you have what it takes to kill me."

"If I remember correctly the last time we saw each other you were left pinned to a tree with one of my daggers." Bryan sneered. As an afterthought he added, "I want that dagger back by the way."

"Sold it for the little bit it was worth."

Bryan's temper flared briefly. "I loved that dagger."

"You put it through my shoulder." Kai replied with a shrug.

Ray was caught between them wondering what in the powers of Naraki he had gotten himself into. He tried to catch Bryan's eyes again, giving the merc the most desperate look he could. In return Bryan gave him a long meaningful look, but Ray didn't catch the message. The second look he was given was one of intense exasperation. As the two rivals continued to make biting remarks to one another Ray finally started to catch on. Bryan was distracting Kai so that Ray could make some kind of escape attempt.

Ray hesitated only briefly. He had some combat training and had been taught how to get out of the hold he was in. In theory anyway. Gathering courage from the confidence Bryan had in his ability to take advantage of the distraction, Ray acted. With cat like speed he elbowed Kai in the stomach, stomped on his foot, backhanded him in the nose, and then as a finisher brought his fist down with as much force as he could into Kai's groin. The merc released Ray and the neko-jin darted away while Bryan lunged forward. With strength augmented by anger, Bryan knocked Kai out with a single powerful blow to the temple.

"Help me pack up." Bryan ordered as soon as he was sure that both Tala and Kai were down for the count.

Silently and quickly Ray and Bryan packed up everything from the camp and for once Ray didn't object to riding the horse. They took off like a shot leaving the camp behind them in seconds. Before long Bryan felt the unmistakable pressure of a neko-jin sleeping against his back and smile just slightly. Maybe he could get used to having the cat around.

vvvv

Four hours later they broke out of the forest, but only Bryan was awake to see it. The wall around the city of Koya was simple, but effective. Town guards were stationed all along it and at the only gate into the city there were defenses against siege. It wasn't the biggest city or even the most spectacular, but it did have the reputation of being a rough-n-tumble place where peace minded people dared not tread. He was of course a welcome guest. The town guards recognized him easily and didn't even question about his sleeping charge. They usually just turned a blind eye to his activities.

Upon entering the city Bryan wasn't surprised to find it quiet and calm. A few lanterns burned along the streets, but few citizens were out and about. Bryan kept a close eye on those who were out, but everyone in the city knew who he was and not to mess with him. Koya was his safe haven where he could always go if there was trouble. The citizens owed him for finding a rare root that the city healer had needed to combat a plague that had threatened the entire population. They had all been saved because of him and for that reason anything and everything he needed was provided for free and the whole city watched his back. There was no place he felt safer.

Bryan went directly to the Roving Dragon Inn. The stable boy instantly recognized him and promised the best treatment for his horse. Bryan had no doubts about that and was not required to pay the boy, but he gave the kid a gold coin just the same. Waking Ray, Bryan had the neko-jin help him carry a few things as they headed inside. The building was warm and welcoming and the innkeeper grinned at the sight of his favorite guest.

"Welcome back Mr. Falcon."

"Got a room with two beds, Mr. Wilson?" Bryan asked, too tired for pleasantries.

Mr. Wilson was used to Bryan's gruffness by now and wasn't even fazed by it. "Sure thing." He turned to a cabinet that housed the keys to the rooms and grabbed a set. Turning back to Bryan he handed them over. "Make sure to get up in time for breakfast, Oliver will be disappointed if he doesn't get to cook for you."

Bryan didn't reply, simply took the key and led Ray away. They walked in complete silence up the stairs and down the hall to the room designated by the key. Ray was expecting a sparsely decorated room with two small beds and little else. He was therefore completely blown away when Bryan opened the door to reveal the most elaborate suite he had ever seen. There were two full sized beds, a separate bathing room, and a full closet. There was also a table and desk as well as a dresser. Bryan didn't even bat an eye at it as he began to disarm himself, laying each weapon on the table as he went. Ray watched him for a moment, still surprised by the amount of weaponry the merc carried, before shrugging it off and preparing himself for bed as well.

Within moments both tired travelers were stripped to their underclothes and in bed. Ray was asleep almost instantly, but Bryan couldn't sleep. His mind kept going over the two massive shocks he had received. Tala and Kai both in the same night? Kai was no real surprise, though Bryan did wonder how he found out that Ray had the Eye. However, Bryan hadn't seen Tala in three years when at the age of sixteen they had left the Ice Temple for Asiah and the Tournament of Champions. After they had both been knocked out of the competition they had left to return to the temple with their meager winnings, but they had been attacked. Bryan was left for dead and he never knew what happened to Tala.

Tala. He remembered wistfully how close they had been. It made his heart constrict as he thought of the hate filled look Tala had given him only hours ago. What's happened to you old friend?