Adding the Disclaimer:

No, I don't own Slayers.

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chapter 4: trial and error

Danver decided it was wisest not to express his feelings in front of every warrior from their town. They might get the impression that their leader wasn't trustworthy. Or they might think he was soft. No, he'd definitely shut up about it. Holy Goldens, he didn't even trust himself right now! It was more logic to think that the half-mazoku had played some kind of trick on his mind.

His silence would result in one hell of a headache for Valgaav when he next woke up. Not that it'd matter. On top of the pain he felt from the battle, a little headache wouldn't make a huge difference.

Danver was dragged away from his thoughts when a fellow magician came walking next to him. It was a fairly young lady, dressed in a wide robe with way too many pockets for Dan to count. A healer.

She looked at him, and then at his arm. He looked at her, and then at his arm, too. Slowly, her eyes attracted his gaze. He lifted his head a little so he could look into her beautiful, shining iridescent green eyes.

She frowned.

'What's wrong? I just came to check up on you.'

'Oh!...' He blushed. Great. Such things always had to happen to him.

'Well, if you're OK now, let me take a look at your wrist, then. I think...' she slightly paused

'...you rather want this to be healed before we get back to the city. I wouldn't want our leader to get into trouble.' She gently took his hand and began casting a spell over it. Relieved, Danver felt the pain ebbing away. When the healer was done, she looked at him with a serious expression on her face.

'Now, what was that all about back there? Just pulling of heroics or was it something else?'

Danver looked at the ground, reluctant to tell, blushing at the directness of the question.

'Oh never mind.'

He looked up in surprise. 'Y-...You don't want to know?'

'No. I'm sorry for asking. That was rude, I'm usually not like that. I guess he' – she nodded her head in Valgaav's direction- 'has a strange effect on all of us. I know most of the other mages in town, and they're all acting weird, even me. And then the way the Destroyer was just lying there...I thought he was dead. It confuses me. I'm getting this feeling that, well, forgive me for being silly, that he doesn't deserve the punishment the elders have planned for him. That someone else has punished him already...' she stopped.

'L-sama, hear me babbling!' now it was her turn to blush.

'I gotta go see if there are others hurt! See you, bye!' And off she was.

Danver could've sworn he heard her muttering under her breath. Something like 'Oh my god I'm turning into a heretic...'

He sighed.

'You're not the only one...'

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Finally, they arrived at their town's gates. To avoid the mob that had formed behind them, Danver and the carriers would take the back door, two miles to the east. When the gates opened to let the other warriors and magicians in, they were almost crushed by the agitated bloodthirsty crowd, completely armed with stakes and rocks. This was exactly what they had expected. The people who were sworn pacifists would go rabid when their religion's nemesis was about to enter their town. They were worried about their safety, and they were filled with the need for vengeance. Danver sent the carriers off to the back door and observed the scene.

His squad told the mob that they'd have to wait just a little longer; Valgaav was captured and would be brought in a little later. The mob bought it. Good. Danver could see the female healer from earlier running around between her mates and the people, trying to stay calm in the mess. Now that he looked closer, he noticed that his whole squad was close to a nervous breakdown. Well, after this was over, he'd take them to the inn and get drunk. Seriously drunk. The Golden would forgive them.

He turned around and rushed to catch up with the carriers. Valgaav hadn't budged an inch, and it seemed that his tormentors had stopped hurting him on purpose. They now carried him off the ground, and they both didn't say a word.

When they finally reached the 'back door' the elders were already waiting. In total silence, they gestured to their own carriers, and without a word, they relieved Danver's two friends from their burden. Danver received a curt nod from the mare, but he himself felt too depressed to nod back. The mare looked a bit taken aback by this lack of response, but when he saw that the two carriers didn't look any better, he smiled.

'It's OK. You can go home now. You and your team will be rewarded for your trouble. Have your healers taken care of the wounded?'

This time, Danver nodded. He decided not to mention that he was the only 'wounded'.

'Well, have a nice day then. From here on, we'll take care of the heretic, he'll get the punishment he deserves. We've been preparing this for ages. Don't worry.'

Danver hesitated a little, but finally turned around to leave. When he glanced behind him, he could see the hatred and the uncharacteristic bloodlust in his leaders' eyes. It worried him, it gave him this strange gut-feeling of dread, but he didn't know why. Well, maybe he did...

'He'll get the punishment he deserves. Don't worry.' That was exactly what he was worried about. He hadn't forgotten his prior feelings.

'Hey Dan, how are we going to get inside the town now?' one of the carriers interrupted his thoughts. 'I mean, the whole mob is waiting there…'

Danver muttered a curse. He had completely forgotten about that! 'Aw hell, I'll figure out something before we get there.'

He didn't forget about Valgaav but right now, he ha more urgent matters on his mind. Like not being ripped apart upon arrival by an angry crowd of people who are yearning for revenge. His enemy 'd just have to deal with his current situation. Wait a sec...that didn't sound right. It sounded like he hoped that Valgaav would be all right. Damn, this is confusing!

Annoyed, he banned every thought of Valgaav out of his head.

It wasn't like he owed the bastard anything, for Golden's sake! Who cares if he gets hurt, or whether or not he deserves his punishment. No! Why was he questioning that again!

Danver let out a snarl in frustration. His comrades looked at him, a bit frightened when they saw their grumpy, fuming friend.

'Oh, don't give me that look. I'm just having a bad day, that's all. Let's find a way to get inside and then go get a drink, okay?'

The two carriers nodded in agreement. Soon, they had forgotten about Valgaav. He'd come and haunt their thoughts later, but now, they were free from him. Even Danver, the one who could be kind-hearted enough to forgive him his sins.

He'd have to survive this alone.

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Next chapter: Valgaav torture.

I'll try to save him the worst pain, he IS my muse after all; but I can't deny that he's done some reeeeeeaaaaaly bad stuff in the past.

Can't blame him either, poor chap.

I guess I'm just a sadist.