Shout Outs...
Maxmagnus20019: I had the James' separate lil' journey planned for a bit. Trust me, it's gonna be eventful.
Dragon Chyld: Things will get a tad weird later on...
During my last hour aboard the Eagle I was thinking of a couple new attacks I could use, once I had a chance to practice them. Auron's Tornado was a powerful move, but it had it's faults, it took awhile to power up, and it took a lot out of the guy using it. I had to supplement my arsenal with more balanced attacks. For now, however, I needed to worry about getting out of there. My plan was to get ahead to Kirlsa and hang out until Fayt and Cliff got there after Nel rescued their asses.
And to do that I had to get out of the Royal City of Airyglyph.
One cloaked figure looked about before gesturing for a second to follow. Both leapt off the crashed spacecraft, landing on to the ground, darting into an alley, all moon light blocked by cloud cover. They darted across the street to the next alley, before darting across another street into another alley. The first figure pulled the hood back to reveal a feminine face with a mane of blonde hair. "OK, we'll split up here. You sure you'll be fine James?"
James nodded pulling back his own hood. "No prob. I'll be on my way 'fore ya know it." James ran a hand through his hair, his trademark hat under his cloak.
"Roger. Be careful." Both pulled their hoods up before going their separate ways...
The city's walls were rather ingenious. The walls were only in the front, with mountains surrounding the rest of the city. Through in the fact the only way a land-based army could attack was over a bridge your only hope of taking this city in a siege was by air. And the only airborne army around, The Dragon Brigade, belonged to Airyglyph. The mountains looked too rough for an army to go over to assault the city.
Course, that didn't mean an individual couldn't traverse the mountains. Course I had to do it in the darkness of the night...
Grunting slightly as he pulled himself up on the ledge James took a moment to rest before discarding his cloak. Placing his hat back on his head he double-checked the rigging on his back. Once he was sure it was secure he stepped to the edge, looking down the sheer cliff he was on. After a moment to gather himself he took a few steps back before running forward and leaping off the cliff, pulling a cord that deployed a parachute...
Yeah, I was going paragliding... in winter... off a mountain...
Maybe I am a tad crazy... It sure was cold up there, to be sure, but no one could doubt that I was covering a ton of ground this way. Looking down, seeing the soft snow cover the land... It was peaceful...
A disguise of this land's true state...
I sailed like this for over an hour, maybe more, I forget. Unlike back on Hyda however it was a soft landing, placing me about a half hour outside of Kirlsa.
I undid my rigging and hid it behind a few rocks, making sure it was out of sight. Then I went into town.
Walking around Kirlsa James noticed a sign for the Iron Stomach, a tavern. Smiling a bit he stepped inside. He tilted his hat down as he entered peering about. Seeing a table in a far corner he strode over to it, sitting down he crossed his arms on the table, waiting for a waitress. Instead a polite cough sounded near him. James turned his head and looked at the person, a woman who looked to be in her thirties with long black hair tied back in a braid. "Is this seat taken good sir?"
"Naw, I ain't waitin' for no one." She smiled softly and sat down.
"So stranger, what is your name?"
"Me? I'm James."
"And I am Lisandra... May I ask a question?" James raised an eyebrow as he looked at her.
"Do I have to answer?"
"If you don't wish too. Did you come here from Airyglyph?" She asked leaning forward on the table. James simply nodded. "Perhaps... farther?"
This woman knew something. I knew she was trying to drag some info out of me, but I knew where I was. I was still on Airyglyph turf, and I knew if Vox and his boys found out I was from the big metal thing that slammed into their city I would be in deep trouble. For now, I thought it would be best to act dumb and stay cool.
"What do you mean 'farther'?"
She leaned in closer, speaking in a far softer voice. "Perhaps far, far to the east."
"How far is that?" James replied, leaning in and speaking as soft as the person across from him.
"Say as far as Greeton."
"Now where did you get that idea?"
"Have you heard of that thing that hit the Royal City?" Seeing James nod she continued. "I think you came from it."
"And where did you get that idea?"
"An... acquaintance of mine sent word via carrier bird. She was... admiring the technology that must have built the thing when she saw two people run from it. Later she saw a figure jump from a cliff and sprout strange wings from his back."
A carrier bird? How fast is this freaking bird? Well, obviously faster than a paraglider...
What they say is true though, news travels faster than you do.
"Well, let's say I ran into this... person who leapt from a cliff and sprouted strange wings..." James said, leaning in closer. "What would you have me tell him or her?"
"Simple." The woman said looking about briefly before facing him again. "Airyglyph will be after that person. And even if no one else saw whomever it was fly off they must have appointed their own sentries to hide and keep watch. This person will be in danger of capture as long as he remains within this country. I would have you... plead with this person to flee to Aquaria immediately."
So much for hanging out here... And as per usual I haven't come up with a plan B yet.
Well, now was as good a time as any.
"And which way would I send this person?"
"The east gate to the Kirlsa Hills is guarded, but they have not yet received word of any other occupants of the thing other than the two caught. Surely if this person hurries... he can make it out safely."
"Is that so?" James pulled some Fol from his pocket and placed it on the table. "Well, it's best you buy yourself a drink... I think I'll find this... Person and have a chat with him." He nodded as he stood up, the woman nodding in return.
"Yes, if you would please."
I spent enough time to get a couple extra supplies and a dark coloured tent. I apparently got to the store just before it was about to close.
As my new 'friend' had said the gate was guarded, but the guard in question didn't stop someone who looked like a mere traveler. I left for the hills and marched onwards a good two miles before deciding to make camp.
My campsite of choice was an area surrounded by rocks on all but one side, and that one side faced away from the main road to Arias. I pitched my tent up, rolled out a bed wrap and ate some beef jerky and drank some water. I didn't make a fire, not much wood around, and the smoke might have drawn some unwanted attention. After all Kirlsa was the home of Count Woltar, and more importantly his Strom Brigade. With no back up to speak of I wanted to avoid any unneeded confrontations. I curled up inside my wrap, bared the cold, and slept the night away, visions of crimson and scent of jasmine in my dreams...
"Hey, it's all frozen over." Cliff yelled out as he looked over the aqueducts.
"What did you expect? It is winter in Airyglyph you know. Didn't you see the snow falling outside?" Replied a red haired woman who answered to the name of Nel Zelpher. She kept a watchful eye on both her new companions, her mission, sizing them both up in case she had to fight either one of them or both if the unexpected need arose. She knew both of them were put off by her blunt offer of 'help me or die' but she didn't see any other choice to assure their cooperation.
"Good point." Cliff admitted as Nel smiled cheekily at him.
"Careful. You're no good to us if you fall in the water and freeze to death."
Fayt sighed as he shook his head. "As James would say, 'And she's so bloody cheerful about it too...'"
Nel gave Fayt an amused sideways glance, mentally filing that name away. Just in case this 'James' came up again.
It had to have been close to midnight by the time I fell asleep. Maybe later, maybe earlier... I really don't know. My watch said 2:37PM. Damned Space Lag... DAMN YOU I SAY!
Anyways, I don't know when exactly Fayt and crew got to Kirlsa, but I knew I wouldn't be there to meet them. With any luck they had already arrived at Kirlsa. If not, there wasn't much I could do. I broke camp sometime before noon. I packed up and marched out. The going, however, was slower than I'd like. The Storm Brigade was patrolling the hills, and I had no intention of running into them. I kept to the edge of the road, hiding when I had too. After all, a guy heading towards the enemy's town had to look weird enough right?
At one point I had to hide behind couple of rocks, since a trio of Storm Brigade soldiers stopped nearby. For a moment I thought I was in trouble, but they didn't know I was there.
They were... just waiting for someone...
James peeked around his rock as another trio of mounted soldiers approached. The leader of the first trio was the first to speak. "Greetings Count Woltar. I had expected Yukin to deliver any news."
"Normally he would, but this is quite the important issue. The two men from the fallen object have escaped, possibly with the help of an Aquarian agent. And a citizen in Airyglyph had spotted someone 'fly' away from the Royal City."
"On dragon-back?"
"No. The claim is he sprouted wings of some kind. Regardless, we are treating him as an accomplice of the two men. If you or your men spot him, Lieutenant, you are to bring him in, alive."
"Yes Count Woltar."
James felt some sweat running down his forehead as Woltar gave the soldiers a brief description. Although incomplete he had to admit he more than fit the profile given.
I guess the first three either had a base nearby or camped out regularly on the Hills. Either way that little episode had put me on high alert. Then came something that sent chills up my spine.
"Also," Woltar continued, briefing the men. "One of Vox's Dragoon's is transporting Albel across the Hills. The King has personally ordered him to assist in the capture of these men."
Oh joy... Albel 'The Wicked' Nox... After another ten minutes of briefing Woltar and his group left, as did the three scouts.
I left five minutes after that. As I got closer to Arias the patrols let up. Soon enough the gates of Arias were in sight. Things were looking up.
So guess what happened?
James stretched out as he walked along, smiling as he saw a few Aquarian soldiers on the walls. He was around a ten-minute walk from the gate when something above him blocked the sun briefly. Looking up he saw a dragon-like beast as in circled twice lowering itself, stopping ten feet over the air, forty feet away. James grabbed the Protector's Edge with his sword hand, unsheathing it as he strode forward.
A figure leapt off the dragon, landing on the ground softly despite the drop. He rose up to his full height of 6'1. He brushed his blonde-tipped black hair with a metal hand as he strode forward, meeting James halfway, both warriors halting ten feet from each other, the dragoon flying his mount onto a rock, perching there. "Well, well..." The figure began. "A worm is trying to squirm his way to Aquaria, eh?" He chuckled a bit as James looked beyond his opponent, seeing a flurry of activity at the walls of Arias. "I would ask you to come quietly... But that wouldn't be any fun..."
"Sorry, buddy-what's-his-name..." James said, tilting his head up. "The only place I'm going is forward. Through you if I have too."
"Bah, you fool." Albel replied as both men lowered themselves into a fighting posture. "I'll crush you like the worm you are! I am Albel The Wicked, and you shall taste my blade!"
This was going to suck... I had thought I'd get more experience under my belt before I had to deal with Albel. Fighting him so early was NOT what I wanted. I did have one advantage in this battle though, if I could see the men on the walls of Arias, then they could see me, and more importantly Albel. I knew it wouldn't be long until they sent some form of reinforcements. What form it would take I didn't know, but it would be coming. All I had to do was stall Albel... for however long it took them to get here.
Survive Albel for up to ten minutes or more?
All of a sudden hanging with Fayt and Cliff for torture room fun looked a lot better...
I don't suppose I need to explain what happens next chapter. James vs. Albel...
Enough said. R&R everyone!