Child of Destruction
Author: Chaos Valkyrie
First Conceptualized: December 12, 2003
Posted Chapter 10: July 13, 2005
Updated: December 22, 2005
Disclaimer: Nope. Nada. Zilch. Again.
Author's Note: All right, been a while again. I'm having moving issues and have been living out of a box for three months because my apartment's still not ready. I just hope I can move in before my birthday in September… but I'm not holding my breath.
Chapter Ten: The Tenth Stronghold
Andres laid a hand on Claire's arm as she stared into the darkening sky. "They'll be here soon, Claire, I'm sure of it," he told the concerned woman. She smiled, turning towards him, her hand trailing the fortress wall.
"I know. I can't help but be worried, that's all," she said, smiling. "How did the talks go?" she asked as the two Dragoons walked down the steps from the top of the fortress walls. Andres frowned, a worry line forming between his brows.
"The situation appears to be tenuous, at best. The Ragnor forces are mounting near Seles, and the Fifth Stronghold is frantically calling for reinforcements. War is brewing," he stated.
Claire put a hand on his shoulder, ready to offer her own comfort, but the words never had time to leave her mouth. Two blurs shot down from the sky, stopping in the courtyard. Iris set Dalia down, and Andres rushed forward in time to catch Geru before he and Darrin could both fall to the ground.
"What happened?" Claire asked, aghast at the pallor of the two younger Dragoons.
"We'll tell you soon," Iris sighed, a hand to her forehead. She grabbed the other woman's arm for support, her Dragoon armor and wings fading as fatigue set in. Dalia, who was much more coherent, pressed the most important issue.
"We need the doctors, now," she replied, tugging Andres sleeve. "Darrin was injured at the Temple, and although Iris used her magic to heal him, he's been unconscious this whole time!"
"You were attacked at the Temple?" Claire exclaimed, while Andres picked up Darrin himself and took him to the stronghold's healers. Geru wobbled slightly before using his Basher to catch himself.
"Yeah, we were," Iris mumbled, and it was all Claire could do to catch her as she tumbled into unconsciousness…
"Ah, so you're finally coming around, eh?" Claire's voice penetrated the darkness behind Iris' eyes. Iris slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the glare of the lanterns in the healer's house. She snuggled down into the cot, wincing as Claire's voice took on a more lecturing quality.
"You should know better than to exert that much magical energy all at once! You could've killed yourself, fully healing Darrin and trying to fly yourself and Dalia back all at once! If I had been there…"
"Maybe you should leave the lecture for later, Claire, when she is fully recovered," Andres' smooth voice interrupted. Claire huffed, but stopped her verbal attack. Iris half smiled, peeking up at Andres who had seated himself at the foot of her cot. "So, Iris, do you feel up to reporting your version of events? Dalia had very few answers, and Geru can't seem to speak around the massive amounts of food he's inhaling at the canteen."
Iris giggled, but sobered quickly. "How's Darrin?' she asked, moving to sit up before Claire gently pushed her back down. Her aching head kept her from protesting.
Andres frowned. "Still unconscious. The doctors seem to think nothing is wrong with him, thanks to your magic, but nothing they have tried has awoken him yet. Now, can you tell us more about the attack?"
Iris sighed. "Well, we made it to the inner Temple, and everything seemed to be fine. Dalia lost her footing and screamed, and we were attacked by a bunch of gargoyles. We fought them off, but the last one ran into the Temple and screamed. Then this… creature came out of the Temple and attacked us. Darrin managed to blind it, but it appeared like it was already pretty badly injured before we finished it off. After the attack, we could no longer feel the Spirit, so we came back here. Darrin had been hit by a column that the creature knocked over. Once we got away from the Temple, I used my magic to heal him, but I wasn't sure how well it would work."
"What kind of creature attacked you?" Claire asked quietly.
Iris frowned. "Darrin said it was a Virage, but how can that be? They were all supposed to have died a hundred years ago." She peered at the stunned looks on the other's faces.
Andres grew thoughtful. "My grandfather left a journal of his travels when he helped the last party of Dragoons defeat the 108th seed a century ago. Apparently, some of the Virage had even survived since the time of the Dragon Campaign, and that had been 11000 years prior. If they could survive that long, then perhaps some have survived since their last resurrection a hundred years ago."
"But why would they be awakening now?" Claire asked.
"My grandfather speculated that it was their intense hatred of the Dragoon Spirits that would bring them back to consciousness. Perhaps Iris and Geru triggered that hatred when they entered the Temple," Andres stated. Iris coughed.
"Maybe, but there was a Dragoon Spirit there. I felt it when we reached the Temple entrance. I don't know how it disappeared after the attack, but maybe there was something more than just Geru and I that awoke that monster."
"Perhaps," Andres sighed, raking his hand through his hair. "Anyway, do you think you'll feel well enough to set out tomorrow? The Fifth Stronghold is requesting troops, and we're hoping to leave early in the morning."
Iris closed her eyes again, pulling the blanket up to her chin. "I should be," she sighed into the blanket, and heard the other two chuckle.
"'Night Iris," Claire said, leaving the room. Andres lingered, smiling as Iris mumbled a sleepy reply.
"Goodnight, m'lady," he whispered, silently exiting the room.
The sun rose on a busy scene in the Tenth Stronghold. Soldiers were running about the camp, finalizing their preparations for the journey before them. Iris yawned as she left the healer's clinic, a sluggish Darrin behind her. He had finally awoken sometime during the night, and after a final checkup from the healers, was proclaimed fit to travel. Not that he felt like doing so…
"Darrin!" Dalia ran up to the boy, earning a worried grimace from Geru. Iris grinned.
"Is everyone ready?" Claire asked, eyeing Iris and Darrin critically. "You two are riding in the supply cart."
Darrin nodded weakly, while Iris opened her mouth to protest.
"Actually, I thought Iris might like to ride to Seles, if she feels up to it," Andres said, leading his own horse forward while a groom brought four others behind him. Iris nodded gleefully, grabbing the reins of a black stallion from one of the grooms. Claire sighed, glaring at the Prince.
"Don't encourage her," she complained, taking the lead of a roan mare.
"I'll ride in the wagon with Darrin, so he won't feel so alone," Dalia replied, moving towards the supply cart nearby. Geru's eyes followed her.
"I think I'll go with them too," he said, running to catch up with the others. The others laughed once he was out of earshot.
"As if I didn't see that coming," Iris chuckled, mounting her steed.
End Notes: Well, that's it for now. I should update again fairly soon, as I seem to be on something of a writing tear. I'll probably have to take a break of sorts when the apartment is completed, so I can paint and move in, but that's way, way off. Stupid builders…