Child of Destruction
Author: Chaos Valkyrie
First Conceptualized: December 12, 2003
Posted Chapter 11: December 23, 2005
Generic Author's Notes:
1. Due to new ffnet standards, all chapters have been updated, most with some minor edits. I'll answer/re-answer reviews between now and next posting in the new area.
2. I have decided on a new update policy. Now that my life is getting back together, I will now post once-a-month on whatever Friday happens to lie between the 15th and 21st. I can't promise an update on every story, but I can promise that if it doesn't post one month, it WILL post the next. This also means that some months, you'll get bonus chapters on some stories.
3. Web page will be up soon with stories that can't be posted here – namely "The Villain's Guide to Evil Stuff" and songfics, etc. I put off the launch to get all this stuff out.
4. By the way, if anyone has Chapter One of "The Chaos Land Tournament" or Lesson 10 of "The Villain's Guide", please let me know. My copies got deleted, and those are the only two I didn't have backed up. You will be rewarded! So please, go to my Author Page for more details…
Thank you for your continued patience, and Happy Holidays!
Chapter Eleven: Fire in the Night
It was slow going to Seles; Iris realized she had taken for granted the swift journey that she and her companions had been making. Now, with the reinforcements from the Tenth Stronghold in tow, Iris felt like they were moving at a slow crawl towards the other side of Serdio.
Besides, the plains were boring. Having grown up in the city, and traveled so much in the mountains, this vast green nothingness was beginning to wear on her. Every day the road looked the same, surrounded by the same grasses and same distant mountains. If it weren't for Andres' reassurances, she could easily believe that they were stuck in some sort of dreamy bubble.
The nights, however, were enjoyable. Iris loved fighting, and with so many soldiers about her, she felt the desire to train. The soldiers quickly learned that Iris, for being fairly small, was a deadly opponent. Every day, as the traveling drew to a close, they would begin to catcall Iris, challenging her to this duel or that sparring match. Seasoned warriors or rookies, they all enjoyed this small brash woman who could match swords with the best of them.
The others profited from the training as well. Dalia had ample tutors, much to Geru's chagrin. The knights of Bale were well known for their lance-work, and with Andres and his soldiers guiding her, she quickly learned the basics of spear-fighting.
After one week, about noon, the outline of a dark forest began to break apart the dreary horizon. By mid-afternoon, the company stopped on the edge of the forest, breaking for camp.
"This marks the end of the plains. We should reach Seles by early afternoon," Andres told Iris and Claire as they dismounted. Iris grinned.
"That's good. And now, on to more pressing issues… like who will I fight tonight?" The Dark Dragoon smirked and made for the sparring rings being set up on the perimeter of the camp. Claire rolled her eyes.
"That's all she thinks about," Claire moaned, "Fighting, sparring, action!"
Andres grinned. "Well, so long as she's happy," he teased Claire, who frowned at him.
"And you're not helping! You've sparred with her practically every night!" she rebuked him. Andres' smile turned into an embarrassed cough.
"Which reminds me…" Andres trailed off. "I still owe her for last night's humiliating defeat." Andres grabbed his partisan and followed after Iris. Claire snorted.
"The two of them are hopeless…" she muttered to herself.
"Hey boys! Who am I gonna thrash tonight?" Iris called into the group of training soldiers with a grin. She smirked as they began to call out to her.
"Hey missy! I'll fight ya!"
"No way, she's going to match blades with me!"
"I still owe her for last time, so you'll just have to get in line!"
"I'll accept her challenge," a feminine voice called out. A woman in full red armor stepped out of the woods, sword in hand. She flipped her long blond braid over her shoulder as she examined Iris from her cool blue eyes. Iris' own eyes narrowed; she did not recognize this warrior. A stunned silence had settled over the other soldiers, but it did not last long.
"Captain Lana!" a voice exclaimed. Others soon took up the call.
"Lana! Lana!" they cheered. The taller woman stepped forward, readying her blade as the soldiers formed a circle about the two combatants. Iris smirked.
"Captain, eh? Well, makes no difference to me," she stated, unsheathing her own blade. She was barely ready before the other woman attacked. Blades singing, the two women battled back and forth, neither one giving the other an edge.
Iris was by far the smaller of the two, and her blade was much lighter. However, she made up for this with her quick, piercing attacks and outstanding endurance. Lana, on the other hand, wielded a much heftier blade. Her defense was excellent, and Iris could feel the sting as Lana's heavier blows smashed into her light rapier.
The sparring match raged on as the soldiers continued to cheer. Iris parried another blow from Lana, looking for an opening to attack. Both women were slowing down slightly, their attacks more hesitant, more calculated. Iris parried another attack, saw her opening, and pushed forward through Lana's defenses…
A flash of silver hair caught her eye from the direction of the woods. Silver hair, red eyes, the leering face of the Wingly caught her attention for a few seconds before disappearing into the darkness. A moment's distraction, and it was all Iris could do to block the rebuttal to her failed attack.
The clash of metal on metal, an ear-piercing rending noise, and Iris found herself looking disgustedly at the hilt of her rapier and the jagged edge of its shorn-off blade.
"Well, damn," she cursed, her eyes glaring past the blade held to her throat and into Lana's twinkling blue orbs.
"I win," Lana smirked, sheathing her weapon. She frowned, picking up the rest of Iris' blade as the soldiers cheered and catcalled about them. "You should really get a better weapon," Lana said, handing the blade to Iris. Iris rolled her eyes.
"No shit," she replied, taking the broken weapon back. Lana glared at her as a voice cleared its throat behind them.
"Well, I guess this means that my rematch is out of the question," Andres stated bemusedly. Iris snorted as Lana saluted the Prince.
"I was distracted," Iris mumbled. Andres smiled.
"Sure you were," Lana answered scathingly. Iris frowned at her before addressing Andres.
"I think I saw that Wingly in the woods," she told him. Andres eyed the forest thoughtfully.
"I'll make sure to inform the night watch to keep an eye out. Perhaps add few more soldiers to guard duty as well," he muttered to himself. He took Iris' weapon in his hands. "The blacksmiths should be able to repair this, or perhaps make something better. You can ask them when we get to Seles," he added before returning it to her. "Now, Captain, what news do you have from the front?"
Lana walked through the thinning crowd to grab a parchment tube from her horse nearby. "I have maps of the terrain for you, Sire, as well the reports of the current Ragnor movements."
"Let's go to my tent," Andres gestured. After saying farewell to Iris, Andres and Lana disappeared into the central grouping of tents that had been erected during the duel. Iris shook her head, walking off towards the cooking fires to find her adopted family.
"What happened to your blade, Iris?" Dalia asked concernedly as Iris ladled herself a bowl of stew. Iris grimaced.
"Some Captain or other broke it," she muttered. She glared as Geru chuckled in amusement.
"Well, Iris, perhaps you'll learn something from this," Claire started. Iris rolled her eyes.
"Skip the lecture. I got distracted by that Wingly that's been following us," she retorted before taking a mouthful of stew. Dalia gasped as the other's expressions turned to concern.
"That Wingly? Here?" Darrin asked, his eyes scanning the forest behind them. Iris snorted.
"He's not here now. It was about twenty minutes ago. I was going to make my winning thrust, then I saw him sneering down at me from the treetops."
"That's what you claim, anyway," an unwanted voice answered. Iris turned and glared at the newcomers.
"I believe Iris," Andres replied before Iris could tell the tall Captain exactly where she could stick her blade. Claire smiled hesitantly at the newcomer as she calmly dished up her own stew.
"So Iris said you were a Captain?" she asked.
"Captain Lana Flamehart of the Fifth Knighthood," she answered proudly, ignoring Iris' disparaging snort. Lana nodded politely as Andres introduced the others, including Iris.
"So, why are the kiddies traveling with you, Andres? War is no place for children," Lana sneered at Iris. Even Claire frowned at the woman's tone as Iris grasped futilely for a blade.
"The Dragoons are rising again, Captain," Andres rebuked her mildly. "Iris, Geru, and Claire each hold Dragoon Spirits." Lana eyed them each appraisingly.
"Well, perhaps they'll come in useful," was her scathing reply. Iris' eyes narrowed as her Dark Spirit flared to life. Then her eyes widened as the other's spirits resonated in turn.
"What the…" she trailed off, a scorching heat bursting from her belt pouch. She watched in irritation as the other stone taken from the Wingly floated into the Captain's outstretched hand. The others watched in surprise as it settled in her palm, flared once and then winked out.
"Ah, I take it this is the Dragoon Spirit of Fire?" Lana asked, amused at the other's reactions. She grinned.
"Like my grandfather before me, I too then shall assume the mantle of the Fire Dragoon."
End Notes: Yes, Lana is Dart and Shana's descendent. I decided that Iris really needed a thorn in her side (besides Adele, that is) and so Lana fit the bill! She's probably going to remain a bit of a pain, but she makes up for it with her power and loyalty. And don't worry… they're going to have someone join up further down the line who will be more than a match for her! Mwahaha. Oh, and the Captain is 20 years old – older than the others, but younger than Andres who's 23.