Hey there! Hooray, I finally finished the chapter! I had Writer's Block for a while and I was just updating my Aladdin parody... it's really stress-relieving to write random humour, I've found! Well, not much else to say except - enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own YGO, as sad as that is. I do, however own my OCs!
Dusk Angels

Chapter 5

Allara sighed and flopped down on her bed. That, she decided, was an unqualified disaster. Rolling over, she buried her face in the stiff lace of her pillow.

There was a tap at the door.

"Come in," moaned Allara, lifting her head from the uncomfortable pillow. Couldn't they leave her alone for one minute?

The door slid open and a young girl walked in, carrying a neatly folded nightgown.

"Thanks," said Allara, uncomfortably aware that it looked as though she had been crying into her pillow from the way she lay.

The girl curtseyed and left. Allara groaned and banged her head on the pillow repeatedly. Great. She was staying the night. What was taking Master Gaskett so long?

Sparhawk looked out of his window at the approaching horsemen. One from each of the other three orders, he knew. The first to the gate rode a large bay horse, and held a pennant with a rearing lion surrounded by a laurel wreath. Below the lion was a crossed sword and axe. The banner of the Renish Order, noted Sparhawk, making a note. The Renish Knight was admitted through the gate and began to ride over the drawbridge, and the next Knight approached, his banner showing a black stallion rearing between two lions lying with a red and gold banner draped over each of their backs. Sparhawk nodded to himself, making a mark next to the word 'Tynnia' on his parchment. The third Knight rode on a roan, his purple banner with a unicorn rearing before a giant tree waving proudly in the slight breeze. Sparhawk made another note and smiled to himself. The Preceptors Calib, Manya and Farden had all responded in good time. They would be able to join the dancers within the week. Sparhawk shuffled the papers on his desk into a neat pile and walked swiftly to the door.
"Master Gaskett?"

"Yes?" Gaskett turned to face the bulky, armoured man.

"The king requests your permission at the palace."

"Well, a request is better than a summons. When?"

"Now. I'm meant to escort you."

"No, no thank you." The dancer waved a hand. "I am perfectly capable of forming my own entourage."

The soldier hesitated. He was not used to people challenging orders so casually. It had never happened before. Who did this old codger think he was? "Um…"

"Spiffing." Gasket allowed himself that one flamboyancy, neatly stepped around the man and headed for the wagon where Darelgi stayed. Being the highest-ranking female, she had insisted – and since no one else really cared she had gotten her wish.

"But – " began the befuddled soldier, but Gaskett was long gone. The soldier swore loudly and ran in the direction the older man had gone.

"Yami?"

"What is it, Yugi?"

"Father says I am to stay behind." Yugi tried to smile. He had wanted to go with, to give his brother moral support, but he understood that if something happened, he needed to be in the kingdom.

"I suppose it is for the best." Yami put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Don't worry – you'll be with me in spirit if not in person."

"I will!" Yugi's face lit up and he hugged his elder brother.

"Thank you." Yami sighed and sat down, staring at the large trunk standing by his door. "I don't know why Father insists on having the servants pack such a large amount of clothes."

"He doesn't have control over anything else, and he hates to be inactive."

Yami nodded thoughtfully. Since previous night, Yugi had become more and more prone to making such insightful comments.

The younger prince moved to the door. "I'll see you at lunch, then?"

Yami nodded, smiling.

The younger grinned back and left, humming a soft tune.

Yami pulled a cloak from his cupboard and draped it over his shoulders. He glanced at himself in the mirror and grimaced. Wearing these plain brown clothes, paired with his old black cloak, he could almost pass off as a commoner. Almost, that is, except for the fact that he had the most distinctive hair on this side of the Ergen Sea. He rolled his eyes heavenward. If there are any gods, they sure have a twisted sense of humour.

Swishing his cloak around him dramatically, he went to his bookcase and pulled a dark green book from the shelf. The bookcase slid back to reveal a dark passageway. The king had shown Yami the passageway on his thirteenth birthday – it was supposed to be an escape route in case the palace was ever under siege, but Yami used it often as an escape route from his usually busy schedule. He reached into the darkness and pulled a tarnished candlestick from the shadows. Drawing a candle from its' hiding place under his bed, he pushed it into place. Then he lit the candle from one of the torches on the wall of the passageway, first checking to see whether there were any servants around who might see him, and then entered the passageway. There were carvings on the wall, but Yami had never stopped to read them. He did not pause now, hurrying down the passageway holding his candlestick tightly. The passage sloped downwards for a time, and then straightened out. At last, Yami reached the stairs to the surface. There were exactly seventy-three, but Yami didn't bother counting them as he hurried to the top. He didn't like the feeling of the darkness closing in on him, although since he had started learning the Art his fear had become much easier to manage.

He placed his palm on the stone, and the carved mark on it glowed as it recognised him bloodline. The stone slid silently to one side and Yami stole into the misty morning air. He watched the stone slide closed to make sure the magic was still working properly, and then turned to face the trees. The tunnel came out in the forest behind the palace, and from there Yami knew of at least three ways he could get out of the city. To his left was the unobtrusive stone that marked the exit of the passage out of Yugi's chambers, and some way to the right was the bigger stone that showed the way into or out of the main royal chambers, where his father stayed.

Feeling a slight breeze ruffle his hair, he started forward breathing deeply. This was just what he needed, a walk in the woods to clear his head.

Suddenly, he heard voices.

What? Who could that be? He darted behind a large tree and peered out from behind it.

A petit, blonde girl, and a boy with a shock of red hair came walking through the trees. The girl was talking loudly, and the boy had his head turned towards her, listening.

"So then the idiot says 'I'm higher rank… blah blah blah… I deserve to get it…' You know the speech. She really irritates me!" The blonde complained, bunching her hands into fists.

"Meera, I know you're upset," began the boy, but the one called Meera waved her hands at him.

"No, no, I ain't done yet!" She put her hands on her hips and glared at him, her pretty features screwed into a glare.

The other stopped. "Meera, please listen…"

"No!" Meera grinned, then pouted. "You're taking all the fun out of this!"

"Meera!"

"Don't look so shocked, Mart. How long have you known me?"

"Not long enough, evidently."

"Oh, shut up." Meera pursed her lips. "You're being obtuse."

"I know. It's very effective." Mart grinned.

Meera scowled. " At least pretend to be sympathetic."

"No. A little opposition never hurt anyone."

"There's always a first time, you know," Meera pointed out.

Mart grinned. "Yes, but I'm willing to take that risk."

"I hate you, you know that?"

"I love you too."

"Oh, ha ha. Don't let Al hear you talking like that." Meera flopped down onto Yami's passageway stone. "She's already getting ideas."

Yami groaned inwardly. These two were taking up his free time – and they were just settling in! He started to back away slowly, until…

Cliffy!

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straykitty