A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply, and thanks for your patience!

Chapter Ten: Slings and Arrows

Kory's eyes widened with horror. She watched helplessly as Cyborg's robot body crumpled terribly. She shouted his name and swooped out of the sky, ignoring everything but her friend. The alien girl didn't see Mammoth come to. He grabbed her ankle and used the willowy beauty like a club, bashing her into the asphalt.

"All right, we're done here," Shimmer announced.

Gizmo's spider legs clicked as he walked along the wall. Mammoth narrowed his eyes at the groggy Starfire and wiped a lustful bit of spittle off his lower lip.

"Baran!"

Mammoth looked up and snorted. "Next time, sweets," he said before spitting in her direction. The evil behemoth strode back to the bag of gold and scooped it up. Shimmer grinned and sauntered up to the still trapped Jinx.

"Nice try," Shimmer said and mussed the sorceress' hair. "Better… luck… next time."

Jinx closed her eyes as Shimmer's vicious laugh filled her ears before trailing off as the villains escaped. The young sorceress's eyes shot open. They glowed bright purple and the street cracked around her hands. Jinx stood slowly, and wobbly, the spell taking its toll. She took a breath, shook her head and focused.

"Vic!"

Jinx rushed over to her friend and cradled his all but shattered torso in her arms. Cyborg's eyes stared blankly upward.

A monotone voice came from Cyborg's torso. "Biological component critical. Initiating emergency protocol Alpha One."

"Vic, dammit, don't you die on me!" Jinx pleaded. "Starfire! I need your help!"

Kory held her arm close to her. She knew she dislocated her shoulder when Mammoth smashed her into the ground. "I am here, Jinx. I heard Cyborg's system announcement. We need to get him back to the Tower. I believe I can carry him, if you can gather his scattered components."

Jinx nodded and cast the spell. Starfire grimaced as she hoisted the unconscious Cyborg and shakily took to the air. She flew to the Tower as quickly as she could and landed on the roof. Soon Cyborg was in his room, and the specially designed self-repair systems took over. His vital signs were still critical, but now stable. Kory held her shoulder, but breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Will… will he be alright?" a mousy voice whispered behind Starfire.

Starfire took a deep grumbling breath. She spun to see Raven hiding under her cloak, barely peeking around the doorframe. The pale witch slink back, as reverting to her behavior of years past.

"Where were you?" Starfire demanded angrily.

Raven opened a portal in the floor and began to phase through. Kory flew over, grabbed Raven by her broach and pulled her back into the room. The enraged alien pushed the much smaller girl against the grey wall.

"You owe Cyborg at least that much! Tell me, Raven!"

Raven looked everywhere but into Koriand'r's eyes. Her lip quivered slightly and she spoke almost inaudibly. "I… I'm scared." Raven looked up, her large violet eyes glassy. "My father is trying to return."

…..

Castle Markov perched loftily over the Marksberg, the capitol of the small kingdom. The walls were removed a century ago, and the rebuilt palace owed more to the Bavarian King Ludwig the Mad than to fortress architecture. It looked as if it came straight from a fairy tale.

Argent sighed dreamily looking up at the building.

"It's not what it's cracked up to be," Robin told her softly. "Come on, Titans. Time to hobnob with royalty."

Prince Brion Markov met them in the gallery. He was tall, broad, and very handsome. Beast Boy could see why Argent crushed on him. Robin bowed respectfully, and the others soon followed suit. Prince Brion smiled and shook Robin's hand.

"It is an honor to meet you, Robin," the prince said genuinely. He spoke with an English accent, betraying the many years that he spent at boarding schools for the aristocracy.

"Thank you, your highness. Have you heard of anything called 'The Church of Blood?'?"

Brion arched an eyebrow. "As I expected, direct and to the point. The so-called Church of Blood is a legend in this region. It is analogous to stories of vampires or werewolves. Supposedly, a priest on his way to the first crusade discovered several relics and built a monastery to protect them. But the relics were cursed and doomed him to walk the earth in everlasting torment. Another story says that the priest, armed with these relics, gathered an army of followers and tried to 'cleanse' the region. But no archeological evidence has ever been found to support such a wide spread massacre."

"Is not the report of a massacre the reason we are here?" Red Star asked.

"From our contacts with the Rom and from our emissaries to Zandia, we do believe such a tragedy took place. No one claimed responsibility for it, yet, and we have yet to confirm it independently."

"That's why we're here," Robin said.

Brion smiled. "Will you do this for me?"

Argent's eyes went as wide as her beaming smile. The prince was looking right at her when he asked that question. "Yes!"

The other Titans glanced at her and then back to the prince.

"So, it is settled then. On behalf of my nation, I thank you."

Robin bowed again, turned on his heels and started to walk away.

"Um, Prince Brion?" Beast Boy stammered as if he were trying to find his courage. "Did you have a sister?"

Brion took a breath and a shadow seemed to pass over his face. "Yes, I had a half sister. Please, Beast Boy, come with me and we will talk."

…..

Ravager padded down the hall, more silent than a cat. The stone hall was dark, but a cracked door sent a shaft of light refracting through the shadows. The young assassin glanced through the small opening before slipping away. A man sat at his desk, his hands were folded on the massive book, and his sallow eyes were closed. His enlarged brain was only contained in his head by a horrific transparent skull cap.

Ravager could also see he wasn't alone and left quickly. She eventually found a quiet hidden alcove and blended herself into the shadows. She pressed her fingertips to her ear softly.

"So, you have some information?" A cold, quiet voice said in her ear.

"Yes, sir. Psimon sent the Flinders and O'Jenkins to obtain a large quantity of gold. This location also has a working smithy and I've noticed several sword molds there. Then there's the book itself. I got…" her voice trailed off as her she tried to remember the details of seeing the book. She remembered the taste of Selinda's kiss and her brain fogging with the drugs the trasmuter created.

"Rose." It was a statement.

Her mind cleared again and she remembered the sigil.

"Sir, the book contains the Mark of Scath."