Raul led the way down steep, winding stairs. Alex just matched each footstep he made and tried not to fall down them. When they finally met solid ground, Alex looked up. Her eyes grew wide.
There. Was. No. One. Here.
Their was a room inside this wall after all. It looked more like a near empty storage room. Two single lanterns set in opposing corners gave off an eerey glow. Barrels, upright or tossed over, lined some of the wall while thin planks of lumber leaned across them. In one corner, Alex could see a couple throwing axes and maybe one dagger. Under the stairs and pouring out from under it, was a large bag of grain that had spread its contents across the concrete floor.
"Good afternoon, M'Lady." Raul stopped suddenly and gave a deep bow. "My deepest apologies for the time I have made you wait."
Alex peered around him and gasped lightly. Well now she felt stupid for missing her. An older woman, probably late 20's or so, sat on one of the over turned barrels. Filled with flour, Alex noted. The woman bore a deep set of blue eyes and rather golden blond hair. It was cut short and tied back into an even shorter tail. She wore long white stockings that ended just mid-thigh under knee-high boots. She wore a short, faded and purple skirt, which Alex had to admit, that looked to give easy access in battle. Under the dark cape that fell over her shoulders, fastened in place with a gold tie, was a ruffled white shirt that looked to have three layers to it.
"Approach, my loyal servant." She motioned with her hand out, her voice a fine image of sweet and stern.
Raul walked forward and kneeled before her. He took up the offered hand and kissed each knuckle paitently. He bowed his forhead against it, then released it, eyes to the floor.
"What have you gathered?" She questioned, then flinched.
Her gaze snapped up towards Alex. The brunette flinched herself when she found herself not able to look away. The faint hint of disrespect faded from the woman's expression and she smiled.
"Was it in your knowledge you have a haunting!" She questioned, eyes still locked.
Raul's voice clammered to her ears. "Yes, M'Lady. She wishes to accompany us to our destination."
"A wanderer?"
"Yes, M'Lady."
Alex had her hands to her hips. "I have a name, thank you."
The woman's brows furrowed deeply. Alex wasn't sure she'd seen anybody look so angered. Not even Tala or Kai when she got to them.
"Permission to rise?" Raul questioned.
"Permission granted." The woman nearly barked.
Raul rose to his feet and toke a step backward. "Please ignore her rude remark, M'Lady. She has been away from social rank for a bit of time."
"What's that supposed to mean!" Alex demanded.
Raul continued as if he hadn't been interupted. "She has a bit of an additude about her, however she is very much harmless. I beg your forgivness towards her." He dropped to one knee, head lowered.
Alex just stared at him. Wait, he was begging for her forgivness? Nobody ever did that! What did he mean she was harmless?
The woman stared at her for a while longer, then rose to her feet. She strod forward until she was beside Raul and a few feet before Alex. She placed her hand over his head and ran her fingers through some of the brown locks.
"What is your name, child? Your full name." She requested.
Alex hated when people asked her that. "Alexander Moren, Outcast of the Trisault Kingdom."
"Trisault?" The woman blinked, looking quite surprised.
"Yes 'am." She nodded, hands behind her back.
"Rise, my servant. It seems you have gathered all that we require."
He rose and her hand dropped to his shoulder. She patted him lightly and gave Alex an absolutly beautiful smile.
"Well Alexander Moren, Outcast of Trisault, I am Lady Judy Tate, Fiancee of Kotan Heir." She explained.
.:VWV:.
"Sounds excellent." Hiro nodded, examining the map laid out before him.
Julia grinned. "Naturally."
"But what of the northern front? Trisault has armies stationed all over that area. It would be suicide." Mystel pointed out, motioning to the tiny sticks and stones that represented the two sides.
"We'll have a few of our strongest mages join them. If we can take out the north, then we have practically won this war." Julia responded.
Hiro nodded, fingers cupping his chin in thought. "However good it may be, I must agree with Mystel. Our forces are strong and I have faith in the troops, but we have no idea of the strengh Trisault has placed before us."
"But Ming Ming's report-" Julia tried.
Hiro shock his head. "Her eyes might be sharp, but even Ming Ming cannot sence magic. They could have easily put up some sort of barrier to protect the rest of the army."
"That would take much too much work." Julia blinked.
"Not when their allied with the Spir't." Hiro pointed out.
Julia's glance was cast aside. Mystel nodded. "The Spir't are a tribe of very powerful mages. From birth they are born with the strengh to harness great deals of mag-"
"I know what they are!" Julia snapped and looked away once more.
Hiro eyed her but said nothing in reply. "Never the less, we must move with great caution. Trisault maybe be low on warriors, but those who have survived are worth keeping."
"My Lord?" Mystel stared.
"Wars are not won by numbers, Master Mystel, but strengh."
"There is great force in numbers, My Lord." Mystel offered.
Hiro nodded. "Yes, that is true, but only if you plan on losing this war."
Julia coughed loudly and gained audience. "If I may, My Lord...?"
Hiro motioned ahead and nodded.
Julia let her fingers graze over the papers and finally pulled out a rather large map of the entire Trisault Kingdom. She smoothed it over the surface of the table and grazed her vision over it. Finally she tapped her finger down on what looked like open land.
"Here. This is where they have stationed the camp for the young."
Mystel shrugged. "Whats it to us? Their hardly experienced with only a monthes training. You suspect we can't take them down ourselves? Have you no faith in your clan?"
"But Master Mystel, Captain Kai Hiwatari is running this camp along with his second in command."
.:VWV:.
"I don't think I can even chew food if I wanted to." Travis stated, having difficulty stripping off his sweat-soaked shirt.
Miguel's eyes were nearly closed as he sat up motionless. "I barely have energy to breath let alone talk."
Mathilda smiled at both of them. She couldn't help it. Of course she dodged the shirt Travis sent flying her way. The wings picked her up as she passed in between their sleeping bags. She set her feet down in a gentil step.
"Well if your not going to eat tonight, then please get some rest and eat much tommorow. I don't want you boys going hungry." She advised.
Miguel streghed his arms out and slowly slipped into his bundle. "Don't worry, Mathilda," He smiled weakly, "We'll be careful. If we've worried you, we never meant it."
When Mathilda turned toward Travis, she blinked. He was already sound asleep. He never even made it into his bed roll. His breathing was almost as slow as Miguel's and he was sprawled on his back.
She heard blanket shift behind her and watched as Miguel crawled out of his sleepy stat for just a moment to place Travis into a more comfortable position under his blanket. When he was certain Travis was tightly tucked in, Miguel finally retired back into his own bed.
"Thank you, Miguel. Your very sweet." Mathilda smiled at hiim.
The blond dug his cheek into the soft surface and sighed deeply. "My younger brother is around his age."
"Oh! You have a younger brother?" Mathilda asked, not knowing until he replied that she'd even spoken.
He nodded. "He's back home with Mama, helping her around the house. He's too young to help Papa out in the fields and too old to be standing around Mama's ankles. So until he grows older, he just helps out Mama to the best of his being. Papa doesn't like that idea. Believes house work should be left for the woman."
Mathilda blinked. This was the first time she'd heard Miguel speak about his family. Well aside from the stories he was always telling. But those recalled events. He was telling her a bit about them.
"Papa can have a short temper sometimes," He continued, closing his eyes as he went on, "when he doesn't get his way but he still deserves respect. I think if you meet Mama, you would love her, Mathilda."
"I would?" Mathilda pondered at what she might be like.
"Mmm hmm. She's very pretty and very smart. Papa's always telling me what a lucky man he is for finding her. She's always smiling and she's always trying to make life just a little more fun for us. So, in a way, she's rather like you."
Mathilda blinked absently as a blush covered her cheeks. Miguel opened his eyes just a bit to smile at her.
"I know that Travis doesn't have a mother around. But he does have you. Your exactly the way every mother should be. Gentil and kind, always looking for the best solution, even if it hurts you."
"O-oh I don't know about that-"
"No, I mean it. Travis is really lucky to have you around. And I'm glad I've gotten to meet you as well. Everytime I miss Mama, I just talk to you and it's like she is r-right here...with me." Miguel trailed off, a small smile grazing his features.
Mathilda stared at him as he fell into slumber. She was like ... a mother? She'd never actually thought of that. Turning towards Travis, she watched his face twitch every so often.
'He must be dreaming.' Mathilda pondered.
It must hurt Travis a lot more then he let on to not have anybody around him. Well he had Enrique and Ray, but they weren't family. Kai as well but he was only an old friend.
Suddenly Mathilda felt like she was carrying bricks. That was a lot of pressure. Acting like Travis' mother would take a lot more then she ever thought she was capable of. But, if as Miguel said, it was better that he had her around, she would have to carry that weight, even if it hurt her in the end.
"Goodnight you two." She smiled.
Her wings lifted her up once more as she planted gentil kisses on their cheeks and turned out the lantern in the corner. She walked over to the part in the tent and with only a single glance towards them, up she flew into the night and soon enough, was gone.
.:VWV:.
When Anko finally did get back, it was well into the night and the doors were locked. Luckily, the owners were still up so she had no trouble getting in.
"I would much appretiate it if you were to get that man up to his room. He hasn't moved since you left and nobody seems able to wake him." The woman nodded, the candle in her hand shaking as she walked away.
Anko smiled at those words. So Tala finally decided to get some rest.
She passed a few tables until she came up to a familier one. Sure as the womans words, Tala had his head tucked neatly into one of his arms and the other rested in his lap. Judging by the papers spread in front of him, his weeryness had gotten the better of him. Anko didn't want to wake him in fear of him not sleeping again. Instead, she quietly collected the papers and made them into neat piles. When she was done, she let her glance revert through the window to where the moon was pouring in buckets of light. The moon was not even half full and yet it had this much light power.
As she took a final glance and began to make her way away from Tala, the papers caught her eye. If she left them there, a wind might perk up and sweep them about the inn. A real mess in her mind. She began to pile the bundles toghter when a paper slipped out and onto the floor. She bent down to pick it up and let her eyes pass over the ink. When she looked even closer and brought it into the silver light, she saw it was a list.
A strange list with a couple sketches - finely done - and some words.
First there was the word Kai. By the way the 'K' was capitalized, she guessed it to be a name. Next to it was a neatly drawn set of eyes. They looked blank, no life in them at all. Next to them, Tala's tiny, loopy writing jotted down:
- Emotionless
- Cold
- Protective
Of course, these words meant nothing to Anko. They made no sence to her. But for Tala to write them down, they must be very important. She read one. Next was the name Alex. No drawing, but the curvy words Guilt, Hurt, Love and Family were weakly written beside it.
Anko blinked and pondered on this. Love and Family? Was Alex maybe Tala's family? Plus the words guilt and hurt brought up questions but she tossed them aside to catch the final piece.
Travis - a tiny drawing of an infant - Jason
Wait, Jason? As in her son Jason? Why woul-
A groan behind her caused Anko to jump and drop the paper once more. She watched Tala raise his head with sleepy eyes.
"O-o-oh. Tala! Umm," She dropped her voice when it became too loud for her own ears, "Your awake. T-the owner told me to get you up to your room. Said they tried to wake you, but you wouldn't budge."
Tala just looked around, like he hadn't heard a word she'd said and was trying to figure out where he was.
"Tala?" Anko tried again.
He blinked and let his gaze fall onto her. "You made it back."
"Hush! Everyone has went to bed and so should you. Come along, I'll help you up." Anko ushered over to him, careful to recover the fallen paper and add it to the pile.
"How long was I out?"
"Not long enough. Now lets get you into your room to have some proper rest."
Tala nodded and went to grab the papers when Anko snatched them up and rested them on her side. He blinked at her when she smiled, offering to carry them up.
"I thought I was going to have to go looking for you. You didn't return at a decent time."
"Aww, were you worried about me?"
They staggered up the steps to their rooms.
"Of course! I was worried that if you didn't come back, I'd have payed for an extra room with no guest."
.:VWV:.
AN: This chapter came a bit faster, eh! My neck hurts from looking at the keyboard too long XP My favorite part of this chapter was with Raul! - It was so much fun to write! I think it might just become my all-time favorite...
R&R THANX TO ALL REVIEWERS!