The New Threat:
Part IV: Zackwell's Move
Meru skipped into the room, taking in Lloyd's unconscious form lying on the bed, and Kayla sitting next to him, his hand clasped tightly in hers.
"Hi Kayla!" She said loudly.
"Shhh, he's sleeping." hissed Kayla. "Miranda healed his wounds, but he still needs lot's of rest. She couldn't heal the fracture on his skull. Healing all the other broken bones and the cuts took up too much energy."
"Oh, sorry. I was just wondering if want to get anything to eat. I can stay here with him."
"No," came the reply, "I don't want to move, in case he wakes up."
"Okay!" Meru replied cheerfully, then, she skipped off to find Kongol. Kayla sat unmoving next to the Wingly. Please Lloyd, please wake up. She placed a hand on his cheek, it felt cold. Then the tears came again, and she laid her head on his chest and cried. Lloyd didn't move a muscle, his mind was far away. Finally, red eyed and sniffling, she raised her head. Please…she got off the chair and laid down next to him. In a moment she was asleep, breathing easily, the pain of the last day forgotten.
On the other side of the castle, another couple sat on a stone bench, the man had his arm around the girl, and she rested her head on his shoulder, completely at ease. Dart looked down at Shana, and smiled. She turned to look up at him and raised an eyebrow.
"What's funny?"
"Nothing," he said; a huge smile on his face, "just remembering how I used to think of you as my 'baby sister'." She smiled and rested her head on his chest.
"Mmm-hmm. Who'd have thought we'd end up like this?" He didn't reply, just leaned down and kissed her. She leaned into the kiss, her hands coming up behind his neck and holding him close. Suddenly, someone cleared their throat behind them. They jolted apart, spinning around to look at the attendant standing there looking nervously at them.
"I'm…er…I mean…I'm sorry for…um…interrupting." Dart smiled graciously.
"Not a problem," he said, with a sideways glance at Shana, "how can I help you?"
"The King requests an audience with the Dragoons immediately, sir."
"Alright, tell him we'll right be there." The attendant nodded and scurried away. Shana sighed, and rested her head on his shoulder again.
"Duty calls?" She asked, even though she already knew the answer.
He nodded slowly, then, kissed her again.
"See you later." He said.
"Love you." He winked and strode off towards the throne room.
Behind him Shana sighed. Then she got up, smoothed down her dress and walked back to her room.
Albert paced nervously back and forth across the throne room, what was left of it. Minister Noish stood behind him, deep in thought. What was that? Albert thought to himself. I thought all the Dragons were dead. His train of though was cut short, when one of his attendants announced the arrival of the Dragoons. The King span on his heel and rushed to his friends, scanning their faces for any sign they were wounded. Finding none, he dispensed with the formalities and asked for a full report on the battle. Dart recounted what he had seen. But when he finished Albert looked less than satisfied.
"Are you holding something back from me?" he asked at length.
Dart shook his head.
"That's all I know, Lloyd charged in ahead of us and scared the monster off."
"Where's Lloyd?" Albert demanded.
Dart hung his head and didn't reply. Then Kayla pushed between Kongol and Meru and stood face to face with the King, anger etched in every line of her body. She was a full head shorter, but she seemed to dwarf the Ruler.
"He's wounded," she said barely controlling her anger, "he was hurt while fighting that beast, trying to protect your stupid kingdom!"
"Please, calm down miss."
"No! I will NOT calm down! That man is the bravest, most wonderful…" she cut herself short here and clenched her jaw. Her fists were clenching and un-clenching at her sides. Before anyone could stop her, she slammed one against Albert's armour, and stood there glaring at him. Then, with a sniff, she stalked off. Haschel broke into a wide smile and Meru poked Kongol in the ribs to keep him from grinning.
"It looks like someone has a crush on someone." Said the Thunder Dragoon.
"No," Miranda said softly, "She loves him." Dart shot her a confused glance then turned and rushed out after Kayla. Albert watched him go, then, climbed the stairs and slumped onto his throne, whatever it is she feels, I just hope it won't stop her from doing what she has to. He mused.
Zackwell sat, brooding in his own throne room. So the Dragon had managed to eliminate at least one Dragoon, good. But the Dragon itself would not be enough; these people were too stubborn, to strong-willed to be taken down by it alone. Fine, he'd launch another attack, one that would be fatal for at least one Dragoon. With a dark chuckle, he strode out of the chamber towards the Beastiary. Once inside he looked around, searching for just the right creatures to set on the unsuspecting humans. He walked up and put his face close to a cage that was kept dark. Suddenly, a lance flew through the bars and straight into his chest. He looked down at it and smiled. I think I've found just the right creature. With a wave of his hand he destroyed the lance, and with another he opened the cage. Out lunged about a dozen creatures, half horse; half man. Rotting flesh hung off their bodies and each wore dark armour with skulls engraved in it. Some carried long, curved swords, some battle-axes, and two held long lances. He gave them their instructions and they charged off, to wreak their havoc. The Lord of Mayfil smiled. It had been a long time since he'd received a Dragoon.
Lloyd was dreaming, he was fighting something, something he couldn't see, and he was losing. He cried out but no one heard him. Then she was there, Kayla, she reached out to him, but before he could take her hand something whisked her away, with a high, shrieking, laugh. She screamed, and he jolted awake. His eyes looked frantically around for his sword, then he saw her. Curled up next to him on the bed, her tear-stained face turned to the wall. Confusion filled him, what did she think she was doing? He'd never showed any special feelings for her. They were there, but he wouldn't show them, not after what happened to Wink. He'd vowed never to let anyone in after that. For their own good, he'd pushed them away. Sliding his feet out from under the blanket, he stood up, and the pain came, in wave upon wave, he clenched his teeth to stop from crying out, then slowly eased himself back onto the bed. That rock must have done more damage then he'd thought. Slowly he lay back down, bringing his hands up behind his head. Turning his head he saw her move in her sleep. Before he could stop himself, he'd taken her hand. She sighed, then slowly, her eyes, fluttered open and she saw him. With a surprised cry, filled with a strange mixture of joy, and sorrow, she flung her arms around him and buried her head in his chest, the tears coming again.
"I knew…you'd come back…" she managed between sobs, "knew you wouldn't…leave me…" He didn't know what to say to that. So he didn't say anything, just lay there with his arm around this girl. Something had changed in him, he could feel it now. No longer was he the cold, remote, Wingly most people knew. He suddenly realised, he loved this girl. He started to say something, then stopped, looking down at her he saw she'd fallen asleep again. A small smile on her lips. He brushed a stray wisp of hair from her face, and kissed her brow. He'd tell her later. With a smile, he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
Daric Hase walked slowly back towards his home, a large basket full of firewood strapped onto his back. The square was unusually crowded for this time of day. People pushed and nudged trying to get a good view of something in the distance. Daric paused, then, shouldered his way to the front to see what was so interesting. Looking out over the plains, he saw a small group of horsemen, galloping towards Bale. Strange, he thought, they don't look like any soldiers I've ever seen. That's when the horsemen turned towards his village, things started flashing in front of them. And then, all hell broke loose. Fire rained from the sky onto the terrified people, and Zackwell's horsemen burst into the village, cutting down anyone who stood in their way. Soon, nothing was left but charred corpses and the remains of a few stone houses. With hideous grins plastered on their faces, the creatures rode off to their next target, Bale.
Miranda stood at the top of the guard tower, her eyes sweeping the plains around Bale. It all seemed so peaceful. Then, all of a sudden, she saw a cloud of dust spring up away to the east. Probably nothing she thought. Then the dust cleared, and she saw a group of riders heading straight towards Bale at tremendous speed. The sunlight shone off their armour, and their weapons glistened blood red. Enemies! The thought flashed across her mind, and in the same instant she was moving. With a leap she reached the stairs, but she never got any further. A blast from one of the creatures flung her off the tower, smashing her body on the ground far, far below. Oh, damn, were he last thoughts before the blackness reached out its' clinging fingers and pulled her to itself.
For the second time Lloyd jolted awake. What was that sound? Something had slammed into the ground outside. Jumping out of bed, he ignored the pain that jumped into his head. He pulled on his shirt and strapped his sword to his back. Only then did he look out the window. One floor below him, lay the broken body of Miranda. Calling on his wings he jumped off the balcony and landed softly next to her.
"Miranda!" he called, "Get up!" She lay there, unmoving. By now the others had rushed out and were gathered near her body. All except Kayla. Good, he thought, she doesn't need to see this.
"What happened?" Dart demanded.
"No idea," he replied, "I was asleep, I heard a noise and woke up, looked out the window and she was lying here."
"Is she alive?" asked Shana.
"I don't know." Miranda's eyes opened slowly.
"Riders…attacking…blew me off tower…defend people." She managed to croak, before her eyes closed for the last time. Before any of them could make a move, a brilliant, white, light enveloped her body. It gradually faded, and when it was gone, the Dragoon Stone of the White-Silver Dragon, hovered there. Moving slowly, it wove it's way through the group of horror-struck Dragoons, and landed squarely in Shana's hand.
"Shana, it…it chose you again?" Dart managed. Shana swallowed and nodded, the tears coming to her eyes. She'd wanted to be with them, but not like this, not over her friend's body. Before she could say another word, another blast smashed into the ground, right in the middle of the startled group. The Dragoons were blown apart, and battered by the concussion. Lloyd felt like his head was going to explode. Then a white light burst before his eyes and he remembered no more. When the dust cleared, the unconscious warriors were surrounded by the hideous horsemen. Zackwell's minions closed in, each with a weapon upraised, ready to strike the death blow to a helpless Dragoon.
All of a sudden, a dark purple blur swept out of the sky, leaving two headless horsemen in it's wake. Kayla span in mid-air, her daggers at the ready. These monsters would pay for what they had just done.
"Death Dimension!" she screamed. But to her horror the monsters were Darkness Elemental and her spell had no effect. Then, one of the horsemen flung its' sword at her, the wicked blade whistled through the air and slammed her straight in the chest, puncturing her Dragoon armour. She gasped as the blood started seeping out around the blade, and slowly fell to the ground. The Dragoon armour disappeared, leaving her frail form on the ground, the jagged blade buried two inches in her chest. The horseman who had thrown the blade walked slowly to where she lay and ripped the blade from her chest. She screamed.
Lloyd pulled himself out of the stygian darkness that clung to the corners of his mind. Opening his eyes he saw Kayla under one of the monsters that had attacked them. It was raising its' sword to finish her off. He saw the wound in her chest, and a cold fury erupted inside of him. Looking around he saw the other Dragoons scattered across the ground, all unconscious. Shit, it's up to me I guess. Painfully he got up, just as the creature was about to drop the sword on Kayla's unsuspecting form.
"Hey asshole!" he shouted. The creatures turned and their bloodshot eyes took in the lone man standing before them.
"Pick on someone your own size!" He cried, as he launched himself into the air, calling on the Spirit of the Divine Dragon to aid him. The armour appeared around him, and he felt a burning in his head, then, as abruptly as it had started, it stopped. He stood there in the Divine Dragoon Armour, and he knew his wounds had been healed. Didn't know it could do that. He mused as he went into action. Leaping high above the loathsome creatures, he called the Dragon Buster to his hand. Then, in a flash he was in the midst of the monsters. The first one to fall was the one about to finish Kayla. He muttered the words of a spell under his breath and a glowing ball of energy formed around him. Furiously he fired at the monsters shattering two. Then he rolled out of the ball, filled it with his power and sent it hurtling towards the horsemen. A deafening explosion rocked the area. And the few horsemen left disintegrated, in the fury of his attack. Quickly, he dropped to the ground next to Kayla, just as the other Dragoons were recovering from the monsters' attack. Reverting back to normal, he cradled her head in his arms, just as she had done to him only three days ago. Bending down next to her ear he whispered.
"Kayla, can you hear me?" her eyes seemed to take forever to open. They stared at him in confusion, then recognition flared in their violet depths. She raised her hand to his cheek in a tender caress.
"Yes, Lloyd. I hear you." Her voice was weak, and her face was pale, she was fading quickly, too damn quickly, he thought.
"You're going to be fine. I'll take care of you until you get better." She smirked slightly.
"You're a bad liar, you know that?"
"Only to you." Her eyes widened a little at his words.
"So…you…do love…"
"Yes, Kayla, I love you." She sighed softly and reached her other hand up. Taking him by the temples she slowly pulled him down and kissed him.
"Take care of yourself, big boy." Her voice went so soft he could barely hear her.
"No, you can't, not when I just found you. Kayla, no." His eyes pleaded with her to hold on, to keep fighting. She smiled,
"You're…not going soft on me. Are you?" he smiled back, a sad, sad, smile.
"Never." Her fingers intertwined with his, as the other Dragoons gathered around them.
"Good…'cause…I…" she coughed once, then her fingers lost their grip, and her eyes gazed unseeing at the sky. Lloyd passed his hand over her eyes, closing them. As he got up, the Dragoon Spirit left Kayla's body, sending it to Mayfil. The stone rose above the ground, and Lloyd grabbed it before it flew off. Then, got up, retrieved his sword from where it had fallen when he was hurled into a wall and strapped it on his back. He started walking away, out of Bale. Dart and Shana ran up to him.
"Where're you going?" Dart panted. Lloyd's eyes were cold, his voice had a hard edge to it.
"Mayfil."
"We're coming with you," Shana said. He turned and shot her a hard glare.
"I'm going alone."
Review? Yay!