Chapter 4
Fairytale Writing
Zelgadis could feel the heat from the sun beating down on his neck as he adjusted the saddle on Rocky.
Rocky let loose a snort of disgust.
"Yes! I know you hate saddles!" Zel informed him without flinching. "But deal with it!"
The horse gave him a thrashing glare. The hermit counterattacked with a dark glare of his own. "Why I picked you over that nice tame white mare, I'll never know!"
Rocky grunted like a scolded child, but looked away.
Zelgadis also grunted as he located the straps. "I can't believe I'm doing this." he thought. "And right after I vowed to never get involved with women again!"
Zelgadis had gotten use to his isolated life and his local title of the town's hermit. Going to town with a young girl was going to raise exasperating questions.
He could hear the rumors now. "Zelgadis the hermit has a girlfriend!" and he loathed it.
Zel had been the talk of the town far too many times in the past, which what caused him to seek isolated solitude. Wasn't much gossip to discuss about a hermit. That is, unless the hermit rides into town with a young girl!
That was going to stir the bee's nest!
Aggravated, Zelgadis ran his hand through his hair. He was tempted to just lend Rocky to Amelia and let her go on her own, but that stupid sense of honour and pride of his refused to allow that.
"She seems a little naive. She won't last long on the road by herself, especially if she's going all the way to Seyrune!"
His thoughts began to drift. Amelia wasn't a person he couldn't stand, and he had his share of people that could easily force a person to strangle them, just to have them be quiet.
Amelia was much more innocent then most girls her age. A quality he actually liked. Plus she was cute. He'd noticed that as he bandaged her forehead the night before.
Her hair was soft too and her chest...
Zelgadis mentally slapped himself. "What the hell am I doing! It's not like she would be attracted to me." He laughed bitterly at that thought. Oh yes! Girls would just line up to spend a night with a grouchy hermit!
Besides, he promised himself to not get close to a woman againespecially after...
Zel tossed away that thought. There was no desire to dwell on the past.
"Do you need help Mr. Zelgadis?"
The hermit turned to the window where the cause of his anxiety stood. "No. I'm fine. I shouldn't be much longer."
Amelia nodded as she moved from the window. She wished Zelgadis would let her help, but he insisted on preparing Rocky alone, even after she told him she had saddled horses for years.
"I suppose I should just be happy he let me out of bed." The hermit hadn't allowed Amelia to move around till that very morning, and after he had throughly checked her bump and decided she was okay.
Since then, they had planned to saddle Rocky and then ride to town to gather supplies.The town was close by and Zelgadis said he knew it well, but that was all he would say about it.
By his sour expression, Amelia guessed he wasn't thrilled to be going there. She couldn't help but feel guilty for forcing him to go.
Amelia leaned on the ledge of the window, observing the hermit. He was no longer wearing the dirty clothes, but clean respectable ones instead. Amelia was fascinated, for she hadn't seen Zelgadis wear anything else besides the overalls.
Zel had put on a clean white long sleeved shirt. On top of that was a dark navy blue buttoned vest, which was now hidden by the jacket.
His boots and pants were dirt free as well. Amelia noted that he had also combed his hair. The hat was black and had a wide brim that almost seemed to cover half of his face.
"He looks a lot nicer now." she thought, then blushed. "But there was nothing wrong with him before!" she argued to herself. Realizing that staring at Zelgadis wasn't going to speed him up, she ventured lifelessly to the desk and sat down on the chair.
Her fingers drumming on the chair's arms, her eyes wandered to the contents of the desk, which wasn't much. An ink bottle, an ink pen, scattered papers and a pile of papers tied together like it was a book.
The last item sparked her interest.
Intrigued, she took a closer look. The lettering was typed. There were a few words and sentences that had been scratched out by a fountain pen.
Reading the first couple of lines, Amelia realized it was a draft for a story, but what was even more amazing was the title and the author's name.
"The Slayers" by Zelgadis Greywords.
"I didn't know he wrote or had a typewriter for that matter." she muttered.
She thumbed the paper and debated if reading it would count as an invasion of privacy.
"But it's not a diary or anything. I could just only read a paragraph or two."
In the end, Amelia decided it would be alright to have a quick look, but she found herself captured by the story's clutches within the first page.
The talebegan with a sorceress escaping from a group of bandits, whom she had recently robbed. An unusual twist.
The sorceress wasn't frightened though and was about to cast a spell to get rid of the bandits, when a swordsman appeared to assist her.
Amelia giggled, because it was the old damsel in distress scenario, but in this case the damselwasn't really in distress.
However, the sorceress let the swordsman defeat the bandits, for it would just save her the trouble of doing it.
Amelia continued to read:
"So are you alright little lady?"
The sorceress nearly chocked at being called "Little Lady", but she let it slide...this time. The guy did save her from wasting energy.
"Oh, I'm fine." she replied.
The swordsman smiled. "That's good, but you know little girls shouldn't be traveling by themselves..."
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"
Zelgadis's thundering roar freed Amelia from the story's world. Her vision went spinning as Zelgadis whirled her chair around.
Amelia froze and gulped.
The hermit was not amused.
He fumed at her. His hands were tightly gripping the chair's arms so hard, the wood almost cracked.
Amelia was as still as a mouse in the paws of a fierce lion.
The papers fumbled in her lap. Zel's fired filled glare could have lit dry kindle and burned it into Amelia's soul.
It took all of her courage to raise her head. "I was just reading this..."
Zelgadis's arm lept like a strikingcobra and snatched the papers. He scanned and throughly checked them as if inspecting for any possible damage from a mere touch.
"You had no right to read this!" His voice was full of venom.
Amelia's throat tightened. "I'm sorry...I honestly didn't think you would mind so much..."
"Well I do!"
Shoving Amelia aside, the hermit stashed the story into the desk's drawer.
Shamefully, Amelia rubbed her palms together. She could see Zelgadis's muscles tense, then relax before he turned back to her.
"Amelia I would appreciate it if you would respect my privacy."
The girl only nodded. "I'm sorry, but I really enjoyed the story. Do you write a lot of stories?"
"That's the common reason for people to become writers."
The girl's mood perked up slightly. "Are you a writer!"
Zelgadis paused and pursed his lips uncomfortably. "I use to be."
"Have you published any books! I would love to read them!"
"No I haven't!" he snapped. "It was just a hobby I dabbled in and thought I could do when I was a kid before I smartened up and gave up!"
The harsh words stung Amelia. "Gave up? Why? You're really good." She straightened her pose. "I was always taught to never give up and do whatever you can to fulfill your dream!"
Zelgadis gave her a hard look, but she refused to be fazed by it. "I think you have a great talent for writing Mr. Zelgadis."
"Wow! You're one little speech actually changed my mind, so I'm going to become a writer again."
The girl blinked. "Seriously?"
"No." The hermit began to stomp away. "Do me a favor Amelia, while I'm escorting you don't bring this topic up again."
"But..."
"That's my only request." he said darkly. "I originally came in here to inform you that we're almost ready to go, so get ready. Alright?"
Amelia stared at his back and sighed. "I'll be ready."
The hermit gave a nod as he left, leaving Amelia to take in what just happened.
The pounding rhythm of hooves racing along the trail scared every rabbit and groundhog with fear of being flattened to a pancake by the horses.
Gourry held tightly onto Pepper's reins and watched Lina ahead of him as she galloped on Salt.
She suddenly skidded to a halt.
The gunman pulled back on Pepper's reins. Both horses were thankful for the rest and breathed heavily.
"Why did you stop?" Gourry asked.
Lina got off her saddle, then she double checked that both her whip and gun were within her reach. "The map says the kidnappers are just a little farther ahead."
Gourry jumped off Pepper. "So, we don't want to give ourselves away by having them hear Salt and Pepper."
"Bingo! So we have to go quietly on foot."
Gourry reached for his own gun. "Let's go."
The partners took care with each step. As they neared their destination, they ducked and hid behind the trees.
Gourry, gun ready, intensely kept his gaze on Lina. She brought out her whip, then motioned him to attack.
They pounced.
A firm battle cry rattled the air.
Gourry was prepared to shoot.
Lina was ready to tie her prey up with her whip...except there was no one in sight.
The camp was completely deserted. Supplies were scattered across the ground.
Lina froze, gaping. "Where the hell is everyone!"
Gourry put his gun away. "On vacation?"
Lina breathed deeply to lesson the grip on her temper. "Gourry...these are three outlaws with a hostage...Why would they go on a vacation!"
"It was just a joke. Maybe, we're in the wrong place."
Lina folded her arms. "Can't be. We followed the map exactly."
"Then perhaps they went off somewhere."
"That...makes sense."
She went over to the ashes of the small campfire. "These ambers are still warm, so we must have just missed them."
"So, what should we do?"
"Wait." she replied, standing up and dusting her gloved hands. "They wouldn't leave without their supplies, so they'll have to come back for them."
The gunman sighed. "I'll go get the horses."
Lina nodded as Gourry left.
She glanced curiously about the site. "I wonder where they could have gone?"
After Zelgadis's outburst, Amelia made sure not to speak of his writing again.
Still, it troubled her. He didn't need to be so cross about it.
Yes! She read his story, but it wasn't like she read a diary or anything extremely personal. Although, maybe Zelgadis felt his privacy was invaded.
Amelia sighed and ventured outside.
The hermit had just finished preparing Rocky's saddle.
"Are we ready now?" Amelia asked.
"Yes."
She glanced at the saddle and it was then a problem occurred to her.
"Um...Mr. Zelgadis, where exactly should I sit?"
The hermit paused. "Pardon?"
"Well...do you want me to sit in front or behind you?"
Zelgadis frowned. He didn't think sitting arrangements would be an issue, but now that she mentioned it...
He studied Amelia's small frame. She would feel more secure if she rode in front of him, but that would mean having to wrap his arms around her to control Rocky's reins. That also meant he would probably be touching her chest...
He suddenly felt very hot, and it wasn't because of the sun.
"Sit...behind me..." He stammered. "You can hold on to me if you feel like you're going to fall off."
Amelia nodded and Zelgadis lifted her onto the saddle.
She was about to thank him, when a shot rang out.
Zelgadis spun around.
The kidnappers were speedily riding their horses down the hill.
Gun shots sang together like a choir.
Amelia paled. "They're coming to kill me!"
Zelgadis tossed himself on the saddle. "Not if we can out run them!"
He clutched the reins. "Go Rocky!"
The horse refused to budge.
"No! Not now!" This was not the time for one of Rocky's tantrums!
Sweat dripping, they glanced to the kidnappers. They were halfway there.
Rocky looked as well.
Then he ran.
In the opposite direction that Zelgadis had ordered him to go.
The hermit cursed. Rocky was supposed to run through the river not along side it!
"Mr. Zelgadis what are you doing!" Amelia cried.
"It's not me!"
A bullet whizzed by his ear.
The men were gaining on them!
Zelgadis looked ahead.
It was bad!
Crossing the river was no longer an option. It grew wider and was too deep for Rocky to swim. They would be prey for the river's strong current as well.
The bullets were getting closer.
At that moment Rocky halted. They were at the widest and deepest part of the river.
"Rocky what are you dong!" Zelgadis screamed.
The horse was stubborn, but he wasn't stupid enough to stick around and become target practice!
The horse backed away from the river.
Then he hoofed the ground.
His eyes locked on the river like he was calculating the distance.
Zelgadis gaped. "No! He wouldn't..."
Rocky rotated his muscles.
"No way! Rocky couldn't be thinking..."
Then the horse charged the river.
"OH GOD HE IS!"
"Amelia pray we make it out of this alive!"
Amelia gripped Zelgadis tightly.
Rocky reached the river's edge and leaped.
It all happened so fast and yet it seemed like time slowed down.
They flew over the river like a bird.
As gravity sunk in, Rocky landed at the veer edge of the other side.
Amelia and Zelgadis were frozen in shock.
Rocky waited for no commands and ran at top speed.
Amelia managed to sneak a peek at their pursuers. The men were standing dumbstruck on the other side like lightening had just struck them.
The hermit swept away his bewilderment and yelled. "You stubborn mule! What were you thinking! YOU..."
"Mr. Zelgadis he saved us!"
Zelgadis whirled around to Amelia. "He almost got us killed!"
"But he ran down to the part of the river that would have been hard for them to follow. I doubt that their horses could jump like Rocky did."
Zelgadis was miffed, but the comment brought on another shocking look.
He glanced back to Rocky.
At that exact moment, the hermit could swear that the horse was smirking and twitching his ears in amusement.
Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. My life's been real busy lately.
I'm not sure what made me decide to make Zelgadis a writer, it just seemed to suit him. The "novels" he wrote are my little reference to the actual Slayers novels that I've been reading.
For those who are wondering when Lina and Gourry are FINALLY going to catch up to Amelia and Zelgadis, it will either be in the next chapter or the one after that. It depends how long I want to make the next chapter.
