Capriones 8/1/2006

Disclaimer: We shall make use of several of the characters from The Slayers, none of whom belongs to us.

Chapter 11 -- Growing Attachments

Xelloss picked up a couple packages and secreted them under his cloak. Task complete, he wandered the aisles until he located Lina who was also strolling through the craft booths. She looked buoyant, waving her arms in an animated manner while showing Amelia and Sylphiel around. He kept his distance and watched her strike a lively conversation with the wine merchant, before moving on to the next booth to catch her fancy. Warmth flooded his senses as he imagined what it might be like to bed a passionate girl like that.

Now, Lina's back was to him as she held one of the shawls she had sorted through earlier, insisting the other girls offer their opinion. They must not have liked the bright orange, because Lina dropped it in favor of watching the craft woman tease threads from soft, woolen cloth's edge to create a fringe for a new shawl. It was a warm, comfortable scene, the girls carefree and relaxed, absorbed in a very feminine world. He was in a hurry to resume Lina's training, but was reluctant to put an end their enjoyment and peace. It was like stealing a kiss, watching her. Lina looked radiantly happy, and it touched Xelloss' soul. He wanted more than a casual encounter, he admitted. He wanted more than possibly she could give him.

"Well, at last I see you without that little show-off girl pantingat your heels."

Xelloss shivered, and thentwisted aroundto face the young woman with the grating voice, holding his staff in front of him as if to block a blow. He checked the smart-aleck remark on the tip of his tongue, preventing her from sucking him into a defensive argument, instead, turning on the charm and greeting her all politeness.

"Hello, Martina. Have you something important on your mind?"

"Just congratulating my darling, sweet cousin on landing a princess." She clamped her arms around him and squeezed.

"Thank you," he replied, and then freeing himself deftly and inching away.

He wished to disappear, to evade this bothersomerelation who was breaking the spell on his magical "Lina moment." He was tempted to strike her with his staff and "land" her, too, like a big flopping, stupid fish. That image amused him enough that his smile broadened until he appeared convincingly pleased to see her. Before she said anything more which might provoke him, he backed up two more steps.

"Where is she, by the way, your princess-bride?"

"Say what? Oh, over there, see? That's where I am going. I have work to do. Haven't you?"

Martina sniffed and started twisting a lock of her hair with a finger. "N-no..."

"Of course you do. Look, there's Zangalus," Xelloss said, pointing with his staff.

Her curls bobbled as she swung around. "Oh?"

"He's fascinated by you."

"He is?"

"Yes! Surprise him. A man loves a woman who saves him the trouble of having to make the first move."

"Really? I was afraid I might be a little too pushy," she said.

"Oh, not at all! Go ahead. Offer him a hair cut or...find him a hat!" Xelloss suggested in rapid succession and then took off as quickly as dignity could permit.

He sidled up to Lina and whispered over her shoulder. "Lina, I'm sorry, but we must go finish your training."

"But–"

"Now," he said firmly, steering her away from her friends. He pulled out the Claire Bible, showing her the title as an additional lure.

"I'll take your dress back for you, Lina," Sylphiel called after her. "Amelia and I will be safe here, besides, we are hardly alone. Gourry's kept us in his sights since we arrived."

Sylphiel asked Xelloss, "Are you having him guard us from your people or the other way around?"

Xelloss replied with a chuckle at his own silliness, "That's a secret!"

Lina pounded him on the back so hard he nearly dropped his staff and the magic book, as she shouted, "I really hate it when you say that!"

"I don't see why he lets her get away with that?" Amelia whispered to Sylphiel.

"Oh, don't you? He must be in love, you know," she replied.

Realizing how inappropriate it was to have implied Xelloss was in love with someone other than his future bride and then to say so to his future bride, Sylphiel quickly added, "With you, of course. He doesn't want to make a scene in front of you over her. Come on, let's go and leave them to their business. I still need help finding a dress for me."

Amelia understood what Sylphiel was trying to do, or undo, and was grateful for her new friend's sensitivity, but Amelia wasn't blind. She was keenly aware of Xelloss' fondness for Lina. She had seen the look of shock come over his face when Sylphiel had spoken. That expression alone led Amelia to believe that Xelloss had been unaware of his transparency, possibly even his feelings for Lina, until that very moment.

Her face fell, reflecting the grief for their romantic tragedy for anyone to read. Amelia bit her lip to stop its trembling. She would let it pass. She had no delusions that Xelloss felt any passion for her or looked forward to their arranged marriage any more than she did. It was a political move, and having grown up in a royal family where duties abound, Amelia was overly familiar with political pressures.

Xelloss watched as Amelia plastered on a weak smile, turned, and moved on with Sylphiel, leaving Lina behind with him. He directed Lina toward the training field with a gesture. Lina and he were both very quiet; Xelloss contrite as they walked side by side. Were his motives so apparent? His attraction for Lina so obvious? He never thought he was one to wear his heart on his sleeve, but he had never felt anything even approaching love before, and he wasn't a young man. He should have better control than that. Lina must have sensed his inward-turned mood, and didn't interrupt his thoughts with any of her own. He appreciated it, but would have welcomed a distraction this time.

Determined to obey his mother's orders to the letter this afternoon, he exerted himself thereafter, throwing himself into his work. Lina appeared not to care about, or even notice, his new-found perseverance, satisfied to concentrate on her training to the exclusion of all other conversation. All the effort paid off. Before the afternoon was over, Lina cast her first Ragna Blade spell successfully.

"That's good, but to control it you will need practice," he told her.

"I don't think I can pull off another one without a break."

"Then sit and rest awhile if you need to, but then you must try again, this time carving your initials in those mountains over there."

"The Kathart range? Don't Filia's people live there?" she asked.

"Do they? Well, you'll have to be very careful then," he said wryly.

As if on cue, Filia arrived at the edge of the training field, accompanied by a broody looking Valgaav.

"Speak of the devil..." Xelloss murmured.

"And his handmaiden," Lina finished for him. "Val looks mad, I mean, madder than usual."

Xelloss chuckled. "Isn't that the truth? I was beginning to think it was just him, but now I think it's a general Cepheid thing. You know, they keep everything under wraps, all that emotional pressure fighting to escape and when it does–"

The rest of what he had to say was lost in the raised voices of Valgaav and Filia as they closed in. Valgaav told him what Filia had said; Filia corrected him and annotated along the way. Both. At once. It was a wonder Xelloss could follow the conversation at all, but he did. When they had spent themselves, Xelloss cleared his throat.

"Oh, my . . . I see, and so, you would like to know if Filia is telling the truth? Is that right, Valgaav?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, then go back and find Zelgadiss. Bring him here, but tell him first that he'll be asked to perform a shaman truth test."

"A what?" Filia snarled.

Valgaav, however, loped off, intent on his destination and not Filia's resentment, leaving Xelloss to deal with her.

"Oh, it won't hurt. I promise," Xelloss assured her, ducking to avoid Filia's enraged fists.

"And you tell me that based on what specific personal experience? Has he ever tried it on you?"

"Well, the opportunity hasn't actually arisen."

"He hasn't, has he?" Filia pressed, her mace appearing out of nowhere.

"Where did that come from?" Xelloss asked.

"Don't change the subject, you conniving sneak!" Filia shrieked. "You want me to just let that accursed freak perform some hocus-pocus on me that wrenches open my soul, revealing my innermost secrets to the world!"

"Eh, Filia, I think you're getting a little worked up for nothing here," Lina said, interrupting her friend's rant. "Shamanism isn't that invasive for one thing and it's just us here, not the world, for another."

Filia was not appeased. "That's easy for you to say. He's not shamanizing you!"

"I don't think 'shamanizing' is a real word," Xelloss put in.

"No? Well, Mr. Thesaurus, is there a word for 'killing the prince of thieves', huh?"

Xelloss was confused about the 'thesaurus' insult, not knowing what a synonym was much less why one would need a book of them, but he understood the threat. Taking objection to her tone,he grew angry, his staff sparking with his ire.

"No, but there is a word for insolent Cepheid cows," he snapped, and then paused, waiting for her undivided attention.

"Xelloss," Lina growled in a warning tone.

"Fodder!" he finished, countering Filia's expected move, batting away her mace, turning on his heal and blocking it again, and again.

"If you were a clever as you think you are, the man wouldn't look the way he does," Filia said with a swipe of her mace.

"What you do mean by that?" Xelloss asked, blocking the blow.

"If you knew the difference between 'anecdote' and 'antidote' your friend or brother or whatever the guy is to you would be cured!"

"Hey! That's not fair! I know the difference!"

Lina found a place to sit in the grass and made herself comfortable. That Ragna Blade had used up her energy reserves like no other spell she had ever cast. She pulled a stalk of grass from a clump and settled to chewing on it and gazing out over the pastoral vista. She knew ill feelings had been brewing between the two since they had arrived and believed that all they needed was to work it out. Fighting was as good a way as any, better than talk, since their noisy bickering was irritating and while fighting the two were mostly quiet. Just the occasional grunt and groan, and a nice breeze, rustling the last remaining dry leaves, and a few twittering birds overhead to put her to sleep. Lina was awakened from her slumber by the sound of a voice nearby.

"When you're done playing," Zelgadiss said to Xelloss and Filia, his tone dry as toast. "I'd like to get on with this so I can get back to my dark tent."

Filia broke off her pointless attack as if to adjust her headdress, a part of her priestess costume she was most proud of, pretending it had been just an exercise. Xelloss smoothed out his hair and smiled with pride, delighted to have avoided any contact with her mace, circumventing the girl's blows with ease.

"Zelgadiss!" he said. "Good. Valgaav's explained the problem I'm sure. So, well, go ahead. Do your thing. Lina? You might be interested in this."

Lina rubbed her eyes. "Yeah, sure."

She turned her attention to Zelgadiss who stood nearly touching Filia, his eyes closed, concentrating completely on what he was about to do next. She watched as his lips moved first, whispering words she couldn't understand, then his body followed, moving, dance-like, slowly circling Filia, who was standing, arms crossed and frowning.

When a sheen surrounded her in a bluish patina and began to glow, Filia reacted.

"Ach! What's happening to me? What's he doing?" Filia screeched.

"Does it hurt?" Xelloss asked.

"Well, no, but–"

"Then shut up. Please."

Zelgadiss had stopped moving.

"He's smiling. What does that mean?" Filia asked, panic in her voice, her eyes wide.

"I have no idea. If it were me, I'd say I was about to watch you die a slow and grisly-- Ouch!" Xelloss cried out, more from surprise than pain.

"Knock it off!" demanded Lina after landing a punch to his mid section.

Zelgadiss pretended to ignore them. He reached out, placing both hands on Filia's shoulders. She was tall, but he was taller. Her mouth opened to say something, when he shook his head, eyes on hers.

"Tell me, was what you told Valgaav true, about his past, the death of his people by the command of Rezo; that is, as far as your understanding goes?"

Filia nodded, saying, "Yes, of course! What do you take me for? I have no reason to lie. I have plenty of convincing reasons to give him for joining our fight. Lies aren't necessary, in fact, they are the root of all evil."

She broke eye contact with Zelgadiss and looked directly at Valgaav, who was standing a little off to the side. "Everything I said, I meant."

Valgaav felt the heat rise to his face, remembering that she had said several kind and flattering things to him, and knowing that those were the words she was referring to now.

"Was there anything else you wanted to ask her?" Zelgadiss asked Valgaav.

"Me, me!" Xelloss popped up. "I have a question."

Lina yanked on his staff, getting his attention. When he looked back and saw her frowning face, he smiled sheepishly, murmuring, "Guess not. Carry on."

Valgaav shook his head and said, "No."

"Okay, then," Zelgadiss said, passing his hands over and around Filia again, dispersing the magical barrier as he moved. "I'm done. She passes, by the way."

"Just as I said," Filia said, sniffing indignantly.

Xelloss looked back toward the camp and at the lengthening shadows.

"We haven't much time until the celebration tonight and we still have some decisions to make before tomorrow, when we'll be too busy."

"You certainly will be," Filia said.

Xelloss let out his breath, exasperated by this frustratingly, annoying woman. Still, she had her uses and she was a dear friend of Lina's, so he pursed his lips to hold back the cutting reply he had constructed.

"I am sending Gourry to accompany Lina back to Seyruun, where she will meet with Prince Philionel and bring him up to date on current events-- personally," Xelloss said. "Zel, I may have been wrong about the Claire Bible. Gourry told me that Sylphiel and Amelia are gifted white magic healers and that Sylphiel can also employ some black magic. She thinks she can cure you. I want you to try with every possible tool, so I'm lending her the book. Don't let Zelas discover that I have, understand?"

Xelloss waved off any interruptions, and went on talking.

"Valgaav, I give you permission to leave. Take Filia with you and meet with her leader, Milgasia. Milgasia and I go back a long way, and although we have been on opposite sides of many fights, I'd like to stand united against the common enemy. It is Rezo's intention to wipe out all the Cepheid magic users. We all need to band together to defeat him, and to do that we must cooperate. Do you think you can do that for me?"

Xelloss searched the hooded golden eyes for an answer. He knew he was asking Valgaav to make the choice to follow him or Zelas, and that obeying him would go against Zelas' wishes, or so it would be a reasonable assumption. She had not ordered Valgaav to remain on the settlement at all times, but neither had she ever given him permission to leave unaccompanied by another Caprione of high standing. Xelloss was giving him his freedom. What Valgaav would do with it would be entirely up to him.

"I'm thinking," Valgaav said.

"Let me fill you in on a few secrets so we are all on the same footing here," Xelloss said, desperate to have this over and done with. "Zelas wants Lina's power in the clan. Now that's she's here, Zelas doesn't want her to go. My job has been to watch, train, and eventually to lead her in the attack on Rezo."

"You are going to attack Rezo?" Filia asked. "Where?"

"Here. He is coming here to wipe this settlement off the map," he replied seriously.

"But why come here? This is such a small place?"

"I think he has come or will soon come to the conclusion that we are hiding something, maybe two or three 'somethings' that he has been searching for. He is looking for Lina, an accomplished sorceress who is able to impede his progress. He wants to get back a magical implement he lost, an indispensable power enhancing stone. Rumor has it, he suspects bandits have it, or us."

"Have you got it?" Filia asked.

"Of course!" Xelloss said, chuckling.

Xelloss continued, "Rezo is also afraid that Zelgadiss is our captive and still alive and gathering a following. Zelgadiss knows what kind of man Rezo is and he can expose Rezo's true nature, which is of a sorcerer aiming to rule the world single handedly. You see, by saving Amelia and usurping Rezo's position, and I don't mean the shrine leadership job, but as the head of the noble Greywords family, Zelgadiss would the hold the highest ranking position in Atlas City and have the Kingdom of Seyruun beholden to him."

"You certainly know a lot about Rezo's plans. I find that rather suspicious."

"Filia," Xelloss said with an exasperated sigh, "Zelas' spies have been working hard bringing us the latest news."

"Oh, really. So then, where is Rezo now? You can't possibly not know that!" Filia charged.

"Actually, we do. He is in Seyruun. The city hasn't fallen yet, but it stands on the precipice of change, its downfall being very, very bad for us all," Xelloss said.

"And sending Lina there helps? She might get captured! Don't you care?"

"I care, but I have confidence in both her and Gourry, in their abilities to stay out of harm's way and to convince the prince of Rezo's danger. I also want to make Amelia's situation clear to him. I don't want him attacking us to save her because we botched that."

"You mean Zelas botched it," Filia said under her breath.

Xelloss dared not look at Lina for fear that his emotions concerning her become patently obvious. Instead, he returned his focus to Valgaav.

"Val, you must decide soon, tonight even."

"What if I say no?"

"Then I'll have to send Filia alone to beg for Milgasia's help, not a situation to bring the Cepheid forces to our gate."

"Alone?"

"I owe it to Zelgadiss to have the two white magic healers remain with him and attempt his cure, and if I went, well, Milgasia would get the wrong idea completely."

"Not to mention you are getting married and will probably be expected to remain in camp overnight," Lina said, adding, "Or could a trip to a Cepheid hangout be considered a bachelor party?"

Valgaav's eyes burned into Xelloss'. If he left, his chances with Zelas would be over, most likely. He looked resentful, but determined when he said at last, "When Filia goes, I'll go, but I won't promise I'll be coming back."

Xelloss nodded, saying, "I understand, but I hope you do, and that you come leading your people to victory over Rezo."

"We'll see," Valgaav said.

End Capriones Chapter Eleven.