Aboard the Derech Eretz, six years after the mutiny
"Captain, the ship's suddenly changed course to the east and not to our usual harbor. Shouldn't we do something about it?" Zaken raised his head from glancing at the parchment unrolled on his desk to look at his Chief Mate.
"The change was intended." He said simply, rolling the parchment up. "We've reached our limit in Gracia, it's time to head to Aden." He placed the scroll on a pile set in the nook on the wall. Tillion's eyes bugged out in his head as Zaken plucked a smaller scroll from a shelf and returned to his desk.
"Why? We're treated as gods in Gracia! Men and women alike either fear us or wish to join us, there's no reason to start over!" he protested. Zaken stood up straight and regarded him emotionlessly.
"All the more reason to move on, being respected to the point of worship is not the true face of piracy. We're not out to be their friends, we're out to rob them blind." Zaken said simply, stepping from behind his desk and towards the door. "Don't loose sight of yourself Tillion, if you become too greedy you'll turn into something that's not a pirate at all." With that he stepped out of his quarters and onto the deck.
"I think I've earned the right to be worshipped, you tall bag of garbage." Tillion grumbled once the door swung shut. He stepped behind Zaken's desk and plopped himself in the plush chair there. "Just like I've long since earned my own ship." He reclined back in the chair and glanced about the cabin greedily.
It had long since been redecorated to suit Zaken's tastes, the walls now lined with books and puzzles and trinkets of strange and exotic origin. The trio of ships Zaken now commanded had enough jewels and treasures to start their own bank, but for some reason Zaken chose to surround himself with common items that could be found in any house.
Over the course of six years Zaken had made quite a name for himself and had procured two extra ships with the intention of gaining more. They were the Nwalmaer, which Perry and Alvar commanded, and the Wagtail, which Beryl captained. Tillion seethed in jealousy, as he felt, since he was Chief Mate, that he should've gotten first choice of ships to command and someone else take his position on the Derech Eretz.
The costal villages and cities of Gracia had long since learned to fear the name Zaken and Derech Eretz, and fled whenever the names were uttered. This also caused great envy in Tillion's dark heart, since no one knew his name. In fact, most laughed at him when he tried to tell him he was Chief Mate on Zaken's ship!
Zaken had changed over the years and had become a closely guarded man of mystery. He never spoke of himself except in rare occasions while talking to Tillion. He'd shed the heavy wool coat he used to wear for a long, oiled leather trench coat and matching corsair hat. He was handsome and distinguished, and Tillion hated how the women would flock to him without question.
He'd also somehow learned how to wield dual rapiers sometime while in port. A rumor sprang up on the Wagtail that Zaken had learned swordplay from Gran Kain himself with how much of a devil he became in battle. No one could best him in a duel when he drew his swords. The hat and strange choice of weapons (as no one had ever heard of dual rapier wielding. After all, how could one fence with both hands at once?) became a staple, and soon everyone knew his face.
Grumbling in envy, Tillion swung his legs up and plopped his boots heavily on the desk, not caring that he was dirtying the parchments there. The tiny rolled-up scroll that Zaken had previously grabbed rolled off the edge and onto the floor. Noticing it, Tillion leaned down and plucked it from the floorboards, and opened it curiously. His eyes lit up happily and he sat up straight as he realized the scroll was plans for a ship that Zaken wished to add to his fleet.
It had been one that Tillion openly spoke to Zaken about desiring, a tiny little thing that favored speed over firepower. It was quick, quicker than even the Derech Eretz, and could get to any destination in half the time.
"I'm getting my own ship!" he giggled to himself as he poured over the layout greedily. His eyes landed on the list of crew that Zaken had noted in the corner of the scroll that he was going to transfer over. His happy smile dropped as he did not find his name on the list anywhere. Instead, and jealous rage built in him once again as he read it, he found that Zaken intended to hand the ship over to Kylon.
Growling in anger, Tillion crumpled the plans up and threw it against the door as hard as he could. It bounced off as the door was flung open quickly, Kylon himself storming in angrily.
"Zaken, I need to talk to you!" he shouted as he stomped in. Tillion bolted upright from the chair, embarrassed to have been caught sitting in it. Seemingly not noticing it, Kylon looked around the cabin with a scowl. "Where is he? I need to talk to him!" he snapped.
"He's not in here, didn't you see him on deck?" Tillion asked with large eyes. He broke out into a dark grin a moment later as his calculating mind went to work. "Was there a problem?" he asked, his voice rich with concern.
"I wanted to know what the big idea was; I'm not the ship's clown!" Kylon exclaimed, taking a brown parcel from his coat and throwing it onto the desk. Tillion had to clamp his mouth shut from laughter as a pretty, lacy dress slid from the opened paper. The note card that came with it was delicately addressed to Kylon in Zaken's unmistakable handwriting.
"This is awful!" Tillion said sympathetically. "Who does he think he is, compromising your manhood like that? How hateful of him!" Tillion exclaimed. He moved around the desk to kneel beside Kylon and pat his shoulder sympathetically.
"I know! And I do so much to make up for my height too!" Kylon sniffled, large tears welling in his eyes. Tillion sighed and shook his head, and patted Kylon's shoulder again.
"I've been getting complaints left and right it seems, about our esteemed leader." Tillion said sadly. "I do what I can to ease them, but it's almost as if everyone is ready to mutiny!" Tillion stood up and turned his back on Kylon dramatically. "But some of the men aren't cut out to lead the ship at all! If only someone with the qualities of a leader that people have overlooked before would take the stand against our Captain! I'm sure the rest of the men would be sure to follow!" Tillion said dramatically.
"I'll do it!" Kylon exclaimed without hesitation." Tillion grinned wickedly for a moment before turning to face Kylon with a look of surprise.
"You would do that? You would stand bravely as our new Captain?" Tillion asked, his eyes large and innocent.
"You bet I would! I'd give you your own ship to boot!" Kylon said, his face eager and shining.
"I have sorely misjudged you in the past Kylon, you surprise me! Well then, allow me to pledge my allegiance to you already, Captain!" Tillion said, bowing respectfully. The shorter man's chest puffed out and he stuck his nose in the air as his ego expanded. "Time is of the essence though! The next time there is a moment of unrest amongst the crew; I'd grab it and take control!" Kylon nodded in agreement and then began laughing like a madman. Tillion turned away from him to pretend to be straightening the scrolls on Zaken's desk, a dark smirk spreading on his face.
The pair emerged from the Captain's quarters a few moments later to find Zaken standing on the upper deck, addressing not only the crew of the Derech Eretz, but the crews of the other ships, which had pulled close to the main ship. The crews of the Nwalmaer and the Wagtail gathered along the edges closest to the Derech Eretz, and listened intently as Zaken spoke.
"Your navigators may have already reported, but our change in course to the east was intentional. Wind permitting, I intend to have us arrive in Aden within three weeks time." Zaken announced loudly. His voice rang clear over the three ships, easily heard despite the crashing of the water between the boats. There was a chorus of disbelief and protest amongst the crew with this news.
"Aye, what do we want from that place, Captain? We war doin' just fine in Gracia!" Perry shouted from where he hung on the shrouds. The crew of the Nwalmaer shouted in agreement
"Thank you for asking that Chief Mate Perry!" Zaken said, holding up a finger. He clasped his hands behind his back and began to pace back and forth on the upper deck. "We've grown too comfortable gentleman, and I'm afraid that if we don't leave now we'll overstay our welcome and people will stop fearing us!" He paused and looked out over the crew of the Derech Eretz without expression. "Aden is a whole new land full of magic and riches just waiting for us to plunder! They say the land is full of mystics who know the secrets of immortality! Think of it!" he began pacing again, his eyes growing wild with excitement. "The land of the Giants…with their treasures and legacy right there for us to gain! We're growing old gentlemen, even if some of us don't look like it yet. We need to at least get out there and try, to give Aden a taste of the pirates of the Derech Eretz!"
Again there was a chorus of protesting, and Kylon took a few tentative steps forward, his face alive with anticipation. Tillion took a few steps backwards, enough to look like he and Kylon hadn't been together.
"But to Aden sir, that's so far!" an older pirate whined. Zaken tilted his head at him slightly, regarding him without emotion.
"If you'd rather stay in Gracia, please feel free to leave at your leisure. Keep in mind that I will not go off my current course of travel so you must find your own means back to land." Zaken said simply. The crew silenced their protesting to a few scattered angry whispers. "That is all, return to your posts. Captains of the Nwalmaer and Wagtail, please make sure your ships follow the courses I gave your navigators, I don't want us getting separated once we reach midpoint. The Neutral Waters are vast, wild lover, men! Let's show those landlubbers that we're the true kings who were able to tame her!" With that he stepped off of the upper deck and headed back towards his quarters, leaving the men to speak amongst themselves in protest.
Thinking he'd found the chance he was searching for, Kylon jumped forward with his sword drawn and shouted "MUTINY!" The crew was silent in an instant, and Zaken paused in the doorway to his quarters to look at Kylon over his shoulder in surprise. Not finding anyone responding to his shout, Kylon held his sword into the air after panting desperately a few times and tried again. "Mutiny!" came his voice once more, this time uncertain.
"Kylon, what are you doing? I'm sorry to say but this isn't a very funny joke, even for you." Zaken asked, facing him fully. Kylon backed up a few steps as Zaken walked towards him, glancing desperately at the men about him.
The crews on board the Nwalmaer and Wagtail began to jeer as the silence continued, and Kylon turned desperately towards the Chief Mate. "Tillion! You lied! You said they were ready to mutiny!" Kylon shouted as the crew converged on him. He screamed like a girl as he was raised over their heads, and kicked his feet uselessly.
"Shall we throw him o'erboard, Cap'n?" a surly red-haired pirate asked. There were shouts of agreement among the crew of the Derech Eretz, and they began shifting towards the side of the boat.
"NO!" Kylon screamed in a high-pitched voice. There were shouts of alternate punishments from the other two ships, and Kylon whimpered at a few of them.
"No, throw him in the brig." Zaken said after a moment's consideration. The jeers turned into noises of protest as the men carrying Kylon moved towards the brig door. "Enough!" Zaken said loudly, silencing the other ships. "We've been held up long enough! He'll receive his punishment come landfall, now weigh anchor you scum ridden weevil shaggers!" he snapped, waving his hand. Disappointed, the crews of the other ships moved back to their posts and began making preparations to pull away from the Derech Eretz.
Kylon screamed again as he was carried below the deck and thrown into one of the holding cells. He landed on something squishy, and screamed in horror as it was a pile of Krantz's feces. He screamed in horror again and ran for the door as it clanged shut as he realized they'd thrown him into the holding cell that Krantz frequently used as a toilet to relieve himself in. His shouts went unheard, and the trapdoor leading into the brig was shut heavily, blocking the noise from the deck.
Komugi sat on the railing of the upper deck, staring at the familiar harbor of Gludin. The Wagtail and Derech Eretz had just docked, receiving looks of shock from the workers there as they'd never seen ships such as theirs before.
Beryl emerged from the Derech Eretz with a group of men carrying a bound Kylon over their heads. He wiggled and struggled, screaming like a girl once more. They carried him over to a cargo hook and tied him to it, upside down, by the ropes binding his feet.
"What are we to do with him Cap'n?" Beryl shouted as Zaken emerged at the top of the ramp leading down to the docks. The men pushed Kylon around like a tetherball, and the small man's eyes rolled up into his head from motion sickness. Zaken thought for a moment, and then smirked coldly.
"It seems we have a group of gentlewomen coming from the city, and our dear Kylon stinks of putris. Make him presentable, men!" Zaken said, putting his hands on his hips. The men chuckled loudly and then circled around Kylon again, who began to squeal, like a pig. There was the sound of ripping fabric, and bits of his clothes fell onto the docks. Komugi scoffed in disgust and looked away, not wanting to see Kylon's recollection to her first hand.
"Hoist him up!" Beryl commanded, and the men began to laugh as they pulled the cargo hook into the air. The women coming from the town to give their husbands food stopped dead in their tracks as they noticed the naked man swinging in the air in front of them. Some fainted in horror, while others gasped in anger and ran back to town. A few of husbands dashed after their wives, shouting apologies the entire way.
"Back to work men, hoist the sails, weigh anchor!" Beryl shouted. Still laughing the men turned away, leaving Kylon dangling upside-down from the hook.
"You're awful." Komugi said bitterly, glaring at Zaken who chuckled darkly at the top of the ramp. He turned and disappeared back onto his ship as his crew boarded, laughing the entire time. Komugi glanced in pity at Kylon, who swung back and forth from the hook, weeping loudly. Several of the harbor workers dashed over to him as the ship pulled away from the dock, and Komugi sighed in relief.
Zaken's plundering of the south and southwestern coast of Aden began almost immediately. His attacks came at a surprise, no one ever expected a pirate from Gracia to suddenly show up. He even laid waste to Talking Island a few times, and Komugi felt rage build at the sight of him robbing the familiar harbor and town of her birth. It was years before even her parents were born, but she still felt sorrow for the townsfolk who wept in horror at the fate that had befallen them. Always quick to form resistances, it wasn't long until the king issued a bounty on the head of Zaken or any of the ships in his growing fleet.
Zaken had five ships to his name now, the two new ones named the Shepard's Flute and the Dreadful King, which was a ship larger and better outfitted than the Derech Eretz. Zaken remained on board of the Derech Eretz, and had docked the Dreadful King next to a rocky, cave-riddled island off of the coast of Giran. There were several other smaller ships that claimed to fly under Zaken's flag, but they were not accepted as part of his fleet, and usually sunk quickly upon being spotted by anyone in Zaken's fleet.
Tillion still did not have his own ship, and his jealous rage began to grow. He was growing tired of being Zaken's lapdog, but did not know how to go about getting rid of Zaken. The entire crew seemed to be pleased with him at this time, happy at the wealth they were amassing. Finding Aden too full of adventurers to safely hide much treasure on the beaches, Zaken began to take slaves and dig out the cave-ridden island to store his treasure there.
Zaken was present on the first true day of construction, and oversaw the slaves without emotion. His crew treated them less than humane, but he didn't bat an eye as men and women alike were whipped until they bled. Zaken's only honorable trait at this point, that Komugi could find, was that children were brought with their parents, but not forced to work or beaten. The extent of this honor was questionable however; as it occurred to Komugi that Zaken was using the children as a means of forcing the parents to work.
There was a chorus of horrified screams on the day Komugi found herself pushed to, and Zaken spun quickly to face the direction the noise emanated from. He shielded himself as the rock wall burst outward, showering the cavern that the slaves were working out of with rocks. Several of them, and pirate overseers were pinned underneath boulders, and screams of horror turned into ones of pain. Although not fazed by anything the memories showed her usually, Komugi found herself standing and staring in shock as a tall red demon emerged from the hole in the wall, roaring in rage.
He was naked, his body covered in glowing tattoos that seemed to smolder with an inner fire. His face was pointed, but Komugi found in surprise that he was handsome, in a demonic way. He had fiery red spiked hair on top of his head, and two great bull horns protruded from the sides of his head. Three beautiful, demonic women, shorter than him, ran in around his legs and began to attack the slaves and pirates gathered in the cavern.
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Zaken shouted. His voice held a great commanding presence, and the demonic women themselves stopped in the act of killing to look at him in surprise. "What is the meaning of this, demon?" He asked the tall creature boldly.
"You insolent fools, how dare you encroach upon my territory and wake me from my slumber!" The demon roared. "I have come to this island to be free of you fools, and here you are, turning my home into your own personal depository! I will not have it!" the demon took large steps towards Zaken in an intimidating manner, but Zaken didn't even blink.
"We have come a long way, from the Gracian seas far across the Neutral Waters. We were not aware of this being your place of slumber demon, but perhaps we can come to a deal." Zaken said smoothly, staring at the demon evenly.
"I, a faithful servant of Beleth make a deal with a weak human like you? The very idea makes me retch!" the demon spat. "You will vacate my place of rest now or my wives shall continue to feed!" With a short nod from the demon the wives returned to ripping the chests and throats out of the people they had pounced.
"I refuse!" Zaken shouted loudly over the cries of death echoing through the cavern. The demon turned on him in surprise, and the wives stopped what they were doing again.
"You refuse?" The demon laughed. "You insolent thing, how dare you think to command me, the demon Kurikups?" The demon began to laugh loudly, his wives echoing with hissing giggles.
"Lord Kurikups, here is the deal I wish to present to you." Zaken began, facing the demon bravely. "Allow me to use this island as my base for my treasures. We shall leave your place of slumber be, and in exchange for your cooperation, you shall be well-guarded. Intruders are bound to come here eventually, but if we make a pact now, I can have my men guarding my treasure make it so you will never be disturbed again." Kurikups stared at him in surprise, and thought for a moment, lifting one clawed hand to his chin.
"You present a good deal, human, and I am impressed by your boldness. Fine then, I shall abide by your deal for now, but any one of your crew or slaves that dare disturb me from now on shall be eaten without hesitation, understood?" Kurikups said.
"Agreed." Zaken said, nodding. Kurikups waved his hand, and his wives abandoned the bodies they held to the water, following him dutifully back into the hole from where they emerged. Komugi tilted her head curiously as they left; she'd never heard of the demon Kurikups before, and she wondered if he were still on Devil's Isle.
The next memory Komugi faced now was a battle on the sea. The Derech Eretz, Wagtail and Shepard's Flute was facing four of the best ships in King Raoul's possession. Cannons fired at one another with loud bursts, and from where Komugi floated over the ocean; she could see the crew of the Derech Eretz racing about trying to return fire. Men were tossed overboard as the ship shook from impact, and a sick feeling washed over Komugi as she realized the Derech Eretz was loosing. She was transported quickly, against her will, to the deck of the Derech Eretz as the main battleship from Aden boarded.
She found Zaken amongst burning debris littering the deck, fighting Aden's soldiers, three at a time. She had only seen him move in battle once, during the attack on him in Devil's Isle that ultimately led to his feeding from her. It was different though, seeing him move as a human than as a vampire. There was something beautiful about his swordmanship, a kind of raw beauty that only a man fighting for his life could display.
His swords clashed against the blows the three soldiers attempted to land on him, and he spun gracefully to stab an approaching forth through a link in his armor while holding the other three at bay. He returned his attention to the first while the fourth fell, and slid out of the hold to return to parrying their blows. He darted forward in impressive footwork, stabbing one through the neck, and the other through the chest where his armor did not cover him under his arm.
"Tillion! Pull the ship back, we have to retreat!" Zaken shouted as he parried blows from the remaining soldier. Komugi gasped lightly as she saw Tillion creeping across the deck with a look of fear plastered over his face. "Tillion!" Zaken called again, not seeing his Chief Mate. Tillion slithered over the railing and into the water, and began to paddle away as quickly as he could.
"You coward!" Komugi exclaimed in disbelief. Tillion cast one frightened look over his shoulder before swimming as fast as he could for shore. Komugi returned her attention to Zaken's fight, and gasped. "Watch out!" she cried, a man creeping up behind Zaken. He didn't hear her, of course, and the point of a sword exploded out of Zaken's chest as he was stabbed through the back. Zaken cried out in pain, his back arching as the man withdrew his sword from it. He fell to his hands and knees, and looked up at his attacker weakly.
"Isn't this a pleasant way for life to swing around?" Mordecai's voice came. He had long hair now and a dusting of a beard, and grinned at Zaken with triumph. "Fashioned yourself into a right fancy captain, I see. Well this is the end I'm afraid, hope you had your fun." He dragged Zaken across the deck towards the railing.
"How…are you alive…?" Zaken choked, blood coming from his mouth. Mordecai grinned at him as he raised him up, half propping him over the railing.
"I used my father as a raft, the dead float, you know." Mordecai snickered. "Floated the entire way to the Dark Forest's coastline on him too miraculously, until the fish finally caught whiff of him and came to eat. I have to thank you though; I've had a better life here than I would've ever had on that stuffy old ship with my father wiping my ass every five minutes." He patted Zaken's cheek roughly, his smirk darkening. "I go by the name Leopold now, so be sure to tell everyone in the abyss that I sent you, alright?" Without another word he tossed Zaken overboard and watched until his body sank below the waves.
"Zaken!" Komugi cried, diving into the water after him. She made no splash as she went underneath the waves, and found that she could still breathe. She groped for him in frustration as he sunk deep within the water, a look of suspended horror on his face. He watched the blood floating from the wound on his back and chest in shock, memories of his father's death playing through his head.
Sharks circled above Zaken's head as he sunk farther into the water, snapping at the blood. They seemed to realize where it originated from, and swam quickly after it, jaws chomping for a piece of Zaken. Komugi was propelled from the water as she tried once again to reach for him, and could only watch from above as a dark color seeped to the surface. She sobbed once and looked away, not knowing where the blood was coming from, and not wanting to know.
Lighting flashed overhead as a storm rode in from the west. There was a great flash, and Komugi winced as lightning struck the main mast of the Derech Eretz. Aden soldiers that had crawled aboard the ship to claim it jumped overboard as the mast caught fire. From where she floated she could see Mordecai shouting in frustration, his father's ship slipping from his grasp once again.
"Serves you right, Leopold." She said in a low voice. Leopold, if it was truly the same man from this time, was the aged master of the Black Lion brigade who acted against the remaining forces of Gracia in her time. He seemed pleasant and well-liked amongst those who were part of the Black Lion group, and had never been cruel to Komugi during the time she lived in Gludin, but she wasn't sure she could ever see him in the same light after this.
Komugi looked around herself curiously as the scene shifted, and she found herself standing on a tall cliff looking down to the ocean that crashed below. Lightning flashed again, and in the brief light she saw a hand break the surface of the water and clutch one of the slippery rocks. Zaken, now minus his hat, followed the hand, and pulled himself out of the water with a gasp. He scaled the rock ledge like a man possessed, and finally pulled himself to the level ground Komugi stood upon. His eyes were wide in unshakeable horror, and his body was covered in scratches that had bled white. He hugged himself and shivered as more thunder and lightning crashed overhead, his expression the exact same as it had been the night his father and sister had been killed. He had just faced death again, the only thing that seemed to terrify him the most, and barely escaped it's grasp.
"Carine, hurry!" a middle-aged farmer shouted not long later, racing across the meadow and towards Zaken. "There's someone over here, bring that light quickly!" A plump woman ran after her husband, a lantern rattling in her hand as she tried desperately to keep it lit despite the torrential rain falling from the sky. Komugi found herself rising higher into the sky despite her best efforts to stay on the ground, and could only watch as the farmer couple hefted Zaken up by his arms and helped him walk back to their house.
"And we're at yet another standstill." Ryonai said in annoyance. He and Shizuka were ducked behind some rocks, looking at an ice lake in front of the entrance to the Ice Queen's castle proper. Standing in the center of it was the Ice Fairy Sirra and her servants, watching the area with sharp eyes.
"Want me to get naked and lure them away?" Shizuka asked brightly.
"How in the world would that work on a floaty woman made of ice?" Ryonai snapped. Shizuka thought for a moment, and then hit her fist into her palm.
"She could like girls!" Shizuka stated happily. Ryonai opened his mouth in protest and then shut it again as he pondered this possibility.
"Wait, I don't want another woman seeing that either, that's for my viewing alone!" Ryonai exclaimed, realizing that he'd almost agreed to her idea out of male hormones.
"Uh oh." Shizuka suddenly said, staring over Ryonai's head with large eyes. Ryonai turned quickly to find Sirra floating behind them, regarding them with cold curiosity. He and Shizuka barely managed to dodge her as she froze the air in an attempt to ice them like she had done with Komugi. Her servants flew from around her after him, and Ryonai lifted his shield to block the claws of the eyeball monster.
Without a word Shizuka began casting spells to enhance Ryonai's attack, as Ryonai drew his sword in preparation. He ducked and rolled again as Sirra attempted to freeze the air, and her wind Sylph came for him this time. He cursed as his sword passed through her, and reached into his armor. He pulled a canteen of water from it, and uncorked it with his teeth. He threw it at the Sylph just as Sirra attempted to freeze him again. The water caught the tail end of her magic, and tiny ice needles flew through the air and into the Sylph. She let out a gasping scream before falling to the ground gracefully, impaled upon the ice-needles.
Sirra stared at her fallen servant in horror, and then turned a hateful glare onto Ryonai as he fought the claw-demon. Her face darkened and she held out a hand, a strange staff of ice forming in it. With an echoing shout of rage she flew at Ryonai and swung her staff, no longer content to kill him by just using her magic alone. Ryonai's eyes widened and he quickly glanced between the angered Ice Fairy and the claw demon, unsure of which to fight before jumping out of the way.
"A little help here, Shizuka!" Ryonai managed to get out as Sirra swung at him again. He held his shield up and her staff clanged off of it, ice forming where the staff had hit the metal. "Holy shit!" Ryonai exclaimed, as the ice broke away, taking the piece of shield with it. He stumbled onto his back, tripping over some frozen vines. His eyes widened in horror as the end of her staff smashed into the ground between his legs, mere inches from his crotch. He stared at the Fairy in disbelief. "I need that!" he exclaimed before rolling to his feet.
Completely calm, Shizuka watched as Ryonai struggled against the fairy and the demon. She then calmly plucked a small, cylindrical object from her travel pack and held it in her fist as she extended her arm from her body. The cylinder grew magically, turning into a bow, and she took an arrow from the quiver stored in her pack. Smoothly she fitted the arrow into the bowstring and took careful aim at the claw demon before letting the arrow fly. It smacked the demon in the middle of its eye, a sickening popping noise preceding a gush of purple blood. It screeched horribly and writhed in the air.
Her second beloved servant taken down, Sirra turned her hateful glare onto Shizuka as the Elf shot the claw demon with another arrow, taking it down to the ground. She screeched loudly at her before lifting her staff and beginning a swift flight in her direction. She was halted before she'd even moved an inch, as Ryonai's sword went through her midsection. Sirra turned her head woodenly to stare at him over her shoulder, her eyes wide with horror.
Ryonai's look of triumph turned into one of surprise, and he released his sword as it crystallized with ice. Impaled through the stomach on the sword, Sirra turned back to face the castle, and reached a hand out towards it, her breath coming out in echoing gasps.
"Majesty…" she gasped, grasping for the castle with one hand while the other held her chest. Her head tilted back and ice suddenly crystallized in a great lump out of her mouth and down her chin, and Ryonai backed up a few steps to protect Shizuka as the Fairy began to crumble. She fell apart in pieces, as if she had been a fragile figurine that had been dropped.
As soon as he was sure she was truly dead, Ryonai took a few shuffling steps forward and retrieved his frozen sword from the snow. He made a distasteful noise as the ice didn't seem to want to break from it. "Let's just get going." He said dejectedly. Shizuka, unfazed by what had just transpired, nodded enthusiastically and pranced after him as he plodded across the frozen lake to the Queen's castle.
The Gargoyle that had been following them since they entered the Queen's courtyard now flew down from the perch he had taken on the upper ledge, and lifted up Sirra's head gingerly. He sighed heavily and began collecting her pieces from the snow. He had to make sure they were all there when Freya got around to putting her back together.