**Author's Note: Ok, I guess I'm doing good again on updates, twice in one month! I am sorry, but this chapter is crazy long. I thought about trying to chop it off like I did the last chapter, but I got tired of doing that. I decided to just finish what I wanted to happen in this chapter. I hope you guys like it and don't kill me for the length lol. Ok I'm going to stop babbling, because it's 11:30 pm, and I still haven't started my homework, lol.**
Thanks to: Nikku, FeyeMorgan, Rita, Asuka Kureru, for your wonderful feedback :)
Chapter 10
"He's going into cardiogenic shock!" one of the medics said as Miguel, Viole, Gatty, Guimel, Dallet, and Shesta watched them lift Dilandau carefully onto a white gurney.
"Keep pumping that oxygen into him and as soon as we get to the clinic we'll start an IV. I want to get some beta-blockers, and some nitrates into this kid. He's too young for a heart attack, lets nip this thing before it causes any damage."
The team of two men and a women in white tunics jogged out of the room pushing the gurney chattering back and forth to one another rapidly in clipped sentences.
"Good gods... Shesta if you hadn't of followed him..." Guimel began. "A heart attack? Aren't those for old people?"
"I thought so," Viole said.
"How could he have a heart attack? He's healthy, or he was healthy. He exercises, he eats like a bird, he doesn't smoke..." Gatty wondered.
"He drinks, and he's got a bad temper. There's also stress..." Dallet pointed out.
"Maybe he has an enlarged heart," Guimel suggested, and they all stared at him curiously. "I knew a guy in my home town, a solider a few years older than us. He just dropped dead one day while he was practicing with his sword. When the town coroner did the autopsy it turned out the guy's heart was almost twice the size of a regular heart."
His comrades had paled and Guimel wished he could take back his story immediately. "But, you know, if Lord Dilandau had an enlarged heart someone would have known about it by now. I mean when the Sorcerers take him away every month they have to do full body scans on him to make sure he's ok."
"He's only sick when he comes back from them," Shesta said roughly. "They did this. He was fine!"
"No, he was going nuts," Guimel countered. "Remember? He was having us defy every order Adelphos gave us, talking to himself, and being just plain mean. I mean his decent into madness was gradual, but..." he broke off shaking his head.
"He wasn't that..." Viole began but then made a face. "Ok, so I was thinking about turning in my resignation and taking a beating. He was turning into a different person. He'd stopped spending time with us doing homework, and trying to help us get better in practice. It was like he'd adopted another life's philosophy or something. It was freaky. When he came back this time, he really came back. He's the guy I pledged to die for again...and now he's gonna..."
"He's not going to die," Gatty said fiercely. "He'd never leave us, he's got to teach us some more, and we still have to find the dragon. He's got too much to do, he can't rest when there are thing to be done, remember?"
"My Papa had a heart attack and he looked much better than Lord Dilandau does. He died Gatty," Shesta breathed.
"Shut up Shesta!" Miguel snapped. "Your Papa was old!"
"Miguel!" Viole gasped incredulously. "Show some tact."
"He's telling us Lord Dilandau is going to die; I don't have to be compassionate to him at all! Is he being compassionate to us?" Miguel demanded.
"Look, everyone just calm down," Gatty hissed. "We have to go out there and tell the other Slayers what's going on, and we don't want to alarm them."
"Lord Dilandau is having a coronary... how is that not going to alarm them? If any of them caught sight of him in the hall being wheeled out of here they'd freak. He looks like..."
"I KNOW what he looks like!" Gatty exploded. "Miguel you are not helping anyone or anything! If you are going to continue jumping down everyone's throats for making suggestions, to which you have none to add, you may leave!"
Miguel glared at Gatty then looked around the small circle to see that no one was speaking up for him. "Fine!" he roared. He didn't have to stay where he wasn't wanted. He stormed out of the hangar.
"Jerk," Guimel murmured placing an arm around Shesta's shivering shoulders. "Shes.... he did tell the truth about your Pops. The way he phrased it was inappropriate, though. Your Papa was an old man and it was probably his time to go. Lord Dilandau isn't even a man yet, it can't be over for him. It looks bad, but I can't see that guy dying on us, not yet, not without us dying first. Now I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to commit a mass suicide and if he's really going to die now that is what we need to be preparing to do. Our lives go to him and if he's not here..."
Dallet nodded furiously, "I won't serve under anyone else and I pledged to be a Dragonslayer until death."
"See, Lord Dilandau wouldn't go and die on us, because he knows we'll die too. He cares too much about us to let that happen. I mean a few colors ago I might not have been too sure about that statement anymore, but now.... yeah," Guimel looked certain and he squeezed Shesta's shoulder. "He's gonna be fine."
"What do we tell the others?" Gatty asked with his eyes closed.
"Tell them the truth. There's no need to hide anything from them," Shesta whispered. "They'll find out eventually, but you don't have to tell them we think it might be a heart attack. We don't know that and there's no need to scare them."
"It won't take all of us to give that announcement. Guimel and I are going to see about Lord Dilandau. I know the medics will be busy, but someone in there may at least be able to tell us what's going on," Dallet said patting Gatty's shoulder.
Gatty nodded, "Shesta will you come with me to make the announcement?"
"Sure," Shesta agreed solemnly.
Viole stood gazing around at his companions waiting for his job to be explained. When nothing came he got impatient, "Hey, what about me? No one wants me to come with them?"
"Uh...."
"Well..."
"Oh....I'll go find Miguel. He...he doesn't mean to be harsh; he just doesn't know how to handle fear well," Viole sighed. "When I find him we'll join Dallet and Guimel in the clinic. How's that?"
"Perfect," Gatty clapped his hands. "Lets get to it then."
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Upon his arrival, Folken was immediately met by two Dragonslayers he didn't know by name. "Lord Folken, you are needed you in the clinic. It's Lord Dilandau, sir."
Folken raised a hand letting them know that he didn't need to hear anymore. He walked past them leaving his escorts to deal with his suitcase.
How many more outburst could Dilandau's body take? To save his life, Folken actually entertained the idea of putting the boy in some sort of stasis, maybe an induced coma, to ensure he kept calm until Folken could come up with a way to control his hormones.
He reached the clinic doors and stepped through, not greeting Guimel, Dallet, Shesta, or Gatty as they sat anxiously on a small metal bench outside of a drawn white curtain.
"Lord Folken!" they all bolted into a standing position.
"The medics wanted to be alerted as soon as you got here, sir," Gatty said briskly.
"What happened?" Folken asked staring at the curtain.
"He was fine...then he came to watch practice and I guess he got upset. He went to the hangar and got out his Oreades..."
"I was down below to see the result of that."
"...then when he came back out he fell over and complained about pain in his chest and arms, and how he couldn't breathe and his heart was beating too fast. Lord Folken, my father had a heart attack and that is certainly what it seemed like was happening to Lord Dilandau. The medics came in here, shut the curtains, and haven't said anything to us except, 'send Folken to us immediately when he returns.'"
Folken blinked at Shesta's words, it did sound like a heart attack, and in Dilandau's present condition it was a definite possibility. His heart muscle was constantly being overtaxed. He parted the curtain and slipped behind it without saying anything else to the 4 grave boys.
The world behind the curtain was rather calm compared to the emergency situation Folken had been envisioning. He walked past a row of empty white beds until he reached the end of the room where he had to draw back another curtain, much thinner than the one he'd first entered through.
Dilandau laid sleeping on his back with a clear mask over his face feeding him oxygen and an IV draining into one arm. His skin was gray, and his hair was matted with sweat. Folken touched his face gently jerking back at how cool the boy felt.
"Lord Folken.... thank the gods you're here," Marie, the head medic, approached from a back room. She held a syringe and several tubes in her hands.
"What happened?" Folken asked. "Was it a heart attack?"
"Almost," Marie answered calmly. She set her tools down on a small table next to Dilandau's bed. She picked up the bottle of antiseptic that had been sitting on the table and some fresh cotton swabs and prepped the tender area on the inside of Dilandau's elbow. "There was no clotting and there is no damage to the heart muscle. We just gave him something to help ease the pain and thin the blood a bit, and he calmed down. It's all coming from over stimulation and I can't understand it. There's just too much strain being put on his heart and lungs and he only seems to show improvement when he's sedated. I have a feeling you know more about this situation and perhaps you can enlighten me so that I can help this young man."
Folken watched as she inserted the hollow needle and began to draw blood into the vile attached to the syringe. Just how much of Dilandau's past should he reveal to the woman? He, himself, was going to get to work on something that could help Dilandau, but that process would go so much more smoothly with another trained professional helping him. Dilandau couldn't mind the loss of privacy much if it meant he got better...
Folken sighed, "You may want to sit down Marie, I've got quite a story to tell you."
*******************************************************************************************************************************
Viole winced as he watched Miguel taking out his frustrations on the large blue punching bag, "Geez, what did it ever do to you?"
Miguel's eyes narrowed and he continued to pummel the bag without gloves or taped knuckles, "It's standing in for you..."
"Ouch," Viole grimaced, taking hold of the bag from behind and holding it steady for Miguel. He flinched as Miguel's fists dug into the weighted bag; the blows were rib shattering. Miguel could never hit him that hard, no matter how many "Miguel's-so-stupid" jokes he told.
"Are they talking about me, Viole? Talking about what a jerk I am?" Miguel grunted over the brutal sound of his fists striking the sand bag. "It's fine you know; they can talk about me all they like. I don't care."
Why do I not quite think that's true? Viole wondered, but said nothing. It was rare that Miguel wanted to talk, so he was going to let him.
"Freakin' Gatty...damn Shesta... Think they know everything and what's best for everyone. Well they don't! They don't know anymore than I do! But everyone looks up to them like their some sort of generals. Well they screwed up with Lord Dilandau today, didn't they? Not so perfect anymore, are they?"
"And Shesta going around telling people Lord Dilandau's going to die. He doesn't know half as much as he thinks he does! Why does everyone defend him? Do they think he's right? They should know better than that! And Gatty...screw Gatty! He can kiss my ass! And Guimel, what right's he got to talk about anyone?"
Wonder if he's going to forget I'm here and say something about me? Viole mused. But then again, what more can he say about me that he hasn't already said to my face. Viole supported the bag with his body and he was beginning to ache from the constant impact.
"Dammit Viole what's after this?" the abuse stopped, and Viole practically sagged in relief. "If anything should happen to Lord Dilandau, where do we go? There will be no other Captain I respect more, so I couldn't possibly stay with the military and I won't go home! I refuse to go back to that place. Those people who call themselves my family, they're horrible. All they care about is money and power and they'll do anything to get it. There are assassinations and false arrests, disappearances, and forced marriages. I won't go back there ever!"
Oh Miguel... Viole peered around the edge of the sand bag to see that Miguel had slid down onto his bottom and sat straddle-legged on the floor with his head bowed. He came around and took a seat next to Miguel. "Nobody said you had to go back. If something ever happened and somehow we survived, we'd stick together you and me. We could...go back to my place. If you like a lot of howling, squealing woman that like to dress you up in ruffles and lace, call you pet names, and will no doubt have vapors over my return." Viole shuddered thinking about his family home. His mother and sisters would eat him alive if he ever went back.
"But Miguel, nothing's going to happen, ever."
"That's a naive outlook, Viole."
"Yeah, so? I'm 15, I can be naive and so can you!"
Miguel glared at him, "Is it possible for you to take anything seriously?"
Viole looked to be contemplating his statement, then shook his head with a grin, "Nope, nothing at all."
Miguel groaned and buried his head in his hands. Viole chuckled lightly and laid a hand on Miguel's back, "Miguel, of course I take things seriously, but there are some times you just have to lay back, let things happen, find something that amuses you about it. If a person's serious all the time he'll go crazy. Ok, Lord Dilandau's down, but when have you ever known him to stay down for long?"
"Never," Miguel whispered, "but this is different Viole. You saw him. Gods, what if Shesta is right... stupid Shesta, damn him for putting this thought in my head. Damn Gatty for not saying Shesta was lying. Damn him for dismissing me like I was wrong."
"Miguel, Shesta's scared. He was there when it happened and he was still freaking out. Of course he's going to say some pretty bleak things. Everyone kind of understood that and kind of got a little frustrated at the fact that you didn't. You're upset too and in the confusion it was overlooked. Look, we'll probably have a group talk after this and everyone will apologize to everyone else. And we'll go see Lord Dilandau and bring him his maps to work on while he's laying up in the clinic. He's really good you know. He draws better than I do and I only had to show him how to smear coal, and mix paints once. My crazy mother would love him. She has this thing about children having artistic talents, either you play an instrument, you sing, you dance, or you paint. I'm tone deaf with two left dancing shoes, so I learned to draw."
Miguel sighed deeply.
"Yeah, I'm getting a little off topic. I know I'm getting on your nerves. I know in a minute you're gonna say, 'Shut up Viole, I want a new partner.'"
"Shut up Viole..."
Viole nodded with knowing smirk.
"..and I don't want a new partner."
Viole blinked, huh? Did Miguel skip a page in the script? This was the part when he told Viole to get lost.
"My gods, is that all it takes to get you to shut up?" Miguel actually snickered.
Viole nodded, still speechless.
"What will you do now that I know your secret?"
Viole shook his head.
"Ok, this is just plain creepy. Speak."
"So anyways, I was thinking of teaching Lord Dilandau how to use watercolor. It's a really relaxing activity and hours can go past before you even realize it. I mean after all this there's no way Lord Folken is going to let him do anything or go anywhere for a long time. We may even have to be given a new name, because the dragon will probably be captured before we can get back into action, and they'll have something else for us to do. Hey, maybe they'll let us join the new-world expeditions, huh? Wouldn't that be fun? We can discover and conquer in the name of Zaibach and have history books about us with all our names mentioned. I mean being war heroes is one thing, but come on, you know those history books will say Dilandau Albatou and his Dragonslayers...and maybe they'll mention Gatty's name once, but the rest of us, hah!"
Miguel sputtered and Viole cackled wickedly, "Had you going there, didn't I?"
"I should have known better."
Viole dimpled, "Yeah, but you didn't." He nudged Miguel with his elbow, "Do you feel better?"
Miguel blew a lock of straight mahogany hair from his eyes, "I guess."
"You wanna go see about Lord Dilandau?"
There was a short pause where both Miguel and Viole stared off into empty space, then, "Yeah... yeah, lets go."
They both climbed to their feet and Viole slung a friendly arm around Miguel's shoulders. Miguel rolled his eyes and groaned in annoyance at Viole's show of affection.
"Oh grunt and groan all you want, but we all know you love me. You admitted to it yourself."
"And I was half out-of-my-mind when I did it..." Miguel murmured. "What the hell was I thinking about?"
"I don't know partner, but maybe I can help you figure it out by reenacting the scene. Ok, first I came in and you were standing there punching..."
Miguel massaged a single temple with one hand, he felt a headache coming on.
*******************************************************************************************************************************
(Imagine this is in italics, lol).
*You had better not let Them catch you doing that.*
They won't..unless someone tells Them and I don't think anyone around here is going to care too much about what I do during my study hours. I know the material already!
*I don't see why you bothered with it in the first place. We're captains now, we don't need non-fiction books and homework. We should train more! Dilandau we have a little time before our recruit candidates get here, lets play with our daggers.*
I want to draw.
*How many beatings are you willing to take before you give up that stupid habit. Our bottom is starting to bruise! Doodling isn't going to help us win any wars and neither is making up stories to go along with your pictures. Get your head out of the clouds Dilandau; what is WRONG with you? You want Them to mess with us again, don't you? You know They don't like it when you do other things...*
I know...but... I just feel so empty when I behave in the way they want me to, like there's nothing to me. I see the other soldiers laughing with friends, playing games, talking to women. They all seem so happy. To be happy I think you have to do more than just fight and think about fighting all the time.
*But we are happiest when we fight. We like the power and the feeling of being the best. We are the best, and we love what we do.*
You are happiest when we fight...
*What is this? What IS wrong with you? You've been strange with me lately...not talking as much and when you do you say odd things. We like to fight, you like to fight.*
There's a difference between what one likes to do, and what one happens to do well.
*You are the reason why They hurt us. They want me to shape you, Dilandau, and you aren't cooperating anymore. What's happening to our relationship... You're slipping away from me Dilan, and I'm starting to feel lonely. I don't like it. Don't you like me anymore?*
Of course I like you, I just don't...agree with you all the time anymore. You're...sometimes you tell me to do really awful things. Things that aren't necessary for our success or survival. You like to hurt people.
*It's the only way they learn.*
That's the way we learned.
*Precisely, look at where we are now, at the top of it all! I want to help others be better, just like you do, and we only know of one way to teach. We know it works, why not use it?*
That what They would like for us to do.
*So?*
Never mind. You wouldn't understand.
*You're right, I don't understand you at all. Finish up that sketch, it's time to review possible troops for our cause. Did you set the criterion?*
No one older than us because it will be harder to gain their respect, no veteran because we don't want to deal with learned bad habits.
*Good to know you can still DO something useful. Come on, we'll be late.*
The large gymnasium was full of young soldiers ranging from the ages of 12 to 20. Some of them had served before coming from noble households where they were part of the family guard, the others were green as weeds. Dilandau moved out into the room to stand among the other captains. He ignored the leers and hostile glances he was being given as he watched the recruits demonstrate their skills in duel matches with one another.
He was 13, a newly appointed commander, and ready to pick and train a special team that was to be stationed aboard the new floating fortress, Vione, designed and run by the Strategos himself. Of course they were jealous of him, and he felt pretty sure a lot of them hated him for what he was and what he was rumored to be. It was foolish to hate someone you hadn't truly met yet, and Dilandau didn't want to work with foolhardy people...
*So we give them good reason to hate us. Then they won't be foolish for their feelings.*
You would say something like that.
*Hmm... Look at that one, the dark haired one. What is his name?*
Miguel Lavariel. He's a noble, look at his swordsmen ship. I can already pick out 10 things wrong with it...
*But look at him, at the gleam in his eyes... He loves the fight, and he shows no anxiety. Confidence and drive are good qualities. I want him.*
We only get to pick 6!
*You pick 3; I pick 3!*
Fine... how about that blond one?
*The one with the bowl cut? Oh please, he's dropped his sword at least twice.*
Yes, but he's still in the fight. Each time he's lost the sword he's found some resourceful way to keep the other man from knocking him and calling the fight for his own.
*He's fighting a bumbling idiot.*
I want him.
*Gah!*
The soldiers tackled and touched blades with one another trying to pretend they were not being watched, and that they were not nervous. There were ones out three with obvious skill and cunning, ones that needed to reconsider their occupation, and some that could be worked with and shaped. Dilandau preferred the ones that showed potential but were the glowing pentacles of the demonstration.
*I chose gems and I have my 3... you still don't have a third. Shall I choose for you?*
No...no..I'm sure there's... he trailed off as his eyes fell upon a blond candidate offering a hand down to the boy he'd just knocked down. His opposition was much larger than he, and seemed awestruck by the blond's talent. The blond, at his bested opponents insistence, began to teach the other his moves.
Him. I want him.
*I think he has been the only good choice you've made today.*
So glad you approve. He stepped from the line of captains after he'd checked the last name off on his roster. "Where are you going?" another captain asked him, he was young, maybe 17.
"I've seen enough. I've made my decisions."
"But they haven't even gotten to..."
Dilandau stared at the boy until he was silent. He always found it funny when people shrunk under his gaze. Was it the color of them, or the expression in them? Either way it worked to his advantage, he didn't have to come up with epigrams he just had to glare at people.
*Lazy ass.*
Well if you were better with the witty stuff...
*So now you're joking with me. You haven't joked with me in weeks. You're in a better mood.*
Dilandau sat down on the registration table and folded his arms over his chest and crossed his feet.
Perhaps I am.... I'm...kind of looking forward to meeting with our new troops. Think they'll like us?
*Who cares if they like us?*
Right... ok.
*A Captain cannot be friends with his soldiers.*
That doesn't mean they can't like us.
*Did we like any of our teachers?*
They were mean and sadistic, how could we? But a Captain can't behave in that way. His troops are supposed to like him, and wanna do things for him. What about all those books we read? All of those Captains had crews that would die for them. I would never die for Master Kraus, or Marion, or Dalton, or Sandrem. We can't be like them.
*Dilandau...*
Look, I'll listen to you if you have any good suggestions and advice...but I'm gonna do this leader thing on my own.
*What the...*
I've been thinking things through, and you're always telling me I'm the brains, I've got the skill, you're the drive. Well maybe I have my own drive, and...
*You're saying you don't need me? You can't not need me! What will you do without me? I'm a part of you, you can't separate yourself from me!*
I'm not going to, but I don't have to listen to everything you say. I can ignore you.
*Ignore me? You would do that? You'd stop talking to me, and pretend I'm not here? You'd really leave me alone like that?*
Dilandau felt it best to remain quiet.
*Don't leave me alone!*
"The Captains have all turned in their rosters, line up and they will call the names of those they have chosen. We appreciate all of your efforts, if you are not chosen today, remember there are more platoons that still need fresh soldiers and you will all still be candidates for those regiments."
Dilandau was last to call the names of his soldiers, and he saw the looks of surprise on the faces of the recruits when he stepped forward. They had all seen him on the sidelines surely, but it was then clear they had not thought him to be a Captain. They didn't know who he was...
"Captain Dilandau Albatou of the Dragonslayers Unit..."
He didn't smile as the remaining troops stood a little taller and tried to look more presentable. It seemed his reputation proceeded him.
"Step forward when I call your names, and follow me immediately afterward we will not stay for the rest of the formalities. I will see to the rest of your paperwork myself. Shesta, Dallet, Miguel, Viole, Anwar, and Gatty."
There were some incredulous gasps, and stares of disbelief. Some of those boys were unworthy for such an honor, surely Dilandau had made some mistake.
Dilandau inspected each boy that stood in front of him, then nodded for them to follow him as he left he gymnasium. These boys would be his Elite and he would train them to be as perfect as he was. He would be one of the great Captains he read about and for once he was going to do it all on his own.
*Don't leave me alone...*
The voice was getting weaker as it continued to scream and he continued to ignore it. Soon it would be gone. Did he want it gone? It had been his only friend for a very long time and sometimes he enjoyed the company. He sighed inwardly and although it steered him wrong often...
I won't leave you alone.
*Jerk.*
Yeah...yeah... But I really meant what I said, I'm gonna do this my way. I don't want you criticizing me or I'll ignore you again.
*Fine.*
He led his new troops into a small room, "You Six are the first to join my Unit, in time there will be others...but you will be my Elite. Is there anyone here that would prefer not to follow me?"
All six boys shook their heads.
"All right then, I'll show you your barracks, and tomorrow we will all be introduced to the Vione and the Strategos. Come on."
"Yes Lord Dilandau."
Lord Dilandau...
*Sounds nice.*
Yeah, yeah it does.
(Imagine the italics going away now).
Someone with a deep voice was talking about something boring. He forced his eyes open a crack and shut them almost immediately against the harsh white light that greeted them. He moaned at bit and tried to turn onto his side away from the light he could now sense a vague glow from though his eyelids. His torso ached and he felt so tired and weak. Again.
When was this going to end? What was the point of waking up each time if it seemed nothing was going to get better.
"He's coming to," a woman's voice said.
"Dilandau? Can you open your eyes for me?"
Folken.
He tried to tell Folken to turn down that damn light and he might attempt it, but his words caught in his throat. He realized then that something was over his face. He commanded a weak arm to rest weak fingers on the contraption covering his mouth and nose. Oxygen mask, had to be. He pulled at it feebly, and he relaxed his hand when he felt it being removed.
The bright light was turned down, and slowly he opened his eyes. He was in the infirmary again. Which one of his Elite had brought him in, he wondered? He tried to remember what he had been doing earlier... He remembered waking up that morning feeling like sludge from the bottom of the sea, he remembered talking to Folken, and he remembered making...maps? Had he made maps? Why?
The dull pounding in his head grew as he tried to force himself to remember. "Dilandau, do you know where you are?"
Dilandau rolled his eyes in annoyance, and Folken chuckled. "Well I guess I don't have to ask if you're okay."
"What happened to me Folken? Why am I here... again?"
Folken's face looked drawn, and woman in a white coat appeared beside him, "Hello Dilandau, I'm Marie."
Dilandau's eyes narrowed, "What's going on? I'm dying, aren't I? I thought so! How much time do I have left?"
The woman dubbed Marie laughed and gave Folken a look that Folken answered with a long-suffering sigh. "You're not dying Dilandau...unless you want to. You've had a mild form of heart attack."
Dilandau blinked.
"It was brought on by the chemical imbalances in your body, and Marie and I are in the process of coming up with a solution for this problem. We'll no doubt have one by tomorrow morning, but to ensure your health I'd like to put you back under until then."
"Put me under?" He saw long needles and sinister sneers. "No way, nobody..."
"Calm down Dilandau, I'll inject it via IV, you'll never feel or see a needle."
Dilandau relaxed a bit, "I'll only be out until tomorrow?"
Folken nodded.
"And just what kind of 'solution' are you two working out? And why is she helping you? Does she know? Did you tell her?"
"Dilandau I needed to consult with another professional and to do that she needed to be informed of the situation. We're looking into certain minerals with mood stabilizing qualities, since that seems to be the main problem."
"Okay... and why has this taken so long for you to come up with that, it doesn't seem like a very difficult conclusion to come to."
"We're looking into the most used minerals that have been tested and have fewer side effects."
"Side effects?"
"We'll tell you more when you wake tomorrow Dilandau. Your blood pressure is rising, please calm yourself. I'm going to prepare the sedative, and I'll be back."
"Folken?" Dilandau closed his eyes for a moment. With the way he felt at the moment he didn't quite think he was going to need a sedative to put him to sleep until the next day.
"Yes?"
"My Dragonslayers... Shesta... I think something happened, and I scared him. Can you find them for me first? Just so they won't think I'm dead or something..." Oh his head hurt; he hoped whatever he'd said had been coherent.
"That won't be too hard to do, they're outside the curtain. I'll call them in," Folken rose.
"And I'll get your candy," Marie winked and smiled at Dilandau, and vanished from sight.
Dilandau didn't like that woman.
"Lord Dilandau!"
If he had the energy he would have jumped at Shesta's exclamation, Shesta, Gatty, and Viole pressed themselves against the silver railing of the bed. Viole actually leaned down onto the bed and rested his elbows on the blankets. Behind them Dallet, Guimel, and Miguel peaked over their shoulders at him.
"Are you ok?"
"How are you?"
"You think Folken has a thing for that chic doctor?"
"Viole!"
"What? It was an honest question. Come on, back me up Miguel!" Viole tossed a look over his shoulder at the scowling brunette.
"Lord Dilandau, Lord Folken said you requested us. Is there anything we can do for you?" Gatty hesitated at first, but then reached and took one of his hands.
Dilandau shook his head, "I don't exactly remember what happened earlier, but if I scared anybody... I didn't mean to." He gazed at Shesta briefly before closing his eyes again. It was hard to keep them open, and he was beginning to wonder if Folken had already started with the depressants.
"You scared the shit out Shes," Viole laughed. "But hey, I knew you were gonna be fine. I calmed everyone down and..."
"Lord Dilandau, can we kill him?" Miguel begged.
"Oh pay no attention to Miguel, he likes me you know?" Viole's pixie-ish face was alight with mirth and Dilandau gave a light smile. Viole always managed to get one out of him.
"We all know he does," Guimel snorted amused by the lines of frustration forming on Miguel's forehead.
"How long are you going to be down, Lord Dilandau? We can take care of everything while you recuperate," Shesta steered the conversation away from Viole's silliness.
"I don't know exactly, but Folken wants to try something and I'm going to be asleep until tomorrow. I wanted you guys to know I'm ok before that happens," Dilandau said softly. "And I need you to keep up whatever you've been doing. Second and Third String look good, but get them to spend more time on the flight simulators."
"Yes sir."
"Good..."
"Dilandau, it's time," Folken's deep voice interrupted what Dilandau was going to say next.
Dilandau sighed, "Fine. Take care of my troops, Gatty."
"Yes sir," Gatty released his hand.
His slayers were moving away from his bed, and he gazed back at the ceiling again. He could hear feet shuffling about and curtains shifting. His sharp ears caught someone hissing in a low voice, "You make one slip up Strategos and we'll have your head."
Dilandau chuckled.
His soldiers liked him... his way had worked after all.
And he had no one to gloat to...
"All right Dilandau, you're about to get very drowsy," Marie said and he turned his head to spy her near his IV.
Before she could say anything else a heavy sleep overtook him, and he was lost again to a world of dreams.
*******************************************************************************************************************************
Folken rolled his eyes as there was yet another knock on the door of his lab. He knew it wasn't Marie, she was with Dilandau already administering the first round of therapy they'd mixed up. Together both scientists had decided to try the boy on a cocktail of a mood stabilizer and an anti-anxiety serum they would inject intravenously at first. By the time the drug took effect Folken would be finished with the capsules Dilandau could take orally.
Folken himself would observe the boy for side effects and decide on what could be done to curb them whether it be an adjusted dosage or maybe to try a different drug altogether.
He prayed it worked. Dilandau was deteriorating before his eyes. He knew there was no way to reverse the process if Dilandau wasn't meant to survive his Separation, but he certainly could slow it down and try to make it as painless as possible. He didn't like to see people in pain. After he found a way to stop the Dragonslayer Captain from sliding into insanity and killing himself with his overactive hormones, he'd have to find a way to preserve his body. The boy was losing weight and the ill-feelings he was constantly suffering from were discouraging.
He'd been over that with Marie as well, she suggested a change in diet and schedule. Folken suggested she be the one to enforce that on Dilandau. She'd glared at him and told him to be a man.
The knock came again and he sighed heavily, "What is it?"
"Lord Folken," the door opened and a herald stood in the doorway, "I have a message from General Adelphos."
Folken stiffened, "Read it to me please."
"May I...?" the herald looked through the doorway with a frown, and Folken sighed. He turned the fire off from under the beaker that held a pale colored liquid carbamazepine that was slowly solidifying into fine crystals.
"Come in," Folken said and gave the man his undivided attention as he began to read from the tan parchment he'd just unrolled.
"The Emperor has ordered the conquest of Freid. I am en route to Astoria with our forces."
"The Four Generals are coming in person?" Folken whispered. He shut his eyes as he realized, "They must have located the Power Spot."
"The Destiny Prognostication Engine has detected the dragon's shadow. Capture it before the operation commences. That is all," the man refolded the parchment and stood at attention to be dismissed.
"Dismissed," Folken said. "Close the door on your way out, please."
Once he was alone again he went back to his beaker, turning the fire back on. Emperor Dornkirk was ordering the capture of the dragon...but Dilandau and his Dragonslayers were in no shape to go after anything. It would take a week for Dilandau to show improvement if he was going to show any at all. He would have to find someone else to do the job.
And he'd have to make sure that someone else would do the job with finesse because if they were going to invade Freid they would have to use Astoria's harbor as a staging ground. He didn't need anyone who might upset the King with senseless damages.
As the last of the liquid crystalized Folken turned off the heat and using his forceps he extracted the granules, measuring them carefully, then dropping them into small capsules and sealing them closed.
He put away his finished work and began cleaning up, in the morning he would wake Dilandau, select a replacement team to retrieve the dragon, and get back to his business with King Aston.
But for now, he was going to bed for even overworked geniuses needed their rest.
*******************************************************************************************************************************
Progress with Dilandau was slow but promising. His body had rejected Folken's intensive treatment program at first, but after a few days it started taking to the new chemicals. He got tired easily, he was a little unsteady at times, and his appetite still hadn't returned to normal, but he was mentally stable. There were no more anxiety attacks, no more instances of breathlessness, or rapid heartbeat.
Now, if Folken could only get Dilandau to eat properly and sleep regularly without the aid of drugs. He glanced over at the boy staring serenely at the screen of a navigational computer before him with a light smile of fondness.
They were inside the heart of the Vione, the control room where Folken spent most of his time when he wasn't in his lab. He had been teaching Dilandau the uses of every machine and how to read its data for the past few days. They monitored the position of Zaibach convoys, guymelefs, and fortresses. They sent orders or detailed information to different posts via computer link. Folken felt like he had his own personal assistant. He didn't think it would be in the boy's best interest to attend practices with his soldiers, since watching action usually resulted in the release of testosterone in males. Dilandau became more of an overlord reading statistics from the battle simulators his troops had used and getting reports from his Elite team of the progress of the group. He would dictate the curriculum to Gatty who would then make sure it was executed properly by the others.
"Are you still considering putting that sleaze Martin Isaac and his team over the capture of the dragon in Astoria?" Dilandau asked Folken without looking at him. He was frowning at something on the dark blue screen.
Folken didn't miss a beat, "Yes. Though Captain Isaac's social skills and manners are lacking, he is a sensational pilot and soldier and his squadron is well trained."
Dilandau had not been pleased at all when he'd learned the dragon's shadow was detected and he was not going to be allowed to join the chase. The pale boy straightened and turned to meet Folken's eyes.
"He will not succeed."
"Do you know of anyone else who may be better qualified for the job then?" Folken's question had a sarcastic feel to it, but it called for an answer that might prove to be helpful. Dilandau had turned out to be quite the little strategist. He could place pawns in all of the correct position and predict the outcome. He also knew how to shift things to his advantage. Folken thought the Madoushi had made a mistake in making Dilandau a soldier; they had in their hands a brilliant Strategos. "Your Slayers?"
"They certainly would do a better job... but since this mission is in town it will have to be a solo operation. My men fight well together, and in small groups, but the simulations of single person combat against what we have programed from previous battles with the Escaflowne show they have much room for improvement. I won't let them get hurt doing something I don't think they have good odds of winning. And even though I see their loss, any one of my Elite would still come closer than Isaac."
"Dilandau have you seen his skill?" Folken really believed the boy was letting his dislike of the man cloud his judgment.
"I've seen enough of him to know I could beat Isaac in combat."
"I can't send you Dilandau."
"I know," Dilandau sighed. He ran a hand through his silvery hair and pulled a chair from under the desk the navigational screen rested on, and sat. "I'm getting better Folken, but I'm not getting better fast enough. You won't even let me start training again until tomorrow."
"It's for your own good, Dilandau," Folken said noting the boy's waning complexion. "Would you like something to eat? I could do for something myself."
"I still feel sick to my stomach Folken and I'm positive your drugs are the problem." Dilandau folded his arms on the metal desk and rested his head on them for a moment.
"Go ahead and send Isaac; he's probably the best you have right now. Though I doubt he'll catch the dragon, at least we'll get better recordings of the Escaflowne in action. Then I can reprogram the simulators for my Dragonslayers, so they can be more prepared for next time."
Folken raised a brow, "Dilandau..."
There was a slight cough from behind them and both officials turned to see Martin Isaac just behind them. Judging from the blush in his cheeks, he'd heard everything Dilandau had said.
Dilandau smirked at the man cheekily, "Greetings Martin... how's the jaw?"
Martin's hands balled into fists at his sides, "Just fine, Captain Albatou. How are you feeling? I've heard you've been ill."
"Much better than you look, Captain," Dilandau said silkily. "What have you been putting on those eyes? They're still as black as the day my Dragonslayer hit you."
Folken rolled his eyes. He glanced at Martin, the areas around his eyes were a bit discolored, but Folken never would have guessed he'd been punched.
Martin averted his eyes from Dilandau to look at Folken, "I received your summons sir."
Folken nodded at him, then shot a look to Dilandau who stood stretching gracefully as a feline.
"I'll be going now Strategos," Dilandau wiggled his fingers in parting. "Study group in a bit. Oh, and before you bitch, I'll eat something. See ya Marty!"
Teenagers, Folken snorted inwardly. He turned back to Martin ready to give him his new assignment and frowned as he watched the man glare after Dilandau.
"Captain Isaac?"
"My mission will be to capture the dragon, sir?" Martin asked.
"Yes," Folken said. "The dragon has been located in Astoria and you must be ready at any given moment to be sent in pursuit. Do you accept the task?"
Martin's face was grave with determination, something nasty sparked in his eyes as they darted back in the direction Dilandau had gone. "Yes sir. I'll capture that dragon for Emperor Dornkirk at whatever the cost. I'll do what Captain Albatou cannot."
Folken didn't respond to the man simply nodded and turned away. Martin now had a personal vendetta against Dilandau and Folken hoped it wouldn't cloud his judgment.
Martin left without an official dismissal and Folken checked his time device. If a dragon was to be captured in the heart of Astoria, it was time for Folken to return to his negotiations with the King. He'd been neglecting his duties slightly to care for Dilandau, but no more. The boy was doing fine and Folken had other work to do.
It had been nearly a week since he'd seen his brother last and he wondered how he was faring? He would know soon enough when the dragon was recaptured.
*******************************************************************************************************************************
The day had been long and hard. After showing off his skills in the Escaflowne for King Aston and finishing an uncomfortably proper meal, Van felt at peace out on the balcony of the palace. He practiced a simple kata as he balanced on the stone ledge careful to keep his balance. The fall wouldn't be a pleasant one, even for one with wings, because by the time he'd expanded them he'd be a pancake. He danced with his invisible opponent swinging his sword high above his head and thrusting with vigor. Suddenly the shadow warrior he fought had a face...a lovely face with the most startling wine flavored iris's he'd ever seen. He almost dropped his sword and stumbled as he lost his footing.
He blinked and the apparition was gone. Dammit. He shook his sweaty black hair from his eyes furiously and tightened his grip on the pommel of his sword. That creature with the lovely face his body couldn't will itself to fight was out to kill him. Whatever this infatuation was with Dilandau, he needed to be over it fast.
Maybe if he spent more time with Hitomi... but then the girl was obviously head-over-heels for Schezar, who currently had his eyes set on a certain Astorian princess named Millerna.
He then ruled out Hitomi completely, even if she wasn't awestruck by Schezar he didn't think he'd be very interested in her. She was too... girly. He didn't deal with tears and raging emotions and hormones well. She seemed to be one of those clingy females that would say things like, "Oh Van..." in a dramatic sigh that would make him cringe. He needed a companion that was tougher, stronger...
He'd meet someone some day he guessed, he was young yet. He sighed, these were all things he'd like to talk about with his brother... if he still had one that was. Zaibach had stolen Folken away from him and morphed him into a monster.
Van frowned, thoughts going back to Dilandau. Had he been stolen away from loved ones too, and warped into the insane creature lusting after Van's blood that he was now? It made his skin crawl to think about just how many families Zaibach may have destroyed.
He lifted his sword and began his kata again with a vicious newfound fury. He whirled and feinted, parried, and sideswiped encouraged by the swift ringing sound of his soft cutting through the night air.
"Van."
Van stopped his routine and turned to see who had called to him. Allen stood in the doorway staring at him, "I'll spar with you."
He frowned, Allen was interrupting his catharsis. He didn't want a corporeal opponent right then, what he was fighting then wore the faces of many people and he couldn't let Allen's face become on of them. He averted his eyes, "I'm not looking for a partner."
"Mind if I watch then, maybe I could give you a few pointers?" Allen offered moving from the doorway and studying him.
Van sighed it didn't look like he was going to be getting rid of the knight anytime soon, "Fine."
Allen gave a closed-lipped smile and leaned against the wall nodding his head for Van to begin his free-lance kata again.
It was harder to find that righteous anger that had fueled him before with someone watching, but taking a deep breath he started his routine again.
He lost himself in a world of taunting phantasms that he hacked to pieces for he didn't know how long, before soft clapping broke his trance and nearly toppled off the ledge. Allen reached an arm out to steady him as he turned to see who their unexpected visitor was.
Princess Millerna emerged from the shadows with a pretty smile on her lips. "Good show Van."
Van nodded at her curtly looking between the blond princess and the blond knight uncomfortably. He felt like a third wheel. "Thanks....um.... I'll be going now." He hurried past both the blonds who watched him strangely as he jogged down the stone stairs.
If Allen wanted to have an affair with the Princess, Van did not want to be a witness. He heard footsteps on the stairs, someone was coming toward him. He paused for a moment raising an eyebrow when he recognized Hitomi's distinctive features.
"What are you doing still up?" Van asked the girl whose cheeks were flushed with alcohol. The girl smiled giddily.
"Couldn't sleep, too much energy. What are you doing up? Have you been drinking too?"
Van shook his head and moved to pass the girl, stopping again as a thought hit him. She was going up to the balcony and she was going to see Allen and Millerna. He didn't too particularly like the fact that Hitomi had a crush on Allen, and the scene would kill her crush, but he didn't want to see it hurt her feelings either. "I wouldn't go up there if I was you."
Hitomi snorted and waved him off, "I need some air."
Van shrugged, "I'd wait until later."
"Why?" now he was sparking the girl's curiosity. Perhaps he had gone about this in the wrong way. He sighed and shook his head. He was no one's chivalrous knight and he had done his good deed for the moment. He'd given her enough of a hint that something she might not want to see was up there. He'd done his job.
"Good night Hitomi," Van said continuing on down the stairs, "but don't say I didn't warn you!"
He went straight to the room given to him by King Aston and began to prepare for bed. He had just crawled in bed when Merle crashed into his room to drag him out.
"Hitomi's been kidnaped!"
"What?" Van blinked.
"She's been kidnaped! A bunch of geckos took her and they went off in a submarine into the canals."
Van blinked rubbing his face with a groan, that girl was beginning to be more trouble than she was worth. He pulled himself out of bed and went to get dressed again. He supposed he should hunt up Allen and ask for his help. Who knew who the geckos were working for? But then again, he wondered what Hitomi would think of him if he came to rescue her himself.
Would she smile at him the way she did at Allen? Could anyone smile at Van that way even though he wasn't tall, blond, or pretty?
Van would find out that night. He knew for a fact all knights in shining armor were not handsome, but only the handsome ones got the girls...like Allen. But then did he really want girls?
A pale image entered his mind and he shook it away.
Hitomi needed rescuing - and besides that pale image was much too beautiful for the likes of him anyway.
"Come on Merle, I'll need your help."
*******************************************************************************************************************************
"We are doing everything in our power to assist with the search. But Astoria is a big country, and there is a limit to the number of soldiers we can spare to find a single guymelef," King Aston stated sitting with his arms crossed over his portly form in one of the Vione's outer conference rooms.
"Then allow us to conduct the search ourselves." Folken stood by the window peering out into the night. He was tired and trying not to let it show. Between lab work, paper work, and verbal negotiations he was ready to collapse, and sleep for two weeks.
"We'll use our own troops to find Escaflowne."
"If you don't mind I'd like to know why you're so interested in that guymelef?" King Aston asked his voice steady, but his eyes betraying his discomfort at being inside the imposingly dim room lit only by the minuscule blue-white light of a small gas lantern.
"I see," Folken said giving a small smile to the King. There was a single knock at the door. "Enter."
Two soldiers stepped through, "Lord Folken! Our men report that the dragon is caught in our net."
Folken's stomach did a back flip. It was almost time to test Captain Isaac's abilities. Dilandau was so certain the man wouldn't be able to complete his task, but Folken prayed he could. He didn't wish to upset Dilandau, but if Isaac failed the Madoushi would become very curious as to why Dilandau wasn't sent on the mission instead. Folken did not want to add dealing with the Madoushi to his repertoire of things to do. They'd been very quiet lately, as if they felt guilty for ruining Dilandau. But he knew they wouldn't stay quiet for long if Emperor Dornkirk lost sight of the dragon their project was supposed to catch.
If they took Dilandau away again, Folken couldn't guarantee they'd ever bring him back. He glanced over at King Aston, who was looking at him cautiously.
"This shadow graph was taken by one of our lookouts," the soldier who'd delivered the news handed Folken a carbon-backed slice of paper. Folken barely glanced at it; he knew what it was. He passed the picture over to the King to let him see.
"It would seem that we don't have to search for it after all," Folken commented lightly.
"We didn't think it would be that disguised," King Aston said bowing his head into his hands. His tow-headed royal assistant held the shadow graph out for Folken to take it back.
Folken took the slice of paper back calmly and stared at King Aston expectantly.
"Send out the garrison at once," he instructed his assistant who scurried away to complete the command. "I had no idea it was already in Palas. Folken, it's time for you to keep your end of the treaty. My capitol is in danger. I request the dispatch of Zaibach soldiers."
"You are a formidable king, Your Majesty," Folken said respectfully. He turned to the solider at his side, "Wake Captain Isaac."
"Um...that won't be necessary," the soldier said softly.
"What do you mean?" Folken asked.
"He's already on his way down, he left the docking bay a moments ago," the soldier whispered to him discreetly. "Lord Dilandau is on his way to the control room."
Folken cursed silently to himself; Dilandau was supposed to be in bed. He excused himself from the King's presence claiming he had to oversee the units being dispatched.
He walked swiftly down the corridor to the control room with his robes rustling about his legs like skirts. He entered the control room to find it alive with action. There was a man at every machine, and Dilandau sat in Folken's big chair with a mug of something that steamed. Gatty and Miguel stood on either side of him gazing about the room.
"Dilandau," Folken said as he approached the boy sprawled comfortably in his chair, "I thought you were in bed."
"I thought you were entertaining the King, so I came to spectate...er...supervise the event." Dilandau smiled evilly. "You thought I would miss Martin's big debut?"
Folken blinked trying to calm his nerves. Perhaps he needed to start sipping the sedatives he'd been giving Dilandau, maybe he'd feel better.
"Turn the two way radio on, I want to in communication with Captain Isaac," Folken ordered.
"Yes sir!"
"Captain Isaac?"
"I'm en route to the capitol sir. I've seen all of the information, and I will bring the dragon in," the man's voice crackled over the transmitter, but the building excitement was not lost on anyone's ears.
"All right Captain, just remember you are in a residential area. Do not involve the citizenry."
"I'll do my best not to," Captain Isaac agreed, but said it much too swiftly for Folken to belief it held any verity.
The transmission was broken then much to Folken's surprise. "Ooh..." Dilandau cooed, "insubordination. Why do I get the feeling King Aston is about to be very angry with us?"
Folken took hold of the mug Dilandau was drinking from and sniffed its contents. He was certain the boy was drinking some sort of alcohol.
"It's not vino; it's those kava-kava leaves Dr. Marie gave me. You guys told me not to drink, remember?" Dilandau rolled his eyes and snatched back his mug.
"I'm glad to hear you've listened to something we've said to you," Folken said laconically. "Amplify ground imaging, lets see what's going on down there."
"Oh good, now the show begins," Dilandau grinned.
*******************************************************************************************************************************
Van was patting himself of the back as he walked the Escaflowne to shore with Hitomi in it's slight curled palm. The look on her face when she'd realized it was Van that had come to rescue her was priceless. She'd been shocked and maybe a little pleased. She smiled at him after staring at him for a moment, and he lifted her from the tiny gecko infested sub. In the moonlight with her eyes alight with gratefulness she actually looked...nice... to his eyes.
Maybe she wasn't so bad to have around after all.
He stepped onto shore, cringing a bit at Merle's shrill shriek of his name. He watched the cat-girl skillfully climb up the trunk of the Escaflowne into its hand and unloose Hitomi's bonds. He smirked as the two girls bickered amongst themselves while he tried to get his bearings. He wondered how far away from the castle they were, and how he could return with the Escaflowne discreetly.
His eyes flew open wide as he heard the scream of a guymelef engine and he whirled to see a large blue guymelef charging at him at full speed. My gods!
He quickly maneuvered the Escaflowne out of the way, who was this? Dilandau? Could it be Dilandau?
But wasn't his guymelef red?
"King of Fanelia yield!" a gruff voice called to him from the enemy guymelef. In the name of Zaibach I take you and your guymelef prisoner."
Not this again...sorry brother, but you won't have me tonight!
"No!" Van shouted to the enemy and prepared to make a swift getaway. He couldn't stage a fight here in the city, especially not with Merle and Hitomi with him.
"I tried to make it easy.... but if you want to play rough so be it!" The blue guymelef charged at him again, this time releasing its liquid metal blades and slashing at Van. Van kept retreating further onto the city street, surely the man would stop when he saw Van was entering the city.
He was sorely mistaken. The blue guymelef leapt through the air landing behind Van and whirled wildly swinging his blade and destroying a building in the process. Van skipped out of the way, which only seemed to anger the man. He shot out a wave of liquid metal to snare Van, but missed and struck more buildings just behind Van.
"Stop moving around!" the man growled.
Van continued to dodge and weave avoiding the man's attacks and making him angrier. The dust and debris from the crumbling stone of buildings choked Van and his passengers and the smell of smoke filled the air.
"Van! The city's burning!"
Van whirled just missing the downward swipe of a blade to see that a fire had started in several of the demolished structures...lanterns and candles had been overturned. He jumped and ducked as the blue guymelef continued to attack him oblivious to the damage he was creating and the fire that was slowly spreading in the city square.
"Stop this you fool! We can't fight here!" Van shouted to crazed Zaibach soldier.
"Yield!" the man screamed.
"Idiot...he's crazy," Van sputtered. He had to lead this man out of the city before he destroyed what was left of it. Seeing an opening he leapt catching the Escaflowne's foot on the guymelef's shoulders. As the white guymelef took to the air it shifted into its dragon's shape for flight. He held onto the reigns tight and looked to see how Merle and Hitomi were faring. They rode on the dragon's back the same way they would a horse. Both peered behind them at the blazing city of Palas. The blue guymelef was below them and looked ready to come after them when...
"Allen!" Hitomi cheered.
Scherazade had appeared in the midst of the flame holding its long shiny sword out, blocking the path of the Zaibach guymelef.
Van sighed in relief, thank the gods. He couldn't fight with Merle and Hitomi with him and he didn't know of a safe place to put them down. "Is everyone all right?" he asked gruffly.
"Yes Lord Van," Merle said sweetly, smiling at him.
"Yeah," Hitomi said with a nod, she was still gazing back into the flames. "Good bye Allen."
*******************************************************************************************************************************
"I told you he'd botch it up," Dilandau snickered looking at Folken in amusement. "And he's destroyed Palas in the process of his screw up."
"Quiet Dilandau..." Folken murmured.
"So what now, Folken? The dragon got away... You gonna send Martin after it again, or will you let me get back to doing my job?" Dilandau batted his lashes in a charming manner that made Folken want to strangle him.
"We'll see Dilandau," Folken said. That messy display of Captain Isaac's was sure to have caught the attention of every important Zaibach official and Sorcerer. There was no way to cover the destruction of the Astorian capitol... and everyone was going to ask why Dilandau was not there.
He'd kept the boy's condition as quiet as possible, but if he didn't get Dilandau back into action soon there would be trouble. He didn't want to risk a relapse by sending Dilandau out too soon, but there would be no choice. He couldn't let the Madoushi think anything was wrong.
"Dilandau, go to bed. You'll need your rest, because tomorrow I want you to fall back into your old routine."
"Yes!"
Folken was unsettled by the eagerness on Dilandau's face. Please don't let me be making a mistake with this...but he was not about to give the Sorcerers any
more reasons to torture the young captain again.
*******************************************************************************************************************************
The pale golden locks of her hair glistened in the sun as she parried with her invisible partner. She finally stopped her swordplay to lean over her knees and catch her breath. She wrinkled her nose at the way her sweat dampened clothes clung to her body. She stood up straight and stretched her muscles to give them a cool down.
One should never end a vigorous training session without cooling down. She stabbed her sword into the grassy ground, not afraid of damaging the blade. She'd just get another one. She would never understand certain people's obsession with keeping weapons polished and shiny all of the time. They would just get soiled again, and there were so many new weapons made daily they was no need to keep using the same old sword every day.
She'd always tried to tell him that.
He never listened.
Dilandau didn't like to listen to her and she'd had to make him. That was how she had gotten them into this wonderful mess. She'd tried to take too much control and General Adelphos hadn't liked it.
He thought she was too blunt, too disobedient, too harsh. How could a soldier be too harsh? She'd shaped those Dragonslayers into something worth giving Alseides to, she'd made them fear their name.
That was what they had been taught and she had remembered their lessons well and when Dilandau forgot them...she'd reinforced them. Why was she being punished for being a good student? She needed to be out there with him to help him fight. She wanted to feel the exhilaration of battle with him. She wanted to feel the power of taking life in one's own hands.
Dilandau couldn't do it alone. He couldn't do anything alone.
But neither could she.
She needed him back, which was why she was practicing. She was a woman again, but surely her skill would be good enough to qualify her for the battlefield. They'd have to send her to Dilandau and they would fight together again, side by side.
It wouldn't be the same, but at least they'd be reunited.
She'd heard nothing about Dilandau since he left and that made her worry. He hadn't looked well when They had sent him away alone. She reached for him often, looking for his aura. She'd found him once a day after he'd left her; he'd been reaching for her as well. His aura had always been a vivid purple, but when she'd glimpsed it then it was pale.
He needed her.
She kicked her sword watching in satisfaction as the momentum sent the sword spiraling further into the garden. Damn garden... She hated flowers and butterflies. They reminded her too much of...
She shook her head, she didn't want to remember that place. She didn't want to think about her Mother, or her older brother. They hadn't cared about her anyway. They had let Them take her.
They hadn't wanted a little girl.
Allen had always told her when she had done something to annoy him, and Allen had been easily annoyed, that when she was born Mother was to have two boys. Instead she had a boy and a girl, and the boy had died in Mother's belly before Mother ever pushed him out. He claimed she'd sucked up all the nutrients from him in the womb and killed him. After that Father left.
They hadn't wanted a little girl.
Well that was fine with her, because she didn't want to be a little girl anyway. She wanted to play with swords and climb trees, not wear frilly dresses and play with dolls. Mother didn't know what to do with her.
Then They came.
She was afraid at first. She hated Them. She still hated Them, but she was also indebted to Them.
They had given her Dilandau.
They had given her twin brother the life Mother could not.
Then They took him away.
She growled deep in her throat and delivered a punch to the thick barked tree beside her. Her knuckles stung and she brought them to her lips sucking the salty blood from the wounds she didn't look to see.
Her ears perked as they picked up the sound of footsteps in the grass. She turned slowly to face whoever was approaching. She narrowed her eyes and brought her hand from her mouth.
Three Madoushi stood before her looking tall and grave in their long dark cloaks.
She didn't speak simply placed both hands on her hips and waited for them to say something. They had come in for a reason.
"You train hard and you fight well girl."
She blinked.
"How would you like to join your brother?"
Her eyes widened, "Dilandau? You'd let me go to him?"
"Zaibach needs your skill."
"Will I be a Dragonslayer?"
"You'll have your own unit."
Her heart soared with pleasure, "And I will be on the Vione with Dilandau?"
There was no immediate answer to that and she didn't press for one. They were going to release her and let her fight. If They didn't put her with Dilandau she would just go and find him when she was free.
"You will see Dilandau soon enough. Clean up and Jajuka will come to collect you. We have some many preparations to make to get you ready."
"Yes," she bowed her head in respect, and watched as the three men walked back across the grass and vanished among the trees.
She was going to fight; she was getting her own men! She would have her own guymelef, no doubt, and most importantly she could be with Dilandau.
She couldn't help but be a little wary of her sudden good fortune, because it had been handed to her by the Madoushi. She knew she held a double edged sword, and if she wasn't careful, it would cut her.
She sucked on her bloody knuckles again and began to move her feet to the door. She had to clean up.
She was going to see Dilandau again.
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"That went nicely," the first Sorcerer pushed his large glasses up the bridge of his nose with an index finger.
"Yes," the second Sorcerer agreed. "How long do you think it will take before we can have her ready?"
"Not long, the girl is strong. She has to be the best subject we've ever had. Producing another warrior from her will not be hard," the third Sorcerer nodded.
"I fear our Dilandau is not faring well."
"We'll have to bring him back."
"And when we do...she'll be ready to take his place."
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**Author's Note: Well that was all 21 pages of Chapter 10... How was it? Please let me know if you: liked it, didn't like it, needs work, etc. I hope you did enjoy it though. Take care, have a great day, and PLEASE review :) **