Zelgadis' Gambit

Chapter: 5

Next on the List

Time for some more fun.

Zelgadis sat on the bed as he wrapped bandages around his face and head. He knew the guards would stop everyone on their way out of Sailoon and that Lina and crew would be patrolling the air. There were two ways of getting the painting out. The first way was to cause a distraction while Fox got out with the painting but with Lina and company in the search he was not sure he could get away after Fox got out. The second option still had risk but it was much safer for him and the group that was with him. I would pose as a leper with the painting wrapped around his leg and then wrapped under the bandages. He first wrapped his head to continue to conceal his face and then began working on the rest of his body. After about an hour Zelgadis had finished completely wrapping the bandages around his body. "Now for the final touches," he said as he heard the door to the basement open.

Fox walked down the stairs still dressed in her normal outfit and the mask on. She sat a bowl of red juice down on the table before saying, "Why do you need a bowl of berry juice?"

Zelgadis grabbed a brush and dipped it into the juice before slowly making splotches all over his body it made it look like the bandages were covering open sores. "I have to look the part and if the guards don't see things like old blood, and open sores then they might not believe the leper story," Zel replied as he continued to make his fake blood spots.

As Fox watched him paint the spots she could not help but ask, "Why do you insist on us constantly wearing our masks around each other. We are all thieves here."

Zelgadis looked at Fox before saying, "Anyone can be bought off. But, the main reason is because after this job is complete I plan to go into retirement. I don't want anyone to know who I am. I'm also providing the same to you and Jackal."

Fox shrugged before turning around and saying, "I guess that is a good reason. Well, time to go dress for my part."

Zelgadis watched the young girl walk back up the stairs before he thought, 'Again, after this is done I plan to retire for good.'

The guards were heavy at each gate as security had been stepped up. Under the instruction of Amelia Wil Tesla Sailoon the guards were to search everyone leaving the city. It was at the eastern gate that a small covered wagon wagon pulled up to the stop. The young girl that drove the wagon was somewhat petite with long auburn hair. Her green eyes looked back and forth from the guards with a hint of curiosity. The captain of the guards walked up before saying, "Sorry Ma'am, but we have to search your wagon."

The girl's face dropped slightly before she said, "That's fine...but please be careful my brother is back there and he could get hurt if you move him around too much."

The captain nodded as he sent two men around back to check the wagon while he interviewed the young woman. The two opened the flap in the back to see a man, wrapped from head to toe in bandages, on a bed of straw. There were tuffs of blue hair coming out here and there and the bandages had blood spots all around them. They knew the signs of leprosy and covered their mouths once they looked upon the man. They backed away before saying, "There's nothing back here."

The guards were about to let the wagon go they heard a shout from above, "Stop!"

The guards looked up to see Lina Inverse coming in for a landing. The petite sorceress landed before saying, "You two didn't even check the back. You just looked inside."

As Lina was giving the guards the riot act, Fox made her way back while thinking, 'Not good,' before shifting into character and saying, "What is going on here? My brother is very sick and all this commotion is not good for him."

Lina turned to see a young girl about her age with long auburn hair and green eyes. She seemed somewhat mad and worried at the same time. Lina looked at her before asking, "What do you mean?"

The girl gulped slightly before saying, "I would rather not say but my brother is sick and needs his rest. We came here to see what the priests of Sailoon could do for him and now he needs to be back home."

Lina thought for a second before saying, "Look I'll be as easy as I can but I have to check the wagon."

"Shelia...let them search...," came a low and raspy voice from the inside of the wagon.

Both women looked at the wagon before the one with auburn hair moved to the side. Lina approached the wagon slowly before opening the back flap. She saw the same thing the guards did and covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief before stepping inside. She began to look around while every once in a while glancing at the man in the bandages. He was of average height with his entire body covered in bandages. The bandages were covered with blood splotches that ran up and down his body. Lina went back to her work as she checked everything in the wagon. "Is everything...in...in order," came the raspy voice again.

Lina looked back at the young man to be caught in his gaze of sapphire. She looked at him for a moment before she thought, 'Why do I have this feeling I know this guy? I know no one with leprosy...but this feels so familiar.'

Lina smiled, though the action was covered by her handkerchief her eyes showed the response. She turned before saying, "Don't worry...I'll be done soon."

Lina finished up searching the back of the wagon before she hopped out. She turned to the man in the back and said, "Sorry for the disturbance," before replacing the flap.

Lina then turned to the guards and said, "Okay, let the go."

Shelia sighed before returning to the front of the cart and commanding the horses to start again. The cart rolled on as it made its way out of town and towards the rolling hills of the country side. After a few hours travel the cart stopped and a voice came from the back, "Fox stop here."

Fox stopped the cart as she was instructed. She quickly grabbed her mask and placed it on her face before making her way to the back of the cart. As she was about to open the flap she heard his voice, "Don't open the back."

Fox waited outside the back of the cart to the sounds of bandages being torn and what sounded like a low chuckle. The chuckle became louder and elevated into a level of almost hysteria. Fox started at the back of the cart with a look of concern because she had never heard this kind of outburst from the wolf. He normally kept quiet and to himself but now he sounded like he was going insane. She was about to open the flap when he stepped out and replied to no one in particular, "I got you this time Lina...You'll have to do better than that."

Fox's eyes grew wide before she asked, "You know Lina Inverse?"

Wolf looked at his underling before saying, "In a way yes...and she apparently is not taking me seriously. Oh, well I guess that's for the best. It will make the next job easier."

Fox nodded as both left the cart and took off in a ray wing bubble towards their base of operation.

Lina looked out of the large bay view windows at the mansion she had been called to on the edge of Atlas City. Amelia sat in a lounge chair as Gourry looked at the second painting of Magnus Lei. "Why does this guy want these paintings so bad," Gourry asked as he looked at the piece of art.

Lina turned and looked at him before saying, "There are only six of these. He could retire off the money he would get by just selling the first."

"Yeah, but wouldn't that just give away his identity when he tried to sell it," Gourry asked before he got hit with a piece of wood that was kept by the fireplace.

"Gourry you idiot," Lina shouted as she looked at him before continuing, "This man is highly intelligent and knows how to work the underworld. He can find someone to sell it for him on commission."

Amelia watched before saying, "But, if that's so then why would he risk coming after others. I would think he would just try to disappear."

Lina looked at Amelia before replying, "Because, he is the Black Wolf. He was known as one of the best thieves in the land until he dropped off of the face of the earth almost six years ago. And, now he's shown up again when the first painting was brought out of the royal vault. He's not going to stop until he can claim he got all of them. It's a matter of pride for him."

"How do you know," Amelia asked as she watched Lina pace back and forth.

"I know his type. When he was running from us it was like it was a game or challenge to him. He won't stop until he has them all and gotten as much fun out of us as he wants," Lina replied before looking back outside.

The door to the room opened and in walked a older man with a maid in tow. The old man sat down before saying, "Miss Inverse, as you know with the return of the Black Wolf the owners of the paintings are becoming quite nervous. I want to hire you to protect my painting from being stolen."

Lina turned before asking, "What makes you think he'll come here first. He doesn't have to do this in order you know."

The main waived and the maid produced a letter that she handed to Lina. The letter was from the Black Wolf and stated that in two days he would come for the painting. "Why would he warn us," Amelia asked.

"Because, that's his style. He wants the challenge and the best way to get a challenge is to announce your intentions," Lina replied.

Lina crumpled up the note before turning and looking out the window. 'You pull a good one on me in Sailoon...I'm still not sure how you got out of the city but I'll stop you here,' Lina thought before saying, "Well, I guess we had better prepare for the Wolf's arrival."

"Thank you Miss Inverse," the owner of the mansion replied before heading back to his office to continue his affairs.

Outside the door another maid smiled before walking down the hall as the door to the study opened. She hummed as she went down stairs and began to clean. Her brown hair swayed back and forth as she continued to dust. 'Step one is complete...now for the Wolf to make his moves,' she thought before smiling with her emerald green eyes reflection the noon day sun.

Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.

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