Zelgadis' Gambit

Chapter: 11

Strange Advisors

I should be dead tried after driving over 300 miles but I guess not.

She yawned as the dust blew by her on the small battlefield. Her red hair billowed behind her as the wind and dust past to show a small crater in the middle of the woods. Once the smoke finally cleared their stood her partner in crime as he surveyed the field. He stretched before saying, "Well that was quick," before turning back to Rose.

Rose smirked before replying, "I'll say...you didn't leave anything for me to do."

Grey shrugged before saying, "You would've been bored. It only took a moment for me to finish them off and we both know your spells are even more damaging then mine."

Rose stuck her tongue out at her partner before turning and beginning to walk back the way they had come. Grey joined her as the two walked in silence for a bit. They were in their sixth month of service to the king of Freysa and had been working to reign in the bandit problem that had plagued the country. As they had learned in the first month of service, the bandits were a problem because most of the army was at the western border due to a skirmish with a neighboring country. Thanks to the draw of a lot of the armed forces bandits were able to thrive in the less watched interior of Freysa. So in place of more guards the king to bring Rose and Grey into his court as his personal police force. The agreement helped the king as well because Rose and Grey were two of the most powerful mages in the known area. "It's strange that the two people that don't remember who they are are the most powerful magic users in the area," Rose thought out loud and to alleviate silence.

Grey looked at Rose before saying, "Well, you heard the king's explanation. Most strong magic users are from the demon peninsula and magic is slowly making its way here."

Rose nodded before saying, "I guess that means we are more than likely from the demon peninsula."

"Logic would state as much," Grey replied as he stuck his hands in his pockets and walked slowly.

As Grey and Rose continued to walk the female mage could not help but continue to think about the past of her and Grey. 'They say that some mages from the demon peninsula created chimeras as servants and slaves. Is that what the relationship between Grey and I? Did I create him for some purpose,' Rose asked herself as they continued to walk back towards the carriage that had brought them to the middle of the country.

At the edge on of the forest on a dirt road sat a carriage of decent measure that Grey and Rose used to lure bandits to them. As the two approached the driver jumped down from his seat and opened the door for the king's mages. The two nodded as they boarded the carriage and the door closed behind them. Grey sat on one side and Rose rested on the other as the driver climbed back to his seat and start the carriage down the road. Rose watched as the tree passed before turning back to her companion. Grey sat there with his eyes closed and slightly slumped against the back cushion. To most it would seem like the ranger had fallen quick asleep but Rose knew better and watched as the chimera's ears would twitch at any sound. 'His hearing is amazing...he heard that ambush coming a good mile before we got there,' Rose mused as she watched Grey.

As she continued she smiled before thinking, 'No, I did not create Grey. I remember a ton of magic but I have no knowledge that would create such a perfect mesh of creatures like him. Though I would like to see his body,' before she blushed at that last thought that staggered the line between scientific curiosity and other less admirable practices.

One of Grey's eyes cracked and asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Rose covered still blushing from her thoughts and from being caught.

Grey looked at Rose for a moment before shrugging and going back to his normal act of listening for danger before it got anywhere near the carriage.

'Sheesh, I surely could not have created a being so well made,' Rose thought as the main lewd idea that had started the episode was pushed back to the back of her mind.

After a few hours of travel the castle came into view of those riding in the carriage. The castle was like any in the area, large and strong, but nothing special as the king was not a man to waste on flash. The route the carriage was taking moved right through the royal city of Frey. Children ran along side the carriage cheering for the return of the two national heroes as the vehicle made it to the entrance of the city. Indeed, Rose and Grey had made a name for themselves as the heroes of the country side for their work to clear the nation of bandits. The folks of the city stopped and applauded as the carriage rode by on the cobblestone roads. Rose waved back at the town as was her habit to look out the window as she rode. Rose smiled before looking to see Grey in the same meditative state as he normally was. She sighed before saying, "You know you can wave once in a while...they applaud you as well."

Grey cracked an eye before saying, "I understand that but I prefer to let you have the stage. I'm the one that works best unnoticed and you are the better to have the attention."

Rose looked at her companion before asking, "Is it because you're a chimera," before moving closer to him and continuing, "Because, no one cares about your looks."

Grey smirked as both eyes laid on the red hair woman and replied, "No, my looks do not concern me. The people here are more curious than fearful of what I am. I just choose to remain in the background."

Rose smiled as she sat back in her seat. It was reassuring to hear that Grey was not worried about being the only one of his kind in the nation. In the back of her mind she felt something nag her about Grey being temper mental about his appearance but that was far from the true with what he displayed. 'Maybe its a memory,' Rose thought as she sat back for the rest of the ride.

The two mages were kneeled in front of the throne as the king looked over them. The king, known as Ballen to those that called him by name, was an older man with a beard. His hair was starting to gray and was turning his once black hair towards the salt and pepper color. He smiled at his two servants before saying in a jovial voice, "Rose, Grey you two do not have to kneel...please rise."

The two rose before the king continued, "I know this is sudden but I need to request on more mission of the both of you."

Grey nodded before asking, "What do you ask of us?"

Ballen sighed before saying, "As you know we are at a stand off with our neighboring country of Rand. I want the two of you to go the the front and negotiate the cease fire of our stand off. Try to handle it as diplomatically as you can...but if you must I give you permission to show off your power."

Rose smirked before saying, "So frighten them into peace if they will not have it through normal channels."

The king nodded before saying, "I wish it did not come to this, but my people deserve to have the army here to protect their well being. It is also not fair to the both of you. I made a promise to allow you two to search for your memories but all the time has been taken up by bandits and for this I apologize."

Both bowed before Grey replied, "There is no need to apologize. We will do as you ask for you have given us something just as important as our memories," before both stood up and made their way to exit.

The prince, which they came to know as Varis, then asked, "What is as important than your memories."

Rose smirked as she looked back as Grey and her walked out of the hall, "Why a purpose of course."

Rose hummed as she packed her things in preparation for the next journey. As she was packing she moved to her balcony to grab a few piece that she had hung up to dry. As she folded her clothes she glanced to the balcony next to her own. It was there that here eyes caught a hold of Grey doing the same as her. Normally, this event would be nothing to stare at but it seemed that this afternoon Grey choose to sort his clothes without a shirt. Rose stood there frozen as she could not take her eyes off of the shirtless chimera. His body was fit and lean as anyone could tell by looking at him. But, without the shirt, Rose could now see every small stone that made up his upper torso as well as every muscle as he moved around. Rose stood there clutching a piece of clothing as she continued to watch. Her mind was running wild with ideas as she could not pull away. 'My god he's built perfect. Now if he'd come closer...maybe a touch...no Rose what are you thinking.'

At this moment Grey turned to see Rose standing there and he smiled and said, "Doing the same as me I see."

Rose stood there trying to reply but all she could do is open and close her mouth like a fish out of water. It was at this reaction that Grey looked around and then noticed that he was not wearing a shirt. He blushed before saying, "Sorry," and retreated into his room for a shirt.

Rose recovered and breathed deep before sighing and thinking, 'I'm hopeless.'

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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