Zelgadis' Gambit

Chapter: 18

Trail of Bandits

Back to what I was doing.

A/N: I know I need to stop disappearing but sometimes I just lose the inspiration/want to write. I'm sorry for the long wait. I will not blame you if you start throwing shoes, plates, other cutlery, or even the kitchen sink.

Light shone through the window in the inn room. The sliver of light slowly crawled its way across the floor as it made way towards the bed. After another ten minutes the light finished its travel across the wooden planks to land right on the face of one Rose. The young mage groaned as she pulled the blanket over her face. She sighed as she began to doze back to sleep. After a few moments though she grew uncomfortable with the heat and poked her head back out to be met with the sun again. Rose cracked an eye to glare at the offending ball of fire but stopped as she felt something tightened around her waist. Rose looked down, as the morning haze began to clear, and saw Grey's arm around her. She smiled as she calmed down and snuggled back into Grey. Rose sighed as she remembered the night before. 'We messed around a bit...but nothing beyond what we had agreed,' Rose thought as she played with the ring on her finger again.

Rose could not help it but the small piece of unassuming jewelry was her most prized possession. The moment Grey had presented her with the ring was the happiest moment of her life, 'Well, that I can remember,' Rose thought as she ran her fingers along Grey's arm.

Rose stopped at his elbow and wrapped her fingers around as she just enjoyed the feeling of laying there with Grey right behind her. After a few moments she heard Grey stir and felt him lean forward to sink his face into the nape of her neck. Rose sighed as she felt Grey kiss her neck before she heard him ask, "Up already?"

Rose smiled as she moved her arm back to wrap around Grey's head. She slowly ran her fingers across his hair before saying, "The sun decided it was time."

Grey smiled as his arm slowly moved up Rose's body as she replied, "Well that doesn't mean we have to get out of the bed yet."

Rose sighed before slowly rolling over to lay flat on her back and looked at Grey through the corner of her eyes. She smiled before saying, "But, we can't just waste the whole day in bed. We have to start tracking down those bandits, return their little princess, and then we can set aside a full day to ourselves."

Grey smirked as he ran his fingers through Rose's hair before replying, "I suppose your right," before slowly sitting up.

Rose watched as Grey sat up and could not help but stare at his unclothed body. As Grey moved to get out of bed Rose continued to watch as he stood up. Rose playfully looked away as Grey looked back at her before he responded, "Come on now. I can't be the only one getting up if we have to get going."

Rose sighed before copying Grey's movements and saying, "I know..."

Midday found the two back in the carriage that they were using to travel across the wilderness to the town that the princess was last seen. As the carriage continued Grey sat across from Rose with his eyes closed. Rose watched as Grey tried to sense anything that might help as they drew closer. 'I know he is trying to get this done faster but I would have preferred him to sit with me instead of this,' Rose thought as she could not help but want to keep Grey's attention to herself.

The ride continued on and every once in a while Grey would crack an eye and look at Rose. He could see that she was bored and wanted him to talk with her but he was trying to see if he could pick up anything as they drew closer. Grey sighed before saying, "I'm sorry to leave you without a conversation partner but I'm hoping that I can find something to lead us in the right direction."

Rose looked at Grey and frowned. She did not want to make Grey feel bad. That was not her intention at all, but she could not help her boredom. Rose stood up and slowly moved towards Grey. As she got right in front of Grey he opened his eyes, as if knowing she was there, and looked at her. Rose smiled before wrapping her arms around Grey in a light embrace. She stayed there for a moment before backing away and saying, "Don't worry about it. You'll just have to make up for it later."

Grey smirked as he watched Rose go back to her seat. He closed his eyes and went back to the task at hand. 'At least she is understanding,' Grey thought as he continued to get any hints from his senses.

Rose sighed and went back to watching the scenery go by as the carriage continued down the road. After about another hour the carriage crested a hill and Rose could see the town that they were looking for. She smiled before turning and saying, "Looks like we are here."

Grey opened his eyes and looked out onto the town. He scanned the area he could see before commenting, "And, not a single hint as to what happened. Either they are real good or this happened quite a while ago."

Rose smiled before getting up and moving over to sit with Grey now that he was done with trying to catch a scent or a sound. Rose sat down right next to Grey before leaning over an laying her head on his shoulder. Rose breathed in, enjoying the scent that Grey carried, before letting out a sigh and saying, "Well, it is about time to start working."

Grey nodded as he brought his arm around Rose and embraced her. He lowered his head to rest on her own before replying, "Yes, but the harder we work the quicker we can finish this."

The two of them stayed in that position as she carriage continued into the town where they would begin their hunt for the missing princess.

The townsfolk of Zer where going about their normal morning routine of preparing for the day. The area was a farming community and not much ever happened there. So it was to the villagers surprise when they saw a ornate carriage, flying a small Freysain flag, coming towards the village. What few people that consisted of the town guard gathered at the front of the village as they were concerned it might be an attack. The entire village watched as the carriage came to the front of the village before stopping. The man driving the carriage just sat in his seat as watched the villagers as the door to the carriage opened.

Out from the carriage stepped a man dressed in browns and greens that looked like he belonged in a forest and not in the front of Zer. On his belt hung a gold hilted sword but he made no move towards the sword. His face was covered, first by the low hood, and second by the mask that was over his face. The only part of him that the village could really pin down was the brilliant sapphire blue eyes that looked over the village before turning back to the carriage. The man extended his hand for it to be taken by another covered in a white glove. The village watched as a young woman step out of the carriage and continued to hold onto the masked man's hand. She was a bit shorter then him, just barely coming above his shoulders, but was dressed completely opposite. While the man was dressed in the clothes of a woodsman the woman was in garb that denoted some sort of nobility. She wore a robe that was purple and looked like crushed velvet with patterns of a rose stitched throughout the article. Her belt was plain, but upon it rested a small rapier, and was held up with a large jewel. The black cloak she wore was held around her by a matching jewel as well as two more at her wrist. Her hands were covered with white, elbow length, gloves that were not special like the rest of the outfit. The two glanced at each other before they looked at the small band of town guard. The man stepped forward and said, "We are Rose and Grey. Advisors to the king of Freysa. As part of a peace treaty we have been sent her to find the missing princess. Last we heard she was taken from here."

The small crowd stirred and began to mumble amongst itself for a moment before one of the guard came forward. He was older, looking to be in his fifties as the gray hair upon his head was telling, and from the look of his armor one could tell he had been in the army. The captain spoke before saying, "Regrettably that is true. Even the combined strength of my town guard and her personal escort were not enough to fight off Marden's boys."

This time the girl stepped forward and asked, "Do you know where they make their camp?"

The man looked at the girl and could see she was dress in a manner of a noble. He sighed, thinking to himself, 'Here we go. Another foolish noble that doesn't understand how powerful Marden's gang is.'

The captain looked at the girl a moment longer before saying, "Normally they stay on the move. You would need a good tracking dog to keep up," before stopping and asking, "Young lady are you aware of how powerful they are. This is no game."

Rose cocked an eye at the old name. She was about to respond when Grey began to step forward. Rose reached out and caught Grey's arm and waited for him to look back. When she caught eyes with him she could see the anger in his eyes. Rose smirked before saying lowly, "I can take care of this."

Rose stepped forward and smirked at the old captain before replying, "I've heard stories of them yes. But, I think the correct question is do they know how powerful I am?"

Before the captain could respond he had to take a step back as a ball of fire erupted above the young lady's hand. The whole gathering let out a loud gasp as this was the first time any of them had ever since magic. The captain smiled before saying, "I apologize. I did not know that Freysa had aquired a mage from the demon peninsula. I have seen your people's magic and cannot dispute its power."

Rose smiled as she let the fireball dissipate and was about to remark back when Grey spoke, "Now that you understand. If you could provide the direction the bandits went?"

The captain nodded before pointing in the west. He sighed before saying, "They headed towards the western mountain range. They probably look to take advantage of the caves in the area."

Grey nodded as he turned and began to walk towards the carriage. Rose fell in step with Grey and began to walk in pace. As the two were about to board the carriage the captain moved forward and said, "Wait!"

Rose stopped and said, "Are you still not convinced that we can take care of them?"

"No," the old man replied before finishing, "The reason they are so strong...the reason they won...is because they have a man from the peninsula as well."

I know cliff hanger but I still have to be a little bit evil