Long chestnut locks spilled over the end of a daybed, semi-formed curls moving with each turn of a page. A hand came up to run fingers through it, deep green eyes flickering between a book and a long wall of water encased by glass. "Don't look at me like that, Sylphie. You belong to the sea. We both know that," the man said as he met the imploring gaze of an enchanting mermaid. She placed a palm against the glass, long turquoise hair softly framing her face. Her pink mouth puckered into a pout, her eyes trembling. The man sighed then brought his lips to the glass. She smiled, moving her body closer to return the kiss. "I will miss you," he whispered.
"I can't let you do this, Master Dryden. You paid a small fortune for her," a small rat-man squeaked as he adjusted the red cap on his head, tassel swaying.
Dryden chuckled and set his book down on the table next to him. He retrieved a pair of glasses from the same table and pushed them on his face. "I didn't buy her to keep her," he said, then added, "I bought her to set her free. You and father, always so stingy." He pulled his hair back, securing it with a ribbon, fluffing his bangs with his fingers as an after-thought.
"Master Dryden, you makes things so difficult for me sometimes." The rat-man's nose twitched. "You know I have to report all of your spending back to your father."
Dryden waved a hand at him dismissively. "Go ahead. It's not like he can do anything about it." He rubbed at his five o'clock shadow absently.
"Your father will have my head for this," the rat-man continued to lament. He threw his tiny arms up in the air and gestured wildly.
"Stop with the dramatics." Dryden sighed. "When can we expect to arrive in Freid?"
The rat-man stopped his antics and frowned. "Didn't I tell you? We've already crossed into their borders. The fleet will be landing shortly."
"I see." Dryden adjusted his glasses with a thumb.
"You should go make yourself presentable, Master. I've heard the young princess has blossomed into quite the beauty." The rat-man closed his eyes for a moment, caught in a day-dream.
Dryden scoffed at the comment. The Princess Millerna, a great beauty? The last time he saw her she was a little slip of a thing, hair cut short like a boy's, the hem of her dress in tatters. She could always be found in Asturia's royal gardens mucking through bushes. A truly wild princess. He was not looking forward to their reunion.
"I am presentable." Dryden gave his manservant his most winning smile.
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"Hitomi, you look troubled this morning. Is there something on your mind?" Celena asked as she pulled a shawl around her pale shoulders.
Her companion stood on the small balcony attached to their room. She looked back at the blonde and shook her head. "I didn't sleep well."
"You were tossing and turning last night," Celena said, voice thoughtful. She shrugged. "Well, I'm going to go sit with Allen for a bit. Will I see you later for breakfast?"
"Sure." She tucked a strand of honey-coloured hair behind her ear. The blue dress Celena had brought for her felt stiff on her shoulders. She much preferred the red one Van had bought for her.
Celena nodded and departed, leaving Hitomi to her own devices. She reached down to scratch an itch between her shoulder blades then stopped. Green eyes looked up at the sky. What would it be like to fly? What would it be like to feel the wind currents lift her wings far up and over the clouds? Would she be able to outrun those who wished to cage her if her wings were whole?
Someone whistled. A yellow orb sailed through the air towards her. She caught it with a surprised gasp. Turning the piece of fruit around in her hands, she looked down at the courtyard below. A familiar mop of black hair paired with a red shirt caught her eye. She bit into the fruit as she watched Van walk further out into the courtyard. He had a bow and quiver slung across his back, more yellow fruit in hand. He stole a small glance up at her, his mouth shy.
She continued to enjoy the fruit, crunch sounding with each bite. Van set himself up for target practice, setting the yellow fruit on the ground, hands finding their places on the bow and arrow. His shots made their mark more often than not. When her teeth hit the fruit's core from all sides she lobbed the fruit at the black-haired youth. It landed a few paces away from the prince. He shot her a hurt look, eyebrows raised. Hitomi rolled her eyes.
"Want another?" He pointed to the small pile of the yellow fruit on the ground next to him.
"No." She rested her elbows against the balcony railing.
He pulled another arrow from his quiver. "Will you be leaving with Allen and Celena?" he asked as he drew the bowstring back, arrowhead pointing at his target.
"They're leaving?"
Van set the arrow loose, frowning as it flew past its target. "Allen doesn't have much of a choice. Haven't you heard? There's a warrant out for his arrest. Treason charges. Dryden Fassa has arrived to take Princess Millerna back to Asturia. They're taking Allen back too."
"Treason?" she asked, eyes wide.
Fanalia's prince nodded. "He left without orders in the middle of a military conflict. The duke was told that he had defected."
She frowned. Allen risked much to follow them here.
"Celena hasn't said anything about leaving," Hitomi said.
Van shrugged. "Probably hasn't heard yet."
"Who is Dryden Fassa?"
He gave her an odd look. "Millerna's husband-to-be. The future Crown Prince of Asturia."
"How does the princess feel about this, I wonder," Hitomi mused, thinking back to how disappointed she was when Celena showed up for tea without her brother.
Van's lips tugged into a half-smile. "Dryden will have his hands full, I think."
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A flash of silver whirled through the darkness, an outstretched hand waited expectantly for the hilt of a dagger to drop. The dagger fell into the pale palm, red eyes inspecting the blade with fascination. The youth drank from a goblet, its stem secured between fingers. He tipped his head back and swallowed, the feeling of the wine coating the back of his throat eliciting a smile.
"Time for another lecture, father?" The silver-haired youth did not turn to greet the visitor who walked through the doorway. He drew the point of the dagger across the bandages wrapped around his bare shoulder, cutting through the top layer neatly.
"Stop that, Dilandau. Unless you want to visit the sorcerers again." The cloaked man sat across the table from him, looking at the sole's of his son's boots with distaste.
Dilandau's eyes narrowed. His breathing quickened, nostrils flaring. He reluctantly pulled his feet off the table and set the dagger down next to the bottle of wine. The shirt he left on the back of his chair. "We both don't want that to happen. You still need me."
He regarded him with cold eyes. "Tell me what you know about the girl."
"The girl?" Dilandau tilted his head to one side and laughed dryly. "The witch, more like. You've never asked me about her before," he paused, then added, "She's the one preventing me from taking down the dragon."
"Preventing you how? She's only one girl."
"You're as dense as my Dragon Slayers if you believe that." Dilandau poured himself another glass of wine.
"Dornkirk's Dragon Slayers," the cloaked man deadpanned. "Never forget that."
He responded with a shrug. "You know as well as I do that they're more loyal to me than that old crusty geezer." Dilandau took a dreg of his drink. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"These walls have ears, Dilandau," the older man reminded him with a short sigh. "The girl." He brought the conversation back to its intended course.
"She's a witch. A witch that needs to burn." Madness swirled in his wine-red eyes. "She can see through our invisibility cloaks. I also believe she is somehow predicting our movements." Dilandau appeared hesitant.
"Go on," the man said mildly.
Dilandau gritted his teeth before continuing, "That witch is always with the dragon. She's protecting him and for that she must die."
"Such a brutal fate." The man leaned back in his chair and adjusted his glasses. "I propose a different path for her."
"And that path would be?"
"We capture her. I'm sure the sorcerers would find a use for her. Then the dragon will finally be alone."
Dilandau bared his teeth in a menacing grin. "Yes, that would do nicely." He closed his lips, then added, "If she doesn't see us coming. I won't let her escape me this time. I'm taking the slayers out tonight." He pushed his chair back, preparing to stand.
"No. I want you to wait on my word. I need to know more about her. We need to exercise caution in this delicate matter. If it is true she can predict our movements we will need something more than brute strength to overcome her. We will continue to pursue the dragon, keeping her power in mind." His gaze locked on to Dilandau's.
"Yes father. I understand."
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"You're getting stronger." A pair of misty grey eyes swept up and down the form of a young man bent over a walking stick. The man grimaced with each step, leaning towards his injured side. Savoury smells of home-made soup lingered inside the hut. A golden cat-woman entered through the front doorway, freshly cleaned cauldron in hand. The spots on her fur shimmered as she moved.
"He pushes himself too far." She placed the cauldron next to the hearth. "He needs to be reminded not to rip his stitches."
"It's been over a fortnight, sister. They will need to come out soon," the silver sister remarked.
Folken walked between the twins, his path taking him outside. "Thank-you for the meal, Eriya." He turned his head to nod to the silver cat-woman. "Naria."
They did not seem to mind the new names he addressed them by. Eriya and Naria, the sun and the stars in a long forgotten language. Names he heard his mother say when she told him silly folktales. The names suited them, he thought. Besides, he had such difficulty with their given names. He knew that they knew. He saw it in their secretive smiles.
"I'm beginning to miss the way he used to talk about our cooking, sister." Eriya mock-frowned.
"Yes. He used to be fun." Naria smiled. "Remember when he thought that someone had snipped the end of our tails off?" Her tail twitched in amusement behind her.
"How could I?" They both chuckled at his expense. "I hope to meet this 'Merle' one day."
Folken coloured. He stood outside the hut and sighed, remembering other comments the two women had made. There were many holes in his memory regarding what happened while he was delirious. Apparently mistaking the twins for Merle had been one of his mistakes. The twins lacked the small white tuft at the end of their tails that Merle possessed. But for all their teasing, he was grateful to them. He owed them a life-debt.
He would repay them somehow, someday. For now he had to focus on getting stronger. And he was, but would he have enough time? He had a long journey ahead of him, a trek through Ziabach occupied Fanalia. Time was running out.
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Millerna Sara Aston paced along the foyer of the villa, a practised speech rolling through her mind. She wore her black pants fashioned in the Egzardian style, paired with a soft flowing pink blouse, bow tied in the back. The expected knock at the door stopped her in her tracks. "You may enter," she said, toying with the ends of her hair she had pulled into a loose ponytail that now hung over shoulder.
A small rat-man appeared, the door behind him opening a crack. "Your Majesty," he said, bowing with deference. "Might I present to you Dryden Fassa of Asturia."
She almost mistook the man entering the villa for a monk, despite the abundance of chestnut hair on his head. The loose scholar's robes he wore were hastily tied off at his waist with a red ribbon. A grin stretched across his face.
"Princess Millerna," he began, opening his arms in greeting. "These past five years have been kind to you."
She attempted a polite smile. "Hello Dryden."
He made a sweeping gesture to her clothing as he neared her. "Forever the tomboy, I see," he said, then chuckled. "How very fashion-forward of you. Does Eries know that you dress like this? She must be pleased." Another chuckle followed. He brushed his bangs away from his forehead with a flick.
She tilted her chin up as she addressed him, "I see you haven't changed very much, save for growing some facial hair."
"And she's witty too," he said to his manservant who shuffled nervously. Dryden took a moment to collect himself, adjusting his glasses. "I'll have you know princess, that most ladies think I'm quite the catch."
"I did tell you to make yourself presentable, Master Dryden," the rat-man chided. "He always ignores me."
"Oh but I am," he continued fingers making circles in the air. "Presentable and quite the catch. I'm incredibly wealthy, possess an intellect that's second to none, and I'm not so bad in the looks department either. Am I right?" He waggled his eyebrows at her, bringing himself close to her face. "Did I also mention how charming I can be?"
"Dryden," she said, pushing him back, finger to his forehead. "I hope you didn't come all this way to proposition me."
His expression went flat. "Sadly, no." He straightened his posture. "I've come to take you back to Asturia with me." His tone was hesitant. If his correspondence with the Princess Eries was any indication, he was expecting a battle.
Millerna nodded. "I'm willing to go with you, but on one condition."
"And what would this condition be?" He lowered his ear slightly in anticipation, his arms folded.
"I want the treason charges against Allen Schezar revoked." She met his gaze with confidence. "I spoke with the duke this morning. There was nothing he could do, but he told me that you might be able to help."
He blinked at her. Had her eyes always been such a wonderful shade of lavender? "Alright, I can work on that," he said, then scratched at the beginnings of a beard on his face. "But you do know why we are returning to Asturia, don't you?"
"Yes," she said tightly. "We're getting married."
Dryden cleared his throat. "As long as you're aware." He offered her his arm. "The duke has invited us to dine with him. I'm told the crown prince of Fanalia will also be joining us."
She accepted his arm gracefully. "Yes, Van and I have already met."
"Wonderful." He led her outside the villa and into the garden. "I've heard that Allen Schezar was wounded on his way to Freid. There has to be quite the story behind him, if he's anything like his father. Maybe you can fill in some of the details for me, princess?"
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Celena held up a hand mirror to her face, applying rouge to her lips. She rubbed her lips together, then scrutinized them, mirror at an angle. Smoothing her hair with a hand, she turned to look at Hitomi who sat on the floor next to her, flipping through her tarot cards. "You're coming with me to dinner, aren't you?"
Hitomi looked up at her friend. "I thought we were eating here." She shuffled her deck and wrapped it in a piece of cloth.
"Then what would be the point of this?" she said, holding up the rouge and mirror for inspection.
"Maybe you were expecting a guest?" Hitomi replied, wincing inwardly when she realized the implications of her words. She shied away from Celena's stare. The blonde's cheeks glowed a becoming shade of pink.
"I think I'll skip the blush tonight." Her friend sighed, lowering the mirror to her lap. "Allen can't come with me because...Well, you know. I thought you could keep me company."
There was a knock at the door. The two girls fixated on the noise. Celena's face went two shades darker. Hitomi stood and opened the door a crack to find a certain dark-haired prince peering down at her.
"Van," she said, opening the door completely.
"Hitomi," he said slowly, then he took in a sharp breath. "The duke has invited me for-"
"She's already coming with me, Van." Celena placed her hands on Hitomi's shoulders, gloating at Van from behind the honey-haired girl. She continued, "The last time she excluded herself from an evening out you had to go chasing after her." She smiled at Hitomi. "Isn't that right?"
Van swallowed. "I'll see you at...dinner then." He made his leave quickly, almost tripping over his own feet as he turned.
Celena closed the door behind him, turning her attention to her companion. "Strange. I thought you said I was the one expecting a guest." She smirked, finger resting on her bottom lip. "You've lost your touch."
Hitomi turned, hiding her face. It was her turn to colour.
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"Thank-you for joining me this evening," the duke greeted his guests warmly. Dinner was served on a table that sat low to the ground. The duke's guests made themselves comfortable on the plush cushions provided.
Millerna was the first to nod her head at the duke, who sat at the head of the table. "Thank-you for the invitation." She sat next to Dryden. He also made a nod.
"We plan on leaving tomorrow," Dryden said. "Once my fleet has unloaded and replenished its supplies accordingly."
"The sooner the better." The Duke of Freid looked to Van. "You should also make arrangements to leave, Van Fanel."
Van shook his head and set down his glass. "I want to offer you my sword, Duke Freid. There is something you need to protect. Ziabach is our mutual enemy. I wish to fight them beside you."
"We all have things that we want to protect." The corners of the duke's eyes crinkled, a light smile playing on his lips. His brown eyes fell to the honey-haired girl who sat at the end of the table. "I appreciate the sentiment, but I cannot accept."
"But duke-"
"You have your own battles to steel yourself for. I expect you to take your lady and leave this place before Ziabach strikes," the duke continued, "Use Escaflowne to take back your country. Your brother would have wanted that."
Van's cheeks flushed. He opened his mouth to speak then closed it. Hitomi frowned, hand picking at the tassels on the pillow she sat on. Celena, who sat next to the prince, addressed the duke, "Your Highness, Hitomi is my travelling companion."
"I see." The duke's curious gaze passed between Hitomi and Fanalia's prince. "Accept my apologizes. The situation remains the same, however."
Van inclined his head. "I understand, Duke Freid. If you require Fanalia's assistance in the future, I will gladly give it."
The dinner party eventually took their cups of tea to the gardens outside. Steam rose from their drinks, mingling with the night air. Crickets serenaded the party as they stood, idle chatter filling the quiet moments. It was a warm night, Celena let her shawl hang off her elbows as she engaged Hitomi in a conversation about her tarot cards. Dryden stood next to Millerna, sipping his tea idly. The duke spoke to Millerna in hushed tones, reminiscing about the past. Dryden's mood lifted as Van walked by him, a hand reaching out to grasp the prince's shoulder.
"Hey Van," Dryden drawled out as he stepped forward. "Is it really true? Escaflowne, it's here with you, isn't it?" he asked.
"Yes." Van looked at the hand on his shoulder with question. The merchant retracted his hand.
"Do you think you could let me have a look at it?" He rubbed his palms together eagerly.
Van blinked. "I guess, but what interest would you have in Escaflowne?"
Dryden could hardly contain his excitement. "Well, I'll have you know that I'm a great collector and admirer of antique guymelefs." He rubbed a hand along the back of his neck. "There are some texts in my possession speculating that Escaflowne dates back to the Draconian war. I would love to have a chance to study it. Escaflowne's history brings out the scholar in me."
Celena approached the two men, hands folded neatly in front of her. "Excuse me, Lord Dryden? I haven't had a chance to thank you. Millerna tells me that you are personally going to take care of the treason charges against my brother." A small curtsy followed. "We are in your debt."
"Ah, the Lady Celena." Dryden smiled. "You are welcome. Give my regards to your brother, Allen. Will the Crusade be travelling home with my fleet?"
"I expect so," she answered. Her blue eyes turned to the black-haired youth. "Van, will you come with us?"
"I haven't decided where I'm heading yet," he said, eyes trailing away from Celena, coming to rest on the green-eyed girl behind her who looked out into the garden, both hands cupped around her drink.
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"Lord Van," a small voice called. "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know, Merle." He turned away from the cat-girl, feet kicking at his blankets.
"Asturia tried selling you out, you know. They made a deal with Ziabach. Escaflowne for a ceasefire." Merle drew her legs closer, knees bent. She rested her chin on a kneecap as she looked outside. "We can't go back there with the way things are now, can we?"
Van didn't answer.
Merle's tail twitched. "I know you want to keep an eye on this key of Freid's or whatever, but how long do you think we can really stay?"
Van's tone remained flat, uninterested. "So you were eavesdropping. I knew you wouldn't go far."
"That key isn't your problem, Lord Van," Merle said with a huff.
He pulled the blankets off his bare shoulder and rolled to look at her. "If you had listened properly you would know that it's everyone's problem. Ziabach is out to conquer the world. If they gain more power..." He trailed off.
Merle frowned down at him. She shrugged then turned her attention back to the open balcony door. Her eyes narrowed at something in the distance, her tail flicks becoming faster. Van sat up and appraised the cat-girl's expression. "What's wrong," he asked.
The cat-girl startled, tail puffing up. She smoothed the hair on her tail with two frantic hands. "Nothing. Thought I saw a bird," she said as she looked back into the room.
Van appeared unconvinced. He pushed the covers completely off himself and reached for his boots. Merle waved her hands at him in protest. "Lord Van, it's late. You really should get some sleep." She brought a clawed hand to her mouth, covering a mock-yawn.
He ignored her and walked out onto the balcony. His cinnamon eyes settled on a tuft of straw-coloured hair fluttering against the air currents. "Hitomi."
A bundle of cloth hit his back. "Put your shirt on at least." Merle crossed her arms. "Don't give her any ideas."
Van put the red shirt on, straightening the leather twine threaded through the front of it. "Do you think she'll go back with them?" He knew it was a silly question, but he asked it anyways.
Merle rolled her eyes. "Of course she will," she told him blandly. "Good riddance."
Van continued to watch the girl, frown creasing his features. If he asked her to stay he knew she would refuse. How could he keep her safe from Ziabach if he could not follow her? "I wonder if he's dead." He wished she could tell him. Either way, he wanted to know.
"I don't think he is," Merle said, her ears low. "I have a feeling he'll make his way back to us. Somehow." She smoothed the hem of her dress with a clawed hand. "Who can say, maybe he's on his way to Asturia?"
Van smiled. Perhaps her optimism would transform that dream into reality.
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It was mid-morning before Millerna had a spare moment to check on her patient. She entered the room with a basket full of clean linens and supplies nestled in the crook of her arm. Allen was awake, sitting cross-legged on his cot facing the window. He turned his head to look at her when he heard her footsteps approach.
"Good morning, princess," he said with a smile.
"Allen." She nodded curtly. "I thought I would redress your wound before we leave today." She set the basket down beside him.
Wordlessly he unbuttoned his white shirt, a slight wince creasing his forehead as he shrugged it off. Millerna pulled out a pair of scissors from the basket and cut a knot of linen away from his dressing. She unravelled the dressing slowly, rolling the linen into her palm as she worked. "Give Dryden my thanks," he said.
"He has it," she replied as the bulk of the dressing came loose. She rummaged through her supplies, producing a stack of swabs. With a steady hand she cleansed the closed wound, dipping the swabs into a cup of warm water with dried herbs mixed in. She dried the wound with a dry cloth. After measuring a square of linen she made a cut then placed the clean dressing on the wound. "Place your hand here," she instructed.
He did as she requested. "Are you nervous about the wedding?"
Her hands worked at securing the dressing, layering the bandages upwards then downwards. "Will you be there to see me off? One final salute as I walk down the aisle?" she asked as she worked the bandages over his shoulder. "Like you did for my sister?"
"If you wish," he said with such meekness that she cringed.
"Why didn't you stop her?" She tied the bandages off into a knot. "You loved her, didn't you?" Millerna balled her hands into fists, gathering them to her lap.
"Of course," he replied as he replaced his shirt. He left it unbuttoned. "But love was not enough for us. For me at least, and I believe for her as well. We almost eloped one night, didn't you know? Eries caught us. I'm glad she did. It made me realize what I was asking her to do, and what I was asking of Celena." He smiled sadly. "She would have come with us and accepted all the hardships that it would have brought her. For my sake."
"So you let her go."
Allen nodded. "Princess, we had others we needed to think of. For me, it was my little sister, my only remaining kin. Marlene had to think of her country," he paused, then added, "I heard that she had a son."
"Chid."
"How is he?" he asked kindly.
Millerna managed a weak smile. "You can see a lot of Marlene in him. I wish I could see him before leaving. The duke sent him to the main temple for tutoring. The last time I saw him was a few years ago. He's probably grown so much since then."
Allen's blue eyes misted over as she talked. "I'm sure she has."
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Arrows jetted through the air one by one, making their targets, strikes resonating. Van lowered his bow when a man approached. "Well done," the man said, punctuating the sentence with a short round of claps. "You're very good at that."
Van nodded to the man, marching forward to collect the arrows. The man followed him, stretching his arms up behind his head, elbows bent. "Shouldn't you be getting ready to leave like everyone else?"
Dryden smiled. "I thought I would come pay you a visit before I left. I wanted to make you a deal."
The prince plucked the arrows from the target, inspecting their heads before placing them back in the quiver behind him. "What sort of deal?" Dryden lowered his arms.
"I know you don't trust me yet, but I wanted to tell you that if you are Asturia-bound that I can ensure that your entry into the country, and Escaflowne's, goes smoothly," he said with a somber expression. "I won't let Ziabach have its way. We both know they would only use Escaflowne to promote their endless war anyways."
"You're offering me...protection?" Van asked, bewildered.
"Yes. In exchange, you'll let me study Escaflowne to my heart's content." His eyebrows waggled as Dryden drew in closer. "Not unless you're willing to sell Escaflowne to me by any chance?"
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Hitomi watched the Crusade's crew-members load the cargo bay. It seemed a small load to her. She knew it would not take them much longer. Celena and Gaddess stood off to one side as they spoke with the Duke of Freid. Her eyes settled on the sword hilt at the duke's side. She stared intently as it looked familiar to her. Realization came swiftly. Suddenly, she was breathless.
It was the same sword Dornkirk held in her dreams. "Could it be?" she asked herself. Gaddess walked with Celena away from the duke. When she was sure no one was watching her, she slipped away.
The duke met a pair of wild green eyes and an unruly mop of honey-coloured hair. "Hitomi," he said after recovering from his momentary surprise. "I hope you have a safe journey."
Her eyes remained fixed to the sword at his side. "You should destroy it," she said. "No one can control the power it unlocks. Not without consequences."
"I don't intend to seek it out," the duke replied firmly.
"Others do," she countered.
The duke squared his shoulders. "I am aware. Freid has kept this relic safe for centuries. I will not let it fall to enemy hands." He let his hand fall to the sword hilt.
"It won't be so easy this time," she told him.
"Hitomi? Are you coming?" a shout beckoned from the crusade, Celena's hand waving to her.
"Be safe, Duke Freid." She knew her well-wishes would not be enough. Her heart became heavy with each step she took away from him.
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The Crusade had been in the air for hours. The sun readied itself to recede from the world, orange glow radiating through the bridge. Gaddess had arranged for a table with chairs to be set up on the bridge for his injured captain. Allen conversed with his second-in-command in between a hand of cards with his sister.
"Dryden has taken Van under his wing, has he?" Allen asked, half-distracted. His sister was winning again. The smirk on her face taunted him. Celena shared a glance with Hitomi who sat beside her.
"Like I said, I saw them loading Escaflowne into Dryden's flagship," Gaddess answered.
"I wonder how long they'll be able to hide Escaflowne from King Aston," Allen said. Celena's countenance hardened.
"Maybe they won't have to hide it. He'll be co-regent one day if he marries the princess." Gaddess shrugged.
"So, you think Dryden plans to defy Ziabach?"
"It seems that way, doesn't it?"
A crash sounded, the Crusade rumbling under the sudden impact. The table lurched to one side, Gaddess' hands fumbled to prevent it from toppling. When the rumbling settled the girls flew to the window. Allen and Gaddess' eyes met, their expressions grim. "Speaking of the devils," Gaddess growled.
"How much ammunition for the cannons do we have left?" Allen asked.
"Not much," Gaddess answered.
"It's Escaflowne." Celena cried as a pair of mechanical wings glided by the window.
"Get those cannons ready," Allen ordered, rising from his seat.
"Allen," a voice from the intercom called.
"Here," the Knight Caeli replied, hand gripping the intercom.
"We tried to stop him. He wouldn't listen." Dryden's voice was frazzled.
"We'll worry about Van. I want you to continue on with the Princess Millerna," Allen implored.
Hitomi's gaze remained fixed to Van, a hand to the window. Escaflowne led the Ziabach guymelefs away from the fleet. Celena's face paled, hand covering her parted lips. The Crusade's course veered downwards. The girls steadied themselves, eyes wide.
"Katz, Pyle, load the cannons," Gaddess shouted at the two men as they appeared at the bridge's entrance.
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Escaflowne's form shifted midair, legs touching down. A cloud of dust engulfed the guymelef, cap unfurling against the wind. Escaflowne turned sharply, sword blocking an enemy's strike. "That's it, come to me," Van whispered as enemy guymelefs descended. His gaze flicked to the Crusade as it drew closer.
"Where is she now, Van?" Dilandau cackled, bringing his crima claw down on Escaflowne. Van winced as the blow struck Escaflowne's shoulder. "Your little witch?"
Escaflowne retaliated, blade arching out, pushing the red guymelef back. Van's features tightened. Blood oozed from his shoulder, running off his elbow in drips.
"How I look forward to sticking that little Birdie in a cage. Maybe I'll teach her a song or two." Dilandau's grin widened.
The raven-haired prince growled. "I won't let you have her." Escaflowne's grip on his sword hilt shifted. His blows came swifter, harder. Two enemy guymelefs attacked him from behind. Escaflowne turned, dodging the first strike, meeting the second with his blade.
"When I'm done with you, she's next." Dilandau raised his weapon.
A boom ripped through the sky, a projectile crashing into an enemy guymelef.
"Shesta!" A Dragon Slayer cried. The guymelef lay in ruins, cockpit crushed, metal shards scattered across the dirt.
Dilandau let out a roar, turning his weapon once more on Escaflowne. His strikes were fierce as he advanced, Escaflowne stepping back. There was another boom of a cannon firing, specks of dirt bursting into the air.
"I will have her," Dilandau said, voice low and dark. "I will make her suffer for protecting you." His laughter rang out.
A blow from behind sent Escaflowne crashing forward, falling to his knees. Van's face twisted in agony. "No." He would not let that happen. No matter what the odds he would stop them. Escaflowne's hand shook, grinding into a fist. Another blow fell down on him. Van's ears began to ring. The sound of cannon-fire was muted, dull to his senses. Numbness washed over him. He let chaos take over.
Dilandau's laughter ceased. He stepped back. "Is this the work of that witch?"
Escaflowne stood and took a powerful stride forward, the ancient guymelef now black as the night.
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AN: Yes, I know. That was a long chapter. I tried to make it shorter, I really did. Hope it wasn't too boring. Thank-you everyone, for reading, reviewing, and following. I am going to try to keep updating biweekly as I'm able. I won't be able to do it all the time, all things considered, but I will do my best. I also wanted to note that I've left it up to the reader to decide if Chid really is the duke's son or not.
lttl grl- Thank-you for the review! Yes, it is just a coincidence that Celena seems to be there most of the time when Hitomi has visions. I didn't notice that until you pointed it out, actually. As for her last name, I've left it out of the story. That's why Millerna refers to her as 'Just Hitomi'. ^.^
TBlaze- Thank-you for reviewing and for the support. It's going to be a long time for things to become more normal for my family. I keep telling myself that this isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. Things are tough sometimes, but I still have hopes for the future. I really appreciate your kind words.