A/N
I have just realized that I had the last chapter as Chapter 9, my bad guys/girls...
Chapter 9: Illogical
"Leaf Storm!"
The clear voice called over the howling wind as the veritable maelstrom of magical arrows rained down to impale themselves in the flesh of the Yeti's, the origin of these arrows still whirling around rapidly in the air before landing on the ground rather dramatically.
"Fire Demon!"
The attack blew by as it smashed into the 2 Yeti's that had lumbered up behind Mercedes as she wasn't watching.
A small smirk showed itself on Freud's face as the Queen whipped around. "Better pay attention." the bright comment was met with nothing but 2 bright green Stunning Strikes that embedded themselves in another Yeti.
The arctic wind blew by as the last Yeti fell to the ground with a resounding crash that echoed throughout mostly bare surroundings. Two figures stood in the middle of the beasts that had fallen around them. One male and one female, both dressed in winter traveling cloaks that whipped around in the harsh gale that buffeted them even as they stood in the middle of the monsters that they had just taken out.
"Well... that was a decent exercise don't you think? I was getting a little complacent with nothing but the slimes near Ellinia." The first signs of conversation came from the brown haired male who was holding a staff in his hands that ended in a circular shape with a shining blue crystal inside of it.
"Maybe for you, I've been keeping up with my training even during this time of inactivity. Only foolish people let their guards down. That's the 4th batch of them that following your 'sense' has lead us to." She chided; still the other didn't seem to take her very seriously.
"Oh lighten up, besides we still need to find where Aran is, that fight took a good chunk of time; the sun is already beginning it's decent." And indeed the large yellow orb of light in the sky had already passed it's zenith a good while ago.
Not responding, Mercedes decided to shoot a quick glare at the mage, daring him to comment further on their predicament before looking back at the map they had brought with them; following Freud's "sense" had proved to be ineffective, leading them only to life, not necessarily the kind of life they were looking for.
Finally she spoke. "Come one, further north, coming from what I can decipher from this the camp should be past those iceberg's over there." The elf's finger pointed at a rather large iceberg in the distance, still at least half an hour's walk away.
Not daring to complain Freud simply trudged along behind the Queen as she stubbornly made her way through the storm, disregarding the discomfort of her companion, as well as the fact that she, despite the cloak, was rather inappropriately dressed for the weather.
Freud sighed heavily. "She's going to get herself completely sick doing that..."
Not missing a beat, said elf whipped around to glare at Freud. "What was that?!"
"Nothing..." the muttered reply came, he wasn't really in the mood to argue with her... and he was terrified of retribution.
"Good." came the rapt reply. "Because I don't need to hear another preaching about how I'm behaving improperly as a Queen."
"I never said anyth-" Freud scrambled to stop talking as the baleful glare from Mercedes was enough indication that she was about to cause serious injury to him lest he shut up.
The two continued forward, now surrounded by an uncomfortable silence besides the fact that the wind was constantly blowing. Neither wanted to comment on how much further they still had to talk to get to the camp.
'Damn Freud you really know how to schmooze your way into people's good favor huh...?' He silently berated himself as they moved on, not knowing when they would arrive.
Aran was having a good day. He had finished his chores for the day, Ryko was in a good mood after they had gone out for a walk together, and the chief had called him for an important meeting today which was where he was headed to now.
'I wonder what it's going to be about...' he thought to himself, continuing on his path through the "camp," rather it was large enough to be called a village if you wanted to. The small children were finishing up the day's chores and going out to play with one another, the small stalls lined the roads, selling anything from produce to weapons.
Aran took note of these things while he looked at the small glimmering crystal trinket on his wrist, a small amount of light that filtered through it began to bend until it showed a time: 11:27. The meeting was to take place at 11:30. 'If I'm late... the chief is gonna rip me a new one...'
Breaking into a run, Aran didn't notice when a cloaked figure walked out from a side street, crashing into him and sending them both flying into the ground.
"Sorry! Gotta run!" Aran quickly got up before dashing forwards again, not stopping to find out just who he had bumped into.
"Wait a minute you bastard!" Surprisingly enough, the cloaked figure gave chase to Aran, not know why somebody would do this, Aran kept running until he ran into the chief's tent, the cloaked figure right on his heels. Chief Koori and another person, brown haired, sat in chairs around a circular table, the former wondering why his warrior whom he had called today was looking so frazzled.
"I'm here chie-" Aran's pursuer had punched him from behind, sending the warrior into the ground for the second time that day. The brown haired man brought his hand up to his face, the chief mirroring the action as Aran slid to a stop in front of him. Not one to stay down for long, Aran whipped around and was in the motion of returning the favor when his fist was caught by his leader.
"We don't hit women unnecessarily Aran." He reprimanded. "Diplomat's included, especially one's of royalty."
"What royalty-"
Long blonde tresses came loose as Mercedes took her hood off, the look on her face telling the general audience that she was not pleased.
"You might want to discipline your warrior Chief Koori." Mercedes nearly growled. "And maybe teach them some manners at the same time."
Gaston was frustrated with his master. Then again what else was new?
"Just a few more preparations..." Phantom muttered, oblivious to his servant and companion's misgivings about the current plan. Digging around in one the the overly decorated cabinets for things that he would need for the plan.
He should really stop Phantom before the thief went too far...
"And I'll need this too." Said thief grabbed a bag with only god knew what in it, completely ignoring the rapidly growing distress of his butler.
Gaston felt the chill down his spine, that look on his master's face told of long nights and days of worrying for the servant. Throughout his stint of service he had gotten many of these looks but was never able to stop the thief from carrying out whatever he was planning.
"And finally I'll need this..." Phantom picked up the new cane that he had designed himself, aptly named, Phantom Originality. The blue cloth that was tied to the neck of the edge. The brilliant blue gem at the end gleamed in the lights of the extravagant room.
"Master Phantom-"
What is it Gaston?" Phantom turned around, seemingly annoyed that his servant had chosen this of all moments to interrupt him. You see, before each of his thefts Phantom took the time to make up the scenario that would occur when he had successfully accomplished his goal.
"I sincerely ask you not to go through with this plan of yours. It could end disastrously and worse, eliminate the trust between yourself and Mister Freud!"
Phantom frowned, Gaston was rarely concerned about things like friendships unless they were actually at risk, but he couldn't let this one go. "Nonsense this plan is foolproof especially for one such as me; as for Freud he'll understand eventually."
"I doubt he'll be that understanding Master Phantom, especially because you're planning to kidnap the Empress."
-End-
A/N
Sorry it's short, and sorry it's late... I had midterms last week and they weren't fun. Next chapter should include much more conflict though if it's any consolation.
Read and Review please!
-Lunarfeather