Alatus struck and dodged, moving like the wind as he fought the invaders. His Master's orders pressed on his mind, throbbing in their intensity - defense of the domain had been one of the first, and most-repeated duties. He didn't even think to try to fight it. These invaders were stronger than usual, though...

Usually, the attackers would be ill-equipped humans, attacking in furious vengeance. Occasionally, some lesser god who thought they could conquer what Master Moharus had already claimed. Always, they were easy for Alatus and Master's other servants to defeat. Yet now he found himself struggling against just two warriors, one slight and near as quick as he, and one enormous, with four arms and a claymore, and far quicker than anyone that size had a right to be.

The small adeptus dodged a blow from the four-armed one only to take a cut on the shoulder from the slight one's sword. Wincing, he concluded that he'd never get anywhere fighting both at once. He'd have to take one out of the fight...Alatus took a risk and darted as if to strike at the large one, then teleported behind the other as they started to react. His back was now to the whole room's battle, but it wouldn't be for long. He swung the shaft of his battered spear, sweeping the sword-wielder's legs, then stabbed with the blade without really looking. It wasn't likely to to be a killing blow, but at the moment, he just needed them out of the fight. Promptly teleporting back to his original position, he took aim at his larger opponent, who was still turning back to him after looking at where he'd been moments before -

'TO ME TO ME TO ME'

Alatus swayed as the new orders thundered in his head, instinctively looking towards the source. His Master was fighting what was clearly another god on the dais and - losing? The orders thundered in his head again, demanding he come to Master's aid, but before he could teleport there was a sharp pain in his side and he found himself pinned to the wall. A moment later the pressure...

...stopped.

For the first time Alatus could remember, there were no orders beating at his mind.

He stood there in shock, barely perceiving the continuing battle around him, as glittering sand fell across his face.

-*-.-*-.-*-.-*-.-*-.-*-.-*-.-*-.-*-.-*-.-*-.-*-.-*-.-*-.-*-

Bosacius' muscles ached. He'd never expected to be stuck fighting one warrior for so long, especially not with Yanlais' help. She might be only a junior yaksha, but she knew how to complement his fighting style like no-one else. This opponent, though - they were almost more pointy, stabby whirlwind than living being! If he hadn't seen them stop and crouch a few times, he'd have wondered if what he was fighting even had a physical form. He had no idea how many times - if any - he and Yanlais had landed blows, though he knew the two of them were covered in minor cuts, and he had one not-so-minor that had barely missed the tendons above an elbow.

Gradually he grew better at tracking the whirlwind's movements, and managed to pin the warrior between his strike and Yanlais'. Blood flew - Aha, a strike! But no time to rejoice, they were already coming for him again - or not? Gone, but for a swirl of anemo - he heard Yanlais cry out and swung to look, only to see another swirl. Immediately he turned back and started to swing in front of himself, suspecting their opponent would return there for the next strike.

As Bosacius' eyes caught up with his arms he found himself struggling to pull the blow. The sharp whirlwind they'd been fighting...was a child. A bony, bruised, clearly starved child who wasn't fighting anymore, just standing there swaying, looking towards the dais.

Warrior or not, opponent or not, Bosacius couldn't bring himself to kill a child.

His swing had too much inertia to stop entirely, and though the yaksha kept from cutting him in half entirely the blade bit deeply into the child's side. They barely even flinched, just stared blankly at him for a moment - and then the gem on their forehead dissolved into sand, and the whirlwind's eyes rolled up in their head. Bosacius caught them before they could cut himself further on the Yaksha's blade - it was stuck in the wall, perhaps he wouldn't have cut the kid in half after all - and looked back to see Yanlais getting to her feet, holding her shoulder. She was fine. Good.

The fighting was slowing down as their opponents realized their god was dead, but Bosacius still heard some clanging and cries down the halls. It would take a few minutes for word to spread, he supposed. He looked back at the child. They were so light it only took one arm to hold them up, but he used two for steadiness. He knew enough combat medicine to know the child would likely bleed out quickly once his claymore was removed, but beyond that...he was no healer.

He knew it was stupid.

Whatever else they may be, this little warrior was their enemy.

But...they were a child. Morax had taken in those who had previously served their dead enemies in the past, if they agreed to an appropriate contract. Surely...surely he would be as reluctant to kill a child out of hand as he. The danger was past, clearly. He was unconscious and could hurt no-one.

And there was something odd about the way he'd just stood there, and the way that gem had crumbled.

Bosacius heard Yanlais moving to his side.

"What are you doing? Just finish it off already!"

"They're just a child, Yanlais. I won't be a child killer. Not unless Lord Morax forces the issue."

"Then I'll do it for you! You know what it must be, don't you? That fighting style matches the rumors perfectly!" Yanlais raised her sword and stepped forward, and Bosacius immediately blocked her path with the arms he wasn't using to hold the child up.

"I don't care if they are the demon Alatus. You didn't see what happened at the end there...something strange is going on. And above all, they are a child."

"And you are a sentimental fool."

"Maybe. But you are under my command, and I say they live until Lord Morax passes judgement."

"Until I pass judgement on what, exactly?"

Both yaksha turned to see their god approaching, and bowed their heads briefly in respect as he came closer. Morax's eyes narrowed as he viewed the tableau.

"What, exactly, is going on here? Bosacius, why is there a child on your blade?"

Well, there went any doubts as to whether their lord was on his side of the argument. At least initially. Still, Bosacius swallowed hard before replying. Morax could be...terrifying...when he was angry.

His junior didn't seem to notice though, jumping in before he could respond.

"That child is Alatus! The Bloodhound of Moharus, the Devourer of Dreams, the demon who slaughters whole villages! Surely it is too dangerous to-"

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Bosacius had to fight not to smile as his very vocal subordinate practically swallowed her own tongue when Morax turned his glare on her. All humor slid away as that same glare turned back to him, though.

"I agree with Yanlais' assessment of the child's identity, my lord, given their strength and fighting style. However, they are, after all, a child. Also...something very strange happened at the end of the battle. I don't think the child fought because they wanted to. And I think the only reason my blade was able to strike them was because they stopped fighting. I beg mercy for the child - at least until we know more."

Morax's face was expressionless as he considered, but then it often was, when they were outside his realm. 'Stars, don't make me kill the kid. Please...' It felt like hours before Morax spoke, though it couldn't have been more than a couple minutes.

"Very well. I, too, am reluctant to cut such a young life short. And I am...troubled, by their appearance. We will have to take precautions, but I will reserve judgement on...Alatus...until we know more. Remove your blade. I will heal the child enough to stop the bleeding, at least."

Bosacius stepped to the side so his god could approach, maintaining his hold on the child's body as he pulled the blade from the wall and their side in one smooth motion. He watched as Morax stepped forward and put one clawed hand on the child's forehead, the other on their chest, and sent a pulse of geo energy into their body. And he sighed with relief as new, fragile skin covered the child's wounds.

Morax stepped back, and shot Bosacious an unreadable look.

"You will carry him. Tell me if he begins to stir. Do not let him escape."

The yaksha nodded, and gently lifted the - boy, apparently - trying not to wince at how light he was. How much of the damage Alatus had caused was forced? Surely he wasn't in this condition because he served Moharus by choice...Bosacius saw Morax beckoning, and stepped closer. Morax put a hand on his shoulder, and a moment later the three were surrounded by the golden light of geo.

The other yaksha would have to handle the cleanup.