The horses were fast, but they grew lame quickly and had to be abandoned. Returning to Seles wasn't an option and they moved into the fields that were to
the north of the prison. Without their horses, they were forced to continue on foot, knowing guards would follow. No one actually saw their pursuers, but
Trowa knew better than to expect a free escape. They reached a rocky area spotted with tall grass and he finally admitted that one of their members seemed
to be falling behind. Abdul's face was flushed with sweat and Trowa reminded himself that the man probably hadn't been treated as well as Catherine. He'd
just escaped himself, and Trowa didn't know how long the man had been a prisoner before the break. Slowing, he waited until the man was alongside him,
looking into exhausted brown eyes. "Abdul, can you keep going?"
"No choice," the man said quickly, waving his hand at the boy. He could tell that Trowa wasn't fooled, but there wasn't anything to do about it. Catherine had
paused and he hurried to her, the three of them running across an open field. Even if they had time to rest, this was not the place for it. The thought
repeated itself when he heard the twang of arrows and he let out a sharp cry, fire burning a line through his leg. Falling to his knees, he glared at the dust
beneath him, wetness touching his hand. The two younger ones turned back to him and he felt a flush of shame heat his cheeks. He was slowing the down.
"We can't outrun them," Trowa said softly, pulling Abdul's arm over his shoulders as he help the man off the path. Lowered brown eyes wouldn't meet his and
he turned his gaze to Catherine. "We'll have to hide, or face them as they come." A large tree blocked his view of the enemy, but he didn't need to know how
many were coming. If they had to face them, it wouldn't matter how many there were.
"Laid down by a scratch," Abdul muttered, wincing as he limped after Catherine. The girl was watching him and he would have preferred not to see her
concern.
"We'll have to cover the wound," Cathy said softly, her eyes narrowed. She'd spent the last five years preparing to take care of herself and she knew better
than to leave a wound open. The man was bleeding enough to prove it was more than a mere scratch. The grass was thicker as they moved around the
bend and she spotted a tree, waving her hand toward it and catching Trowa's eyes. "Maybe we could hide."
"It'll have to work," Trowa nodded, supporting Abdul as they rushed behind the tree, the ground curving up enough to block the path from sight. Ducking into
the grass, he waited, listening to the sound of running footsteps. His eyes paused on Catherine and he nodded silently when the girl pulled an arrow in
preparation. If they were spotted, they'd have no choice but to fight. He just hoped the tree would be enough to cover Abdul. The man may not have
admitted it, but he didn't look strong enough to stand for a fight.
Two guards ran around the corner, one sliding a bow into a holder on his back as he freed his spear. Catching his partner's eye, he hesitated, looking for the
three escapees. They couldn't have gotten far. A shuffling sounded from behind the tree and he lowered his spear, nodding when the other man did the
same. "Women first! Then we might spare the people in Basil!" The sound grew louder and he jerked back as a small, adorable little animal hopped across
the path, piping squeaks made before it disappeared. "That...damn!" Glaring at the animal, he shoved the other guard toward the path. "They must be
farther ahead."
* * *
The small shack was set in a valley and Catherine scrounged for something to use as Trowa helped the green-armored man inside. Abdul shook his head at
her, sinking to the dusty floor with a sigh. "It's such a trifle wound."
"There's no such thing," Catherine said strictly, crouching beside him. "I learned first aid, enough to wrap this." The man looked surprised and she smiled,
shaking her head. "Don't worry. I just thought a skill like that would be useful, especially in times like these."
Trowa left them while Catherine bandaged the cut. He followed the path the two guards had gone down, but came back when he found them blocking the way
with reinforcements. They wouldn't be going that way. The girl was finished by the time he returned and he leaned against the doorway, his eyes sliding over
the dusty interior of the shack before falling to his folded arms. "They've blocked off the west road, but they don't seem to know where we are." Catherine
rose and he frowned when she moved to stand in the doorway, looking at him with an odd expression.
"Trowa? What have you been doing these last five years?" The boy stared at Catherine waited hopefully. The question had torn at her the entire time he
was gone, but she could tell from his blank expression that he didn't want to answer. After a minute of silence, she finally dropped her eyes. "It's okay. I
guess we don't have time for this now..."
"It was a journey for revenge," Trowa said softly, his eyes moving to the bright grass visible outside the shack. It wasn't really a secret, he'd told a few of the
adults about his past when he first came to the village, they'd known why he left. If she wanted to know, he couldn't deny she was old enough. "I was looking
for the person who deprived me of...something precious so I could kill him. That's why I left by myself."
"The Black Monster?" Trowa's head jerked as he looked at her in surprise and Catherine nodded. "I only know the name. Nobody would tell me more about it
because they said I was still too young. But my uncle told me you'd gone to look for a Black Monster."
"What is this Black Monster?" Abdul asked, not moving closer. He'd planned to let the two have a nice reunion, but he couldn't help being curious. From the
way the boy had said it, he assumed it was something he should have heard of.
Trowa glanced at him, relieved to have someone other than Catherine to look at. He didn't like telling her about his past, but Abdul was a knight who was used
to death. He could tell the man wasn't sure if it was his place, but it was. Abdul had proven his worth. "I grew up in Seles, but before that I lived with my
parents in a different village. That home was destroyed by the Black Monster eighteen years ago, Neet. I was five years old when Neet was assaulted by the
Black Monster. My parents and I were the only ones who got out of the village, but my father went back. He wanted to help and my mother followed him."
"Trowa..." Catherine's eyes widened and she almost put an arm around the boy, his dark expression making him stop.
"I stayed where they left me," Trowa continued, his voice without inflection. "When morning came, the fires had stopped and it was snowing again. But the
village was gone." He frowned, remembering how Seles had looked and he didn't tell Catherine how similar the two counts of destruction had been. "The
Black Monster killed everyone, nothing but ashes and cinders were left. But I did find something." His hand moved into his armor and he held a small stone
out for Catherine and Abdul to see, his eyes glinting on the white glow that erupted against his skin. It was a dark red crystal that emanated fiery streaks of
light. "What I found on the ground was only this. It's a memento, the only thing my father carried with him at all times."
"I never knew that," Catherine murmured, her eyes locked on the stone. She was thinking of the young boy she'd grown up with, wondering how she could
have missed such a painful past. She felt as if she'd never known him and the thought was a difficult one.
"I didn't see a reason to bring it up," Trowa admitted, closing his hand and putting the stone back inside his armor. The light disappeared as soon as his skin
left it and he watched Catherine's downcast eyes. There was the reason he hadn't said anything, his stomach curled as he wondered if she would hug him or
something. But her eyes glinted when she finally looked up and he felt an urge to back up. If there hadn't been a doorframe behind him, he might have.
"Well, you just told me," Catherine winked, smirking at Trowa's confused expression. "I guess it's better late than never, right?"
"So, you just came back from a journey to bring closure to the past?" Abdul shook his head when Trowa turned to him. The story was a sad one, but he could
tell the boy didn't want any sort of sympathy. "And then you find out that Catherine was kidnapped."
"I didn't solve anything," Trowa said. "I've talked to everyone within miles of Neet, but no one knew anything about the Black Monster."
"Ah. But you said Neet." Abdul frowned at Trowa, shifting a bit on his injured leg. "I've never heard of it, is it a village in this country?"
"It was located further north from here," Trowa explained. "Nobody even remembers its name anymore. But it doesn't really matter right now." His eyes
narrowed, locking with Abdul's. "Tell me. What's happening in this country?"
"Well," Abdul said, sitting on the stool near the open doorway. "Currently, our Kingdom of Basil is at war with the Imperial Sandora. The war's spread all over
Serdio. Emperor Doel has troops fighting with us with no mind to the location."
"Why was the truce broken?" Trowa asked.
"Because of the Dragon." Abdul nodded at Trowa's sharp breath, catching the confusion in Catherine's eyes as they widened. "They aren't just legends.
Doel has added a Dragon to Sandora's forces and broken the balance of power. That was when he started being more aggressive."
"They..." Trowa's eyes narrowed and he blinked for a moment, thinking of his own experience. The huge creature that had chased him wasn't like a domestic
wolf, he couldn't imagine a dragon obeying any orders. "A dragon can be used in war?"
"Do you know something about the dragon?" Abdul asked, moving forward suddenly.
"I was attacked by a Dragon before I entered Seles," Trowa explained. "It was much stronger than anything I could face, but a man saved me. If he hadn't
shown up I wouldn't be here. I can't see something like that obeying an army."
The boy's expression was so straightforward he couldn't doubt it and Abdul shook his head. "I don't know how they're controlling it, but the Dragon is
advancing faster than we thought if you saw it near Seles. We have to do something now or it'll be too late."
"You mean more people are going to die." The man's eyes were lowered and Trowa turned his own away. He didn't see any way of fighting a dragon, but he
imagined such a creature could easily do as much damage as Doel's men had done to Seles. And it hadn't been that far from the village.
"It *is* a war," Abdul reminded him. "But it's good to know its location. I definitely have to get back to Indels Castle in Bale. This us just one more thing I need
to report to the King." Trowa nodded, but the boy's eyes were directed outside and he frowned, looking at Catherine. "You know, you two could come with
me." Trowa looked to him, frowning as if he were about to refuse and Abdul nodded quickly. "Minister Noish might know something about the Black Monster
you were looking for." As he'd thought, the boy's eyes sparked at that lure.
"We can't go back to Seles now," Trowa said slowly, frowning at Catherine. She would be safer in Bale, especially if the castle's defense was raised. Learning
about the Black Monster was an added incentive that tipped the scale. Abdul stood and he nodded to the man. "We'll accompany you."
"Right."
* * *
The cave separated the plains from Bale, and Abdul warned them of the danger. Many of the monsters were poisonous, a bad thing since Trowa only had
one body purifier, but they'd picked others up on the way. With a careful watch kept for monsters, they maneuvered the cave slowly, staying close to the wall.
They hadn't gone very far in the dim blue cave when they met a dark stream that blocked their way.
Looking at the slippery stepping stones that provided the only path, Trowa sighed. "Cathy, be careful not to slip, alright?" She glared at him, but that was
what he'd expected of her. The warning still worked since she was determined to show that she could cross without ever faltering. Leading the way, Trowa
made it to the other side, Catherine hopping to safety right behind him. Abdul had taken the rear and Trowa grimaced when the man limped, landing hard on
the last stone. The slick moss gave no traction and the knight fell, barely catching himself as the water poured down in a black rush. "Hold on!"
Catherine watched with a worried expression as the tall boy jumped across the rushing water. There didn't look to be enough room on the small rock, but
Trowa crouched, grabbing Abdul's arm. For a second it looked as if they would both fall and she closed a hand over her mouth, holding back the cry that tried
to make its way out.
Gritting his teeth, Trowa managed to pull the man up. They were both breathing hard by the time they reached Catherine and he ducked, giving a long sigh of
relief. It was hard to believe they'd almost been beaten by a simple waterfall. A moment passed before he glanced up, and he was taken back by the way
Abdul was staring at him. "What?"
"That's the second time you've saved my life," Abdul said solemnly. The boy's green eyes blinked and he smirked, shaking his head.
"I was just around," Trowa said, not sure why the man was smiling at him. He knew Abdul would have done the same for him.
"That may be the case," Abdul smirked, "but I was lucky you were around, Trowa. I think we'll be comrades for quite a while." The boy seemed surprised and
he turned his back, hiding his smile. "Yes, it'll be a long relationship." A glance showed that Trowa's eyes were on him and he let his smile show, wanting to
laugh at the boy's startled expression. "Right?"
If Trowa hadn't known better, he would have thought the man was teasing him. Whether it was true or not, though, he did like him. He was a good friend to
have. "Yes," he said slowly, "I suppose you're right."
Catherine's eyes widened when the men clasped hands before turning and continuing through the cave. Mouth falling open, she took a sharp step forward.
"Um, hey! You guys..." They didn't even glance back at her and she glared, running quickly to catch up. "Don't leave me like that!"
* * *
The exit was visible in the dim light of fluorescent moss, a vague glow of white from around the corner of large rock. Abdul slowed when he spotted it, waving a
hand to keep Trowa and Catherine from advancing. The boy frowned at him and he nodded when a dark shadow slithered into sight. "I was afraid of this," he
said, drawing his weapon. "I've heard rumors of a 'guardian' monster in this cave. It looks like they were true."
Nodding, Trowa drew his sword, his eyes flicking back to Catherine as he spotted a large serpent. The size of the thing's teeth were enough to make him wary
and it approached much too quickly. "Stay back," he said sharply, bracing himself as the huge snake rose a few feet away, wide mouth hissing at them. The
girl glared at him, but he didn't have time to groan when she notched an arrow.
"Don't worry about me," Cathy glared. "I can help."
The snake gave a low cry and writhed over them. Its body was tan with a line of dark blue and a white underbelly, body segments letting it curl its long length.
Trowa and Abdul didn't rush it the way they would have a human enemy since there was a danger of being wrapped in its length. Instead, they stood back,
darting forward before returning to the line. The creature didn't approach either, spitting a wad of poison at Catherine. It was a very lucky thing that they'd
found a poison guard, nearly a miracle that she was the one wearing it. As it was, the poison had no affect on her and she launched arrows at the thing,
aiming for its open mouth and exposed underbelly. Despite the size, the battle seemed quick. The snake continued to spit poison at Catherine, making one
lightning quick strike at Trowa before jerking back again. Within a few short minutes, they'd killed it, even Catherine commenting on how easy it had been.
Stretched out, the snake didn't seem so large and Abdul turned away from it with a sniff. "Well, I guess it wasn't as strong as rumor had it. Let's get going."
"Right," Trowa said, frowning at the long creature. Green blood oozed from it's open mouth and he put his sword away slowly, glancing back when Catherine
didn't follow. "Cathy, come on."
Catherine nodded quickly, stepping after Trowa, but she paused, taking one last look at the monster. It was her first kill and she still couldn't believe how
simple it was. Her eyes were caught by the green liquid trailing from the serpent's mouth, and she looked at it for a moment before turning away. With a
shake of her head, she hurried after them. She never saw the snake's tongue move but she heard scales scrape against the floor of the cave, her eyes
widening. Jerking, she whirled to see the snake rise over her, Trowa's angry cry echoing in the cavern as she stood frozen. It rose above her, its sharp fangs
glinting then it struck and she closed her eyes, unable to move.
Lunging forward, Trowa drew his sword, his eyes on those long, bright teeth. But he skidded to a halt when bright shards of white light suddenly erupted from
the girl's forehead, arching out to strike the monster. A high pitch hum filled the cavern and his wide eyes held as the serpent's body evaporated in puffs.
The light was blinding, rays of bluish white growing brighter before ending suddenly. Trowa's eyes burned, and he didn't move when Catherine turned wide
eyes on him, her shock and confusion written over her face.
"Wh-what was...?" Catherine's voice trailed off and she fell to her knees, holding her head in her hands. She felt as if she'd been spinning in circles, waves of
dizziness making it even harder to think.
Rushing to her side, Trowa knelt, not quite touching her. She didn't look injured, but something was very wrong. He couldn't think of anything to explain what
he'd seen and he wondered what could have happened to her in the five years of his absence. "Cathy?"
The boy's voice was concerned but also wary and Catherine looked at him earnestly, one hand held to her temple. The disorientation had ended and she
shook her head frantically. "I don't know what it was! Trowa...nothing like this has ever happened before."
She looked worried and maybe even embarrassed. A tense silence passed before Abdul had to break it. "Well, we *are* safe now," he said gently. "We
should think about leaving. Whatever that was, it saved your life and it didn't hurt us at all." Trowa nodded at him and Catherine gave a soft sigh. "Let's go to
Bale." The girl smiled at him and he hid his own curiosity. He wanted to examine her, a foolish notion considering he had no experience with magic aside from
the simplest spells.
"Are you feeling okay?" Trowa asked, looking at Catherine. She obviously *didn't* know what the light had been, but he had a suspicion someone else did.
The magic had been strong enough to completely obliterate that monster, a magic that could come in very handy in a war. It would explain why Doel had
ordered her kidnapping. But she was already pale and he didn't see any reason to explain his thoughts.
"I'm fine," Catherine said quickly. Trowa have her a hand and she rose, stepping past him to where Abdul was waiting. The man nodded and she sighed,
forcing a quick smile to her lips when she glanced back at Trowa. "Let's go."
.-.
PART 4
.-.
FEEDBACK
FANFICTION INDEX