|| End Quest Two || Begin Quest 2.5 ||
Orders to spy on another Kingdom... I wonder what my mother is thinking... Sakura thought to herself for the millionth time that trip. She didn't voice her thoughts though knowing that the moment they found out she was their employers daughter, they would all hightail it back to Iverien and hand her over. Which was definitely something she didn't want happening so soon. Although, she was beginning to think that perhaps Raze was probably thinking that a few times already. Sakura had been so curious the past few days during their travel that her near non-stop questions had probably gotten under his skin more than once. Each time she realized, of course, the princess would draw back and be abnormally silent for a little while before it started all over again.
Damn her insatiable curiosity.
Raze, though, was not the only one to suffer her incessant questions. The angel had gone through it too, as had Willow and... sometimes Yan. Yan was a bit harder to approach. His need to always be close at hand and touching was very hard to get used to. Not that she didn't hate it... it was just... different. Definitely different. Perhaps in time she would get used to it. Sakura smiled to herself pleasantly as they neared the forests edge. The dark curl of the trees canopy gave her chills as they slowed to a small pause. Raze glanced back to make sure they were all there. Once that was done, he turned and began to head into the trees.
Sakura beamed, "All good here!" she announced with loads of energy. Even though they'd been walking for days, the young princess hadn't complained once. Instead she'd shown so much interest in just about everything around them that she herself had probably tired out the other members before anything.
"Fine on my part, just never liked Dunn. Four hundred years and this blasted place still makes me sick just looking at it..That and I could use a bath." Dinan said, his tone speaking volumes of his dislike for the place they entered.
Sakura glanced over to him, her gaze growing soft as her lips slowly turned into a small frown. She could only slightly understand why he didn't like the place. The princess noted how he was mostly always flying, never really following with them down on the ground. In a way, she could sort of understand his dislike for the thick forest before them.
"I've visited the land on occasion. She isn't hospitable, I will agree. However, her people are strong and hardy to live in such a land, from what I've experienced. I spent a year or so in a small village serving as a sort of healer. Her terrain is no stranger to me. Just keep close to us and you will be safe." Willow added as they stepped foot into the undergrowth. The woman directed her last portion to Sakura who tilted her head off to the side. The young princess didn't really see what Willow meant. The forest certainly didn't look dangerous to her. Willow's voice continued to fill the air as she spoke to Raze, offering a soft laugh that pulled at Sakura's lips with the sound. Certainly, the princess had grown fond of that sound from the mage.
"This would be it. We're not too much further to the kingdom now. Lets head inside and find a decent spot." Raze announced as they neared the forest.
Shyc interlaced his fingers and stretched, his back arching as he pulled his fingers back in the movement. Limbs popped in a release of excess tension and he gave an audible sigh of relief. Having been walking for quite some time his body had gotten a slight bit rigid, needing new movements to keep him limber. At times he felt jealous of Dinan's flight. He was sure the sensation was very pleasant.
In addition, their newest member had energy that almost outstripped his own. The girl had been a chatter box most days, asking thousands of questions almost as if they had all been bottled up inside and she'd no one to talk to before. It had almost made him a bit crazy. However, he kept it to himself and found himself slowly adjusting to her presence. She was a sweet girl, always smiling and laughing it seemed. It was definitely a pleasant addition to their troop.
"We're all here, good. How's everyone holding up?"
Dinan answered first, voicing his disdain for the dark forest ahead. Willow followed and soon after Yan did as well at some point. It wasn't until Yan had spoken that Shyc did as well. He followed after them at an easy pace as Raze led them to a suitable spot to make camp.
"I don't think you could lose us even if you tried, Raze," Shyc grinned comically, "Never been better by the way."
The trees were growing thicker the further they went in, until they opened up again slightly. Thankfully too because it was growing rather dark very quickly. Shyc didn't want to be stumbling around Duun's swampy forest for too long in the night. He'd heard plenty of stories about the beasts and creatures that lived in the trees of this Kingdom. Here was probably a good a spot as any to set up camp.
"I'll go get some wood so we can have a fire," Shyc offered, bending his body back and forth as he prepared to set out into the dense trees, "Don't worry I won't go far," he grinned. Turning on his heel, he left the small group and entered the thicket of trees. The young thief moved quickly, trying to find as much dry wood as possible. It was very difficult, seeing as it was a swamp they'd just stepped in.
Bugs flew around his face which he waved off in irritation. The sounds of nighttime critters were beginning to fill the forest. Chirps of night birds and owls coiled around the air. The rays of sunlight were burning through the trees, but quickly becoming fainter. Shyc, lost in his self-dedicated mission, didn't notice the soft footstep behind him. As he straightened from picking up another few pieces of wood, he felt the sharp poke of steel against the middle of his back.
The mercenary froze.
"Mighty confident aren't we?"
Shyc grinned a bit as he released the wood he'd held in his arms and raised his hands slowly, "Well, you know. Forest's don't really scare me."
"They should. Especially this one. Do you realize the territory you've stepped in, boy?"
"Duun... I thought everyone knew about this god forsaken swamp."
A sharp poke issued from the sword, probably drawing a bit of blood, "Smart ass. Didn't think we'd notice you and you're group stomping through the forest? What is it you all want from here?"
"I don't suppose 'vacationing' would let me go would it?"
The man's voice laughed. The pressure pulled back from the sword and Shyc took his chance. His hands dropped down to his side and drew his blade. Whirling around, he could feel the very tip of the blade just barely scratch his skin. Steel clashed as he swung hard at the larger man. Shyc's grin never faded though as he lunged forward, dealing out several quick strikes and landing most of them. The man was hard pressed to keep up with the youthful mercenary. In a matter of moments, Shyc had the man kneeling on the ground, disarmed.
"So rude, coming up behind someone with a weapon. You never know who you'll be up against," he chided a bit as he held his sword under the man's chin.
"As do you," he growled back and from the darkness there was a soft whoosh of air before Shyc felt the burst of power all across his body. He stumbled backwards, gasping slightly from the shock. Every part of his body burned then, having been cut open by the magic that had hit him. Deep gashes laced his frame and he slowly dropped to the forest floor, panting. Shit! Mages... I hate mages.... he thought to himself as he winced.
"Do a favor for me," a woman's voice cooed as several pairs of steps surrounded him. She knelt down and rolled him over onto his back, "Call the rest of your friends, we were here first and we don't share well."
Shyc's gaze widened a bit as he realized the implications. It was another group of mercenaries. Who they worked for was a mystery, but for the moment that didn't much matter. Her fingers pressed down on his chest and her power crackled over her arm, streaks of blue light flashing in the darkness. For a moment, Shyc could only think that he really hated mages, and that what she was about to do was probably going to hurt... a lot. His second thought was that he hoped that didn't happen to him. The last thing he wanted was for the group to find out about his other half.
The blue light sparked and curled around him, eliciting his voice to fill the canopy of trees.