The Mercenaries' Princess » Places

         
"So it was Nahv that was trailing us? That's a relief. Anyway, what have I missed? It pertains to the business you had, I presume."

Shyc glanced over to the tall lizard-man, "Yeah, I guess. But..." he paused for a moment, "Business hu... after or before he tackled me," he gave a slight glower at the lizard. Obviously he was still trying to have feeling return to his strained limbs. With a sigh he reached up and ran his hands through his hair, "I guess he's working for the King of Truell."

"That so?" Razeluxe turned to the Lizard-man who had created what would later be known as the 'man-pack'. "Too much to hope that he wanted to enjoy my company again."

Shyc gave a slight huff, a small upturn of his lips as he smiled slightly, "Well, better than what he originally wanted to do. He'd told me that we couldn't go any farther unless... well, he's been ordered to dispose of anyone who dares to 'tresspass'. But with Sakura's condition, it seems he's made an exception. So! Thankfully we won't die today, but we're under strict... survelliance I suppose. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that."

"Getting the cure for Sakura is our top priority at the moment, so I could care less if we're under watch. At the very least, I know Nahv's character enough to know that he won't do anything if we don't. Just smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave.."

Shyc looked over to Nahv again, his arms crossing as he eyed the man. He seemed to think about their options and then returned his gaze to Raze, "Yeah. I trust you on that. He's decided to take us through some ruins to get to the castle. I guess the pass is too perilous right now with all the snow. And well.. I think I have to agree. Sakura may say she's good, but... coupled with the cold and she's been looking a little pale lately," he paused again watching Raze carefully, "It'll be faster, warmer and Nahv will be guiding us. What do you say to that?"

Razeluxe's face was blank, as usual. Despite that, he couldn't help but avert his eyes for a moment. Would Sakura-chan be alright until then? He realized pondering this would just be wasting the little time they probably had. Razeluxe returned his gaze to Shyc. "I'm fine with it. Cold was never really my thing anyhueway." he answered.

"When does he want to depart?"

To this, Shyc gave a slight shrug, "I don't know. Probably soon, maybe in the morning which isn't too long now if you think about it," the young theif gave a sigh. So much for sleeping, but he was sort of used to that anyway, "Want me to wake her? Or will you? I could..." he glanced over as his attention was taken by something that sounded like a scuffle. He watched both women for a while before he shook his head and sighed as he looked down to the ground, "Well... that's just going to be great. Want me to see what's got those two all riled up?" he asked, pointing at the two women and specifically Fotia who looked to be drenched in water.

Razeluxe too had heard all the commotion coming from the camp. Whatever it was, it wasn't welcome. Razeluxe shook his head at Shyc's offer. "No, I'll deal with it. Go wake Sakura and tell her what we're going to do." he instructed before heading off towards the scuffle, irritated that something that was likely to be stupid was going on. He was quite done with all the shit going on around him for at least a few more nights.

"Alright," Shyc said with a nod and turned to go to Sakura's tent. He was slightly glad that Raze was going to deal with the two women. He wasn't quite sure how well he could have done so. Pushing aside the tent flap, he moved into her tent and gently shook her shoulder, "Sakura?"

She gave a mumble in reply, still wrapped up in a deep sleep. He grinned as he watched her, laughing to himself. Of course, nothing could wake her up it seemed, a full on war could be going on around her but if she were in this deep of a sleep, there was nothing to get her up. He settled for poking her face until she twitched a few times, and reached out and slapped at his hand.

"Sakura," he laughed, "Wake up, I know it's late. Sorry..."

"Mm, what is it, Shyc?" she said barely muttering the words as she rolled over and peered up at him sleepily.

"We're gonna get going soon."

"Now?"

"Yeah, seems... Nahv is back and he's going to take us to the King. We'll get your cure sooner. How does that sound?"

Sakura lay there for a while before everything processed and then she nodded and sat up slowly, stretching as she went. She gave him a tired smile, "You are all so worried. And for nothing. I promise I'm okay, jeez it's not like I'm just going to drop," she teased slightly.

Shyc frowned a bit, "So you say... but... you've been looking really pale lately and I don't know if it's just me but... you're usually more energetic."

"We've been walking a lot," she said with a shrug that he didn't believe wholly. Sakura pushed herself up to her feet and yawned, her arms stretching up over her head one more time. Shyc stood with her as he shook his head just a bit.

"See? Just... fine," the Princess swayed and then dropped.

Shyc shouted, catching her just before she could crumple completely, "Sakura?!" he shook her gently, and when she didn't move, he picked her up and left the tent in a hurry, taking her towards the dying fire, he laid her out as he called for Raze, shouting the elf's name even though he probably didn't have to.

Unfortunately for the two fighting women, the big, strapping young elf-human hybrd was unable to reach their tent before he heard the boy's cry for help. With a glare through the tent towards Shyc for interrupting his possible three-way, he rushed over to the tent that held the two.

"What? What's the matter?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The young theif ground his teeth, "I'm hopeful that she's just too tired... but... she stood up and then passed out," Shyc shook his head as he eyed Sakura's still form carefully, "This isn't looking good, Raze. What are we going to do if we lose her before we even make it?" he asked, looking over his shoulder to the elf with a bit of fear in his gaze.

Shaking his head, he continued a bit, "And Nahv hasn't gauranteed our audience with the King either... only that we'll get there."

"We'll get her there before that happens." he shot back, as if offended by the very idea that she'd actually perish before then. "Both our lives and her own depend on it, and I won't let them be lost. For now, we worry about things one at a time. You'll just stress yourself out otherwise. Can I expect a level head on you, Shyc? You're the most veteran member I have left."

Shyc took a sharp breath. For a moment only stared at Raze and then nodded, releasing his pent up air as he settled himself, "Yes," he answered and looked back down at Sakura, "Yes. You can expect that. I promise," he readjusted his hold on her and stood, he offered her to Raze, "I'll get our things, and tell Nahv we are ready. The sooner the better at this point," he said as calmly as he could muster.

---

The darkness of the room was only broken by a slight strand of silver light from the moon hanging outside the window. From that strand of light, two figures could be seen in the dark room. One was seated, the other stood next to them. The one that was seated tapped the arm of the chair incessantly.

"How much longer?"

"Till that time?"

The figure seated nodded only in response.

"Not too much longer. The solstice is nearly upon us. I'm sure she's starting to feel it by now. The pains would have increased, fatigue follows next, and eventually..."

"Will they make it?"

The one standing shrugged lightly, "Who knows. Even if they don't she will still awaken. The only thing depending on if she makes it is what sort of destruction will happen afterwards. Should the King manage to get his hands on her, he can awaken her with little destruction. If not... well... it matters not."

"No. It doesn't matter. She's mine anyway. Just so long as that power of hers is awakened, that's all I want. That's all I need. Everything else doesn't matter."

         

Her heart lurched to her throat as Raze looked a little irritated by the fact that she'd reacted and covered his eyes. Reaching up, he withdrew her hands and moved over to the woman who was seated in the fire. Once Sakura was calm, she too found the blackened figure fascinating. Edging forwards, she caught Raze's question to her new guardian.

Fotiá gazed up at him with a strange look in her eyes. Was she... confused that Raze asked her what she was? Did she not realize that she was the one who was different? She was sitting in a fire! If anything, she should have been on fire, burnt to a crisp. Fotiá stayed like that for quite some time, watching him as she seemed to be trying to figure an answer for him. Sakura came up and knelt down near them, behind Raze and watched the woman with the fiery hair and brilliant star-like blue eyes.

"I'm not sure if your plane has an equivalent for me since all fire here is dead. But, I believe I would be identified as a fire elemental. I promise not to burn you." she paused between the sentences, thinking briefly before explaining to him.

The young princess glanced between her and Raze, her expression filled with wonder. Her mother had employed this sort of person to protect her. It was rather interesting, at least to Sakura anyway. She wasn't entirely sure what it meant to be a fire elemental, but from the looks of it, Sakura could determine that fire was not going to hurt her. That was fascinating. The princess was going to ask her a thousand questions, all of them bubbling up to the surface but then Fotiá rolled away.

Sakura stopped, her mouth opened and the first words to the string of questions halting as she watched the woman promptly turn from them. Maybe she is tired... Sakura thought to herself as she tilted her head off to the side for a moment. With a bit of a pout on her lips, she lifted a hand and rested her chin there, fingers puffing up her cheek as she looked over to Raze.

"I guess she's tired," she said softly. Glancing around the camp, she sighed, "I suppose we should all be getting some rest soon too, hu? We'll be leaving early I assume. Oh! Raze!"

Sakura nearly jumped up with her excitement as she remembered something very important. Reaching into the small bag that she had carrying her brush, earring, and the white ribbon, she produced the ribbon. For a moment she paused, her fingers hesitating to withdraw from the pouch. Finally, she took a breath and pulled it out. She wasn't sure if he would know what it meant entirely, but she was fairly certain that he would figure it out.

"For you. I... I wasn't sure if I'd ever see you again, and well... When I was told that I was going to go to Truell with you, I thought immediately that you should have this." her voice sounded strange to her own ears as she tried to explain to him without saying too much. Her fingers extended outwards as she handed the white ribbon over to him. She was fairly certain it was a universal sign, she'd read it many books before. Unless that information was outdated... then she'd have to take a different approach... well maybe... Sakura's face burned as the thoughts rushed through her mind.

Relax! I'm sure it's still the same, or at least somewhat close... she told herself and remembered to breathe, "Also, I would like to learn how to use a sword. Could you teach me? I don't want to be a burden to you. You can tell me in the morning, it's really late now." this she was deadly serious on. Recalling the last few times she'd been in trouble, she'd been nothing but a weight to them. If she could fight and hold her own against someone else, then he wouldn't have to worry about her as much anymore. That would make things easier, at least she thought so.

Standing up, she brushed herself off. Shyc -who had come to see the woman as well- smiled at her, "You can sleep in that tent there. I'm over there and Raze sometimes sleeps in the hammock or the tent next to yours. Depends on the night."

Sakura nodded and moved over to the tent that he'd pointed out to her. Once she was on the mat, it felt like all of the days stress just washed away, leaving her relaxed and weary. Within a few minutes she was asleep.

When the woman had stripped and entered the fire, Shyc about had a heart attack. His immediate thought was to drag her from the fire because he was sure she was committing suicide. Which, of course, made no sense really since she'd just said she had been ordered to go with the princess. It wasn't until Raze moved over and asked the question of what she was that had him calm down. Oh... well of course... shouldn't have freaked out if Raze hadn't... he chided himself.

He listened intently to the woman as she described herself as a fire elemental. How... peculiar. Though he himself couldn't say much. He was half daemon anyway. The daemon was from another world too. It was understandable that there were other things aside from daemons out there. Reaching up, he gripped his hand over his chest briefly, wincing at the recollection of his other 'self'. Sakura spoke to Raze then, offering him something that Shyc could only barely see until she moved. It was a white ribbon and he couldn't help the small grin that developed on his face. So... she's finally gathered the courage then. I wonder if he'll get it...

After showing her to the tent that would be hers for the night, Shyc beamed at Raze, "Well, what a strange turn of events. You know, the Queen's going to be even more stringent about this now that she's entrusted us with Sakura," he sighed heavily as he stretched his arms up over his head, curling the fingers into his hair, "Anyway, goodnight, Raze."

Though he'd bid his leader 'night, he didn't go to the tent. Instead he moved to where the firelight just barely reached and pressed his back against one of the trees and slowly slid down into a sitting position. He wasn't sure if Raze had noticed that he'd been doing this since Duun, but it wasn't like he could help it. It was getting easier again, easier to deal with being around the others. A little while longer, he thought to himself as he pulled his legs up, wrapping his arms around them and staring off into the darkness. He wouldn't sleep. He couldn't sleep, not yet.

End Quest Five: Return to Iverien

---

Start Quest Six: By the Queens Request

The crow of birds had greeted him. Shyc hadn't moved from his secluded spot the entire night. He had drifted in and out of sleep, but woke constantly to the screams in his head and the stench of blood all over him. For the last time that night, he woke again, sweaty, heart racing and thinking that he'd killed mercilessly once more. Glancing around the tree, he noted that the camp was quiet. With a sigh of relief, he realized that he'd not gone on a rampage. With his breath short, he took a moment to calm himself before standing up and running his fingers through his hair.

They would be going soon, he was sure. Sakura wasn't one to sleep in and neither was Raze or Nahv. It was still unimaginably early though. Even the trees were still darkened slightly, only just starting to turn purple from the rising sunlight over the mountains. Stretching, he moved about the camp silently. Going to his tent, he fetched a change of clothes before heading towards the stream that wasn't too far from them. He was worried about Willow and Dinan since they had not come back from whatever they'd been called away for. His other worry, though was what they were going to eat. Willow usually cooked for them, and Shyc was no cook at all.

He blushed slightly as he came to the stream and bent down. I should really learn how to cook, otherwise Raze'll be stuck with all the work he thought solomnly. Reaching up, he dragged off his shirt and plunged his hands into the cold water. Within minutes, he was soaked, all except for his lower body. Brushing his fingers through his hair, he sprayed water all around him as he attempted to clean it from the bark and leaves that had most likely accumulated over him during the night, along with the usual dirt too. Leaning forward, he cupped handful after handful of water over his head as he washed. The morning air chilled him to the bone as the water was already cold.

"Ugh... sometimes I wish we had heated baths or something like they have in Ollian."

         

"And where has those other two disappear off to now?"

"They're capable on their own. I suggest we worry about the young one."

Glancing out to the fight between the trees, Sakura noted that Dinan and Willow were indeed missing from their original spots. Perhaps the fighting had taken them to a different part of the forest area around them? Anything was possible, she was sure. But as Raze had suggested, they were fine on their own. Even Sakura knew that by the way they'd all carried themselves the past three days. She could tell they were all very strong in their own ways. Raze gave her a short nod before he turned and rushed off to help the young thief.

Sakura's body finally seemed to relax as Raze left to assist Shyc in the fight. She watched him as he fought to get to the boy's side. Pulling her bottom lip into her mouth, she nibbled on it nervously as she watched. After a moment, she lost sight of first Shyc, then Raze. Her heart lurched, but she quickly calmed herself. She'd definitely had enough negative emotions for one day. It was draining her of her strength and she was sure to need more of that later when they started the journey back to Iverien. Sakura was fairly sure they would start that journey sometime that day seeing as it was still early morning.

Pushing herself upwards, she got to her feet as the sounds of steel clashing against each other slowly faded away. The echos remained, but new sounds of fighting didn't start up. She swayed a bit on her feet, but managed to stay standing for the most part. Sakura, ignoring that she was probably going to get scolded, went after Raze. Following the path he'd gone and where she'd last seen him, she weaved through the trees until she stumbled upon both him and Shyc as well as someone else that she'd never seen before.

Behind this newcomer, were more men, but they were edging away before turning around completely and running. They'd obviously lost the will to fight and by the way it looked, Raze was in no mood for messing around. Sakura swallowed dryly. She'd never seen him like that before, and it was slightly terrifying. That was when she laid eyes on the young thief. Sakura gasped, loudly, and ran to him. He was covered head to foot in blood that she thought was his own.

"Shyc! Oh... Gods, are you alright? What happened, where are -"

She didn't get within two feet of him when he flinched and shoved himself away from her. His breathing was shallow and quick, his green gaze horror filled as he snapped at her, "Don't!"

Sakura stopped, and her legs gave out from underneath her. Dropping down to her knees wearily, she lifted one hand to press against her temple briefly before looking back up to Shyc who was slightly worried, but still scared. The princess couldn't comprehend what it was that made him snap at her like that, almost as if he was afraid of something. Why would he be so scared? It couldn't be her, could it? No. That was silly.

"Shyc... what's wrong?"

He shook his head, brows curling upwards as his gaze filled with tears slightly, "I...I'm so sorry," he muttered the last part. He grit his teeth, his head turning off to the side and his stained hair falling forward to cover his eyes from her view. She slid forward on hands and knees, an eyebrow coming down in confusion. She didn't understand his demeanor at all. This wasn't really like him, not at all.

The young mercenaries voice called out to Raze a moment later, "Don't... don't hurt him, Raze. I - That has never happened before. No one has ever brought me back before."

"'Brought you back?'" Sakura repeated softly. She shifted her gaze to Raze, then to the new comer in robes, and finally back to Shyc. The boy was trembling as he clenched his fist, head still turned from all of them.

"... Sorry... sorry I didn't tell you," he muttered again.

"Shyc. There's nothing to be sorry about," Sakura said softly, smiling at him as she edged closer to him again. He didn't move, that or maybe he didn't notice that she'd gotten close to him, "It's fine now. You're fine, we all are. Now we can head back to Iverien. Okay?"

He didn't answer, nor did he make any gesture that he had heard or was going to move. Sakura's gaze widened a bit as she watched him almost desperately. She turned to Raze. She didn't say anything, but only shook her head a bit. The princess was at a loss. She couldn't think of anything and whatever was tormenting Shyc... he wasn't about to say it outright. At least not without some coaxing and that she wasn't very good at.