"The mage Greyweyrs allowed himself a flicker of hope. The Guardian was fighting her own mis-enchantment. Now, he realized, was the time to act. He glanced back down at the traveler Arashi one last time. With the grace of long practice he drew his dagger and flicked it at the enthralled Guardian."
The storier sat back in her chair and took a long drink from her mug as her audience squirmed in suspense.
"Then what happened?"
Demanded a young boy at her feet. The storyteller smiled indulgently as his mother shushed him. She put the tankard back on the hearthstone.
"The mage Greyweyrs was a blade expert long before his fell enchantment that granted his dark powers, and his aim was true. The blade sliced along the Guardian's brow, leaving a long, but shallow cut, which bled profusely in the manner of nonfatal head wounds. There was a noise, like the shout from a hundred thousand throats, and the Guardian grabbed her head, screaming this banshee wail, as she fell to her knees. The mage Greyweyrs also collapsed, his hands clapped tightly to his ears. The traveler Arashi, thankfully was still beyond knowing."
The woman added for the benefit of the small boy, who'd opened his mouth in question. He shut it.
"After what seemed to be an eternity the noise faded away, like a snow in warm sunlight, and at first the mage Greyweyrs wasn't certain it had completely stopped. Shaking his head to rid himself of the ringing sound he shot to his feet when soft fingers touched his shoulder. The Guardian smiled slightly at him, her face strangely sad and asked him to direct her to the fallen Traveler. The mage Greyweyrs guided her hands to traveler Arashi's crumpled form, and with a soft chant golden light infused the broken body of the Traveler. Heart stopping moments later she opened her eyes, and sleepily clasped the Guardian's trembling hands in her own, silent forgiveness for one who didn't know how to ask for it." A white robed priestess in the audience nodded.
"The trio spoke long into the endless night as the traveler Arashi healed. Her conjecture, it seemed was accurate, that human blood was the bane of Arcane Magic. When the mage Greyweyrs had cut the Guardian, the magical bonds which the Forest used to control the Guardian were severed, by in an odd manner. The Meld spell the Guardian had cast was an Arcane Spell, and as such wasn't completely dissolved by a few drops of blood, but rather changed. While the guardian could still hear the Forest, in her head," The storier tapped her own forehead for emphasis. "the Forest was no longer in possession of her. Through further discussion, the mage and traveler learned that the Forest only perceived the traveler Arashi a threat when she had spat up blood, after healing the Guardian. The Forest, because It is alive and thinks, assumed that blood, as it is a threat to the Forest, was also a threat to the Guardian, which the Forest considers as part of Itself." The storyteller reached for her mug.
"Wait! The mage Greyweyrs also bled! How come the Forest didn't try to kill him?"
Interrupted the boy. The woman regarded him with mild surprise as she drank from her tankard.
"Clarves!" Hissed the teenage girl sitting next to him.
"No, it's quite all right." The storier said before the two could begin bickering.
"You're forgetting, young master," She addressed the frowning boy. "That the mage Greyweyrs is a chimera, and as such, his blood is too charged with magical energies to carry the same properties as regular human blood. But even so, the Forest did try to kill him, if you will recall, during the battle before the Forest took possession of the Guardian.
"But, does that mean that Forest was also trying to kill the Guardian?" The teenager sitting next to the boy asked. The storyteller shook her head.
"No, the attacks the Forest was using against It's Guardian were dividing tactics, It's true purpose was to separate the traveler Arashi from the others so It do away with her without harming It's Guardian.
"Oh." The girl seemed content with that answer. The storier looked around at the other gathered children. "Any other questions I can answer?"
The original boy stuck his hand into the air. The woman nodded.
"What happened then?" The woman smiled.
"Then, when the traveler was completely healed, the Guardian led the mage and the traveler to the edge of the Forest, and wished them safe travels."
"That's it?" The boy's forth rightness elicited a chuckle from the other listeners. The storyteller nodded solemnly.
"But aren't the traveler and mage suppose to get married and live happily ever after?" A different girl asked, looking perplexed. Someone in the back of the room choked. The woman slowly shook her head.
"They were traveling together as equals and friends, siblings in soul and quest, not lovers."
"But, what happens then? Their quest isn't over!" The storyteller smiled gently at the impertinent child.
"That, young one, is a story for another night." The collected children groaned, clearly having heard that line before.
"Come along the lot of you." The barkeep shooed the children off, holding out a large platter of steaming meat and vegetables to the storyteller.
"I'd say you more than earned your meal, Lady Storier."
"My thanks." The woman took the offered plate and moved to the far corner where a man garbed in green and white smiled a welcome.
"That wasn't too bad, 'Dancer." Zelgadis said, sharing her meal. 'Dancer grinned at him. "So what was wrong?" He shrugged, causing the green cloak she lent him to flutter slightly. "I just... remember things a little differently." 'Dancer flat out laughed at him. "But what really happened isn't half as exciting." She replied, spearing the carrot he was about to get. "Besides, it was a profitable way to pass the time, no?" She winked as she swallowed the veggie and he shrugged again.
"While I'd rather not have come into-" He broke off and tensed up, causing 'Dancer to look up. Standing a little to the left and behind was a tall swordsman, his hair black hair pulled back into a ponytail. He grinned pleasantly at her."
"Can I buy the Lady Storier a drink to sooth her parched throat after such a lengthy recital?" 'Dancer made momentary eye contact with Zelgadis, who shook his head very slightly.
"Sure, if you buy my companion a round as well." 'Dancer replied glibly, remembering how often that line had worked in bars.
"Ok." Zelgadis glared at her as the swordsman pulled up a chair, then signaled to a waitress. "Sorry" 'Dancer mouthed giving him a hapless look. She quickly disguised that expression as the swordsman turned back to her.
"So, what'll have, milady?" 'Dancer wondered briefly if they served hemlock. "Water, thank you." Under the table Zelgadis kicked her. She restrained herself from returning the favor.
"Are you sure that's all you want, Lady... say what is your name?" Lina Inverse. She almost answered when she got another kick under the table.
"'Dancer Saisan." She said through a pained smile. "And this is," 'Dancer was half afraid Zelgadis was going to kick her again, but instead he rewarded her with an icy look that caused 'Dancer to flounder for a moment. "...is Pikachu." She was kicked again, hard. "Zelimus Pikachu."
"I have to pick something up." Zelgadis announced suddenly, standing and reaching for his sword.
"Wha - ? You can't leave now!" 'Dancer gave him a pleading/panicked look. His own emotionless response said everything.
"I'll catch up with you later." 'Dancer's eyebrow began to twitch. Where's a rampaging monster when I need one? Incredibly, the swordsman missed the whole exchange, chatting amiably with the waitress. I don't believe it! He fights besides me against large and fanged things that go bump in the night, but he leaves me when I get hit on?! 'Dancer stared at her plate in utter bewilderment.
"'Dancer Saisan?" The 'Dancer looked up at the swordsman, "Is that any relation to the supermodel, Stormdancer Saisan?" 'Dancer's face drained of all color.
"You know, I just realized that I left something in the microwave. Bye!" She was just reaching for the doornob when the door was flung open and a poor man ran inside. Hot on his heels was a large rampaging lesser demon.
"You know, you have really, really have lousy timing." 'Dancer told the demon before she slammed the door in it's face.
"Everyone, out the back!"
"RRRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!" The tavern door was ripped off it's hinges and the building shook as the demon tried to fit in through the doorway. Instantly the swordsman was at her side, his blade drawn.
"HOLY FLARE!" A sphere of pure light smashed into the demon, sending it reeling back a pace. 'Dancer and the swordsman glanced to their right, where the old, white robed priestess stood, holding her staff before her.
"Quickly, keep it occupied while I raise a circle!" The swordsman nodded, and leapt at the monster.
"This is as good a day to die as any." 'Dancer muttered, drawing her sais and flanking the creature. The demon howled in agony as the swordsman slashed it's knees, drawing amber blood. 'Dancer darted behind it's legs and carved a cruel line across it's hind flank. Bellowing in rage it spun around and slapped her halfway across the room. 'Dancer stood groggily, prying herself out of the wreckage of a table, then yelped as the floor began to glow under her.
"It's alright, child!" Called the priestess, joining the swordsman into trying to cajole the monster towards the magic circle. 'Dancer tried rejoin the fight when she doubled over and coughed up blood.
Why? She wailed mentally. I haven't used any magic! Forcing herself to stand she stumbled to the edge of the circle. Now I know how Raistlin must have felt. She thought hazily, then blinked. She couldn't pass the outer barrier of the circle.
"SOMEBODY GET ME OUTTA HERE!!!" She banged on the magical wall with her sais. There was a roar of victory and 'Dancer turned to see the demon crashing towards her, it's intent obvious.
"Move Lady!" 'Dancer pressed her back up against the barrier, determined to go out fighting.
"Why isn't she moving?" Blademaster Li asked aloud. She obviously can't. His sword grumbled. Something in the priestess's circle isn't allowing her out.
"We've got to do something!" Dashing towards the monster Li leapt up on a table and used it to spring onto the monster's back. His sword felt light in his hand as it changed up with energy. Only the priestess realized how bad things were about to get.
"Sweet Ceiphied!"
"STAR STRIKE!" Blinding light outlined the blade and with the ease of a warm knife through butter sliced through the demon, and then through the magic circle.
Zelgadis exited the tailor's shop dressed in a new white cloak and tunic, 'Dancer's lent outerwear carefully folded by the tailor's daughter, who had watched silently from the solarium as Zelgadis tried on his garments. Paranoid as always, Zelgadis had bid a hasty retreat when he noticed the cute girl watching him intently. He had just stepped outside and was pulling up his hood when an explosion lit up the evening sky. Turning, he was nearly knocked over by the tailor as he threw open the door to see what had happened.
"Oh no," Cried the tailor's daughter, leaning out the second story window where she had been watching Zelgadis from, "the tavern!"
"'Dancer!" When to the tailor turned to see who had spoken, there was no one there.