"You look like a traveling mercenary," the speaker was a suspicious little man in a thick cloak, with the occasional spark of magic escaping out.
"My what an interesting assumption," Jolrael noted as he looked up. The man blinked.
"You mean you aren't a travelling mercenary?" he asked.
"Not at the moment," the sorcerer face faulted. "But why do you want one anyway?"
"I'm making a pilgrimage to Sailoon, I was hoping that you would be willing to act as a caravan guard." Jolrael thought about it, this man was setting off alarm bells in his head like crazy. Pyschic and otherwise, still he was looking for adventure, and this felt like one. He'd just have to watch his back. "Can you use that sword?"
"I'm decent," of course, he was comparing himself to his father. Gourry Gabriev who was one of the best swordsmen from the elven school of fighting, which was still probably the strongest style on the continent.
"Are you interested in the job?" the man asked sharply. There went those alarms again, he didn't need a guard. He wanted bait or cannon fodder for something, he recognized the basic set up from numerous pranks pulled on him in the past, he didn't need a sixth sense in this case. What other reason to look to a kid like him with open doubts about his capabilities? Jol shrugged, better him than some poor dumb idiot without a clue.
"I'm already travelling to Sailoon," he said. He had been planning to take a few days to look for this Filia person, but apparently adventure had come to him. "Why not?"
"Good, we have to meet someone in the forest first," the man informed him.
Nearly two hours later Jolrael caught one of the "pilgrims" alone, obstenisbly for a game of dice. It took only a moment to hypnotise the man.
"Who is our employer?"
"A scion of one of the old noble houses of Sailoon," the man answered dreamily.
"Who are we meeting in the forest?"
"Sailoon guardsman."
"Why?"
"He is with Princess Amethyst's escort, kill her and our master is the next in line for the thrown." He arched an eyebrow, his parents knew this girl's parents, more bad luck for these "pilgrims" then.
"And you need me to blame it on?"
"Yes." That was going to be more difficult than it sounded, at least Jol intended to make it so.
"Thank you," he looked down at the dice and picked them up. "Oh yes, you just lost." Jolrael released the man's mind then.
"Damn it," he looked up at the young man. "Beginner's luck, boy, I'll be getting that back. Just you wait!"
"You're welcome to try," he smiled. The "pilgrim" suddenly had the feeling that he had missed something.
"I'm sorry," Lina said quietly. "I hadn't heard, how did it happen?"
"Actually, I was hoping you could tell me," Amethyst said dejectedly, losing the Zelgadis-like expression. Lina looked over Amethyst's guards, and noted how they were still very nervous.
"Well, I don't know about you, but standing in the road isn't my idea of relaxing," Lina declared. "Before we get this meeting on the road, let's go sit around your fire and have some dinner."
"But we don't have anything but trail rations," Amethyst said. "That's hardly the kind of fair that befits such a hero.....a LEGEND." One of the guards snickered, attracting glares from both of the twins.
"Well perhaps Xina and Xalan can retrieve some of our stores," Lina suggested without turning about. "They seem to want a little exercise anyway." The were-fox turned to appraise the "borrowed" armor and arched an eyebrow.
"We'll be right back," Xalan promised tightly giving his sister a look left no room for mistranslation. As soon as they were out of sight she responded in a whisper, not wanting their mom's impressive hearing to pick up on it.
"Okay, okay, so taking the armor again was a bad idea," she admitted.
"You're lucky mom's distracted," he told her. "Last time she made you chop down a tree with a herring."
"Why is she so happy about this stone-girl?"
"What's wrong with Amethyst," Xina started to open her mouth and Xalan for once managed to head her off. "Aside from the fact her father is Zelgadis Greywyrds."
"That's not enough?"
"She seems nice enough, not at all like mom said her father's like," he pointed out.
"Oh well, its not worth bothering about," Xina decided, returning to her normal cheerful self. "Come on let's hurry up and get this done with, I suddenly have an idea!" She ran ahead down the path, leaving her brother to catch up.
"An idea?" Xalan repeated nervously. "Wait a minute! Xina! What kind of an 'idea' are you talking about?"
"Soembody tried to steal something from the Tombs," the speaker glanced around to make sure nobody heard. "From that mazoku's tomb."
"Someone was looking to descrate Xellos Metallium's tomb?" the grey-haired man feigned an aghast expression. "And you think this is something I might be interested in?"
"Perhaps if you get it first, you can sell it to whoever wants it."
"An interesting idea, it bears merit, what can you tell me about the defenses."
"The priests were placing wards on the tomb, and I think they increased the guard detail."
"I'll tell you what, if you manage to get something, I'll pay you for it what I think its worth."
"You want me to...."
"You want me to move my thieves with such risk on such little information?" the man asked. "Who knows, maybe you'll get an unforeseen chance."
Hello my love.
Zangulus shifted uncomfortably in his cot. He was dreaming again. Twenty years after Martina disappeared on her renewed quest for vengence and he was still having dreams about her. They had been getting more common of late, more real.
There's something I need, Zangulus.
"Go away," he muttered wearily. "You're just a dream."
Right now I'm just a dream, but I could be real to you again.
Zangulus sat up and stretched aching muscles. He had gone back to bounty hunting after Martina had left him, so he was still in near prime condition. His hair was graying and the stiffness and pain took longer to leave, but he was still a dangerous opponent.
"Damn dreams are getting worse all of a sudden," he complained to himself as he walked to the inn's cheap little desk that held his travelling gear.
Go to Sailoon, my Love, open the mazoku's tomb.
He blinked and cast about the room looking for where the voice was coming from. A soft hand brushed his cheek from behind. He turned and saw nothing, but his long lost wife's laughter filled the room.
"Stop it! Stop it!" he shouted.
I need what's in the tomb Zangulus, then I can make you young again, and we can be together, forever. Zangulus understood now.
"Martina, are you here?" he asked.
"Of course, I am dear," he turned and faced Martina, still as young as when she vanished. He noted the slit pupils and narrowed his eyes.
"You're mazoku," he commented darkly.
"What if I am? I'm still your one-true love, I'm still Martina," she approached him and brushed his unshaved face. "And I need you, dear. Can't you see that I need you?"
"You left me."
"And now I'm back," she countered. "If you had the opportunity to track down Gourry wouldn't you have done the same?" He thought about, though he had to admit that it was hard to think with her pressed against him like that. Twirling her fingers in his greying hair.
"I suppose, I would," he admitted finally.
"Good, because perhaps you will. He's still alive, and the remaining slayers might try and stop you. This is your chance to show them all up, and I can give you power."
"Then we can be together," he asked, voice a little dreamy.
"Together forever, my dear," she promised. "But first bring me the mazoku's body, you'll know how to find me. I can't do it, it has to be a mortal, like you."
"I'll bring you the Tricksters body, my love," he promised. "Don't worry about anything."