...Kain and Rubicant managed to
escape from Lord Garland's castle and flee into the surrounding
woods. Kain, still
suffering from the injuries he sustained in the rockslide
collapsed. During his sleep he had strange dreams of two
brothers, one who was king, and another who had died. Kain was
awakened when a mysterious woman found their
camp. Allthough Kain had no idea who she was, Rubicant seemed to
recognize her. After a brief encounter, Kain and
Rubicant moved on...
They had been traveling for most
of the week. Kain had regained his strength after the second day,
and was able to walk on
his own. He noticed that it was growing warmer as they traveled
south. Off in the distance, he could make out the crown of the
long active volcano. Rubicant's home.
Rubicant seemed much stronger as well. It was almost as if he was
beeing fed by the warmth of the sunlight itself. He never
ate, never drank, and never slept. Kain had grown to somewhat
trust his unlikely companion. He thought back to the escape,
to when he fell unconsious. "You know..." Kain started,
speaking for the first time in days. "You could have left me
there. You
know...when I collapsed."
Rubicant smirked. "Yes, I could have. But I gave you my
word; if you helped me escape and escorted me to the volcano I
would grant you great power. I always keep my word. I may be
wicked, but I am honorable."
Kain smiled. It was true. Back when Cecil and his companions had
challenged Rubicant, he had healed their wounds before
the battle and gave them a fair fighting chance. Something the
other fiends didn't do. He thought about the other three, then
his
thought focused on Valvalis, the fiend of Air. They were two of a
kind, both warriors of the sky. Valvalis using the air itself as
a
weapon, and Kain using it as a mode of transportation for his
attack. When he had been under Golbez's control, she was
unusually gentle with him. Perhaps she had felt that kinship as
well. "Do you ever think about the others? The other
elementals?"
"You mean Valvalis?" Rubican grinned. Kain jerked his
head in shock. Had Rubicant been reading his mind? Rubicant
noticed
the look and explained. "Don't think we didn't notice how
you two got along together. She liked you...a lot. She was deeply
hurt when you betrayed us."
"Really?" Kain said in intrest. "Well, I didn't
have much of a choice."
"She knew that. She left shortly after your battle. She
failed us..." Rubicant said bitterly.
"Have you seen her since?" Kain asked, his eyes at his
feet.
Rubicant paused for a moment, unsure if he should tell Kain.
"Only once...but she has changed."
"In what way?" Kain asked. Rubicant stered at the top
of the volcano.
"Look, there is something there." Rubicant pointed his
red hand up at a tiny speck, circling the smoking hole.
"Looks like a
dragon, but it is not a dragon."
"What?" Kain said, irriated. He didn't like riddles and
cryptic answers.
"It looks almost like a man with wings." Rubicant said
as he strained his eyes. "I have never seen such a thing
around these
parts. We should be on our guard."
Kain felt the warped shaft of the spear he had pilfered from
Garland's keep. His own Lance had been stolen by the thief who
had somehow gotten away dispite his seemingly fatal injuries.
"I'll do what I can"
Rubicant looked at the battered old spear. "Oh don't worry,
once we reach my home you will have you pick of weapons."
"Why are you doing all this for me anyway?" Kain asked.
He looked back at the volcano which was growing larger with each
step. "What's in it for you."
"I've already gotten what I want. You helped me escape so
that I could return to my fiery home. That is my reason"
Rubicant
answered matter of factly. Kain looked at his red companion.
'Yeah right', he thought. Kain grimaced but kept his mouth shut.
He knew he couldn't defeat Rubicant in his condition. Rubicant
knew it too.
Machakal watched the two as they made their way along the forest
lined road. The one on the right, the human caught his eye.
"There he is" he said to the other dragonmen who were
hiding behind the lip of the volcano, their magical Ice armor
protecting
them from the searing heat.
"Do we kill him now?" One of the dragonmen asked ina
hissing voice. His tail whipped in anticipation.
"Not yet. The scouts lost the caravan, so he is the only one
who knows where it was headed." The leader stated.
"Ch'Karr,
report!" the leader called to the dragonman who was circling
the air. Swiftly, he landed and approached his leige.
"The human smells of blood. He is injured, his head wrapped
in bandages. The other is a fire elemental, just as you said. He
is
weak though." the scout reported.
"Of course he's weak, that's why they are coming here. If he
absorbs himself into the lava, he will regain all of his
power." the
leader regarded all twelve of his soldiers. "Don't let that
happen. Kill the mage, he is the real threat. But don't kill the
man. We
need his information. Is that clear?" The troops nodded in
unison. The leader pointed his sword down at the approaching
companions. "Attack!"