...Schala has agreed to teach
Akel how to control the orb. Meanwhile, Kain, Valvalis and Edge
make their way to the
Ruins of Zot, but something is amiss...
Edge looked through the portal at Valvalis. He grimaced and
turned back to Kain. "So how do we know we can trust
HER?"
He asked, pointing an accusing thumb at her.
Kain looked the fire-emblem on his amulet. "When Rubicant
gave me this pendant, he also gave me his memories. Those
memories support her story. Also, I seem to have this ability
to...sense emotion. If she was lying, I would know." Kain
looked
at Molly. "That's why I don't trust the girl. She's not
telling the truth. Something about her story doesn't settle
well."
The airship dropped to the ground with a heavy thud. The steel
landing struts that held the ship upright also served as
walkways. Kain and Edge made their way down first, followed by
Valvalis and Molly. Kain stopped short and faces the girl.
"Wait." He spoke, glaring down at the girl. There was
something odd about her eyes...almost cat-like.
"What is it?" Valvalis asked.
"Step away from the child." Kain said, pulling out his
new silver spear, a gift from Edge.
Valvalis held the child close. "What are you doing,
Kain?" Edge snuck up from behind and grabbed Valvalis,
pulling her away
from the girl. "Are you two insane?! She's just a
girl!" Kain lifted the spear above his head. "No!"
Valvalis shrieked as Kain
sent the bladed tip whistling down.
A fur covered hand caught the spear, it's razor sharp claws
digging into the wooden shaft. Valvalis looked on in shock as the
girl grew to nearly eight feet tall, her body twisting and
shifting. The human face was replaced by that of a cat. Striped
orange
fur covered it's body. "How perceptive." Keytrin
hissed, her tail whipping back and forth.
"I thought you were a man." Kain said as he wrenched
the spear from her grasp.
"Cretin. Appearances can be deceiving!" The Cat-woman
said, circling her opponent. Edge let go of Valvalis, and the two
advanced upon the lycanthrope. She was surrounded on three sides.
Laughing, she pulled a small crystal from a pouch on her
belt (her only surviving article of clothing), and tossed it to
the ground. The glass shattered, and a black cloud issued forth.
The
onyx mass formed into a doorway. The three companions stepped
away as a huge armored man stepped through the portal.
His finely crafted plate armor glittered in the late afternoon
sun, the orange-red of the sky reflecting vividly. His purple
cloak
whipped wildly in the wind. Long ivory horns protruded from the
massive helm that hid all but his glowing eyes.
"Yessss."
Garland hissed. "You have done well, Keytrin. I will dispose
of these rodents myself." the knight rumbled in the deepest
voice
any of them had ever heard. It was as if the ground itself were
speaking. "Now, go. Find the orb and bring it back to
me!"
Keytrin nodded and ran toward the fallen tower. Kain slipped past
the knight and ran after her. "We'll hold him off!"
Edge
shouted, pulling out his twin blades. "I hope..."
"What in the name of Zemus is all that racket?!" Akel
crowed, poking his head out of the window. Outside, he could see
two
forms running toward his tower while three others fought in the
distance. He smiled. "More visitors!" Keytrin reached
the heavy
oak door and began to pound her shoulder against it. Swiftly,
Akel pulled open the door, sending Keytrin sprawling into the
entryway.
"Kill it!" Kain yelled, as he ran into the hall.
"Now why would I want to do that?" Akel sneered. Then
he perked his head. "Well if it isn't my tardy
protector!"
Kain Pinned the Cat-woman to the floor with his spear. "You
in a good mood today, Akel" Kain quipped. Schala entered the
hallway , curious about the noise. Kain smirked. "No
wonder."
"Mind your manners, boy! It's not what you think." Akel
retorted. He then turned to Schala. "Just so there's no
confusion, I'm
a Man's man. Got it? No interest in women."
Schala tried to smile. "Uh...okay..."
Akel turned back to Kain, who was just about to impale the
cat-girl. "I suppose you're here to save me from Garland and
his
minions, huh?"
Kain looked at the mage, an irritated look on his face. "If
you would just shut up and let me kill this bitch, I'll be happy
to do
just that!"
"Ah, ever the vigilant one." Akel grinned. Keytrin used
the distraction to toss Kain's spear away. Kain, knocked off
balance,
stumbled backwards. The creature lunged at him, tearing at his
throat.
"Aren't you going to help him?!" Schala yelled. Akel
just watched on as the two fought for survival. A twisted grin on
his face.
Black Blood poured from the many blades embedded within Garland's
body. He was down to his last spells, and his blade
had been long broken by the Wind Elemental. Together the two were
more than a match for the knight. He stumbled an
dropped to his knee. The knight pulled off his helmet and sighed.
His black hair was matted with blood. "No more. I
yield." He
groaned, reluctant to surrender. Edge called for several of his
crew to put the knight in chains.
"Well, come on you sorry excuses for gnats!" he
prodded, as they reluctantly exited the airship. "I swear,
scared by one lousy
knight." Edge scoffed.
"Just...take me to the wizard. I just want to return to my
home." Garland pleaded.
"What the hell." Edge shrugged. What was the knight
going to do, drool him to death? Garland was hardly in any
condition to
struggle. "Let's go." The group walked towards the
ruins. Suddenly, a fiery form burst through the main door. It's
body twisted
in agony as the flames tore through it's flesh. From the shrieks,
they could tell it was Keytrin. The pitiful thing collapsed on
the
ground, twitching.
Edge drove his sword deep into her charred chest, ending her
agony. "I guess Kain won."
Akel stood at the door, laughing. A hunk of metal gleamed in his
hand. "No!! Valvalis cried, recognizing the fire-pendant.
"What?" Edge asked, not understanding.
"The only way the pendants can be removed is if the wearer
is dead!" Valvalis ran past the mage, and into the Great
hall. Edge
followed hurriedly. "Where is he?" Valvalis searched
the room frantically. She turned to the mage, grabbing him by his
collar.
"What have you done?"
"Me? Nothing at all. Kain fought bravely and proudly."
Akel grinned. "Oh, I'm afraid he lost his little duel,
though." he
chuckled, pointing towards the door at the far end of the hall.
Valvalis ran to it and threw it open.