Chapter Nine

Cyrus looked at the magnificent little man before him. He had never seen anything other then a human, but within the wall he had heard great stories of other races and cultures that existed in the world. Here before him was one of those races and cultures he had only heard stories about.

"Well Sir Bitey, I thank you for your valiant effort to rescue me from these vagrants. I welcome you to anything you need."

Again Cyrus looked up and down taking in Bitey's armor, and weapons. "I'm sure that if your race is half as honorable as you are it must be something to be proud of. I would appreciate it if you and your friends would escort me back home. Upon return you will be handsomely compensated. And if I can get you in, I'm sure the council of elders would be happy to meet you and discuss what help we may offer."

Blaize went to check on Millie as instructed. But when he saw her lying unconscious on the ground, he feared the worst, Oh God, first Alouen gets sucked up into some...thing. And now Millie could be dead. A quick check of her pulse and breath contradicted that event fortunately, but Blaize knew that someone more experienced in medicine and healing than he was needed. He saw Bitey walking towards him with Slyde, and he yelled to him, "Hey Bitey, I think you'd better get over here. Millie needs medical attention, & I don't think any of us want me to give it to her."

Taking Mille's still body, she placed her in the wagon next to the driver's seat.

Turning around, Serena took Kamis' hand with a bit of suprise. She wasn't sure what to expect. No one, not even Bitey had treated her with such respect before. She was shocked and unsure how to act.

"I'm alright, a little ashamed at what I had to do to try and save Alouen and Mille but unharmed none the less."

She regained her composer and listened intently to the new man's words as he spoke and watched the scene before her. After a lull in the conversation, she walked forward.

"Wait a second here, we have an unconscious little girl, a band of thieves, an inventor, an Impish Knight who wants justice, a man who just doesn't want to rest, another man who seems to rise from the dead, and Alouen has disappeared and NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE?!??!?"

Bringing her hands to her temples she began to rub them gently.

"I'm getting a migraine...."

Looking up at the sky, her hands drop to her sides.

"That's it!!"

She ran over and grabbed Cyrus' arms by the sides and looked in his face.

"You could help us. If you really want to repay us for saving you, you and your colleuges could decipher an old scroll we have. I know it's probably not much of a challange to you but it would help us out tremendously. That and allowing us to purchase supplies for our trip would help us."

She knew Blaize's eyes were piercing her like daggers.

"Blaize, face it. We have to get some help here. We're in over our heads now. We only have enough rations to make it to the City of inventions. We'd die trying to make it to the port town and we sure as Tarnak can't go back to Camea."

Kamis watched Bitey's retreating back and smiled. Yes, such a good little knight. Though I think he'll find he needs to develop those survival skills a little more if he wants to be among humans. Shrugging, Kamis turned back to Serena. She took his offered hand and jumped down from the wagon. As their hands met a course of energy seemed to leap from Serena's to his own. Kamis' eyebrows furrowed. I definitely know her from somewhere...but why can I not remember ever meeting her before? He smiled again, though it was a different smile than the one he had given the imp. "I am relieved. If you had been harmed I would have felt it my duty to take it out on one of those men." Kamis put an emphasis on the word men, obviously showing his disgust for the thieves.

Serena lets go of Cyrus' arms and walks towards Bitey.

"Let them go. I know you hate me but please listen. Alouen showed me something that I would have never learned otherwise, compassion. She and Mille showed it to me when I was badly injured from battle. They could have left me to rot but they didn't. I won't forget that. Don't these men deserve the same?"

She pauses for a moment. Walking back over to Kamis's side, she retakes his hand in hers and addresses the group.

"I can't force any of you to do something you don't want to. We have a choice, continue wandering around aimlessly and die from starvation or our wounds or ask Cyrus for help and continue to the city."

Kamis watched Serena go and make her speech, letting go of her hand somewhat relunctantly. As she spoke something she said caused him to walk foward. "Excuse me, Serena, but did you just say you came from Camea?" Kamis looked around questioningly at the group with his cold, dark, featureless eyes.

She turned in a bit of suprise to Kamis.

He didn't know we were in Camea? What's going on here? Aiore knew that I would be either there or the port town. Maybe Aiore didn't send him. But I still better keep my guard up.

"Yes we did. Well actually Blaize, Taran, Alloune, Mille and Myself came from Camea. We met Slyde, Bitey Viva and Kobe and Mort during our travels. Which reminds me. Where were you that you got such a terrible wound?"

She turns to Cyrus.

"Will you help us?"

"My dear- My- My dear lady, I would be happy to help you," Cyrus stammers as he sees the manner of dress Serena has wrapped herself in.

Cyrus walked with Serena over to the wagon where Millie was.

"As I told Sir Bitey, I would be happy to take you to the City of Inventions. The council of elders will want to know what contact I have made, and thank you for saving my life."

Serena blushes at Cyrus' stares. It made her feel uncomfortable. She made a futile effort to cover herself up a bit more. Eventually she gave up and sighed.

Bitey hears Serena babbling as he makes his way back to the old cart. "Mister Cyrus, I will be with you in another moment..." He begins to rush... "Come along Sir Slyde... Blaize, please keep... everyone... in some semblance of order." Bitey makes his way back to the cart with all haste. Since Sir Slyde is intent on finding out what is happening, he breathlessly recounts the important details. "The Prophetess was waylaid by those tied men. I was talking them down when everyone pushed their way in... *pant* The Prophetess unleashed her power, then vanished." He gets to the wagon, grabbing up the medical kit. Doesn't anyone realize the importance... why do *I* have to be the one to retrieve it every time? He rolls his eyes. He began searching the cart. "Los and I caught their leader, they surrendered. One attacked, Blaize killed him. Mille was injured." He finds the shovel. "Aha! Let's go!" He checked the boys, knowing the trouble they get into without supervision. They were busy gorging themselves from the rations. Ought to hold them a while yet. He runs back for the new wagon. "*Huff* I released that man Cyrus while that wounded man, whose name is Kamis, attempted to rob him. Oh yes, Los muttered something dark and he is gone. I have some suspicions, but simply put, we have not even reached the middle of the darkest hour. But our paths are very clear. Come now..." He looks at the people milling ahead. This would take some effort... but after that, a short nap. He smirked, then the difficult part would be ahead. He tosses the medical kit in Mille's general vicinity. "Serena, if you please... Blaize, you owe that man a burial. Please bring him. Sir Slyde, if you would lend your knightly might." He chose a place by the road, testing the shovel on the mud. "There is another in the wagon... he...", thinking quickly, "his heart gave out." He began to shovel in earnest. Nothing worth doing was ever easy... or quick. Time was pressing.

Following and listening to Bitey, Slyde begins to piece together what occured. "I see, so Aluoen is missing? This is a terrible thing indeed. We should search for her at once, but where could she be....?" Slyde trails off after hearing Serena talking with Cyrus about the scroll and the City of Inventions Council. "I'll assist with the burial momentarily Bitey, but I must ask this man something." Nearing the man, Slyde looked him in the eye again. "This council of yours, er, I mean of the city. Do they have any records of names, symbols of armies, and possible dieties? And could they assist me on a small search should they have this info?"

Cyrus turned to look at Slyde, his question had come unknowingly, and threw him off.

"I'm not sure what our records have. We have...well I guess you could call them spies, in just about every town, they are forbidden to come back for fear they may be tainted with the thought of the outside world. For that reason, they take up positions as recon, and they in turn give us what we need from the outside world. Our scribes then write them down word for word in our library chronicles. You would have to ask to peruse them, they may have what you seek.

Serena sighed.

"Isn't that what I just said? I hate that imp..." She grumbled under her breath. Kamis and Mort, being the only two close to her, were able to hear her.

Slyde waited intently to hear the man's reply.

"Well come on then Kamis, let's get you in the wagon and prepared for the trip. As for you Mort, you should still be resting. I doubt your wounds have healed yet."

She helped Kamis get into the wagon in the back and propped him up comfortably. After checking his legs once more, she headed to the front and checked on Mille. Taking a moment, she checked the girl over. No visible injuries. Perhaps she was just knocked out...

Serena leapt down from the cart.

"I'm going to get Taran, Turbo and our supplies."

She headed off to the camp. Placing one hand on Taran's shoulder, she shook him gently.

"Hey partner, do you think Turbo can walk ok? We have a ride to the city now. He won't have to work anymore. At any rate we need to gather up the supplies and get going. Alouen's disappeard and we need to find her. I think only the inventors can help us with that."

Taran awoke with a start. There had been a call to arms, and then he had snuck off to help Aloren... Taran shook his head "I guess it was a dream." Then he looked up at Serena. "He can walk, but I wouldn't make him drag the wagon or anything... He's gotta get better first."

She went into the cart in the camp and grabbed two sacks, one of grain, one of gun powder and carried them back to the rest of the group.

Taran watched her take stuff out of the cart. "Hey!! What's up? what did I miss? Where are you taking that stuff?"

"Hey Cyrus, you might be interested in one of the items in these bags. There's a cart with enough rations for all of ourselves for the trip so we won't have to eat yours."

Dropping the sack of gun powder, she contined to the wagon and placed the sack inside. She continued this effort until all the sacks had been transported and the rations were brought over.

Climbing in, she spotted her lipstick on the floor. Serena carefully picked it up and replaced it within it's hiding spot. She saw Kamis watching her with interest.

"Poison lipstick, never leave home without it." She smiled and pointed at the man on the floor.

That ought to give him something to think about. He's not taking me back to Aiore without some trouble. If that's what he's here for...

She carefully began to drag the man out of the wagon as best she could.

"HEY!! Could someone give me a hand with this guy? He's rather heavy."

Kamis noticed Serena's surprise and got an uneasy look on his face. He looked over at Blaize and back again.

"May I ask why you all chose to leave? A large group such as yours is bound to draw attention. There must have been a cause for it. The only reason I ask is..." Kamis licked his lips nervously. "I have just come from Camea myself." He looked down at his wounds. "These...were inflicted on me in that cursed city. I was..." The headache returned at double strength and Kamis almost passed out at the pain. "A guard there. I was charged with keeping the peace, but I wasn't able to save the people from starvation. The food shortages drove the populace mad...including the city guard. When I tried to stop the needless cruelty my former brethren turned on me. I have this to thank them for." Kamis gestured to his slashed leg. "I was saved from death only by the emergency bell. A house had been set aflame and it threatened to take down the entire neighborhood. The other guards took the opporunity to raid the storehouse during the chaotic confusion and fled the city. I alone ran to the house to offer my aid. When I got there....." There was a sharp stab above his left eye and he winced. "When I got there there were armed men everywhere. They seemed oblivious to my presence. Their full attention was on the house, as if they were expecting someone to come rushing out at any moment. I tried questioning them but they ignored me, until.....There was a mage. He..he looked straight at me and smiled. With a single gesture he alerted the others and they were upon me. I...don't know how I survived. I only remember a bright light and awakening to your face." Kamis looked away, obviously embarrassed at having retold the story of his defeat.

Serena overheard the warrior's tale and was deep in thought as she pulled the dead thief away.

So. He too was attacked by Gundaga and his band. But why... And why does he have the mark if he was a city guard. This just doesn't make any sense. Thinking about the events only made her more confused.

Blaize did not like the idea of burying a man who had once held him and his friends captive, but was in no mood to argue, with anyone. He was tired, angry, and still hurt like hell from when they fought the plant-things. But he did as he was told, lifted the corpse on his shoulder with a grunt, Nrrggggghhhhhh. I can't believe I've got to dig a hole for this stupid bloody thief scum. Ah dammit, I forgot, half the people I'm travelling with are thieves and I'm about as much scum as anyone here, probably more. As he passed Serena and Kamis, he overheard Kamis say something to the degree of, "...The only thing that saved my life was a burning house..." Blaize turned to him and said, "Then I guess you owe me a bit a thanks. Y'see it was my friend's and my house that burned down, and we were all inside of it when it caught." He laughed a bit and continued to where Bitey and Slyde were waiting on him. When he got there, he set the body down and told Bitey, "Alright, let's dig the friggin' hole, shall we?"

At Blaize's words Kamis whipped around to face him. "It was your house? You are the ones the mage was after? Why? What is so important about you?" The headache returned and brought its friends with it. Thousands of invisible needles drove themselves into his mind while hammering away at his temple. This is a bigger coincidence than I ever could have imagined. How fortunate that I happened upon their camp that night.

Kamis allowed Serena to help him into the wagon. He smiled at her description of the lipstick. "You are indeed a clever one. I will have to remember to watch you more carefully." There was a hint of malice in his voice but he smiled warmly and laughed at the jest. And what a pretty sight it is, too.

Soon, she had managed to get the man close to where Bitey and Blaize were digging the graves. They were nearly done by the time she got the man there.

"Here, thought you might like a hand. Bitey you should probably take a look at Mille when you get a chance. She doesn't appear to have any wounds but she's sleeping still. I'm going back to the camp to double check to make sure I got everything."

She headed back to the camp. Pearing inside the cart once more, she forgot to bring Kamis's sword and shield.

"DOH! Silly me."

She reached in and grabbed the shield first and drug it out. Then she reached for the sword and wrapped her hand around the pommel.

As soon as her hand goes around the pommel, she feels herself suddenly blasted into nothingness. She can feel herself scream inside, but nothing seems to come out of her mouth.

She heard the voice again, the voice from her dream, the one that called out to her.

"Talk to him..." It said as she tried to find where the voice came from. "Do not be afraid, I would not hurt you." She suddenly feels the warmth of human breath on her neck so she turns to see a black face with red eyes, looking down on her. She thinks she can make out a smile.

"Do not fear anything, only fear me." The face suddenly disappeared.

As she feels herself move, she feels another presence in the sword. Something she knows is familiar. She hears another voice, a woman's voice this time.

"LOS...SOL...LOS...LOS....HOME...HOME..." Then the voice is gone. And before her is a picture of a wasteland, something was once here, but now it's gone. She heard the words "HOME" ringing in her ears, and you now know you whose presence you feel....LOS!

She suddenly woke, holding herself up with the sword. No one else seemd to have noticed her little incident, and she quickly recovered before anyone else sees.

Kamis gestured for Cyrus to come closer. As the inventor did so, Kamis looked beyond him to Bitey's back. The imp was busy burying the thief Blaize had killed. The soldier sighed and held out the blacksmith kit and pistol. "Dear sir, I feel I must ask you a favor. My weapon was horribly burned in a recent battle. Might I beg the use of this blacksmith for its repair? In the meantime, I would like if you would explain to me the function of this device." Kamis held up the small gun.

Bitey wiped his brow and looked up to find the humans... doing what they do best. Serena was apparently transferring the possessions from the party's cart to Cyrus' wagon. More work for me, moving them back. The dark cloud over her head kept him from saying anything... No use upsetting her more... right now. As he continued, he watched Kamis pull his pilfered weapon out and show it to Cyrus. He's not terribly bright, maybe I misjudged him. Or maybe he did get hit in the head, hard... I didn't check him a second time. Exasperated, he yells, "Don't wave that thing around, fool! Yes, the gun! Put it down before you hurt yourself!" He continues digging, intent on finishing this task and getting things set right. Blaize dragged the late Edwin over, grumbling. I guess he believes that this is some sort of picnic for the rest of us. Bitey gave him a sunny smile before going back to digging. Humans...

Hearing what he suspected would be his answer, Slyde gave his thanks and headed off towards Blaize and Bitey. "I know not the total terms of this man's death and I do not know him as well. Thus I can not give the proper burial reading. I however can dig!"

Bitey climbed out of his hole via a small incline he had left for just such a purpose. The holes seemed pretty deep to him. Probably not deep enough for a human, he conceded. Since Sir Slyde had offered to dig, it seemed like he might be free to attend to other matters. "Here you are Sir Slyde," he said, handing over the shovel. Even injured, the knight was steadfast. "Use your judgement for depth, then cover the bodies." He approached the criminals, making sure they remained tied. They didn't need to be comfortable. But they did need to be able to move. They had a funeral to attend.

"Come along humans. It is time you paid your last respects." He makes his way over to Mille. "The time for sleeping is past, Guardian."

Mille awoke with a start. She was drowning! She flailed wildly for a moment, and connected with something metal.

"Owww. What is that?"

The hand lets go of her nose, and she takes a deep breath. Then opening her eyes, she sees Bitey hovering over her. She slaps his arm.

"What was that for?"

"I apologize, Guardian. Desperate times."

Interupting Kamis, Mort asks him about the light that he mentioned, not caring about the discomfort he might cuase in doing so. "The bright light that you mentioned, was it in anyway similar to the one that Alouen dissapeared in? I find it very curious that almost all of you are running away from Camea, but half of you never met each other until you did."

Bitey made his way over the the gravesite. He waited for everyone to assemble, one eye on the man and his group. "Thank you Sir Slyde, Blaize. Your assistance is appreciated," he said, subdued. He turned towards the graves, bowing his head. "We commend these departed to the Divine," he begins, finally raising his head. "Not for lives lived in thievery and darkness, but for lives given in fulfillment of Destiny." He turns, looking on Blaize. "For Blaize could have no sooner turned his blade aside than he could have stopped time itself. Their courses were set." He advances on the tied gang, looking at each intently in turn. "This sacrifice preserved your undeserving lives. Now there are only two claims against you. The women you would have violated. Destiny has spared you my claim; now I am ready to exact the price of theirs. As Alouen's life is more valuable than all of you, all of your lives are forfeit. You have been spared thus far for a reason, and this is it: You will find Alouen. When I know her location, your price will be paid. You will accompany me to Camea and you will find out where Alouen has been taken. There will be a trail. All you need do is find it. You will swear on these graves to pay this debt, or I will take your heads in retribution this very minute." He turns and looks at the graves. "Do not dishonor your dead."

Jocyn and his boys looked at the imp man as he said his little prayer and Jocyn started laughing.

"You dumb , we don't believe in that divine . We are men of the earth, we wander, take what we likes and move on. And if it was not for your weather , we would have taken them and tasted them all we wanted, you there's not a thing you or 'dem fellas there could have done about it."

Jocyn, spits on Bitey's foot. "You want our help, well sure, we'll help ya, and shove you right back up the mother you came out of." Jocyn gives a toothless grin as his boys laugh.

Bitey draws steel and levels the point into the man's leg, at the knee. "Very well, on your knees, dog." He pressed the blade, forcing the man down. He looked into the man's bleary eyes, letting him see his own death. Realization dawns. There was no life among them. "You really are worthless. So worthless, you even despise yourselves. I didn't know such wretches even existed. Perhaps the worst punishment you can receive is to continue to live. Still, I do regret the boy's death. Not that you could understand. He was... nothing to you." These humans, each one more despicable and pathetic than the last. How could they top themselves next? "Well, humans, you have made your choices. You obviously need help on your way. So now I will help you. Blaize, Sir Slyde, one last request. Please tie these men together. Nice and tight. Give them space to walk, hobbled. It seems that they will be accompanying me after all." He smiles broadly at the ungrateful wretches. "Oh yes, search them. Whatever they have, they have no doubt stolen. And you may need to burn those clothes."

Looking around, Mille takes account of the situation. She then jumps up, and finds her staff, then she walks over to Bitey. She listens as he addresses the brutes. When she realizes Alouen is gone, and that these 'men' were going to do bad things to them, she didn't feel all that happy.

"Taste her, will you? Not likely jerk!"

Mille pulls her staff back, and swings it for Jocyn's face.

"Taste this you milk curdling swine herd!"

Bitey walked a few paces away and took a deep breath, glad to be away from the stench. He makes his way to the Inventor. "Alas, these creatures you have found are too dangerous to leave unattended. I shall take them with me. I regret that I must pursue and undo the evil that has befallen us. Sir Slyde is a capable and honorable man, and you will be in good hands. I have chosen a few members of this group to come with me. If you will share your wagon, the rest may travel with you. I will catch up, should Destiny will." Bitey bows to the man. "Now, as I stated before, I would wish a few items from you to assist in this effort. Of course, I will need a good share of the rations that I believe that woman has already loaded onto your wagon. Furthermore, the man Kamis has need of your smithing tools as he has damaged his weapon this last night. I would also wish two of these rifles of yours, as well as at least ten rounds of ammunition for each. Lastly, I will be leaving the chocobo with you, so I will need two horses if you can spare them." He taps his cap for the man. Now it was time to gather the party.

Cyrus: "Sir Bitey, please do not go, send these wretches to whever they may go, but come with us. We have ways of making travel faster, and if anything, one of our spies may have heard something. Surely we can be of help. I extend my hand of friendship, come with us, and I'm sure the council will indeed help you on your trip."

Bitey glanced at Cyrus, pondering his words. It did seem easy. Too easy.

Jocyn being tied and bound was not able to dodge the blow and was hit right in the mouth with the flying staff. Blood flew out of his mouth and landed on Cyrus' robes. Jocyn fell over in pain spitting up blood and two teeth he had lost. Coughing and gagging, he spit up more blood.

"Dang blasted ..." he said gasping for air and wincing in pain. "You knocked my two favorite teeth out. You're gonna pay for this," he continued while coughing. "Not now, or tomorrow, but you just wait young'in, you will git it."

Jocyn was surpised she was able to swing her staff so hard, but now he wanted her more the ever.

Bitey turned, catching a glimpse of Mille's attack. "No, no, no. The head is unimportant to them. Find pressure points, aim for the neck or loins."

Mille looks at the man startled for a moment. Then she looks at the man who her hit had gotten blood on.

"Oh, I'm so sorry sir. I didn't mean to get his blood on you. Um, as soon as I'm done smashing him, I'll clean that up for you, ok sir? Thanks a bunch."

Then, she turns to the man with the now missing teeth. "Two favorites? Do you have anything else you happen to cherish, cause I wouldn't mind smashing that into a pulp either. Where's my friend?"

Mille steps up to the coughing man, and places her staff against his 'vital area'.

"Don't make me get rid of two more of your favorite items. What were you planning on doing with us? Speak up, and let everyone know how much of a pig you are, so I can get back to smashing you. When I get through with you for just thinking that about Alouen, you'll wish there was no tomorrow."

Jocyn was on the ground gasping as his vital areas were being pressed against.

"Go'head little girl, do your worst, your still mind. I can still think about ya, I got you in my mind, looking all nice in my bed." He spit more blood from his mouth, and his grin was a mix of blood and saliva. Strings of saliva fell from his mouth.

Marcus saw what was happening and instinctly just threw himself at Millie almost knocking her over.

"You git away from him, I don't reckon you got any right, since he didn't touch you." Marcus was not laying on the ground next to Jocyn and he too was coughing in the dirt after falling hard.

Kamis turned and gave Mort an appraising eye, moving it up and down over the man. "And who might you be to be interrupting me?" He gave Mort one last look and turned back to Serena. He spoke to Mort over his shoulder. "I'm not quite sure, but I would guess the light I saw was the light of your campfire. That would explain why I found myself underneath your cart."

Serena gripped the sword firmly. It felt cool in her palm, somehow natural. She looked up and down it's blade. It was badly damaged from acid it looked like. Those things really did a number on it.

I don't know who you are dark figure but I will NOT fear you. Scar, Aiore, and even Killjoy. All of them thought they could control me and keep me as their own. They all failed. I escaped their grasp. Men have died at my hands.

"Show yourself coward, then we'll see how afraid I am." She spoke this last part out loud. As she spoke, her hand tightened around the sword.

I'll talk to Kamis alright. After all, he and I bear the same mark. How could I not?

Her smile returned. This was going to be interesting.

"Hey Taran, don't worry about Turbo having to work. He's off the hook. We met a guy on the road who agreed to help us get into the city. His name is Cyrus. NO robbing him. He's going to reward us when we reach the city so let's try to behave. Bigger fish to fry."

She smiled at the boy and ruffled his hair with her free hand.

"How about helping me get the rest of our stuff into the other wagon? We don't have anyone to pull ours anymore."

She walked up to the road. As she walked, her hand still firmly grasped the blade's pommel.

"Hey!! How about a hand moving our supplies? Turbo's in no shape to pull the cart and unless one of you intends to pull the cart I SUGGEST we get moving..."

"Men." She muttered.

Approaching the cart, she saw Cyrus, Mort and Kamis already there. Kamis had the strange weapon out and seemed to glare at Mort. She walked between them.

"Easy killer, no need to get hostile. We can't afford to turn on ourselves."

She snickered inside a bit when she saw Kamis's suprise at the fact that she was carrying his shield and sword. She set them down next to him.

"Here, I thought you might like these."

Leaning over, she whispered in his ear.

"Don't worry, I'm not affected by your sword much at all. We need to talk sometime, in private."

She kissed his cheek gently and looked into the inky pools of his eyes.

Kamis slowly lowered the pistol at Bitey's insistence and the fact that the inventor had ignored him. Very well, but if you ever find your weapon missing you know where to look. He replaced the gun into his pocket next to the blacksmith kit. He had only wait until they were on the road to make use of it. At this time Serena appeared next to him carrying his shield and Soultear. Kamis' eyes widened. Why do these people insist on touching a cursed sword? They'll all be brain-dead corpses if they continue. But she is unharmed. Was it she who took it from me in the first place? He looked in Serena's eyes and saw something strange hidden behind them. He found himself unable to do or say anything other than:

"Yes, of course, Serena. A nice, long talk." He grabbed his equipment and put them into their rightful place on his person. The added weight was a familiar feeling and Kamis smiled.

Bitey looked at Mille's handiwork. "Miss Mille, if you would, please? I wish to talk to you. Please follow me."

Bitey saw Serena unloading the wagon. "Excuse me?" He approached her, having been traveling in very different circles from the woman. Thinking back, he could recall several times that she had tried to say something to him. Whatever she had been saying, it could not have been important, or she would have said it to his face so he could hear it. Then again, these people do tend to mutter and carry on, assuming all the while that they were so important that everyone would turn and listen closely. They were very loud, after all. "Excuse me? Miss Mercenary, I'm not sure who decided to move the contents of that cart into this wagon, but might this be a matter open for discussion? I would even go so far as to suggest that we not move things around until we have a definite idea of what things should go where." He beckons to Mille, and leaves in search of Taran.

"Well are you going to pull our cart? Turbo certainly can't, he's too hurt. That and I highly doubt Cyrus is willing to share what few supplies he has with ALL of us. I for one don't plan to carry everything by hand. But go ahead, DISCUSS if you must. Let's not take one of my suggestions. After all, I am JUST A WOMAN and you MEN know best..."

If words could drip venom, the entire party would die from the poison. Serena turned and watched Mille with a slight look of amusement. She was turning into quite the little woman.

Walking over, Serena placed the heel of her boot on Marcus's throat.

"Careful boys, the last man who pissed me off is now sleeping. Permanently."

As Millie walked away, Jocyn smiled again, even though she was not looking.

"Thanks Marcus, you'd make your pa proud." Grinning even more he only wished that they would be allowed to just go their own way.

Meanwhile the others that had been bound were only glaring at their captors cursing and spitting when ever they could.

Just as Jocyn was grinning, he noticed the seductress come up and smile at him. He was looking up her fine legs when suddenly he felt her foot on his groin. He grimaced in pain.

She spoke to him, but he was in too much pain to pay any attention. As she pressed harder he could feel his blood boil up to his mouth, and he was gasping for breath.

Suddenly the impact of a hit to his groin caused him to double over on the ground and cough, wheezing for a breath of air, and groaning like he had never groaned before.

She chuckled. Lifting her foot up, she sauntered over to Jocyn and stood in front of him. Suddenly, she kicked him right square where it counts making his eyes roll back.

"OOPS!! I'm terribly sorry, did you need those? HAHAHHAHAHHAAHA!!!" She turned and smiled at Mille for a quick moment.

"Dear, if you insist on having fun with the boys, do be careful. I'd hate to imagine what they might do if they ACTUALLY got their filthy hands on you. A girl's gotta look out for herself after all."

Mille smiled at Serena. But the thought of someone like those brutes actually touching her made her spine quiver. To have someone think about someone else that way was just part of life, albeit a sick part, but to have someone actually try, that was just in deserving of exactly what Serena did.

"I agree, which is why I'm in such a dilemma now. Where HAS Alouen gotten off to?"

On her way back to the cart, Serena stepped on Marcus as he lay in the dirt and ground her heel in a bit and continued on.

Serena was spewing bile, as usual. Bitey sighed. He should let her go; she could burn out easily enough. Instead, he dashed forward, cutting her off. "Miss... Serena. If you would like a list of your faults, I can provide it in great detail. My duty does not include sparing your feelings. In fact, my duty is to the truth. If you were a woman, you would stand tall. But you are not." He cuts off any protest with a sharp gesture. "Stop. Listen. It has always been easy for you, getting your way. Getting what you want the only way you know how. It has left you spoiled and unsure. You may continue to cry out like a child and rail against the unfairness you make yourself. Or you may listen. But know that your present course will leave you no different than those," he points to the captured men," over there."

"Ohh, you can think about ME all you want. I know I'm pretty, and I expect men to think about me however they want. Most of them ARE total pigs." Mille steps away from Marcus, and looks down menacingly at Jocyn. She waggles her staff at him, portending to things to come.

"But if you dare even think about wrapping your greasy little mind on MY Alouen, I'll rip your head off and stick it so far up your wazoo you'll wish your father had never EVER layed a finger on his sister." With that Mille sticks her tongue out at him, sets the staff on her shoulder, and turns her back on the grovelling dirt- bag.

As Mille and Serena harassed the prisoners, Bitey thought to intervene. "Miss Mille," he said softly, "I doubt they have fathers. A father watches his children; he would never let them come to this."

Seeing Bitey beckoning, she starts casually walking over to him. She twirls her staff, and looks absently over her shoulder at the hick, and frowns.

"What do you need Bitey, and where the heck is Alouen?"

Marcus tried to wiggle his way over to the woman, but made little progress, he was on the ground, no longer on his knees, and without the use of his hands, there was no way he was getting back up.

Jocyn, eyes now rolled to the back of his head, Marcus now saw that he had passed out, from pain most likely.

Viva and Kobie looked at each other, each a bit confused. Even though what Serena is doing isn't anything special, they believed that it should be saved for only people who are important to them.

Kobie put away her boomerang and glomped Viva's arm gently. She put her head on her shoulder while walking with him, and nuzzled her hair across Viva's face.

Together, they walked towards where everyone else is, but declining to talk, only listening.

Marcus is fit to be tied. He's angry and he wants out, but he tries not to show it. He looks around, now that the seductress, the little girl and the imp man have walked off, he sees two children come up over the hill, and just watch. They were silent, and they would be perfect if they would just help him.

"Hey," Marcus whispered. He motioned to them with his head to come over. "Hey, how about helping a guy out here, I seems to be all tied up and needs to git to my brothers to see if they is okay. How 'bout you be good little boys and get them here ropes off my wrists."

Viva glanced at everyone else doing their own stuff, and walked over to Marcus. "You want to check on your brothers? Ok. I'll check for you."

Viva turned back towards everyone else and chuckled silently. Kobie looked at him for a moment, knowing that what he said he'll do isn't something he CAN do.

Walking away from the man, he jogs around the area to see if he could find any of his 'brothers', while taking a look around, then returns in front of Marcus. Men tied and bound much like Marcus and the now passed out man next to him. He also sees people walking around tending to their business. Blaize and Slyde had their back to them, but they were close enough. Kobie only watches as Viva runs a quick circle to report what he has seen.

Bitey walked past Kamis and stopped, seeing the sword for the first time. "So, is that the famed blade?" Even damaged, it did look like something. Could Los have been right? He reached out to touch it, but pulled his hand back at the last minute. Suspiciously, "What does it say?"

Kamis turned his gaze towards the imp, then down to the mystic runes adorning his blade. Though the weapon around them had been burned by the acid, the words themselves remained untainted. "Est da daamdus elur mia fan dan kah tur. 'Thine enemies soul shall be torn asunder and their light banished.'" The fighter looked at Bitey and shrugged. "The blade has an ancient history. Suffice to say anyone that touches it besides myself risks mental destruction. At least that's the way it's supposed to work." Kamis stared at Serena out of the corner of his eye.

Bitey grinned. "Whatever." He smiles good-naturedly for Kamis. "Come along Mille." There was some magic to the blade, it seemed, but it was more along the lines of making anyone who played with it mentally unstable. Or maybe only the mentally unstable were interested in it in the first place.