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Spirit Summoner
Author of 18 Stories |
A/N This chapter took way too long, is way too short and way not funny. But I hope you like it anyway Truth is, I was going really well with this chapter and then WHAM! I hit a complete blank as to what to do. Luckily, I have managed to KA-POW my way through this wall at last!
Also, as always, I will reply to everyone's reviews as soon as I can spare the time, but between work and the patio…oh, and now add a flooded basement to the mix. My dad should soooo stay away from DIY. Any plumbers out there?
"Alright, alright," shouted the Tactician as he exited his tent and drew nearer to the gathering. "From what I can hear I believe you have all had enough fun for one night. I want you all in your tents in ten minutes," he ordered to the sound of groans. "You'll need your rest – if the day is fine tomorrow will be moving the camp forward and I will not stop for any of you."
"Aww…but we only jus' got 'ere!" Nino retorted, but one stern look from Vaida and she was silenced, although she did cheekily stick out her tongue. The child was obviously in need of a strong 'mother-type' to watch her, but Vaida wasn't exactly the first woman who sprung to mind, and she certainly didn't know how to be a mother. But, nevertheless, she had found that this had become her role of sorts and mentally decided on some punishment for the girl. No desert for a week would probably teach her for her impertinence. And an extra portion of vegetables.
She'll learn her lesson even if it kills me, Vaida vowed. Little did she know she would one day test the theory to the very limit.
Mark looked over at the two new arrivals with a weary eye.
This is just what I don't need.
His mind was filled with numbers, strategies as to how to protect Nino if they were to come under attack, factoring the added advantage of having Vaida and her wyvern in their arsenal, and then subtracting how there joining the party would affect money, water and food supplies which were already depleting…
He sighed.
They had not the time to pitch another tent if he wanted them at their best early next morning. As if reading his thoughts, Matthew piped up.
"Let the good ladies sleep in our tent tonight," he offered gallantly. "I am sure that we will find adequate lodgings elsewhere."
A look passed between Matthew and Wil and Sain gave a small nod of the head as the group gathered up their belongings and headed into their quarters.
The Tactician was hesitant at first, but complied rather than making a fuss, especially since Guy seemed so compliant as well.
"Very well," he confirmed before withdrawing back into his own tent.
"Well," Sain began. "Looks like we'll be rooming together!" he declared happily, pulling Guy and Matthew into a rough hug.
Perhaps it was the way that Matthew winked at Lucius, or the way that Wil seemed so aloof, but for some reason, Kent was unsure of whether or not it was a good idea to invite Matthew and Guy into the tent that he shared with Sain and Wil. After all, the pair already caused him enough grief and now with his new hair he wasn't sure that guests were what he wanted...
"Okay Kent," announced Matthew as soon as they were all inside.
"What?" Kent blinked.
"It's your turn to spin the bottle, you dum-dum!" Wil jested.
"But the Tactician said –" but he was cut off.
"Mark said that we had to be in our tents, he never said that we had to sleep – just rest," Sain stressed the 'rest' and Kent suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
"I'm not really sure about this," he replied.
"Oh, come on Kent!" Wil exclaimed.
"Yes, old chap – don't act so wet all the time. Really, that's no way to win over the ladies," added Sain with a grin.
"I'm not wet!" retorted Kent, who couldn't help but feel that he sounded drippy even before the words had finished leaving his mouth.
Wil and Sain snorted their reply, but the sound was covered by the rustling of the opening of the tent as Matthew slipped in, followed closely by Guy.
The young thief rubbed his hands together and smiled in a way that Kent would have called a leer. He sighed resignedly. He supposed he really didn't have a choice in this at all. And in any case, if he refused they would only continue going on at him until either he caved or they grew bored and found some other unsavoury method of entertainment – no doubt involving yet another way of humiliating him…
"That's the spirit!" Sain's grin grew wider still.
"Well actually," Matthew interjected as he dipped into the pack containing his bedroll. "This is the spirit," he finished with a flourish as he pulled out a small glass bottle that seemed to glint maliciously at Kent.
"Excellent," smirked Sain and Wil simultaneously as Kent wondered how and why it was always him that got into these fine messes…
Hector gingerly rubbed his rear, wincing slightly as his hand brushed over what he believed to be bruises on his behind.
Eliwood glanced over at the older man, still in only his fine pants, although he had slipped back into his gilded boots. A smile flickered over his face at the precise moment that Hector turned back around to face him.
"It's not funny!" Hector announced, his lips pouting ever so slightly.
"But Hector, surely you are used to this? You have been riding since you were a child, after all!" Eliwood answered with a deceptively innocent smile.
"Yes well, that was on horsehide and not scales with the added benefit of armour and no women!" Hector snatched up a shirt and pulled it roughly over his head, covering the impressive muscles of his body, but not hiding them as they could still be seen through the thin material of the garment.
Eliwood watched for a moment, then stood and began to walk over from where he had been sat on his bedroll.
"Well it's an injury that you can boast with pleasure," he applauded, placing one hand on his companion's shoulder. He gazed up at Hector and smiled warmly. "What you did for Lyn took much courage."
Hector blushed slightly and looked away. "It was nothing, Eliwood – I would have done it for anyone."
I really did it for you…I know you want to keep us all together and I know how much you like Lyndis…
"Really, it was nothing," Hector repeated as he pulled away from Eliwood. He moved too quickly to see the glimmer of pain that crossed the flamed haired male's pretty features.
No, Hector, it was something. Something that you did not for 'anyone' but for Lyn.
Eliwood moved slowly to the entrance of the tent.
"Where are you going?" Hector inquired.
"I need a walk," the young Lord announced.
"Let me accompany you," the taller man answered.
Eliwood shook his head. "No," he said firmly. "I need some time by myself. To think."
And with that, he left.
Eliwood sighed to himself as he kicked at the earth.
Things were so confusing now, he missed his youth, he missed the simpler times.
He missed just being able to laugh and play with Hector with no restrictions and no consequences. He loved Hector, he really did. He supposed he had loved him since they were children. They had grown up together and were like brothers, but now…
Now Hector seemed to be forming a new attachment. He felt like Hector was falling in love with Lyn and that was something that Eliwood just wasn't ready to accept.
I don't want to lose my best friend, especially not to Lyn.
It was so strange…in that past it was always Hector who had had to share Eliwood with his duties as he was the firstborn, whereas Hector was the second child. But now, now Eliwood felt it was he who was sharing Hector. He had never really been selfish, but he was suddenly feeling very possessive of Hector, in a way that he had never done before.
Perhaps it was because she could offer Hector something that he could not…
Oh Lyn…if only it were not you, then perhaps I would fight for Hector, but I – I –
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of stifled laughter coming from one of the tents. Namely, Sain, Kent and Wil's.
Curiosity and the desire to keep his thoughts away from Hector and Lyn lead the young Lord to approach the tent, albeit, a little cautiously.
He tapped lightly on the panel covering the entrance of the tent and let out a small yelp of surprise when he felt himself being pulled inside eagerly.
"It's about time you got here – oh, it's you, Eliwood!"
Wil instantly let go of the flame haired youth, blushing slightly with embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, I thought you were…" he trailed off.
"Someone else?" Eliwood finished for him. He laughed when he saw the expression on the archer's face. "Don't worry about it Wil – it was partly my fault for not announcing myself."
Matthew clearly 'cheery' from a few more round with alcohol passed Eliwood the bottle with a grin. "Well, since you're here, how about staying?"
Eliwood thought, why ever not?
Lucius and Raven's tent
Lucius lay back on his bedroll with his eyes wide open, listening intently to Raven's even breathing until he was certain that the other man was in a deep sleep.
He wondered who was in his dreams to make him appear so happy.
Could it be me?
He smiled to himself as he carefully rose and made his way to the entrance of the tent. He lifted the flap, allowing a stream of moonlight to fall over the sleeping form of his companion. He felt his heart swell as he admired the handsome shadows that were cast over his slumbering face.
Raven…you're so angry, but when you are asleep you're the exact opposite…so calm.
He stood there awhile, just watching until a sharp peal of laughter stole his attention. He stayed just long enough to make sure that there was no chance of the other waking and left in a flutter of fabric.
Vaida stalked around the inside of the tent like a predatory lioness, ready at an instant to pounce on her prey.
"It doesn't matter where you hide, I will find you," she growled.
With only the light of a few scattered lamps and candles to guide her eyes, she knew that it would take longer than she would desire, but as a huntress, she was certain that she would succeed.
Failure simply was not an option.
That brat…I swear that one of these days I'll kill her and feed the body to the wyverns…
A shadow alerted Vaida to the girl's presence and she swooped over, swiftly hoisting the child up. Her hands had slipped under Nino's armpits, and she lifted her from the floor, her balance slightly unsteady due to her kicking and screaming.
"Nino…" Vaida began in the warning tone of someone who was not used to – and didn't like – being defied.
"No, no and no!" the young Mage shook her head frantically to emphasis her point.
"Listen here, young lady," Vaida told her in a firm and somewhat threatening tone. "You will do as I say when I say it, and when I say that you are to have a bath, that means that you are to have a bath!"
The green haired girl looked up with pleading eyes.
"That won't work and you know it," the older woman snapped.
Vaida hauled her over to the wooden bath that she had had filled with fresh water that had been heated by the more experienced magic users. She had even managed to procure some soap with a delicate fragrance.
Not that Vaida really cared. She just didn't want the girl to look like a peasant child. She had an image to maintain.
"Now," Vaida said as she dangled Nino over the edge of the bath. "Are you going to do this the easy way…or the hard way?"
"Neither!" the girl protested. "You can't make me – you can't!"
And then, quite surprisingly, Vaida dropped her straight into the water.
SPLASH!
The bath was deeper than Nino had anticipated, needing to accommodate the body of grown men so she found herself sinking to the bottom, before surfacing. With a dark look she spat out a mouthful of soapy water and shouted at Vaida.
"I could have drowned!"
The woman laughed heartily, placed one hand on the girl's green head and ruffled the wet hair. "Really? Well, if I had known I wouldn't have let you get up so quickly," she joked.
Nino glared at her.
"And now all my clothes are wet!" she complained.
"Oh, quit your whining," Vaida retorted. "Both they and you were due a good cleaning. And besides, I don't think that Jaffar goes for 'dirty girls.'"
The young Mage blushed instantly with the mention of his name, bit her tongue for a moment and then began to peel off her sopping clothes and scrubbing at her body in the way that someone does when they want their skin to shine.
"Now was that so difficult?" Vaida teased.
Nino shook her head again as Vaida began to turn away. "Where are you going?"
The woman turned back and crouched down beside Nino so that she was half hanging over the edge of the tub.
"I need to rub down my wyvern," Vaida poked her thumb in the general direction of outside. "But when I get back I expect you to sparkle like a jewel," Vaida motioned to the wooden 'bathtub' that she had already had filled and then heated.
"Okay, but –" Nino yanked down on Vaida's arm, shifting her weight forwards and causing her to tumble over the side and into the water with another almighty SPLASH! and sent a tide of water onto the floor of the tent.
Vaida cursed colourfully, but Nino only squealed with laughter as she climbed out of the bath and blew out the candles before tearing out into the night.
Vaida struggled about in the water momentarily, the liquid making her armour that much heavier and thus restricting her movement, which was already impeded by the articles of Nino's clothing that the young girl's had left floating on the surface. Tangled as she was and with no light to work by, Vaida swore vengeance on the little demon she had somehow been forced to watch over.
And then she smiled.
A good few units of alcohol later, Lucius poked his blond head through the entrance to the tent and remarked on how he hoped he hadn't missed any of the festivities. His joy at being told that nothing had been said or done that was worth mentioning made him feel especially, especially when Matthew added with a wink that with him there, the fun could finally begin.
The empty bottle was handed to Kent, who sighed deeply before spinning the object, somewhat resigned to the fact that until he had fulfilled his part in the game he would not be left alone.
It soon began to slow, the gentle light from the candles catching against the body every now and again as the whisper of glass and wood was the only sound heard. The bottle spun a few more times before finally pointing at Sain, who beamed at the prospect of being chosen.
Kent rolled his eyes.
"Truth or Dare?" he asked grimly.
"Dare! Whatever else, but a Dare for a man of peril like myself!" Sain decided, his eyes glinting in a dangerous manner.
If it's danger he wants, that'll be what he gets…
Kent pretended to think for a moment, but his Dare for Sain had long since materialised in his now blond head.
He pulled Sain closer to him and whispered the task in his ear.
"I Dare you to…" but the remainder of the assignment could not be heard by any of the others in the tent.
The other Knight's face lost its fearless look for a second, replacing it with one of incredulousness.
"You can't be serious…" Sain's voice sounded strangely strangled. He looked a little hot and flustered at the prospect of his impending Dare.
"No, I am being perfectly serious. Why?" Kent questioned.
"Well, I…" Sain failed to come up with a suitable answer.
"Scared?" Kent needled.
Sain shook his head and took a long swig from the other bottle. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and took in a deep breath. "No," he answered finally. "Not scared, just – surprised."
He had another mouthful of the spirit before adding his trademark casual comment in times of seriousness.
"Well I might as well go and get this over and done with."
He jumped up and made his way to the exit, pausing.
"Wish me luck," Sain said with a fixed smile. "Because I'll sure as Hell need it."
And then he left, leaving everyone in the tent other than Kent wondering what on Earth he had been told to do and why there was such a malicious look in Kent's eyes.
Sain walked very much in the same way that a man being lead to his death would.
I can't believe Kent wants me to do this!
So wrapped up in his thoughts was he that he barely noticed to flesh coloured shadow that breezed past him squealing with laughter.
It was probably just a young bore or something, too young to fight and not enough flesh to make it worth killing for the meat, so he just left it and carried on trudging towards that tent…
Ah, the things I do! he mused.
Nino laughed and danced around the camp with the unadulterated glee that could only be felt by a child or someone completely lost in themselves.
She felt so free, so wild, so naked.
And so cold.
Nino shivered slightly as the chill of the night without the fire to keep it at bay finally hit her and she wished that she had had the foresight to have taken a blanket or something out with her. But it was too late to go back now. Especially since Vaida would probably be free and angry and ready to spank her into oblivion for not only disobeying her again, but for pulling more pranks.
Untrained and undisciplined in the ways of a warrior, hunter or tracker, Nino failed to notice the signs that most of the others would have realised meant that something – or someone – else had invaded their territory.
Two cloaked figures stalked at the edges of the camp. Their eyes, all but hidden in the darkness surveyed the area, watching, waiting.
One noticed Nino and motioned to the other with merely a twitch of an eye. The other nodded without moving his head. The skills of the two hidden bodies were obviously immense and they had obviously worked together and trusted each other implicitly.
Under the cover of night, the two seemed to vanish, only to emerge less than a second later both in front and behind Nino.
Before she even had time to react, Nino felt herself being grabbed and lifted, her mouth covered by a gloved hand so that she could not cry out.
"See," he captive hissed to the other. "I told you it wasn't a giant talking carrot."
The cloaked figure seemed to bristle slightly and in an uncharacteristic display of hurt pride retorted, "I think you'll find that I said I saw a walking turnip."
Nino was about to gnaw off the hand that kept her silent, when the owner of said hand lowered his head so that the mouth was barely a breath away from her ear.
"And don't even think about biting me, kid."
Sain took a deep breath before entering the tent.
This is it, he thought gravely
Very slowly, he began to approach the sleeping form, hoping that the pounding of his heart would not wake the slumbering body.
He began a silent prayer when he reached the figure, standing at the side of the body. He bent over at the waist, lowering his face closer to that of the man who lay there oblivious.
This isn't so bad, this isn't so bad, this isn't so bad…was the only thought running through his mind as his lips made contact with the slightly open mouth. Sain was about to pull back when Marcus sighed and turned, pulling him via their lip lock on top of him.
This isn't so bad, this isn't so bad, this isn't so bad…he thought, until he realised that Marcus was in fact wearing nothing but a sheet that had been thrown to the floor, and so the only thing keeping him from being uncovered was Sain himself!
But ever the optimist, Sain continued to believe that despite his mouth still being attached to Marcus', it wasn't so bad.
This isn't so bad, this isn't so bad, this isn't so bad…
But of course, Marcus felt the extra weight on top of him and a tingling sensation on his lips and woke up.
The first thing he noticed was one of the young knights that Lady Lyndis kept in her company on top of him. Still drowsy with sleep it took him a few moments to realise that the young knave was assaulting him (albeit with his lips, but assault was assault in any case).
And then, he screamed.
"!"
Not just any scream, however. A high pitched scream that put Serra's shrieks to shame, before Marcus realised that he sounded somewhat like a young girl and shut his mouth.
He flung Sain onto the floor, waking Lowen who thought that he might only be dreaming still and just watched with the detached feeling of someone having an out of body experience.
Marcus leapt from his bed roll and grabbed his axe with an almighty roar, chasing Sain from the tent, and leaving Lowen to ponder what on Earth he had eaten to give him such a strange hallucination.
Sain raced out of the tent, travelling faster than most horses could manage while galloping at full speed. Unfortunately for him, Marcus was much the same and tracked him easily to the suffocated campfire.
However, Marcus' scream had managed to attract the attention of all those who had failed to obey Mark's orders and sleep, as well as wake those who were not already in full consciousness. Needless to say, they were all gathered in the main camp area when Sain slid to a halt – or at least, attempted and failed to stop – and smacked straight into the figure holding Nino, who, on impact with the ground, released her.
"Uncle Legault!" she squealed.
"Stupid knave," Legault muttered as he lifted himself from the earth and glared at Sain. Then he turned back to face his companion. "I told you following them was a bad idea, but oh-no! The great and mighty Jaffar just had to insist on it!" he rolled his eyes at the Assassin.
A huge smile emerged on Nino's face, so wide that it looked like her head would be split in two.
"JAFFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!" she squawked and glomped on him.
"…" was his initial response, and then, upon realising her state of undress, he asked quietly, "Nino – where are your clothes?"
To which the young girl flushed furiously (although she did not let go of him, if anything, she held on all the tighter).
"Ack!" she exclaimed. "I didn't want you to see me naked until our wedding night!"
Rath visibly paled at the announcement.
Nino failed to notice. Instead, she snuggled up closer to Jaffar, her mouth a mere breath away from his ear. "I've been saving myself for you," she admitted and then whispered something else in his ear that made him turn redder than Eliwood's hair.
At that moment, a drenched Vaida stormed towards the young girl.
"Why you little demon – I swear I'll – and look at you – you're filthy!"
Well, actually, she was more hauling her soaked self towards the child, shivering slightly with the cold. She had been forced to remove various pieces of her armour as the weight had more than tripled with the addition of the water, her hair had been roughly slicked out of her face, so that it stood out from her head in short, damp spikes resembling a hedgehog. And to top it all off, Nino's sopping shirt was tangled around her ankle.
Vaida stood on it accidentally with her other foot, effectively tripping herself.
CRASH!
She tumbled on top of Nino and Jaffar just as Mark appeared, massaging his temples.
Sain reached out a gentlemanly hand to aid Vaida, but she patted it away and managed to get up while also yanking Nino from Jaffar at the same time.
Serra, Matthew, Lucius and Wil were sat on the crates, eating what looked like kernels of corn that had been popped as though they were watching a show at the theatre. Florina hung at Lyn's elbow. Lyn herself was sharing some joke with Eliwood while Hector stood stoically at his side. Even the magic users had come to watch.
Raven and Heath could only shake their heads at the appalling scene.
Mark opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the sound of Marcus' bellow, followed by the Paladin himself, wielding a menacing Silver Axe over his head.
There was a simultaneous gasp of such epic proportions that Marcus himself had to stop to see what had generated such a reaction.
He had forgotten he was stark naked.
No one really knew what to do, or where to look.
Wil and Matthew snickered.
Serra and Priscilla's eyes bulged.
Lyn tried to cover Florina's eyes, but it was too late and the Pegasi fainted.
Lucius nodded approvingly.
Marcus dropped the axe and crossed his wrists in front of his manhood, although he had already managed to expose himself to the majority of the group.
Sain sighed in relief.
"I don't even want to know," Mark said finally as his eyes drifted over the scene before him. "And I know that I'll regret asking this, but WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" he demanded.
Nino began to sob and pointed at Jaffar.
"Jaffar doesn't want to marry me anymore because I'm a dirty, filthy girl!" she wailed.
Sain raised a questioning eyebrow.
Jaffar choked on his saliva, unsure of how to deal with it.
Legault elbowed him, which in essence meant something along the lines of; do something, you stupid idiot. This is all your fault for making me come here with you and all these sex starved, crazy freaks!
Jaffar responded with a look that clearly said what do you mean, all my fault? It's not my fault the kid's obsessed, it's not my fault you're on the run and it's certainly not cough completely cough my fault that we ended up here – besides, I know you wanted to come here as well – you're as crazy and sex starved as any of them!
Whatever. Just do something to shut that cursed child up! insisted Legault.
Jaffar sighed, and crouched down next to the crying girl.
"It doesn't matter to me if you're filthy," Jaffar began uncertainly and in the way that only someone with no knowledge of women could. "What I mean is – err – I don't mind if you're dirty – in fact, I like dirty girls!"
Oh I bet you do, Sain and several others thought to themselves, but it was sweet to see Jaffar trying to comfort the girl so no one repeated the comment aloud.
"Really?" she asked, her eyes wide and brimming with tears.
Jaffar nodded.
"So you don't hate me then?"
Jaffar shook his head.
Nino smiled.
"Then you're gonna marry me after all!"
And Jaffar couldn't respond at all because Nino had once again returned to glomping on him.
The next person I'll kill, he told himself. The next person I'll kill will be me.
Mark, all patience having disappeared screamed. "WILL SOMEONE PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON?"
Sain motioned towards Kent.
"He – he made me kiss Marcus!"
Marcus gagged at the recollection.
"Hey!" Sain pouted. "You should count yourself lucky to have been graced by my lips."
A number of the ladies in the camp shuddered.
"Sain, why in the name of Bern would you do that anyway?"
Marcus looked a little hurt.
Why wouldn't you? he thought.
Sain shrugged.
"Kent dared me to."
I'm a good person – how the Hell did I get stuck with these people? Mark resolved to start looking for a new job.
Suddenly, Sain smiled.
"But now that his turn is over – it's mine!" he declared happily.
"No!" Mark exclaimed. "Nu-uh, no way Jose. We are all going to sleep. Now!"
Serra stretched. "Actually, Mark, I'm not tired anymore."
"Me neither," someone else said.
"Yeah – I'm wide awake."
"Me too!"
Mark slapped himself on the forehead. He knew he had already lost, so the best thing he could do was try and maintain some dignity.
"I guess you guys – and girls," he added when he noticed Vaida's face. "I guess you all deserve some time to yourselves to relax and you have been fighting really hard…so, well, I suppose it couldn't hurt to let you all have some fun."
Everyone around the camp cheered.
"Besides," Mark added as an afterthought. "I still have some plans I need to finalise…" he continued talking to himself as he returned to his tent, leaving the others at the mercy of the bottle, Sain, and his wicked mind…
The more I get, the longer and better I can make the fic!
I pretty much know what I'm gonna do and where I wanna go with the next chapter, but after that I need all the help I can get
