The Return Chapter 9
A Challenge Issued
By Firstborn Dragon
The soldiers were still standing there, either too shocked to move, or uncertain what to do. Jack and Cecilia did not dare to move. Zed and Zeikfried were staring at each other, and Rudy stood there, his eyes on his arm.
Zed was issuing the challenge. "You would do that here. I know you too well Zeikfried. If you use that here.."
Zeikfried accepted it. "Then what? Youll kill me. Or did you forget traitor, that whatever happens to me happens to him if I use this.
Rudy looked at Zeikfried in disbelief. "I would gladly die if it meant getting rid of you. Just because Im "
Rudy looked around, uncertain whether or not to continue. Zeikfried took that choice away from him. "Like me, like us?" He stood up, Rudys arm still held in his hand. "Or do they know the truth about their savior? The fact that hes a cross breed. That hes "
Zed cut him off. "What do you want. Revenge? Me? What?"
Zeikfried looked at Zed. "Zed Im surprised at you. Standing up for them, the ones who defeated you how many times? Twice, three maybe?"
Zeds eyes narrowed at the unmistakable challenge in Zeikfrieds voice. "But in the end, they didnt betray me. They didnt make false promises, only to take them away. They never used me, like you. Besides, you know what Im after."
Zeikfried just laughed. "I always knew you were a fool. The two of use working together could "
Zed didnt let him finish. "Im threw with you. You never played fair with me, and I dont trust you to start now. Besides, how do you intend to do anything? The Forgotten are loose, and if anything, were a mere annoyance to them. Do you think Im such a fool as to join you, when they are loose?" The soldiers, and the advisor were now fully confused. They had no idea what was going on. On the one hand the wizard had helped them, and advised them, yet he told them that the four who stood in the throne room were out laws. Yet the same four had proof that they were who they clamed to be. So they all stood there, and watched.
"You are as much of a fool as Boomerang, if you believe that the Forgotten are loose. And if you think that you can defeat me. Mark my words, we shall meet again. And remember fool, we are the last demons it the world, other than that half breed there. As for you human friend, she is near. If you can find her." With those last words, Zeikfried vanished. But his haunting laugh echoed around the room .
With his disappearance, every one in the room was suddenly down on there knees. The four stood there, not really connived that Zeikfried was gone. There was worried look on Zeds, and Rudys faces. Boomerang stood at the side, where he had appeared. Even he looked a little unsure about what had just occurred.
The chancellor advanced towards Cecilia. "My lady, please forgive us. I dont know what came over us."
Zed looked at the chancellor. Then he said two words in an off hand voice.
"A spell."
"What?" The chancellor appeared puzzled by the comment.
Zed offered the answer to that. "Thats what came over you."
The Chancellor looked up at him. As did the soldiers. Suddenly the tension that had disappeared when Zeikfried did was back. Only it worse. "Are you really a demon?"
Zed looked back at him. His face might as well been a mask for all that anyone could read of it. "Dose it matter what I am? I am what I am. We all are."
The tension lessened as the chancellor gave Zed a puzzled look, then he proceeded to speak to Cecilia. "Please forgive us."
Cecilia shrugged it off. "No harm was done that cannot be undone. But tell me, did that wizard bring anyone with him? We came here to find him because he had abducted a girl."
The chancellor was all to eager to help. "Oh indeed he did. The lady is resting upstairs. Do you wish to see her?"
Zed could not hide the hope in his eyes. But he stayed silent. He finally figured out that hed nearly given himself away. And if one part of Zeikfried story had been proven true, Zed couldnt help but wonder if the other part would be accepted too.
"Yes we would. Could you send someone to "
Cecilia was cut off as a solider came rushing into the room. "Chancellor. A messenger has come from Port Timmy to ask for our aid. Apparently a monster has been terrorizing the city."
Cecilia turned to the solider. "Calm down solider."
"Wha.. Pardon my queen. I did not realize that you had returned."
Cecilia turned to the others. They spoke in quiet voices. "You dont think that the monster they are speaking of is "
Zed finished. "Me? I dont think there are any other creatures with a death wish."
Rudy looked at Zed, then nodded. "Perhaps it would be best if we got you out of here. The last thing we need is to try to explain whats going on."
But Jack noticed the soldiers entrance. "Too late. The best we can do is now is hope its something else."
But luck was not on their side. As soon as the messenger entered the room, he screamed and pointed at Zed. "Thats the beast I was talking about. Hes the one that threatened to destroy the town. Kill him! Kill him before he "
"SLICEN!!!!" The room was dead quiet, as the chancellor turned to look at Cecilia. "Care to explain princess? Is this man speaking the truth, or is their something else that we should know about?"
Cecilia looked at the chancellor, took a deep breath, then tried to explain what happened.
The guards, although their swords were sheathed, they looked ready to draw them at any moment. Rudy and Jack stood to either side of Zed, and Cecilia stood in front. As her story progressed, the tension seemed to increase. She didnt leave much out either. The only noticeable thing left out was Rudys heritage.
By the end, it was hard to tell if the chancellor was looking at them in shock or disbelieve. Either was highly probable. "Youre saying you agreed to help a demon, who tried to kill you several times during the last war, and the only reason hes alive right now is because you gave him his life twice?" The chancellor shook his head, then looked at them again. "Youre either crazy, or over confident. But why did you bring him here?"
It was at this point that Rudy took over. Cecilia seemed quite relived as he steeped forwards, to face the others in the room. Boomerang was still standing on the other side of the room, but he was being watched just as close, if not closer, that Zed and the others. "Because we need each others help. Zed is trying to find a woman, possibly the one you have here. And I need his help to find something. In the end, thats all that matters."
The chancellor looked puzzled. "But what do you need a demons help for? Surely there are others who could help you."
The last thing they needed was for the truth to get out. Rudy was very careful with his answer. "Its something. And I doubt that I could ever find anyone who would know where to look. Even if I did, I dont know what the cost of that would. This was I know."
"Why dose this demon search for a girl."
Rudy looked at him, not eager to try and explain that. "That is a long story, that started a year ago. A very long story."
Zed looked worried, the soldiers looked nervous, the chancellor looked uncertain, and the messenger looked like he wanted to bolt. The only ones who seemed certain of themselves were Rudy, Jack Cecilia, and Boomerang. Rudy got the feeling that there was nothing that could sort the current mess out. At least not that could be said. "Would you just send for the girl. That might help to clear things up."
The chancellor looked at Jack, then nodded to one of the soldiers. That solider quickly disappeared out of the room.
A few minutes latter, he came back, carefully leading Laura. "Some one wished to .My swordsman! I knew youd come. The man who brought me here said that you had left me."
Zed quickly crossed the room, ignoring all of the soldiers, most of whom were too shocked to move. "Laura forgive me. I never meant to leave you. I promise that Ill never do that again."
Almost everyone in the room could not help, but look at the two. Even Jack could not help but be amazed by what he saw. Then the chancellor started to speak. "Well if I never saw it with my own eyes "
But everyone was ignoring him. Then Zed spoke to Laura again. "I must leave you for a while. I promised Rudy that Id help him find something. But Ill come back for you. I promise."
Laura, still holding him, touched his face. "I know you will. Go Zed, but remember that you promised youd come back to me."
The chancellor was shaking his head in disbelief. "I see now why you decided that you could trust him, no matter what happened. I guess that means youll be leaving too my Queen?"
Cecilia nodded her agreement. "Yes. I must help them. But after this, Ill come back and rule. That was the agreement that we made a year ago. Ill honor it."
The chancellor nodded his understanding. "Then go. And may luck bring you what you seek."
Cecilia nodded. "Actually, is Emma around? We wanted to know if we could borrow the Gull Wing. We need to go somewhere."
"Ah, she left a while ago. But she left the Gull Wing, and she left this for you incase youd return." Cecilia took the letter, and opened it.
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Cecilia;
Sorry Im not around, but something major came up.
If you need to borrow my Gull Wing, go for it. After all, without youre
help it would still be just a dream. See ya around.
Emma
"Well I guess that clears up the matter of the airship." She turned to the others. "Shall we go?"
And the four, followed by Boomerang left the room.
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Authors Note: I know we dont really know how Cecilia managed to leave the kingdom. An agreement is as good as any. Besides, its my fanfic, and I can do what ever I want.
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