Thanks.Well, looks like Saga's having fun.
Good job.
Really? You think so? Thanks, my friend. I hope you continue to look at Saga the way you do.
I know, you would have probably been the first one to boo me, stone me, or worse.Glad to see you're gonna finish this, because if you didn't... Well, lets just say it wouldn't have turned out well for you.
Naw, this is a project I've been chasing for a while, and I will finish it. I am not far from accomplishing that, just several more chapters and I call this book done. Then would come the final book, the longest of the three imo. So yeah, I still have quite a way to go, but every chapter I post gets me closer to that goal. When I do finish this tale, I think I will retire from writing and from the forum altogether. I always wanted to write a story such as this one, with the characters from one of my favorite games of all time and other submitted characters. 
Btw, thank you for your continued support, the story wouldn't go anywhere if it weren't for you nor its other faithful readers.
Thanks for reading, Rainy. Wish I could tell you, but it's best if you find out just by reading on. No, these following two chapters won't speak about that, but it moves the story along.
--I added some art as well, in case you don't know. Here are two more consecutive chapters, read at your own pace. I just want to finish this project, that's why you may find some parts rushed. I'll add the intro art tomorrow, if God's willing.
"Found her," cried Raina with a hint of excitement and joy in her voice. The mage opened her eyes and so did her partner Rishian, Raina smiling widely at him before returning her stare to the magical window.
"Where is she?" asked Rishian, who still held on to her hands in concentration.
"West of here," alerted Raina. "About eight miles away from us."
"Not that far, then," Rishian said as he observed within the magical window a group of figures huddled around a fire. "Hm, looks like she's well accompanied." The headmaster noticed how well all the figures were armed and dressed, and as he scanned the figures he wondered which of the two females was Raina's aunt. He couldn't tell merely by looking at them, but he agreed with himself that all the figures seemed like a nasty bunch.
Raina nodded at him, and it was she who let go of his hands. Rishian stood up decisively, following Raina's lead, who had also stood up immediately after having let go of his hands.
"Well, do we pay her a visit then?" Rishian asked, to what Raina shook her head.
"There are five others with her," she let him know when his stare forced her to come out with another answer other than the shake of the head she had given him. "There could be trouble if I bring you along. Just leave it to me."
"What? What do you mean?" a confused Rishian asked and watched her as she collected the old brush from the table and then took care of dismissing the magical window. "I'll be accompanying you, Raina, whether you like it or not. I'm not going to let you go by yourself, it's too dangerous."
When Raina was done with that task she gave her attention to the headmaster and walked around the table and towards him.
"Rishian," she said, with a little pleading in her voice and stare. "I will ask you not to accompany me, I prefer to do this all by myself. I will go talk to my aunt and convince her to aid the princess. Please, you have to understand."
"But there are five others with her, surely all killers, right? It could be dangerous or..."
Raina shook her head and calmed him down. "No, it will be alright, actually. The pack already knows me since the very first time I visited my aunt."
"Oh," said a surprised Rishian. "How did that happen?"
"They were all startled with my appearance," explained Raina with a laugh. "And they rushed in to kill me, and they would have, probably, but my aunt recognized me and held them at bay. That's how they knew I was related to her."
"Ah, I see now. And they were alright with it? With you visiting your aunt like that?"
Raina nodded several times. "Yes, but I had to bring the group a box of fine whiskey upon my next visit, and I did and won their trust. So see? I will be alright by myself, the group knows me already. However, if I was to take you along, I don't know what could come to happen. I know you are mighty enough and probably could take on all of them all by yourself, and with my help. But...it's best to avoid trouble. I want to convince my aunt to help us out, not give her any problems or reasons to start hating me."
Rishian said nothing, he merely stood regarding her for a while and thinking about the whole matter. But then he understood what Raina wanted and so he smiled warmly at her, accommodated his glasses on his nose, and said. "Alright, you win, Raina. What would you have me do in the meantime? Should I go inform the princesses of our progress so far? They'd be glad to hear of it, I'm sure."
"If they are still awake, then yes, that would be a good idea," agreed Raina. "I will be back as soon as I take care of business with my aunt."
"Alright, you take care of yourself, my friend," Rishian told her, his voice carrying enough weight to let her know that he cared about her well being. Raina understood that, so she nodded and smiled at him. "I won't be coming back without her."
"Good," said Rishian, registering Raina's wink. "You'll probably find me here by the time you get back."
Raina nodded and then moved away. She headed towards the chest and put the brush in there, then she came back to the middle of the room and found an open space where she began tracing a magical portal that would take her to her aunt.
Rishian just stood watching it all. When Raina entered the portal and vanished from view, Rishian left the room, eager to find the princesses so that he could inform them of their progress. As he went walking by a lonely corridor, he hoped that the princesses were still awake.
*End of Chapter*
It was already a new day, thirty two minutes into it, actually. Shan, who had already been sleeping comfortably, was suddenly awaken by constant heavy knocking at the door.
"Oh, for Reygalon's sake!" she cried tiredly as she noticed the time on an hourglass that she kept close to her on top of a small table near her bed. "Who the heck could it be now?"
There was also a lit candle there on the table, which had allowed her to see the time. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and
yawned loudly as the knocking continued.
At that, the healer got out of her small bed in an instant, thinking it was someone who required of her healing services. If it was just that, a client, then it was not the first time that she'd had to attend someone so late, or so early, so to speak. And it was good business, Matilda charged double the gems!
Wearing nothing but white, warm robes, she quickly grabbed the candle and headed towards the door of her room and out to the cozy living room.
"I'm coming," she grumbled when the knocking intensified at the door. "Jeez, don't break my door now!"
When she opened the door and found out that a group of five stood outside, she rose her eyebrows much in surprise. Soon her surprised state passed when she recognized Damera and his friends. But who were the two females behind them?
"How may I help you?" she gently asked, for she was not upset that she had been awoken. "Oh, I know, you forgot to tell me something earlier, aye?"
"Not really. Listen, Matilda," said Damera, speaking on behalf of everyone. "We are sorry. We know it's late, but we require of your services and quick!"
She was about to ask why, but then Arkus Razen stepped up the stairway and pushed her gently aside as he told her. "Trust me, we need to come inside."
Damera saw his friend's move as bold and rough, but as the others quickly stormed in after the blonde haired mercenary had signaled at them with a nod of his head, he followed after the silver haired female, the one named Ashie.
"By all means," Shan babbled as they all came inside her house. "Come on in."
"Again, so sorry," apologized Damera as he laid eyes on her. "It's just that it's more than an emergency."
"No, it's alright," said Shan, not really minding the situation, she even laughed lightly to calm Damera down. "I've been bothered often at this time of the day before, but mind telling me what's going on?"
"She needs your attention," Damera pointed at the female who wore a blue dress with white, curvy stripes. Shan regarded the young woman, and when Dusana became aware of the healer's attention on her, she extended her left hand and showed it to her as she informed, "I think it's broken."
Shan was nodding through out the woman's explanation, easily knowing that the hand was broken merely by looking at it. She came forward and revised the hand for mere confirmation, though, touching it gently and making Dusana feel sharp pain within.
"Ouch!" Dusana felt the pain.
"I'm sorry about that," Shan apologized with a warm tone. "Alright, surely it's broken, let's get you fixed."
"You can mend that instantaneously?" gasped Tyson from his place. He held an incredible demeanor before the healer's eyes, who had turned to regard him.
"Normally and with just our earthly given supplies I wouldn't be able to," she explained. "All I could do was straighten the hand, place a cast on it, and let the bone heal on its self. But magic does the trick, my friend." Shan winked at him as she said that. "It's more expensive but really worth it." Then, looking at the injured woman, she asked. "What's it going to be, then? The normal proceedings or magical services?"
"Magic, of course," this one responded right away, and everyone else in the room assisted that by nodding.
"That's going to cost you a red and a yellow gem," Shan warned and waited for a response. Dusana turned to regard Ashie, who told the healer. "Do it, we'll pay."
From his place, Damera nodded at Shan, his nod letting her know that in case the women could not pay up, he'd be paying up.
"Alright," Shan smiled. "You all wait here. Make yourselves at home, but please, do not touch anything, most of this stuff belonged to my mother and I cherish it more than all the gems in the world, even my own life."
The group stared at one another, but then some of them nodded at the healer just to let her know that they understood perfectly.
"Good. I'll be right back, I am going to go set everything up."
Shan headed towards a door-less entrance that led to the kitchen.
"I didn't know she knew how to use healing magic," informed Tyson with a surprised look upon his face once Shan was out of ear shot.
"She can," confirmed Damera, who was making his way towards a brown chair. "But I have not seen her do it, just heard rumors."
The others found chairs and even a long bench against one of the living room's walls. They sat down and waited patiently for the healer's return.
Shan arrived a few minutes later. "Alright, are you ready?"
Dusana nodded at her and stood up from the bench, where she had sat next to Ashie. She gave her dear princess a final look before heading after Shan, who led her to the kitchen.
***
Shan and Dusana came into the living room some twenty minutes later, with Dusana smiling and holding in her hands a silver tray with a large tea pot and six small cups.
Ashie stood up immediately when she saw her, so did the three mercenaries.
"You...it's done! You are healed?" cried Ashie. Of course she was healed, she knew, else her friend would not be carrying the tray.
"Yes," Dusana responded. "Shan did a fantastic job. I'm back to my old self again, my hand feels normal again."
Damera walked up to Shan and thanked her.
"It was nothing," said Shan. "Just doing my job, that's all. We delayed a few minutes since I thought you all could use a cup of tea before you go."
That's when Arkus cleared his throat, calling for everyone's attention.
"I have something I wish to say," he said.
They all stood watching him in confusion. Arkus seemed troubled with something.
"Then say it," Damera said, wondering what he was up to.
Arkus took a few seconds to collect some of his courage. "Alright," he began, with all eyes on him. "We know we'll be leaving the city soon enough. I was thinking about that and many other things as I waited here, and I came up with some sort of plan."
"A plan?" Damera asked him. "Can't it wait? I mean, our business here is almost concluded."
"Yes, you are right about that, but why not...take Matilda along with us now?"
The most confused of the group was Shan, who didn't know what the heck was going on. She knew the group had in mind leaving the city, but what had that to do with her?
Damera was not confused, and he began to feel a little hot within, knowing what Arkus was proposing. "You mean that we should head north and kill two birds with one stone, right?"
"That's exactly what I am proposing," confirmed the blonde mercenary. "By leaving now we elude trouble with the city guards, who without a doubt will soon begin to look for the culprits behind the assassins killings, but not just that, we take Shan along and head north. After all, you did mention to us under that porch that you had hired her to go check that Veeka woman out."
"Wait, what?" Shan turned pale at that, then she turned to stare at Damera. "What did you do, Damera? Oh no," she walked away waving her arms before turning around again. "Don't tell me that you and your friends...killed someone."
Damera stared at the floor, feeling hot. He rose his sight from the floor and stared hard at Arkus. "You need to learn to keep your mouth shut," he told him. "Shan didn't need to know about this, now you have involved her in all this, you idiot."
Damera started for him, but Tyson intervened, holding him back. "Hey, now! Remain calm, Damera, or I'll have to calm you down."
"Let go of me," Damera shouted, trying hard to get past Tyson's hold. Tyson was the strongest of them all, so that was impossible. "Let go of me so I can crush that fool's face."
"Haha," Arkus laughed aloud. "Bring it on!"
"Shut it, Arkus," Tyson shouted, struggling a bit to contain Damera.
"No you shut it, big guy. Shan's our friend," Arkus cried, grabbing a cup from the tray that Dusana held. He noticed that the tea hadn't been served yet, so he placed it back on the tray and continued. "All we are doing is bringing her along for the trip, nothing more. I say we head to Coriander and let things settle down here. What do you think, Ashie? Dusana? Isn't my plan brilliant."
Ashie didn't respond, she was as confused as Dusana was, and also could not believe that Arkus had been so bold so as to speak about their problem like that. What was worse, he had involved the healer in the process, who had nothing to do with their problem. Ashie felt so embarrassed then, knowing within her mind that maybe soon enough it would be known to the healer that because of her and her friend Dusana, that the three mercenaries had gotten involved in a serious matter. So serious, in fact, that two assassins had lost their lives moments ago at the hands of Damera and herself.
While trying to fight his way through Tyson's strong hold, Damera noticed Ashie's saddened semblance.
"Alright, I'll calm down, just let me go," Damera told Tyson.
"Good," Tyson shoved him away, Damera nearly tripped with his own feet, but he maintained his balance and straighten up.
"If you go after him," Tyson continued. "I'll have to put you down." Then he turned to regard the bold Arkus, who stood behind him and close to Ashie. "That goes for you two, Arkus, that was so bold of you. Give thanks to your god that I didn't shut your trap up with my own fist. I estimate you two, I really do, I love you like brothers, and so I don't like it when we discuss or fight with each other. We are a team, damn it!"
"Look," said Damera. "I know you try so hard to keep us two in line. But that was uncalled for, and you know it."
"It's done, just drop it," said Tyson. "No point fighting about it. It was wrong of him, but it's now in the past. We should be looking at how to resolve the matter, not argue or kill each other about it."
Damera regarded Shan, who was so quiet and very confused. She had seen it all and appeared to be lost for words. The mercenary leader was quick to head her way.
"I'm sorry we brought these problems to your wonderful home," Damera apologized as he searched within his satchel, from where he extracted two red gems. "You've served your purpose this night by healing our friend in need, thank you for that, here's your pay." Damera grabbed her hand and deposited the gems gently in her palm, Shan looking at him as if he was crazy. "We will now take our leave," concluded the leader. He turned to regard the females and asked them whether they were ready to depart.
Ashie nodded at him, so did Dusana, who didn't know what to do with the tray. She placed it on a close by chair and then followed Ashie, who went walking Damera's way. Tyson was next to motion towards Damera, who had started for the door. Arkus felt very stupid then, so he didn't know what to do.
"Now hold on a second," Shan talked loudly when Damera opened the door. He turned around and stared at Shan, closing the door again and wondering what she was up to.
"I know your friend Arkus has kicked up a storm in here," the healer proceeded to say. "but your friend Tyson is right. It's no use fighting about it now, rather a solution is needed. I'd really hate to see you all leave like this: with you angry at Arkus and Arkus unable to speak to you because of it. I'm sort of confused still, but I am smart enough to know that you all somehow got involved in some matter that led you to kill someone. Am I right?"
"Two assassins," confessed Damera, not too proud of that.
"Uh oh, from the Seh Quyrh?" Shan paled. Rumors had also reached her ears of such a dangerous group.
"Uh-huh," replied Damera. "They were going to kill these two young women had we not intervened."
"We'd probably been alright," Ashie believed. "We got you involved in that matter as well and I apologize to you now."
"No need to apologize," said Damera. "But really, I doubt you and your friend would have fared well against those two, not that I doubt your fighting prowess, my lady, you did well to fight for your life. But besides that, Dusana's hand was broken and we were there, so we got involved, no need to apologize for that, we knew too well what we were getting into when we took that action."
Ashie just nodded, which made Damera return his stare back to Shan.
"As I myself know now that I will be taking my own action," Shan got everyone's attention. When she noticed that everyone was staring at her, she went on to say. "Alright, just hear me out, alright? The incident with those two assassins has passed, and you all now need to run away to safety, for the Seh Quyrh will not be happy to hear of its members deaths. Arkus," she pointed at him. "even though it was bold from his part, I must admit, may have been right in the end. You see, I have no problem going with you all, in fact, I'd be glad if you accepted my help. Truly, I was going to set course for Coriander during the morning, so why not leave with you all?"
"It's just that...I don't want you involved," clarified Damera, the leader truly feeling down. "You know of the trouble we are in...your life can be in danger."
"Life is life," said Shan, and she even smiled convincingly before them all, even to Arkus, who seemed the somber of them all. "Things happen for a reason, you know? If I was to go to Coriander today, I surely would be going, doesn't matter in what manner in the end, does it? Come on, I assure you, it's alright. I'll aid you, just let me change into better garments and grab a few essentials and we'll be on our way."
Shan did not wait for a response, rather headed back to her room eager to get what she needed. Damera and Arkus crossed stares.
"I guess you can be happy now," Damera said. "You got what you wanted."
"Alright, I'm sorry," said Arkus, his voice genuine. "That was stupid of me. I just thought it was convenient, you know? The more the merrier and the better, and Shan is a great healer, we might need her."
"That's still no reason to get someone involved," cried Damera, who was positive in his belief that Arkus fancied Shan since a while back. "Look, I know of what you have gone through with the healer in the past..."
Arkus paled in his spot. "What?"
"Shan told me months ago," Damera spat. "I kept quiet about it, knowing how easily you seemed to get on edge. No one knows but me, I assure you."
Arkus, during those seconds, just wanted the floor underneath him to open up and swallow him whole. He felt a rush of embarrassment hitting him, and his heart began to thump his chest wildly.
"I see now why you may have acted the way you did just a while ago," Damera went on to say. "you probably have deep feelings for her."
"Why you..." Arkus, truly baffled at the news, made a move to go to him, but Damera lifted his arm up in a signal for him to stop. Arkus did, realizing that Damera was not at fault here, maybe Shan had been the one who had spoken to him about her past with Arkus.
"Calm down, stay where you are. I won't say that your past times lived with Shan prompted you to act this night."
"That is not the case," Arkus shouted.
"Look, it's no use talking about this now, we need to have a clear conscious if we are to get away from the mess we've gotten ourselves in. You've managed to get Shan involved in our little matter one way or another, so you'll have to take some responsibility when it comes to her."
"Alright, what do you want from me?"
"I don't want anything from you, man, just letting you know how it is going to be. Not only will you be watching out for her well being during the time she's to spend with us, my friend, but for your wild actions you will also be conducting the wagon when we leave the city, you are the better man for that."
"I have no problem doing that," Arkus told him, his voice normal and his whole being relaxing as the seconds ticked away. "But you'll have to tell me how is it that Shan told you about my past with her...You know what? I'll just ask her later, so forget it, alright?"
Damera nodded at him, then at Tyson, who seemed confused at it all. He had been hearing it all with his mouth wide open.
"I'm sure Arkus will tell you about all that later," Damera told him when he noticed the tough young man wanted answers. "It's not my business, really."
Tyson turned to stare at Arkus. "You will, right?"
"Not before I get the truth from Shan," Arkus responded and couldn't help it but feel a bit betrayed. "I had asked her not to talk about my past to anyone. Hell I even helped her out several times."
"Why? Is it too embarrassing?" Tyson asked, snickering.
Arkus rolled his eyes. "You'll find out later."
"Now this I have to hear," Tyson told Damera, who merely shrugged at him.
Ashie and Dusana just listened to them, wondering just what the hell was going on between them. Had everything turned out to be alright in the end? To the mermaid princess and her guardian it appeared that this was the case.
"It's alright now," Damera told them, confirming their suspicions. "All's well that ends well."
About ten minutes later, a more prepared Shan made it to the living room. She was now dressed as a typical mercenary with a red leather suit, black leggings, and brown boots. She carried a shoulder strap and four provision satchels all around her waist belt, and she wore her silvery crown on her head. Damera and the others noted that she had also wrapped white cloths around her forearms. At her left hip they noticed a small sword which had a golden hilt and crosspiece. Of the five companions, Arkus seemed to be the one who was staring at her with the most pride, despite the way he felt at the moment.
"Are you sure you want to come with us?" Damera asked her. "I mean, you don't have to, you know?"
Shan eyed Arkus and noticed his quiet demeanor. She knew that he knew, and all she could do then was offer him a kind, apologetic glance. Then she turned to Damera.
"Damera," she smiled at him as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "My mother always taught me to help those in need, and she was right," she took a quick glance over at Arkus as she went on to speak. "for merely by helping all of you out I am doing myself a greater good. The feeling that comes with that is worth it, trust me, you feel your heart glow within when you do for others."
Damera slowly nodded at her, pondering on her words. He glanced at Arkus and gave him a slight nod, Arkus returned the favor with a slighter one.
"Now let us get going, Coriander awaits us!" Shan cried.
There was nothing more to say. Five companions had come to the healer's house earlier, but now six companions had left it.
*End of Chapter*
Last edited by a moderator:
