Princess of Silver Sands - Chapter 05
Posted by: Kura in Writing, Princess of Silver Sands
Princess of Silver Sands
Book 01
Chapter - 05 - Day One
Chapter Five
Day One
Ashton stands silently in the spot where Hitsumi had promised to meet them at the end of the day, the other bandits within the group gathered around him and also waiting.
Ashton and the rest of Hitsumi’s group had been waiting around for their leader for quite some time now, and it was starting to become clear that Hitsumi might not be coming at all.
Ashton reaches into his pack pulling out his book knowing that Hitsumi’s absence was one of two things, either something was preventing Hitsumi from coming back or… He opens the book reading out the random page it had opened to. “The answer can be found in the next town.”
Ashton sigh as he closes his book it proving to him that Hitsumi had already gone on his way. “Just as I had thought… he left without us.” He turns towards the other bandits not even bothering to search the town to confirm what he suspected and instead just giving them instructions. “We do as Hitsumi ordered and rest here for the night. In the morning we leave for Matheda, we’ll meet Hitsumi there.”
Ashton scratches the back of his head as the bandits start to spread and prepare themselves for the night. “Whether he wants to meet us or not.” He looks a little upset over the incident having actually never been left behind by Hitsumi, Hitsumi having always dragged him forcefully along with him ever since they were kids. It was clear that Hitsumi had for whatever reason purposely left without him and the rest of his group, why he had done such a thing though was still unclear.
*******
This castle that had once belonged to powerful humans now belonged to the demons that plagued their lands, the demons claiming it as their home and using it as so even now, the decorative halls and rooms crawling with demonic creatures off all sorts.
Hisses and growls fill the air as the demons squabbled with one another, the creatures on edge because the princess had escaped their attack upon the castle and not only that had managed to slip through the claws of one of the demon lord’s elite worriers.
The demon that had attacked Hitsumi and his group and let the princess escape stood before a solid gold throne, the colour from the gold discoloured from years of abuse and neglect, this seat that once belonging to the most powerful ruler of this country now the throne of the demon lord that right now lead his race.
Strange wisps of dust played in front of the demon’s leader as the bear like demon explains to him what had happened, the flowing dust particles displaying the image of the princess they searched for, that his fumbling follower had encountered and lost. Every detail was there and could been seen clearly by all the demons in the temple, the image of the princess now being seen by them for the first time, the image forever burning in their minds.
The bear like demon bows closing his eyes knowing that this was the girl that they were searching for. “She looks just like the late Queen of East, she is the child we seek without a doubt.”
The demon lord did not look quickly to believe him, after all the woman who he had first thought to be the princess looked the similar to the Queen of East as well, he had to make sure this was the one they wanted and where about to chase after another false lead. “Are you sure this girl is her? The Princess of East?”
The demon lifts its head back up from its bow, there was no doubt in his mind or any part of him that this was the person they were looking for. “When I found her I felt it, the presence of the great demon mother’s curse.”
The other demons hiss and whisper at this news as a smile begins to appear upon Lord Yami’s face. There was no doubt about it now, this girl was defiantly the princess of East they were searching for.
The demon that knelt before him continues speaking, confirming that this was indeed she. “She was near the town of Tachi where the wizard’s magic was followed, she was trying to leave in a hurry possibly from that old wizard’s warnings. When I caught up to her she had several male companions with her, none of these men were guards or knights of the royalty I’m sure, I believe that they were hired bodyguards, bought to help protect her on her journey. The two that stood out the most from the group was a man with a scar on his face and a boy with yellow hair and light skin.”
Lord Yami leans his face into his hand making himself more comfortable in his seat. “She knew we were after her so it’s no surprise that she hired help.” He opens his eyes staring back at his legion of followers, this news was good indeed but it did not mean that they had won yet. “So she has left the city of Tachi and is traveling?” He grunts already knowing where it was the princess was going. “There is only one place she could be headed.” He stands up his shadow falling over the demon kneeling before him, the demon lord aware that there was only one place he knew of that the princess would retreat to for safety. “The West Continent.”
Mumbles of confusion rise from the sea of creatures, what their leader had just told them not making sense at all. The west continent was the continent that was practically owned by the demons and there were very few cities that had not taken over by them. “Here?”
“In the West Continent?”
“Why would she come towards us?” It made more sense for someone to run from danger and not into it.
Lord Yami glares at his followers their confusion over his deduction angering him, he raises his voice above theirs explaining to them what it was they seemed to have forgotten. “Have you forgotten of the castle that rules over the West Continent? It has a barrier that kills demons if they try to pass through, it must be where she is headed.”
The dragon like demon, the only one that had understood Lord Yami’s words before he had explained them lifts its long neck from the ground as he turned his gaze towards his leader. He knew very well of the power the barrier the west castle held, as he had encountered it when it had first be cast. “If the princess retreats to the West Castle everything we’ve worked for up until now will be lost.”
The demons began to hiss and growl in worry at the information, he was right, if the princess actually made it to The West Castle they would NEVER be able to get her. Lord Yami swings his arm forward quieting them instantly, the demon leader believing that it was stupid for them to become worried over such a small fact. “Do not worry; it is a long journey through both the content of East and the continent of West to that location. We will have no problem stopping her before she reaches that castle.”
The demons all think over what their lord had just told them intently. Lord Yami was of course correct, it would be a long journey to the Castle of West and they should easily be able to find her before then.
Lord Yami continues now giving them his orders now that they have calmed down some. “Spread out and search all known trails on both continents, it’s only a matter of time before she is found.” The sound of claws and horns scratching against the marble floor fill the corridors as the demons began to scatter out of the temple quick to obey the orders they had been given.
Lord Yami turns to the female demon that had been standing still and silent behind his throne throughout the entire ordeal. He lowered his voice speaking only to her. “You gather information on the princess’ two hired hands. Although humans are generally not a species to be feared there are sometimes cleaver humans that are able to cause us difficulty. I want to know if they may pose a problem.”
She opens her wings nodding her head in understanding. “Yes brother. I will discover everything there is to know about them.” She walks past him her limp still causing her trouble, the woman then crouches down, her claws digging into the stone floor as she pushes herself into the air with great force and lifts herself into the air, the woman flying through a small opening in the roof of the room they were in.
*******
Echo’s pony trots alongside the other three horses, its wizard rider sings cheerfully as he occupied himself during the journey. “Sixty-four bottles of beer on the wall! Sixty-Four bottles of beer!!”
The princess looks as if she were about to jump up and kill him, her face tired and stressed from tune of the repetitive and head pounding song. “He’s been singing since ninety-nine… I can’t take it anymore!” Echo continues to sing despite Angel’s disapproval for it.
Hitsumi also looks to be slightly frustrated from the small problems that the group right now found themselves with, he looks back at Angel as he began speaking to her with an annoyed tone in his voice. “I’ve decided what the first thing we’re doing when we reach town is!”
The Princess looks forward where Hitsumi’s horse walks ahead of hers. “Please say it’s selling Echo into slavery…” She didn’t think she would be able to stand Echo’s singing for much longer.
Hitsumi shakes his head looking back at her. “No!” What was needed to be done was by far more important than that. “It’s to get Li horse riding lessons!! I don’t like being so close to another guy for so such a long time!”
Hitsumi is spiked roughly in the ribs by Li who seated double saddled on the same horse as him, because Li was shorter then Hitsumi and more prone to falling off the back of the horse she sat in the front with Hitsumi’s arms on either side of her so that he was still able to direct the horse on where to go as well as keep Li from falling off the horse again.
Li’s horse trails behind Hitsumi’s tied to the saddle its back carrying a pack that was filled with things that would be need for the trip. The horse has a disgruntled expression on its face as it follows the other it was not used to being used as a packhorse and not enjoy it one bit.
Hitsumi and Li of course looked displeased with having to share anything with the other, Li glares back at him not amused with the comment he had made. “I say the first thing you do when we get to town is have Hitsumi take a bath. He stinks worse than the backside of this horse.”
Hitsumi hits Li over the head with his right hand and in doing so also pulling the horses reigns and causes the horse to sharply turn to the right so suddenly that it throws them both off its back.
Angel winced as she watched them both hit the ground, the horse that had been carrying them whinnying it’s in displeasure as it tried to back away from the both of them.
“Fifty-nine bottles of beer on the wall-”
The princess turns back to Echo snapping at him loudly. “STOP SINGING THAT STUPID SONG ALREADY!!!”
On a small hilltop overlooking the path they were riding along, stood a band of men on horseback. They watch the group quietly not saying a word, the small group continuing on its way completely oblivious as to the unwanted attention their presence had managed to attract. One of the men at the front of the group lifts his hand silently giving the others with him a signal to follow, the group immediately setting their horses in motion as they started traveling farther alongside the path the group was on, remaining unnoticed by the travelers.
*******
On one of the castles many window balconies stood the King of West. The man that ruled over the West of the Four Continents staring at the kingdom the high balcony overlooked, looking down upon the buildings, streets, people and everything else he ruled over.
The King looks to be deep in thought as if something was greatly bothering him, by the king’s side also looking over to what he was staring so intently at stood the Kings younger daughter Isha, the honourable and well loved princess of West.
Isha’s appearance was very similar to Angels, after all the two were related. The large difference between the two of them not only being the way Isha’s hair was so fancily styled, or the expensive and much more decorative clothes she had on, but the maturity that Isha carried in her face and mannerisms, the princess of West almost fifteen years older than the princess of East.
Isha looks unsure as to why her father chose to stare so long at the land before them. It was true of course that the land surrounding the castle was some of the only land in the Continent of West that remained untouched by demons, but still… there seemed to be more to the fact that her father’s attention had being drawn to such a view for so long. She didn’t say a word about it, knowing better then to questions the king’s actions. Instead she stood quietly and loyally alongside him.
Finally after what seemed like hours of silence her father finally speaks up, his voice gruff and deep. “The demons are becoming more and more powerful with each day that passes. If we cannot find that which we have lost so long ago…” He trails off when his eyes catch onto something.
His daughter turns in the direction her father was staring in spotting what it was that had caught his eye. A loan eagle was soaring through the air, the bird descending slightly as it dipped down heading straight towards the castle. Isha’s eyes widened as she takes a slight stop forward and places her hand on the railing before her. “Siren…”
The eagle swoops down towards the balcony landing on the railing on the King’s right side, his form changing back into that of the old wizard that had sent the princess along with Echo the owl wizard on their long journey to the Castle of West.
The King of West looks pleased to see Siren, the wizard’s arrival what the King of West had been waiting put here for.
The princess tries not to scowl at the old wizard as she stood next to her father. Though she could not explain why she just could not stand Siren, but because Siren was her father’s faithful and respected advisor she kept her feelings of dislike to herself, after all, Siren was the one her father trusted more than anyone else within the royalty that followed and catered to him, and it wasn’t as if Siren were evil or had a secret unknown agenda. He was just someone that Isha didn’t find herself getting along well with.
Siren bows respectably to the king and then begins to inform him of what he knew about the situation with the Princess of East and the unfortunate happenings within the East continent. “Everything that was within my capabilities has been taken care of.” He turns to the Princess of West telling her the words he knew she would want to hear from him. “Angel is safe for the time being, and as of now the Princess of the East is on her way to this castle.”
The Princess of West looks relived to hear these words, but her relief was still overshadowed with worry as even with the fact that Angel was safe, the fact that the Princess of East was only on her way here was still troubling, it wasn’t as if she were already safe within the castle walls, she would still have a very long way to go before reaching this place. “What of her safety? Will she be able to make it here without getting hurt?”
Siren gives Isha a reassuring nod explaining farther for her benefit. “Do not worry. I have sent Echo to guide her here. He may not seem reliable at first glance but he is a very dependable person.”
The princess did not seem convinced. She had seen Echo once before and knew him to be a rather unskilled wizard. Though several years had passed since she had last seen Echo she doubted only a few years would do much to improve his skill, at least for a wizard anyway. “Will that child be enough to protect her from the demons?”
The old wizard lowers his head nod sure of how to answer her without causing her to become overly concerned.
The princess clutches her hands together Siren’s reluctance to answer had not been the response she had been hoping for. She turns back staring at the path that lead to the castle, although Siren was able to make it too this place in not much time at all the same could not be said for those that traveled on the land, it would be a long time before Angel finally walked down the road that lead towards the safe boundaries of the castle… that is of course if she even manages to make it this far.
*******
He turns back to the princess to find her talking to Echo over how inconvenient it was to travel without bathrooms to stop at, both her and Echo not looking to have sensed anything out of the ordinary.
Hitsumi looks back at Li who is silently watching the forest to her left. She felt it too, the uneasiness that had been following them. Hitsumi looks to the right, both sides of the path they were on bothering him. “So…” He addresses Li. “It’s not an animal?”
Li shakes her head no her eyes not moving from the area that had been bothering her. “No… human.” She stares in silence unable to tell how many there were right now or what they were doing here. She couldn’t even really confirm if they had spotted them or not but judging from her uneasiness it was very likely that they had.
Hitsumi’s horse suddenly comes to a stop catching Li off guard and almost knocking her off. She glares bitterly at Hitsumi not pleased with the sudden surprise Hitsumi having known that she had been concentrating on something else. “What are you doing!?”
She looks ahead of her to find what Hitsumi is looking at. Soon Angel and Echo’s horses also slow to a stop as they stare ahead of them.
Echo looks a little confused. “That’s strange.”
The path in front of them had suddenly come to an end, the dirt road they had been following leading into a river too deep and long to cross without a bridge. Li’s eyes narrow while Hitsumi dismounts his horse walking to the water’s edge to get a closer look.
Angel looks over at Hitsumi, this find was also slightly confusing to her. “I don’t get it… why would the road lead straight into a river?”
Li lifts her head looking to the other side of the river, the path that they were on continuing on the other side as if the water wasn’t there to stop it. “The path continues again on the other side of the water. There must have been a bridge here at some point.”
Hitsumi picks up a stray piece of wood, the plank rotted and moulding from being so close to the water. “The bridge was destroyed a long time ago.” He inspects the little rubble hidden within the grass and waters of the lake of what once was a bridge. From what he could tell it hadn’t been destroyed by a storm, all the damage it had looked to have been manmade.
The princess leans forward in her horse looking from left to right as her eye scan the length of the river in front of them. “There must be a bridge we can cross somewhere else then… maybe if we walk alongside the river for a while can find one.”
Hitsumi runs his hand over the dozens of separate hoof, wheel and footprints that had been carved into the path on the ground from travelers before them. What bothered Hitsumi about these tracks was that none of them continued in a straight direction as if walking on a path, instead they where jumbled and twisted, some deeper having been thrust into the ground with more force. “The ground is worn here… The area right in front of this bridge has been the place of many battles.”
Hitsumi gets to his feet looking back at the forest Li already doing the same having possibly having come to the same conclusion as he had. Hitsumi had to admit the dumb blond was in fact smart at times, Li had probably realized what was happening long before he had.
Hitsumi keeps his eyes on the trees of the forests along either side of them, the bandit soon spotting what it was he had been expecting to see. “Just as I thought.”
The princess nervously turns back to Hitsumi not really comforted by the tone in Hitsumi’s voice. He sounded anxious and worried about something. “What?? What did you thought??”
Echo is about to correct her on her misuse of words when the trees on either side of them move slightly. Echo’s gaze soon joining Hitsumi and Li’s as they all stared in the direction the movement had come from, something clearly wrong.
The princess holds her breath as she spots several men beginning to emerge from the trees. She looks nervously around her moving her horse closer to Hitsumi’s not at all comfortable with finding that there had been people watching them.
Hitsumi smiles slightly at the men that were approaching them, almost glad to find an obstacle on this journey. “This is an ambush point.”
Li growls in the back of her throat as she pulls out her dagger and jumps off the back of the horse and onto the ground. She holds her weapon at her side ready to spring forward and attack them if they were to come to close to the group. “Bandits…”
Echo sighs a little frustrated with the situation that they now found themselves in, not only did they have to worry about demons they had to worry about law breaking and violent humans like this as well. “This doesn’t look good…” He dismounts his horse just as the other two had, opening and holding his hand at his side, his magic staff appearing in the palm of hand, Echo moving the weapon and holding it in front of him ready to attack if the situation called for it. “I guess it can’t be helped.”
A horrified expression filled the princess’s face as she watches the men approach the group. “Bandits!?” She scans her surroundings in fear realizing that they were surrounded by them, there was no way they would be able to get out of this one. She turns to Hitsumi aware that he was a bandit and perhaps would be able to find a solution. “Can’t you talk to them Hitsumi? You’re a bandit too right!?”
Hitsumi quickly pulls his swords in front of him readying himself for the attack just as his other two companions had. “It doesn’t work that way princess!”
As soon as Hitsumi’s sentence was finished the bandits rushed forward attacking the group. Li doesn’t take long to react and is the first of the group to spring forward and attack the bandits head on. The first bandit falling only moments after Li’s runs up to him quickly swinging and slicing her dagger across his throat and killing him.
Hitsumi not yet having to deal with the bandits himself watches as she Li brings down another man near her, killing the bandits off one by one at a rather frightening speed. “He’s better than I thought.”
Echo crosses his arms in front of him and exhales calmly closing his eyes, a strange misty light starts to circles his figure as symbols appear on the ground he is standing on and he gently begins to chant. “Powers of nature come to my aid, rise up and smite all those in my way!” He brings his right arm up tapping is staff lightly on the ground, a loud and strange rumbling shaking the earth as the ground splits apart and huge jagged rocks and stalagmites burst through to the surface, severely wounding and stopping a large cluster of the bandit group before they are able to reach them.
Li continues to easily defeat the bandits with her quick and deadly attacks while Echo taps his staff once again on the ground, the earth again obeying his command and rising to attack.
Hitsumi raises his weapon swinging it at one of the bandits that had managed to get through the two, slicing and cutting deep into his arm causing him to scream and drop his weapon, Hitsumi then finishing him off by swinging his sword onto the back of his neck with the dull end of his weapon and knocking him out.
Hitsumi readies himself to attack again while being sure to stay close by Angel’s side as to not let any harm come to her while Li was in the middle of the attackers and Echo was concentrating on his magic.
Angel catches the action upon the bandit that Hitsumi had chosen to make. “He…” She looks down at the unconscious bandit that had come attacking Hitsumi. “He didn’t kill him?”
Hitsumi attacks and knocks out another bandit in a similar fashion, Angel just staying still watching the battle not sure as to why Hitsumi wasn’t killing them when Li so easily was. She looks off into the trees the bandits were coming from to see that a steady flow of people were coming from the trees on either side of them. “There’s so many of them…”
Li two has by now realized the size of the group. “It’s huge… the only time I’ve seen a group of them this large was-” She narrows her eyes as she thinks back. “It can’t be…”
Hitsumi silently takes out the bandits that make it to him one by one, he like Li had not seen a group this large in a long time, and from the looks of the steady flow of them it didn’t look like it would end anytime soon.
Echo’s staff touches the ground the land again rising up to attacks the bandits, the wizard growing a little worried when he finds that this time more are able to make it through his attack. Echo turns back to Hitsumi informing him that he was unable to keep it up. “There’s too many of them!”
Li eyes dart from figure to figure as she attacks and finished them off as quickly as she could. “It has to end somewhere!” She takes out one last bandit out with her dagger before taking several steps back reaching into a pocket at her side and pulling several pins from it.
Echo gasps in shock when he sees the pins that Li is holding, they not something that could easily be acquired unless one knew exactly where to look. “Wizard pins!?” He shields his face with his arms when he sees that Li is preparing to throw them.
Li swings her arm forward letting go of and throws several of the pins forward, the pins of condensed wizard magic exploding on impact, the explosions causing several craters in the ground as well as the fall of many of the bandits that had been charging towards them.
Echo un-shields his eyes remembering that he was supposed to be stopping the bandits too, the wizard tapping his staff against the ground to activate another attack. Echo turning to Li and questioning her about the pins she had after his attack ploughs into and stops another wave of bandits that had been running towards them. “Li! Where did you get those? Not just anyone can get a weapon like that from a wizard, and you have so many!”
Li doesn’t look back at Echo as she answers his question. “I stole them.” She throws another handful of them the dust that filled the air from the explosions getting thicker.
The horses whinny in fright from the constant ring of explosions so close to them as they trot nervously in place.
Hitsumi spots something being thrown through the air towards them, he gasps quickly yelling out to the others. “Smoke!”
Li quickly turns in the direction Hitsumi is looking it as he quickly tries to find what he had spotted. “Where!?”
The strange ball falls down within them Hitsumi reaches out and catching it before it hits the ground near them, quickly throwing it back at the bandits that were attacking him, the ball exploding and filling the air with a thick black smoke, the bandits all coughing and moving away from the smoke as quickly as they could.
Hitsumi whimpers pitifully when he spots dozens more of the black coloured spheres hurling towards him. “Oh come on…” He moves quickly to try and catch them. “LI!!”
Li look over to Hitsumi, moving her eyes up to see what it was Hitsumi was so concerned about, Li spotting and quickly throwing several of the pins she held at them, the pins she had thrown hitting the spheres and causing them to explode, a thick black smoke still filling the air after their destruction, clouding and hiding more spheres as more are thrown through the thick smoke. “Shit!” Li takes her eyes off of the smoke bombs returning to the bandits that surrounded them and attacking them, there being no more she could do concerning those.
Hitsumi is quickly darting from side to side as he catches each of the smoke bombs before they are able to hit the ground and explode, throwing them back out into the bandits as quickly as he could to both try and drive them back and clear his hands as he continued trying to catch all of the smoke bombs that were being thrown at them.
Hitsumi reaches for the last one he sees, the smoke bomb flying past his hand and hitting the ground, exploding upon contact and filling the air with a putrid black gas, causing Hitsumi and Angel to cough and gasp for air as they both tried to back away from it.
The smell from the smoke becomes more unbearable the thicker and larger the cloud gets engulfing both Hitsumi and the princess inside of it. Angels falls off of her horse and hits to the ground, the gas making her not only ill from the smell but weak and unable to stay on her horse. “I can’t stand it.”
Hitsumi is coughing for air as he swings his arm back and forth in an attempt to fan the smoke off, the bandit falling to his knees unable to keep himself standing and barely able to breathe. He raises his voice yelling as loudly as he could manage to the two members of his group not yet in the smoke. “Get out of its range!”
Echo begins to cough loudly when the smoke spreads to him, the wizard unsure of where he was supposed to go. “What’s its range?” Echo falls down using his staff to support himself as he tried his best to stay standing.
Li covers her face with her free hand as the smoke quickly overcomes her, Li turning away from the group and beginning to run trying to escape the thick black smoke that had rapidly swallowed her and the rest of her group. She finally reaches the extent of the smoke range having been able to make it out and away from the smoke before it had completely paralyzed her.
As soon as she steps out of the smoke she is grabbed from behind by one of the bandits and before she can react to him another bandit steps in front of her, punching her hard in the stomach and knocking the wind out of her.
She winces slouching forward as the pain overcomes her. The bandit that had punched her looks over at the one that still held her tightly in place. “This had better have been worth it! This group wasn’t an easy bunch.”
Another bandit points towards the smoke ahead of them. “Get the wizard! That will leave only the girl and the man with the scare on his face! They should be easy to overcome then!”
Another of the group of many bandits runs forward into the smoke being sure to keep his face covered to keep from suffering the same fate as the group they had been attacking had.
The thick black smokes growth finally begins to slow, the dark cloud gradually beginning to clear.
When the smoke is clear Hitsumi looks up to find him and the princess surrounded by hundreds of men, Hitsumi quickly jumping to his feet holding his sword in front of him ready to attack them.
“Just give up.” One of bandits informs him thinking that they had already done enough to earn their victory. “You can’t beat us all it’s impossible, not by yourself anyway.”
Hitsumi’s takes his eyes off of the bandits for a moment as he turns to look at Echo and Li, who have already been caught by the bandits and were being forcefully held captive.
Angel nervously stares at Hitsumi awaiting his decision, of course the princess didn’t want to be captured by these people but for some reason she felt more concerned over the fact that Hitsumi might get hurt or even killed trying to fight them off. “What are you going to do? You’re not going to try and fight them are you?”
Hitsumi lowers his head in disappointment as he stands still in his spot, straightening his body out of his fighting stance and dropping his weapon to the ground.
The bandits immediately move forward to get him and Angel under control, Hitsumi and his group having been overcome by the large amount of people that had been attacking them.
Angel is the first to react to them yelling at and kicking them as they try to bind her hands behind her back. “Get your hands off of me!! You have no right to touch me!!”
Echo sighs hanging his head very disappointed with the situation. He had not been able to protect the princess and fulfill his duty as her royal guard and it wasn’t even demons that had brought him down but a gang of bandits.
The group is silent as they are each bound, the group being lead away from the path as soon as the horses that had been carrying them and their belonging are brought under control and taken by the men that had attacked them.
The group is roughly lead into the forest the path cut through, Hitsumi watching the bandits as they all discussing the situation in stunned whispers and mumbles of disbelief. The fight that had just taken place between them had defiantly stirred up concern amongst their captors, and that never a good sign.
Angel nervously looks to each member of her party hoping at least one would be able to answer her on what was now going to happen to them. “What are they doing!? Where are they taking us?”
Hitsumi doesn’t look back at her his eyes still on the other bandits, something about the way this group dealt with them bothering him. “They’re taking us back to their camp.”
Echo turns towards Hitsumi still not cleared on the subject. “Why take us back to their camp? Why didn’t they just kill us back there?”
The princess gets a horrified look on her face. “KILL US!?”
Hitsumi looks back to Echo having thought that the answer to that question would have been obvious, but then again both Echo and Angel had never dealt with bandits before so it would make sense if they didn’t catch it. “Why would they kill people inside of their trap? It would warn anyone else falling into it of its outcome and they may escape or inform the royalty about it.”
The princess was still confused. “But you said that they’re taking us to their camp right? Well why back to their camp? Why not kill us somewhere else?”
Hitsumi looks up laughing slightly much to Echo and Angel’s surprise. “Well that one’s easy! We have a woman with us.”
Angel narrows her eyes at Hitsumi. “Do you and your bandits kidnap woman as well?”
Hitsumi looks over to Angel not sure of how he was supposed to explain. “No of course not! I’m way too good looking to have to resort to kidnapping woman so I don’t have to do stuff like that.” He looks over to Li having caught onto her rolling her eyes at what he had just said. “Hey I’m not the only one that says this! Ashton is the one that first said it you know.”
Angel frowns as she continues to question him not at all liking what this was obviously leading into. “Hitsumi if these men touch me in any way I feel to be inappropriate-”
Hitsumi nervously changes his answer, the one he had just given Echo and Angel obviously not one he wanted to be talking about. “You know maybe I was wrong about the whole woman thing, I mean me, Li and Echo were also able to take out a lot of their men. So their leader is going to want answers when he finds out about his losses. We’re being taken with them because we’re going to have to give him the answers he’ll be looking for.”
Angel curiously looks the bandits over. It was as if Hitsumi knew them inside out yet this was the first time he had met them. “Do all bandits work this way?”
The smile leaves Hitsumi’s face and he turns ahead of him, a serious expression now overcoming him. “No…”
Angel watches Hitsumi quietly a little curious as to why a question like that would concern him so much.
The group soon arrives at the bandit’s camp, the camp being a filthy collection of tents, stolen crates, a corral with several horses and even more bandits. The size of this group was unbelievable, everywhere you looked there were bandits.
Hitsumi looks over the crowds not able to picture what it would be like trying to lead a group this big, dealing with his own much smaller group hard enough.
One of the bandits grabs onto Angel’s shoulder pulling her along with him and leading her away from the group. Angel panicking as she tried to pull free from him. “Wait! Where are you taking me!? Hitsumi!!”
Echo looks just about as worried as the princess did right now, the small wizard struggling to get free so that he could try to help her. “Princess!”
Hitsumi turns towards her, the men that had been leading him getting a tighter grip on him to keep him from trying to go after her, Hitsumi only able to watch as she is taken away from him completely helpless to help her.
Hitsumi clenches his teeth as he turns from Angel glaring at the small group of bandits that stood near them, each of them talking nervously to one another over the small group of people that had been brought in, the conversation ending when one of men leaves running into an area enclosed buy walls of stolen crates and leaving the others to keep an eye on the group.
Echo looks back to Hitsumi not sure of what it was they were supposed to do to get out of this. “What are we supposed to do? Angel is going to be okay right?”
Hitsumi looks back down to Echo as he begins to tries and assure the wizard that she would be fine, even though Angel probably wouldn’t. “She’s not one of the people that attacked their men, so if we’re lucky they will want to deal with us before they do anything to hurt her.”
The bandit that had left soon returns through the opening in the walls of crates and begins talking to his companions, pointing over to Hitsumi and his group while he spoke, one of the men turning away and motioning towards the men that were holding Hitsumi, Li and Echo captive. “Come on, the boss wants to have a word with you.”
The bandits move forwards and the three are lead into the opening within the walls of crates, the area inside filled with boxes and tables filled with stolen goods and weapons of all kinds.
The three are brought to a stop at the center of the stolen treasure where a large, hairy, gruff man who’s beard and large eyebrows almost completely hid his face, sat upon several half looted boxes, the man gazing into and looking over several jewels he held in his hand, the diamonds the earnings he had gathered from inside one of the many stolen boxes.
He large man lifts his head taking his eyes off of his winnings and turning towards the visitors that had been brought to him, his. “So… these are the three that wounded almost half of my group of five hundred men?” He puts the object he had been looking over back into the box, stepping forward and looking the group over. “A single man and two little boys…”
Li frowns at being called a little boy while Echo mumbles something about being a whole nine hundred and fifty one years old. The boss shakes his head at the information he had announced finding it rather hard to swallow even though he had been the one to say it. “It doesn’t seem possible.”
The bandit’s leader glares down at the young wizard before looking away and moving on. “It’s not every day so many of my men are beaten, but be assured it is not the first. Just because you were able to defeat a few of my men does not make you powerful or significant in anyway.” He passes by Hitsumi looking at him for a moment before continuing down the line. “You are all still going to die, regardless of how much of a fight you were able to put up.”
He stops in front of Li taking a closer look at her then the others. He holds his face only inches from hers as he stares directly into her eyes. “You… have I seen you before?”
Li closes her eyes turning away from him answering him flatly. “No.”
The large man doesn’t seem convinced by her words as he lifts his hand grabbing onto her chin and pulling her face back towards him so that he could continue looking her over. “Your face looks familiar.”
Hitsumi interrupts him his voice carrying and angered tone it to. “That speech of yours sounds familiar.”
The bandit’s leader lets go of Li turning away from her as he looks back to the boy he had passed by with hardly a glance, Hitsumi now catching his attention. “What?”
Hitsumi stares at the large man unflinching, Hitsumi a little angered over the things the man had been saying. “It’s not the first time I’ve heard that over blown speech. Where did you hear it?”
The bandit leader walks back down the line stopping in front of Hitsumi and staring down at him. “And just who is it that would like to know?”
The two stare at each other silently, both of their eyes glued onto each other’s faces as the two tried to stare the other down while waiting for the answer to the questions that both of them had asked of. Hitsumi demanding an answer from the bandit’s leader, while the bandit leader demands to know where Hitsumi could have possible heard his speech.
It suddenly hits both of them at the same time, the two both jump back from one another scream put in shock, the leader pointing at Hitsumi while Hitsumi yells out unable to point when his hands were tied behind his back.
The boss points at Hitsumi’s face barely able to get the word he was trying to say through his teeth. “Hitsumi!”
Hitsumi’s face was so shocked that it looked like he had gone through a heart attack. “Dad!?”
The bandit gives a hardy and joyful laugh as he opens his arms and wraps them around Hitsumi, hugging and lifting Hitsumi into the air as his voice raises into a loud yet joyful tone. “It IS you Hitsumi my boy!”
Hitsumi winces getting crushed by his father’s strong sturdy figure while his father continues talking to him. “It’s been so long! I haven’t seen you since you where the size of the wizard brat.”
Hitsumi’s face is turning red from the lack of air and the strength of the hold being used on him, he weakly responds to his father’s comment telling him of exactly how long it had been. “It’s been fourteen years…”
Hitsumi’s father places him down at the ground as he starts looking him over from head to toe. “You’ve grown so much! I barely recognize you!”
Hitsumi stares at his dad still finding it hard to believe that it was him. “You… gained weight… and grew a beard… I didn’t recognize you…” It was hard to recognize his father through all the facial hair, in fact it was almost impossible. “I didn’t recognize you… at all…”
Hitsumi’s father pats him on the back almost knocking him to the ground with each blow. “I didn’t think you would grow to be so small!! You’re a scrawny little thing aren’t you!?” Hitsumi frowns at the comment while his father continues talking. “Well aside from your chicken boy appearance you’ve grown into a fine young man!”
Hitsumi glares up at his father offended by his choice of words. “I’m not a chicken boy! I filled in just fine! Just ’cause I’m not a fat ass like you are.”
His father messes Hitsumi’s hair like he would had done when Hitsumi was a kid, much to his son’s displeasure. “Ah don’t worry you’ll pick it up when you reach my age I guarantee. You know what they say about family physic running in the blood!”
Hitsumi shivers not wanting to picture something like happening to him. He hears a smirk from Li in the background, obviously Li had just pictured him with his dad’s physic and was having a grand old time doing it.
Hitsumi ignores Li’s smirking as he looks back at his dad changing the topic of him growing to be hairy and fat. “I can’t believe you’re still alive! I was sure you would have gotten yourself killed by now.”
His father laughs again whacking Hitsumi on the back and this time knocking him over. “Killed? Me? No one can kill me! Didn’t I tell you that when you were a kid? What did you grow up stupid or something!? Come on Hitsumi! Surely you must remember your good ol’ dad’s many words of wisdom!”
Li watches the two in an annoyed silence while Echo watches them like someone admiring a loving father son relationship. “This is so touching!”
Hitsumi smiles at his father, it had been a long time since they had gone their separate ways and Hitsumi had never expected to run into him again seeing as bandits were prone to getting killed off at any given time. “It’s good to see you dad.”
His dad nods in agreement. “It’s good to see you too.”
Hitsumi gets to his feet looking up at him, despite him now being an adult his father was still much taller than him. “Now… can you do something for me?”
Hitsumi’s father looks puzzled they had only just been reunited and already the boy was asking him for stuff. “What?”
Hitsumi looks back at Li and Echo. “Can you untie my friends and me now?”
Hitsumi’s father crosses his arms shaking his head no. “Nope, you wounded half of my men.”
Hitsumi’s father starts laughing as he again starts pounding Hitsumi on the back with his hand and again knocks him to the ground. “Just kidding there kid! Just like when you were young. Always falling for everything I say!”
Hitsumi gets up looking up at his father like he was about to break into tears from being picked on. “But you’re my dad… I automatically believe you…”
Hitsumi’s father nods his head as he begins laughing about it. “I know! That’s what’s so great about it!”
Soon after Hitsumi’s father and Hitsumi’s recognition of one another his father releases Hitsumi and the others and they are reunited once more with the princess. But although they had finally been reunited without a scratch on them, well aside from Hitsumi and his wounds from his father’s friendly pats on the back. The princess seemed more angry then thankful when she is reunited to them. “Hitsumi I was so scared!! I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WHERE GOING TO PROTECT ME!!”
Hitsumi sighs while Echo speaks up to try and calm Angel down. “I’m sorry princess it’s my fault entirely, I should have protected you.”
Angel’s attention was now on Echo she had been completely frightened and horrified of the entire situation. Some guards this group turned out to be. “You better be sorry! I could have been killed!!”
Hitsumi’s dad laughs as he elbows Hitsumi in his side almost knocking him off balance once again. “She’s a feisty one there son, it’s just like you to pick up the violent ones.”
Hitsumi pushes his dad away from him shaking his hands trying to explain, his father had gotten it all wrong. “Dad…. I didn’t pick her up! She followed me! She wouldn’t leave me alone!!”
Angel’s attention is immediately taken off of Echo and once again brought to Hitsumi, Hitsumi’s explanation of how they had met up not exactly to her taste. “Hitsumi… you make me sound like… like…”
Angel grabs onto Hitsumi and starts to violently shake him around. “THERE IS NO GOOD WAY FOR ‘SHE FOLLOWED ME! SHE WOULDN’T LEAVE ME ALONE”
He looks over at Li who is watching Hitsumi and Angel argue from the side lines, a blank expression on her face. It also wasn’t everyday that you ran into someone like her… especially for the second time.
