The four freinds sat and ate breakfast. It was really very peaceful and tranquil, and they all seemed loathe to break the silence which had descended amongst them. Although it had to happen sooner or later, which it eventually did. "That was a much better Flare Arrow than I'd come to expect from you, Mari-chan," Actinaea admitted. "You've come quite far in your studies." Mariposa beamed with pride. "Thanks, Actinaea-sensei!" "Hardly a ringing endorsement," muttered Luanni quietly. They ate in silence for a bit longer, after which Actinaea spoke up again. "These are simply marvelous omelettes, Renn. You must have learned how to make them from your mother." Renn nodded. "Yes, I did. I have other dishes I know you'll love, too, Ace. How long will you be staying, anyway?" Actinaea thought about this while chewing a bit of egg with cheese and various meats mixed into it and ignoring a signifficant glance from Luanni. "Not very long, Renn. In fact, I think we might set out this afternoon." Renn nodded with a sigh. "All right. I was hoping you'd stay longer, Ace." Actinaea nodded. "I would love to stay, Renn, but I *am* in the middle of a quest. We need to go back to looking for the Bell." She paused. "Maybe you could see us over to the Waymeart Guild, so we can start looking for clues?" She paused again, and narrowed her eyes. "And don't call me Ace." Renn nodded and smiled. "Right, right. And sure, I'd be glad you help an old friend out. That is, if Mari-chan and Luanni do not mind?" "No, thaff grt!" Mariposa spoke with her mouth full. Luanni shrugged. "Can't see how it'd hurt." That having been said, everyone resumed eating. They had packing to do later, and that would be hungry business. ----------------------------------------------------------- Slayers Glorious Chapter 28: Progress! An encouraging day for Our Heroes. This chapter by Robin Strickland Started by Todd Harper ----------------------------------------------------------- "So, Naga, why don't you want to go to Saillune?" Naga sighed. "We're already *in* Saillune, Getehl." The two were, in fact, just leaving a hotel in Saillune, only a short distance from the city's Magic Guild. Naga had insisted on going there, getting a good meal, and waiting for evening to start falling before they did anything in the city. Getehl had complacently waited, and now the two of them were going out to begin their search. Getehl had no idea why Naga had insisted upon this and was trying to remedy that problem. "Alright," Getehl replied, "Why don't you want to go be amongst the people of Saillune while the sun's still out?" Naga continued on in silence for a while. "Please, Naga, answer me?" "There are," she said, pausing for a moment and chewing her lip, "certain people here who I do not wish to grace with my magnificent presence right now." "In other words, you're scared you'll run into someone you don't want to," Getehl translated skillfully. "Okay, fine. Who are you afraid of?" As if in answer, a crossbow bolt embedded itself in the wall next to Naga's face. "Ha-HA!" Korvadus laughed as he leaped from the shadows, "I have you now, Na--" "DEMONA CRYSTAL!" "--Ga." Korvadus finished as he was encased in ten feet of ice. Naga grimaced and resumed her walk towards the Saillune branch of the Magic Guild. It should be added that she was not, in fact, afraid of Korvadus, but was instead grateful that he had provided an excellent means of dodging Getehl's question. "Okay," Getehl said. "I won't bother you about that right now." "Good," Naga replied, smiling. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Saillune Magic Guild was a marvel of pre-modern Saillune architecture, standing tall, regal, majestic, and above all, white, near the center of the city. And, as one would expect from the white magic capital of the known world, most of the guild's mages were, themselves, of the sort that would practice white magic: priests, healers, and the like. As such, should Naga have gone in wearing her usual black leather Battle Bikini, she would have stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb. Realizing this (for she was clever), Naga took the time to go to a tailor located near that area of Sailune to purchase a change of garb. And so it was that, when they did reach the Saillune Magic Guild, they appeared to be two entirely different people. Getehl was dressed in a martial uniform such as a high-ranking officer might wear to court, complete with dangly little metals and spit-shined jackboots. His hair was combed neatly, and the only thing that seemed out of place was the sword, which seemed plain by comparison. Naga, for her part, was dressed in a fine gown of silk which balooned off to her sides from the waist down, and, to anyone who looked, seemed as if ready to attend a ball at the royal palace. She had a parasol opened to keep the sun off of her head, and her hair was done up in a pretty bun. She had kept the crown she normally wore, for it seemed to fit this outfit, and was cheaper than buying a new one. The Guild's doorman greeted them kindly and asked their buisness. "I am Morrolan E'Drien," said Getehl, managing to sound like he wasn't really impersonating a royal tone of voice, "And this is my wife, the Lady Aliera. We were thinking of enrolling our dear child Devera at this Guild so that she could grow to be a skilled sorceror like her mother, and decided that we ought to come and inspect the place ourselves before making our final decision." The doorman, thinking that Naga and Getehl were rich, influential, and important courtiers, nodded quickly and ran in to find someone to take them on a guided tour. "Good idea, Naga," Getehl noted when the doorman had moved out of earshot. "Ohohohoho," Naga laughed almost quietly, "Of course it is. Now shush and stay in character." The doorman came back shortly with a lady in white robes trailing him. He pointed the pair of protagonists out to her, after which she nodded and approached them. "Greetings, Lord Morrolan, Lady Aliera," she announced politely. "I am Rina Iinbaasu. I will be taking the two of you on a guided tour of our facility. "Actually," Ghetel announced, "I would prefer to look about on my own, if you do not mind?" "Certainly," Rina replied. "I will simply accompany the Lady Aliera, then. Do enjoy your look about, Lord Morrolan." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A while into the tour, Rina and Naga had come upon the Guild's library. It was well-stocked and layed out sensibly, and this was the place where Naga could derail the tour to become a conversation to her liking. "A splendid library, Madam Iinbaasu," Naga complimented. "Thank you, Lady," replied Rina. "The Guild Library covers many areas of magic and history, as well as other esoteric matters. "Does this include the works of Shazard Lugandi?" "Yes, it does, Lady, and it's curious that you should ask, for not a week ago another lady came through inquiring after an artifact constructed by Lugandi. The Silent Bell, I think it was." "Oh?" said Naga, surpressing a triumphant grin. This was what she had hoped for! "Do tell more, please?" At this precice moment, a crossbow bolt embedded itself in the wall next to Naga's face. Again. Rina gave a shrill cry and fled, while Naga merely grumbled. "Oh, spew!" Naga practically spat out. "His timing is absolutely nauseating!" "Ha-HA!" Korvadus ha-HA'ed, "I have you *this* time, Naga! Really! Honest! I'm not kidding!" "Dil Brand," Naga replied casually, sighing. As expected, Korvadus was sent skyward by a mighty burst of earth. Contrary to what was expected, however, he stopped at the cieling, which was apparently very sturdy. Naga blinked confusedly once or twice, and then sprouted a wide grin. "Oh, this will be fun! Dil Brand!" "Ow," Korvadus noted for the record as he was again slammed into the cieling, and again failed to go through it. He immediately began contemplating a career as an attorney. It would probably involve less dying. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Getehl hadn't been able to find anyone who seemed to know anything about the Bell or who might be looking for it, so he'd gone back to the entrance as he'd agreed. He decided to pass the time there by sharpening his sword, and so he sat at the entrance dragging a whetstone across the ponderous blade of his weapon. He hoped Naga didn't take too long. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Dil Brand!" *WHAM* "Dil Brand!" *WHAM* "Dil Brand!" *WHAM* "Dil Brand!" *WHAM* Naga was engaging in some wonderful stress-relief therapy. The act of juggling her assailant was really quite relaxing, and so long as neither the cieling or floor gave out from the abuse, she could keep at it for a long, long time. Of course, the moment she thought that, the floor gave out. "Dil Brand!" *WHAM* *crumble* "Eh?" In just a moment of hesitation on Naga's part, Korvadus was up, ignoring, no doubt, all sorts of broken bones, and firing his crossbow at her. Bolt after bolt flew from Korvadus' crossbow as he charged after Naga. Naga, for her part, ran around a corner and began to head towards the place where Getehl was even now dragging a whetstone across his ponderous sword, and was there soon enough. "GetehlImeanMorrolantheidiotwiththecrossbowsistryingtokillmeagainstophimbye!" She called as she ran by, legs scurrying under her dress. Getehl was about to stop her and ask her to slow down and explain, and so he did not see Korvadus round the corner and run right into his sword, which had become pointed in that direction when he turned towards the departing White Serpent. Getehl felt the impact of a body against his sword, and heard the particular sound made by somone being impaled by a blade, (which I will not disturb your sensibilities by describing), and then turned to behold the sight of Korvadus hanging off of his weapon. Getehl blinked. "This really isn't your day, is it?" Korvadus nodded and died. Again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sometime later, Naga resumed her conversation with Rina, who she had managed to track down again, and who had had time to regain her composure after the attack. "So," she began, "You were saying?" "Ah, Yes," Rina replied, "A lady was inquiring after the Bell for a time. I cannot remember her name, unfortunately, but I am told that she left a very few days ago for some other kingdom. She took a carriage, if that helps you at all." Naga thought over this for a brief moment. "Why yes," she answered, "I believe it does. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There was only one place in Saillune that rented the sort of luxurious carriages that a well-funded villain (after all, if they were able to hire people like Torr and Korvadus for extended periods of time, they had to be wealthy, or so Naga and Getehl thought) would be likely to hire. Yes, Wagons Be We had a variety of carriages and coaches, and hired some out on a part-time basis to those wealthy enough to pay for it. They were also open twenty-four hours a day, which meant that even this late at night, Naga and Getehl could go in and get information without breaking and entering. The sole night attendant and bookeeper was a man of dwarfish stature, standing perhaps four feet in height. He was in the process of looking over the previous day's records when Naga and Getehl entered, both back in their normal outfits. Naga rang the little bell on the desk labeled "Ring me for service! Thank you!" *o/~ding!o/~* the bell said merrily. "Yes? How can I help the three of you?" Asked the attendant. Naga and Getehl blinked confusedly and looked around. "How, three of us?" asked Naga. "Sure," replied the attendant. "One," he counted, pointing to Getehl, "two, and three," he finished, indicating each of Naga's breasts. Naga scowled, and her brow twitched angrily. "Yes. Fine. Whatever. We'd like to see your records, if you don't mind?" "Hey, hey," the attended announced, "I don't just let hookers come in here and ask for important stuff like acess to records, you know. Even if they've got a pimp with 'em that a big, heh, sword." Getehl's brow twitched too, this time. Naga grabed the attendant by his throat. "Mono. VOLT." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shortly thereafter, Naga had located the information she sought; a single carriage had been rented which was bound for a city in another kingdom. The price payed for this service was extraordinary, and the recorded destination was Levar. "Very well," said Naga, closing the book. "Our foe is going to Ralteague city, in the west." "Alright," Getehl replied. "Are we heading out now, or are we going to wait until morning?" "Now," Naga said without hesitation. "The sooner I leave home the better." And so they set off towards the westhern exit of the city, intent on getting to Ralteague as soon as possible. Authors notes: Urk. Impro is a bad idea with two writing classes on the side. ^_^; Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I accomplished most of it with very, very little sleep. Thanks to Todd and Ravi for proofreading, and to Ard for pointing out just how pitiable my grammar was on most of the stuff I'd written on the night with no sleep. ^_^_v And if you didn't enjoy this chapter, well... well... wah. ;_;