Le Jeune Guilavene

Chapter 9:

“So you are still alive,’ Dilandu drawled, ‘How disappointing.”
Van had summoned the little demon after ducking into a deserted alleyway. He wanted to make sure Dilandu was still intact after his fight with the feline twins. He appeared unharmed, the only indication of battle being his hair was slightly mused.
“I’m sure,” the boy remarked, rolling his eyes.
While he knew the demon hated him, he also knew he was not stupid enough to hope for his demise. After all, if the human died he would be stuck in the sword, with slim chances of ever being summoned again.
Dilandu glowered at him for his flippant attitude. Even his old masters, bastards thought they were, had been more respectful and cautious. This little human was so oblivious to any sense of social status to the point were one would think he were raised under a rock.
“So what happened?” snapped Dilandu.
Van shrugged.
“The Strategos came, we fought, I got away. Nothing original about that. Except now I am charged by the captain of the Royal Guard for and I quote ‘conspiring with a demon’,” he spat bitterly.
The sound of the albino’s sudden high pitched laughter rang through empty alleyway. Van was on top of him in and instant, covering Dilandu’s mouth and glaring darkly.
“Shut up! They might still be after me. Do you want to let everyone in the city know where I am with your shrieking?” he hissed.
The pale demon growled and snapped at his fingers. Van gave him a wry smile and settled back against the alley wall. The young hunter was not going to get any sleep that night. He could not be certain Folken was not still looking for him, and with the destruction of the Magoman talisman his dreams were again open game to the demon. Which was also why he could not leave the city. At least the Royal Guard, presumptuous bastards though they were, was aware of the demon’s presence and would keep an eye out for him. Outside of the city, he would be faced with another long road leading from city to city and no true place to rest. Criminal or not, he was better off in Palas for the time being.
Van made himself comfortable and Dilandu sat tensely, watching his every move, as if expecting some retribution for his small act of defiance.
“So, Dilandu, Demon Prince and partner in crime, tell me about yourself,” the boy said, regarding him casual.
“Huh?” the albino said, rather confused.
“We are going to be stuck together for quite some time, and while I don’t expect you to like me, there are certain things that we should know about the other. I, myself, would like to know how you ended up in my sword and why you blame the Strategos for it.”
“Why should you care?”
“Because I don’t know what I’m going to do with you once this is all over.”
Dilandu gave him a confused look. What did this boy mean by that? He could do anything he wanted, why would the demon prince’s past have anything to do with it?
Van sighed heavily.
“Just answer the damn question.”
“It’s complicated,” the small demon said, frowning at his hands.
“How complicated?”
“Politics. Wounded pride. ‘Sibling’ rivalry. Servants and masters. Insult and injury. Retribution. Things of the like.”
The mortal swordsman nodded, as if everything had just been explained.
“And you? Why are you and the little bird fighting?” Dilandu asked, his curiosity dampening his usual disdain a bit.
“He killed my parents,” he said.
“Yes, I suppose that would explain why you want him dead, but then why is he after you? And wanting you alive, none the less,” the demon inquired.
He watched curiously as a dark blush spread across Van’s golden skin.
“It’s complicated.”
“How complicated?”
“Very complicated.”
Dilandu did not ask again. He knew better than to try his luck. Perhaps he would be able to drag the answer from the boy before he killed him. Yes, he would have to make a mental note of that.
“So what will you do now?” he asked finally.
Van looked thoughtful for a moment.
“I’m not sure. If I kill the Strategos, that will hopefully clear me of the conspiracy charges. Until then, however, I have to find a way to make money, find shelter, and get you some better clothes.”
Dilandu frowned as he was reminded of his silly attire... that itched.
“So why exactly are we just squatting in the middle of alley then?” he snapped.
“Because everyone is asleep, except thieves, guards, and a couple of demons. None of which I want to meet at the moment,” Van explained.
Dilandu let out a hefty sigh and leaned against wall on the other side of his ‘master‘. Damn peasant had a point. At least about the demons. While he was confidant he could handle any mortal problems, neither of them were prepared for fighting the Strategos and his little witches.
“So what now?”
“Fidgety aren’t you? Now we do nothing but wait for morning. I’ll think of something then.”
“Why did you even bother to summon me if we’re just going to sit here and do nothing?” he snapped.
“I thought you might enjoy being out. After all, there can not be much of a view inside of a sword,” Van said.
Dilandu scanned the alley. It was ugly, gray, and littered with garbage. He raised an elegant eyebrow at the boy, the equivalent to a sarcastic remark. Van just rolled his eyes and pointed up. The demon followed his finger upward to the sky.
Oh.
He had forgotten about stars, it had been so long since he had seen them. Even in the city of Palas, he could see millions of them shinning and twinkling in the pristine beauty that only stars can manage. In the distant corner of the sky he could see the silver and cursed moons, large and glowing. So beautiful. So eternal.
Van watched him closely, a strange sense of pity welling up in him as he realized the stars must not be visible within Escaflowne and Dilandu may have spent centuries without their ethereal light. He turned his dark eyes upward as well, taking them in with new appreciation. They were not as bright here as they were in countryside of Fanelia, but they were still amazing.
Silently he wondered, if he should fail in his mission, would he too be imprisoned like Dilandu? Never seeing or experiencing anything without Folken’s permission or order? The thought made him shudd Cl Clearing his mind, he returned his attention to the stars and wished for their blessing on his perilous journey.

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“That little bastard, I’ll kill him!” Nariya growled, nursing her sister’s wounds.
Folken and his servants had returned to the castle to tend to their injuries. Most were mild, but still rather painful. Eriya was the worst off, with four deep scratches running diagonally from her left shoulder, between her breasts, and over the right side of her ribs. Dilandu’s initial attack had been fierce and sudden, and if her sister had not have come to her aid she was certain she would be dead.
“Who was that anyway?” Eriya asked.
Folken, who sat on his bed with only his leather breeches, tended his own small side wound. He smirked as he noticed the tiny arc-shaped marks surrounding the tender flesh where Van had sunk his fingernails in. On the other side of the bed, the girls were also shirtless as they wrapped their various scratches, with the typical demon ambivalence at their partial nudity.
At the twin’s question he simple said.
“Dilandu.”
“Dilandu?” said Nariya, “Where did he come from and why did attack us?”
“Because the boy ordered him too,” Folken said.
Eriya’s eyes widened.
“Do you mean your prey has made another deal with a demon The The winged demon shook his head.
“No, he is not so foolish as to attempt that. Dilandu is his slave, bound to him through ownership of the sword Escaflowne.”
Folken gave a short laugh.
“An extreme irony considering it was one of my very own servants who imprisoned the brat in that sword, and it was my very own attentions towards Van that allowed him to summon him. It would seem the Fates have taken and interest in our game and have decided to participate. A coincidence on t his scale could be nothing short of divine intervention,” he said.
“You had him imprisoned, master?” asked the silver twin.
“Yes and no. Zongi did the actual imprisonment, as a gift to me. Though I could have freed him at anytime, had I the desire to do so.”
Both girls made a face at the mention of the shape-shifting demon, but their curiosity was still piqued.
“So why did Zongi imprison him the first place and why haven’t you released him? Why don’t you release him now, so the boy can’t use him?” asked the golden twin.
“It’s complicated.”
They gave him a dark look.
“Lets just say that Dilandu and I are enemies, and I have a vested interest in keeping him in check. Also, should I free him, he would most likely kill my prey and that is unacceptable. Good enough?”
The twins nodded reluctantly and continued tending to one another in silence. They were not about ready to try their master’s mood. While he seemed amused with the situation, they could not possibly believe he was completely pleased with the results of tonight\'s attack. They had been caught off guard and nearly lost their lives in their carelessness, and they still had nothing to show for it.
“So what will you do now?” Eriya asked tentatively.
A sinister smile crossed his features. It was an expression both recognized when their master had a particularly clever and inescapable plan or dealing in mind.
“I believe a little bargaining is in order.”

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Van and Dilandu walked the town early that morning. Neither had slept a wink, the demon because he could go several days without sleep and the boy because he was afraid of what he would dream without Magoman. Most people were still asleep at the early hour, which was fine considering the albino was still walking around in a flag and the young fugitive had no desire to draw any attention to them.
It was this discretion that warned them of yet another serious matter before it was possibly too late.
They wondered about one of the main roads. Van was looking for possible inspiration to get money, and Dilandu was just trying to get reacquainted with this new world. When he had last roamed the human world, the buildings had been mostly made of heavy wood and clay, making everything rough and earthy colored. Now however, everything was so smooth and colorful, and filled with decorative items he had not even seen in his demon realm. Briefly he wondered how much his own home had changed and longed to see it again.
He was pulled from his meanderings, when Van suddenly grabbed his arm and dragged him roughly into an alley way and behind am empty cart.
“What are you doing?” he growled at the boy.
Van gestured him to be quiet and pointed towards the street as they cautiously looked out from their hiding spot. After a moment, two men dressed in armor and carrying two satchels walked by the alley, talking to each other.
“I feel stupid putting these things up,” mued aed a roundish guardsman.
The sound of hammering could be heard just outside the alleyway.
“Why’s that?” asked the gangly young guardsman.
“We’re putting out wanted posters for kids. What are people going to think about men who can’t catch a couple of little boys?”
“Well, ones a demon! And the other won that tournament and even beat Prince Allent’s t’s not like they’re normal. I bet they both got special powers. You know how them demon folk are,” the younger one mumbled.
“Yes, how are we demon folk?” Dilandu muttered softly.
Van elbowed him in the ribs to get him to shut up. They shared a glare and by the time they returned their attention to the street, both guardsmen were gone. Cautiously, they ventured from their hiding spot to see what they had been nailing up.
Upon the wall, next to currently empty fruit stand, were two posters with a rather rough sketches on them of what Van assumed was suppose to be him and Dilandu. His demonic companion ripped one off the wall and viewed it critically from various angles.
“This doesn’t look like me at all!” he said indignantly, crumpling the paper and throwing it away.
Van gave him an odd look before taking down the poster with himself on it and reading it.
“Wanted: Van Equilar Guilavene”
This statement was followed by two portraits of himself… well, attempts at portraits. He did not think his eyes were that squinty or that he had begun to grown a surly looking mustache in less than a day. He could vaguely see some similarities ... mostly in his physical build and jaw structure, but it still was not very accurate. He suppose he should be thankful for that, but at the same time it was vaguely insulting. He continued to read. There was yet another description written under the picture, this one much more accurate though it could describe many of the young men of the city. He read a little lower to the important stuff.
“Wanted for conspiring with demons. Armed and considered highly dangerous. Any information leading to his arrest may be valued at 1,000 jappas.”
Actually, it was a lot more complicated than that, but Van got the general idea. He glowered at the poster, then shredded it to pieces. His anger with humanity suddenly returned with a vengeance and he wanted nothing more than to beat the shit out of someone. Until he noticed Dilandu studying him intently. That just made him nervous.
“What are looking at?” he asked the demon.
“I just noticed in this light, that you’re not as dorky looking as I first thought you were.”
Van sighed and rolled his eyes, nervousness dissipated.
“What are you talking about?”
“When you got angry, didndidn’t look so funny. You actually looked kind of pretty.”
“Are all demons as blunt as you?”
“Some.:
“Well, shut up.”
Dilandu flashed him a very rude gesture. Van smirked and returned back down the alleyway, gathering his pack and other weapons. Last night’s fall into the river had ruined some of his things, and even his bag could have looked a little better, but at least his weapons had been spared.
“Come on, lets find some place quiet. The posters might not look much like us, but man many teenagers albialbinos or carry around two swords?” Van said.
“You could just put me back in Escaflowne and get rid of your other weapons, you know,” Dilandu pointed out.
The young man shook his head.
“These were given to me by my father, and I intend to kill his murderer with them.”
“Ch’. You humans are so sentimental,” snorted the little demon.

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They both found a little spot amongst the columns of extremely large temple. It was situated at the top of large mound, with a flight of stairs almost the width of the structure leading up to it. The two fugitives found a nice shadowy spot in the corner, behind a large pillar and under the over hang of the roof. It was one of Pherowae’s temple’s and Van thought it might bring him luck. Dilandu had called him an idiot and absolutely refused to enter the holy shrine, as the experience would leave him weak for several days if he tried.
So they sat and talked, Dilandu refusing to loose that arrogant tone in his voice and Van refusing to care, and watched the world go by in the streets below them. No one had recognized them. Indeed no one had even bothered to look in their direction.
“Think of anything yet?” Dilandu asked.
“No.”
The pale creature gave a long suffering sigh. He was bored beyond belief. He regarded his captor, like he had done for much of the morning and afternoon. His only conclusions about the boy was that yes, he was rather pretty in a human way and no, he was not a complete idiot. He was hardly brilliant, but he was more than your typical plebeian. A sly glint entered his scarlet eyes.
Dilandu stretched a bit and then casual slunk towards Van, who was leaning against the temple wall. The boy tensed, but did not move as he knelt down and pulled in close to him.
“You know, I could fix all of this for you,” he offered.
“How’s that?” the mortal asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Free me.”
“Pardon?”
“Free me. It is the only logical answer. Once I’m free, I will kill Folken on my own. I’ll even do it with your silly family sword. And then you can run off to the middle of nowhere and be the best peasant you can be. Or you can be my servant. I’ve never had a human servant before, but I suppose you would suffice until I can gather my former minions,” Dilandu proposed, with elaborate gestures.
Van looked thoughtful, and Dilandu had already learned this meant he was screwed. The boy only looked ‘thoughtful’ when he wanted to sound polite saying no.
“No.”
There it was.
“Well, why the hell not?” the demon growled.
“There is no end to the list of reasons I could give, so I’ll just give you three. One, I don’t trust you. The moment you have the power I don’t doubt that you’ll kill me- if I’m lucky- or use me as bait for the Strategos. Two, I have to kill him personally to avenge my family and hopefully disprove that ridiculous conspiracy charge. Three, while my
admiration for humanity has greatly diminished in the last month, I have not come to the point where I would willing unleash a mildly psychotic and infinitely frustrated demon boy upon it,” the young hunter explained.
“Who are cal calling psychotic, bird food?!” Dilandu snarled.
Van did not bother answering, instead looking out over the marketplace below with all of its oblivious and carefree people. Seeing that he was being ignored, the albino stormed off to the other side of the temple, scaring passing priest as he did so. The priest made a religious gesture and practically flew into the temple. A short time later he flew back out again with two other priests on his tail, pitching and wailing about demons and the end of the world.
Van was too preoccupied to even notice.

~~~~~~~~

“Demons! Demons!”
“They walk amongst us without fear!”
“The end is coming! The end is near!”
“Demons! Monsters!”
“Woe to the wicked!”
“Repent while you can!”
“Yes! Repent! Repent!”
“Oh shut up! What in the name of all that is holy are you mad coots babbling about?” snarled a highly irritated guardsman.
As with most good sized cities, there were always a few ‘prophets’ running about preaching nonsense about the end of the world and repentance. They were usually harmless and little more than a nuisance. This particular guard by the name of Drover, walked by at least one everyday he reported for duty, and had quickly learned to overlook their harmless fanaticism. However, ‘prophets’ rarely traveled in packs, so when three very excited men in priestly robes came barreling down the streets wailing about demons and the end of the world, it was enough to cause many people to become upset. It was his duty to keep the peace, and while he did not take it as seriously as
most, he did know if he did not do anything he would be held responsible if things got out of hand.
The three elderly priests all turned their clean shaven heads towards him, and he immediately regretted catching their attention. They quickly surrounded him and started their ranting anew.
“I saw it! I saw it! A devil as white as a ghost. He had a child’s face, but his eyes were red! Red as blood I tell you!” the eldest of them ranted, his blue eyes round and dazed.
“Yes, yes! Upon the very steps of our temple to the Goddess Pherowae. This a sign, a sign! The goddess has sent us a warning! A warning!” said another.
“The city is filled with too much wickedness! The Gods of the Light do not have enough power here to keep the demons at bay! The people must repent or we are doomed!” said the third.
“Yes, yes! Doomed, doomed!”
“Repent! Repent while you still can! The Goddess Pherowae is all forgiving! Come forward and be blessed!”
“Repent! Repent!”
“SHUT UP!” ordered Drover.
Their ranting was giving him a headache. He turned his stern, steady gaze upon the eldest priest, who was looking a little sheepish now.
Tell me again, what did this demon look like?” the guardsman demanded.
The priest repeated what he had said. Drover frowned and thought for a moment, then pulled out a piece of paper from his breastplate.
“Is this who you saw?” he asked, showing him the wanted poster.
The eldest priest’s eyes widen and he flailed his hands in excitement for moment before collecting himself.
“Yes, that is it! That is him. At least I think so, this picture isn’t very good you know, but how many demons like that running are around the city?”
Drover’s heart leapt in his chest at the man’s confirmation. He just found out where a demon was. This was the sort of thing that got one promoted to captain, and he was more than willing to take the position as well as the increase in his salary. Quickly, he pulled out the other poster of the dark haired boy.
“Have you seen him, as well?” he questioned.
“No, I don’t think so. But I was so startled I really did not have time to look around. Why? Does this mean the world is not ending?” the priest asked, sounding rather disappointed.
“Of course the world is not ending, you old fool. Now where exactly did you see this demon? Do you think he is still where you left him?”
“He was at my temple, the Quemeer Temple of Pherowae. I don’t know if he’s still there.”
“Alright, this is not the end of world, so stop spreading that nonsense. This is a matter for the law enforcement of this city. We will take care of it. Understand?” Drover said.
The three priest nodded their heads, looking more like a group of chastised children than a holy order. Satisfied, the guardsman quickly marched off to a nearby guards post where he knew some of his colleagues would be taking their break. Sure enough, two young men, thin but strong leaned against a fruit stall. They had their helmets off and were enjoying some green hillibs for their lunch, when they noticed him coming towards them.
“‘Ello, Dover,” said the younger, in his rich southern Austorian accent.
“What’s the matter? You look kind of excited,” asked the elder, his voice smooth as that of a native Palasian.
“Well, you would be too if you knew what I know. I think I have the location of that demon we were briefed about this morning.”
“Wha? Ya’ mean tha one from the poster?”
“Yes, the one from the poster. Who else would it be, you dummy? Now listen, I got an idea,” said Dover.
“Oh, c’mon, Dover, we’re on break.”
“I’ll break you in two, Liam, if you don’t shut up and listen!”
The younger guardsman made to protest, but the elder quickly covered his mouth and gestured for Dover to continue.
“This is my idea. Me and Tobias will go directly to the temple and scout it out, while you go and alert the other guards. When we find the demon, and hopefully the Guilavene kid too, we’ll take them out-’ the scheming man patted his crossbow ‘and when you finally lead the other guards to us, we’ll
have already solved the problem. We’ll be heroes, and in less than a week I’ll bet we’ll be captains too. What do you think of that?”
“Be’in an ‘ero, sounds fun to me,” Liam agreed excitedly.
Tobias did not look so enthusiastic though.
“What makes you think we could pull it off? The kid should be simple, but I’ve never killed a demon before. I don’t know if I’m that skilled,” he said, looking down at his plain standard issue broad sword.
“What’s to know? Shoot him in the heart or take off his head? Demon hunters do it all the time, and they’re not any better than regular soldiers despite what they say,” Drover sneered.
Tobias shook his head and ran a hand through his short dark hair. Drover was getting impatient.
Listen, do you want to be lackey for the rest of your life with a measly paycheck, that’ll get you nothing but a cheap whore and few mugs of beer once a month? Come on, think about it! If we pull this off, we could be captains. You could finally buy a home and marry that pretty little lady with curly red hair I always see you making eyes at. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Take it or leave it.”
Tobias looked more nervous now, weighing the bad and the good and trying to decide if it was worth possible death for the sake of ambition. He sighed.
“Alright.”

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