StarBlade

AN: This was written a while back and posted under my old nick... I'm fixing it up and reposting it here. Hm... Yeah Sooooooo Guess you want me to shut up now.

Here's the story.


Starblade

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Prologue
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Reio heard the fighting going on in the halls near her. They were getting closer to the grand library. The others had made it out. She had made sure of that before she had gone back for the book.

The leather bound tome was not clutched to the silvery haired elf’s chest as she clutched the hem of her long robes, making sure she wouldn’t trip over it. At the moment she knew the book meant more than her life, she just had t o get it out of the library.

According to the book, the Atlantians had crated a safety against their great machine, and had given it to the Elves for safe keeping. Inside the book was a map that told the location of the weapon, she just had to decipher it.

/The humans… If I can get to one of the countries allied with our kingdom… I might be able to get time to find this weapon… The humans have the great machine…/ She slipped into the streets still clutching the book. She was a temple priestess, she should have left with the royal family when the fight first broke out, but she had stayed. Her sandaled feet hit the cobbled street.

Ahead of her one of the invader’s great war machines crashed into a building, blocking her path. Yelping she heard the shouts of the Elven mages casting their spells. Clutching the book closer, she darted down another street.

Reio’s skill with magic was too subtle, war spells eluded her, though, she knew once she got to the woods she’d be able to work her charms. With luck she’d be able to conceal herself long enough to rest a moment.

Another great tower fell. Reio felt the ground shake and glanced back seeing the tower that had been part of the library was gone. Biting her lip she ran faster down the alley. Normally it would take her ten minutes to walk from the library to the outer rim of the Elven city to the forest around it.

Her ice colored eyes scanned the ruined city as she tried to find a way out. She knew that her white robes would make her a target, but hoped that everyone was too busy fighting to watch one lone elf slip away. /Gods, please, let me escape… Let me try to fix things…/ She silently prayed as embers from a fire swirled in her passing. She ignored them, knowing she had to protect the book in her arms.

“Do you want us to catch her?” A soldier asked from where he stood on standby. There were four others in his squad, all of whom were ordered to keep the elves in the city as it was burned to the ground.

“No, let that one escape. Someone has to give a warning about Dornkirk. We’ll let her give the warning, then we’ll kill her.”

A few of the men laughed. “Pity, heard elves were great lays.”

“Never said we wouldn’t make her beg for it.” The leader watched the woman disappear. He had seen the book she carried and hoped that it was the one that they had been sent to find. /Let her find it, and hopefully she can bring Lord Dornkirk down. Would be better if she ran to her people’s masters. Let them know that he’s plotting to hunt them./ For all his talk, the man knew if the army he worked for won, the world would be worse off than it was now.

“Sir?”

“Just thinking. Don’t tell anyone that we let her escape. We wouldn’t want our prize to have to be shared now would we?”

He was glad that he had stayed back. The girl came out of the woods, a book in her arms. Her hair had twigs and leaves stuck in it from where she had fought the brush. Even her once pure white robes were in tatters. Moving quickly the Elf wrapped an arm around her, covering her mouth with his free hand.

“Sister Reio, it’s me.” He whispered, the woman, who had tensed, instantly relaxed. “It’s okay Reio. We’ll survive this. We’ve always bounced back before.” He stroked her hair holding her close as he removed his hand from her face. “You should have gone with the Royal family though.”

“Rean, I… I couldn’t let them take the book. I couldn’t let it be burned.”

Rean yelped as the woman’s knees gave out. Gently kneeling with her, he held her close. /Great, I swear at times she can be such an idiot./ He didn’t say anything, letting her cry. His ears strained to hear anything that would make them need to run. His dark hair fell into cold eyes as he heard her breathing slow. “Hey, no fading on me yet Reio. You still need to do your job. I’ll give you Kitakazi.” He ran his hands through her hair again, soft eyes opened.

“Your war horse?”

“He’s loyal, Reio, you’ll need him. He’s the fastest horse, you have a long way to go. Making it to the mountains with the rest of us isn’t your path. Little messenger, you know what you have to do.”

She bit her lip, but nodded. Rean slid out of his cloak, the soft dark mottled green cloak fell over her shoulders.

“It’ll keep you warm. My saddle bag has an extra tunic. It’ll be a little big on you, but you won’t be noticed as a priestess traveling alone. I know you’re a good rider.”

She looked up at the Elven knight. “Rean, won’t you get cold.?”

“I’ll make it back to the other soldiers.” He gave a small whistle and a black charger stepped out of the woods.

“Stick to the forest. You’ll be fine. Kitakaze will guide and watch out for you. “ He patted the horse’s muzzle lightly. Scooping her up he moved to help her up onto the horse. “There’s rations in the smaller pack, I originally thought to go with you, but, we’d be noticed. You’re safer alone.” He gave a sad smile. “You have two months of rations. I put some gold in there for you too. Enough to pay for lodging for a while. Once you get to a village, buy yourself clothes. Nothing extravagant. You need to blend in. Keep your hair in a loose braid, cover your ear points.”

“But…”

“Reio, trust me on this. People will try to hurt you when they find out you’re an Elf. The humans would at least. I think with your talent, the other races wouldn’t.” He thought a moment. “Hand me the book, I’ll slip it into one of the saddle bags. And here, take this. Don’t show it to man, but if you see any of those who are animal… They’ll take you in.” He pressed a silver medallion into her hands. “it’s the mark of one in tune with the forests. Considering your talent with calling animals, it’s more fitting in your hands.” He patted her thigh lightly as she sat on the back of the horse, looking at it. “Kitakazi, be gentle with her. Protect her with your life, she’ll take care of you. I am trusting you with her life old friend.”

The horse nodded, nibbling at his shoulder and hair, almost as if to tell him not to worry. He knew that they were splitting up, but also knew that he was being charged with a treasure dear to the Elven people. One of their priestesses. Even more than that. She was a healer. Even though Kitakazi had been healed by her once before. As long as the wounds weren’t serious, she was fine.

“Rean… Please, be careful.” She chewed her lip. “We’ll meet again. I, I know it.”

“We’ll see each other soon enough Reio. Go, and be safe.” He smiled as she turned the charger. Smoke had started to filter through the trees. “Go like the wind. Get her to safety.” He smacked the horse spurring it forward.

She yelped, clinging to the back of the horse, not caring where it went, as long as it got her away from the battle. Rean was right, she had to deliver the book.

Reio closed her eyes a moment. “Kitakazi, Fanillia. Take me there. Get me to lady Vairie…”