Lina glared across the table the young queen.
Little upstart twit! Lina thought silently.
Flat-chested cow! Amelia growled to herself.
"Can I suggest we all go get something to eat?" Rezo asked ever the diplomat. "How about the Hoof and Horn, the serve an excellent steak....."
"Do they have alcohol?" Naga asked abruptly. Rezo sweatdroped.
Why do I even bother? the Warrior-Priest thought to himself.
"Naga shut up!" Amelia hit Naga upside the head. "There is more to life then alcohol and treasures!"
"There is?" Naga asked wide-eyed. Amelia sighed and hung her head.
"Why do I even bother?" she asked herself silently. Lina's stomach growled loudly.
"Let's go eat! I'm starving!" Lina stood up abruptly and led the way to the Hoof and Horn.
Slyphial Nal Raada's eyes widened in shock when she saw the tall lanky blond walk into the taproom What a hunk! Slyphial, known as Slyph thought to herself.
"Hey Slyph, get me another ale!" one of the more inebriated patrons shouted. Slyph turned around and winked.
"You got it!" she said huskily as she sashayed over to the keg. Slyph poured the ale into a fresh mug and walked over to her table.
"Will that be all?" Slyph asked with a flirtatious grin. Her patron eyed her hungrily. Her close cropped hair curled against her head and her green eyes were filled with mischief. Slyph started to walk past the table when the man grabbed her and pulled her into his lap. Slyph didn't put up much resistance to this behavior because it was quiet normal, but acting coy always brought in more tips. The man tightened his hold on Slpyh's waist and she cried out. Enough was enough; Slyph drew the line at pain.
"He sweeting, how's about you and me walk on up to my room for a private party?" the man's foul breath caressed Slyph's cheek.
"No, let go of me!" Slyph tried to break the man's hold on her but he just squeezed tighter. "You're hurting me! Let go of my you low born son of a jackal!" Slyph whipped around and slapped the men. But this didn't deter him, if anything, it seemed to excite him even more.
"So you want to play that kind of game huh sweeting?" The man's hand dug painfully into Slyph's arm just above her elbow. Slyph cried out and bucked as the man's fingers unerringly found the pressure point there and squeezed down.
"Excuse, but I believe the lady asked you to let go of her." A man's cold voice pierced through the pain filled shroud what covered Slyph mind.
"Stay out of this pup, before I am forced to hurt you." Slyph looked up with clouded grass-green eyes and stared at the gorgeous blond she had seen earlier. The blond man tossed his hair over hi shoulder and drew a finely crafted sword.
"You were saying?" the blond man asked. Slyph's attacker roughly threw her to the ground and drew his own sword. The Hoof and Horn became deathly quiet at the blond man lunged forward. Everyone was so wrapped up in the fight they didn't notice when a group of five walked into the Hoof lead by a petite red haired girl with no chest to speak of. Lina looked over as the blond swordsman easily and effortlessly knocked the sword out of his enemy's hand.
"Whoa he's good." Lina thought and she and Zel grinned at each other. The blond swordsman bent over and helped the girl to her feet.
"Are you okay?" the blond asked somewhat shyly. Lina recognized the girl as the one she usually talked to whenever she came to the Hoof and Horn. Lina really liked Slyph, because if not for divine intervention, Lina could have easily ended up like Slyph.
"Slyphial!" Lina cried as she ran over to her friend. "Are you okay?" Lina looked Slyph over for injuries. A large and ugly bruise was already blossoming on Slpyh's arm. Lina glared over at Slyph's attacker and his cohorts.
"Freeze Arrow!" Lina cried. She would have preferred to Flare Arrow their happy buts to the Sea of Chaos, but the Slayers just couldn't afford the property damage.
"I'm fine Lina." Slyph murmured as she swayed slightly. The blond man supported her. Lina looked up at the blond, his sky blue eyes shone with intelligence and shyness.
"Thank you for helping my friend Mr......" Lina held out her hand
"Gabriev, Gourry Gabriev." Gourry shyly took Lina's hand and blushed all the way up to the roots of his blond hair.
"Well Gourry, I'm Lina Inverse, my friend here is Slyphial Nal Raada. Over there are my friend Zelgadis Greyweres, and Rezo Akoushi, Behind them are Amelia Wil Tessla Seiruune.... A woman who calls herself Naga the White Serpent.
"Ohohohohohoh Lina you silly little thing, that is my name! Ohohohohohoh!" Everyone in the Hoof held their hands over their ears in hopes of drowning out that awful laugh. Lina sighed; it was going to be a long night.
Firia sipped at her tea. In the months she had been here, life had settled into a routine. Firia would cook and take care of the lair while Valgarv would hunt for them Every now and then he would come back with fresh wounds, and because he was only half- Mazuko, his regenerative abilities weren't as strong as a pure blooded Mazuko. Firia heard the scuff of a boot on the floor and looked up with a warm smile on her face. But instead of seeing Val before her, she saw a tall man with glossy violet hair and a dark almost predatory smile on his face.
"Hello and who might you be?" the man asked. He looked human, but Firia could sense the evil radiating form him. "You're a Ryuzoku aren't you?"
"Yes, and you are?"
"Xellos Metallium as your service." Xellos gave a mock bow, and Firia felt her blood turn to ice. This was the Namagomi Mazuko who had almost completely wiped out her entire race single-handedly. Firia hissed and pulled her mace free.
"Namagomi!!!!" Firia charged at Xellos who simply phazed out. He appeared behind her and kicked her. Firia whirled around and Xellos backhanded her. Firia fell to the ground and she blotted at the blood that was form her cut lip. Firia looked up at Xellos with hatred burning in her eyes. Xellos was mildly surprised that the Dragon still resisted him. Xellos took a step forward when he heard a feral snarl.
"Get. Away. From. Her!" Val snarled as he landed between Xellos and Firia.
"Relax Val-chan I am only here to talk to you about something but it appears that you are busy. Hey I pill pay you three thousand gold for your slave."
"Why do you care?" Val asked warily.
"Because I like her sprit, and that makes is all the more fun." Valgarv snarled and Xellos phazed out. Val's scream of rage echoed through the liar. Val walked over to Firia, and helped her to her feet. Val carefully examined Firia's cheek.
"He will pay for this." Val whispered venomously. "I'm sorry Firia, I never thought that Xellos would come here, forgive me, no one should be subjected to Xellos attention, even a Gold." Firia snorted, over the last few month, she and Val had'd countless discussions about which was better the Ancient Dragons or the Golden Ones. Firia laid her hand over Val's hand which was softly cupping her cheek. Val leaned forward, and his lips brushed against Firia's. Val jerked back in surprise and touched his mouth. Val suddenly phazed out leaving Firia confused and hurt in his wake