Guard vs. Mage Part 4
"They're sending Maxwell down to negotiate."
The man sitting at the foot of the bed didn't look surprised. "I told you they would do something." He shifted a little and the chain attached to his neck clanked gently.
"I should've said no." The head of the Sand Enclave frowned at his captive. "I thought they'd send that woman of Chang's- not Maxwell."
"It's rather a good thing that they didn't- if your enemies are as determined as you claim-"
"You saw what they did! Do you think I'm lying?"
"You are known for deception." He smiled a little and touched the chain that bound him to the bed. "After all, isn't this a deception? And of your own people too."
Trowa watched as Winner flung himself down in a nearby chair. "My own people think you're a spy. That chain is as much for your protection as it is to soothe them."
"Or you."
"Returning to the subject- when Maxwell gets here- if he gets here at all-"
Trowa smiled. "He'll get here. He's nearly as tricky as you are."
"Fine. When he gets here, you'll be going back with him."
"I will not."
"You've seen the danger here. You proved that you and your enclave were not a part of it. I would've sent you back already, except that it's simply not safe- in more ways than one. If Maxwell is as good as you say, then he can get you out of here."
"No."
"If you think I'm deceiving you, then you should be happy to leave." Winner closed his eyes for a moment, one hand on his forehead. Why was the damn man being so stubborn? Like he needed more to worry about! True, he'd been in worse situations, but this time was different- this time-
A soft touch on his knee interrupted his thoughts. He opened his eyes to find Trowa curling himself up against his legs.
"I am not leaving." Trowa rested his chin on Winner's knee and looked up, his mouth set in a stubborn line. "If you send me away, I'll just come back."
Carefully, he lifted his hand and threaded his fingers through Trowa's hair. "You know why you have to go. It's not safe for you here. And I- if you died because of me..."
He'd lost so many people already. He couldn't lose this one.
"When Maxwell gets here, ask for help."
"I'm the head of the Sand Enclave-"
"And your enclave needs help."
"I know it." Winner sighed. "That's why I don't think Maxwell is going to make it here..."
~*~
"So, first time traveling this way?" Duo turned his head just enough to catch his guard's expression.
"Yes," Heero answered, and Duo mentally gave him points for not tightening his grip as the drake made a graceful turn.
"What do you think so far?"
"I miss my horse."
Duo laughed and patted the drake's neck. "Don't listen to him sweet, he'll come around." The drake snorted, unconvinced. "I know we're a bit high up," Duo continued. "But I thought it best if we stayed out of arrow-range. Just in case."
"Spell range?" The guard asked and Duo awarded him a few more points.
"Shielded. Plus a few air sprites keeping watch. No worries there. It's not a magical attack I'm worried about- it's some farmer thinking Celia here is after his cows."
"Good point. You don't think Winner will try anything?"
"Oh, he'll try plenty- once we're there. Hell, he's already started with that 'staying on his borders' thing. We're not on his lands, so he can't be forced into giving us guest protection. I'm sure we'll be attacked at least once."
Ah, that made the guard's fingers tighten a bit.
"Physically, I assume, because a magic attack could be traced?"
"More than likely- but Winner's tricky. We need to be alert for anything." Duo bit his lip. Damn, he should've come up with a reason to leave his guard back at the enclave. It was one thing to test the new ones, but this... this was a dangerous situation. He didn't want to be responsible for another death...
The drake rumbled faintly and Duo leaned down a little. "Hungry?" He asked and she nodded, dipping her head towards the ground. "Ah, I see it too. All right." The drake headed down as Duo explained: "There's a big open field down there. We can feed her and take a break."
Heero nodded. They'd been in the saddle since dawn and riding a drake was not like riding a horse. He was more than happy to agree to a rest. As they landed, he scanned the field- no sign of anyone around- and it would be harder than hell to sneak up on them here.
Which is why the attack came as such a surprise.
They must've been hidden in the grass, Duo surmised later- shielded and maybe in some sort of burrow- but how had they figured out that they would land in that particular meadow? Unless it was supposed to be an air attack, and when they noticed the drake descending they decided to wait? Or maybe they were simply there to attack anyone heading down towards the Sand enclave?
The moment the drake landed in the field, a mage bolt went off right under her nose. She reared, tossing both Duo and Heero into the grass. The air sprites screamed a belated warning and Duo swore.
"No flame!" Duo yelled at her as he hit the ground, reinforcing the shield over her. One burst of flame in that dry field and they would be in as much trouble as their attackers. "Get down! Next to Celia!" He yelled at his guard as he started his own attack spell, but Heero simply moved closer, sword out and ready.
Two more mage bolts exploded through the air. Duo blocked both and tossed a few more of his own back- one of his attackers went down in a flash of ash- but there was another one to his right.
He missed the one on his left.
Duo felt the spell go off just as he managed to overwhelm the one on the right with an earth bolt. He knew that a blow was coming- knew he wouldn't have time to move- but then, Heero was there, pushing him out of the way and throwing something of his own at the enemy mage.
The force of the attack pushed Duo down on his knees, but he saw that unexpected enemy collapse, a bit of bright silver in his throat. He waited a moment more, wondering if there was yet another one in hiding... but the field was silent.
Damn it, he swore inwardly as he got to his feet. That bolt had to have hit his guard... and Heero hadn't been under the shield... Another one... his fault... he should've expected the attack...
"Are you all right?"
Surprised, he whirled to find his guard, not even remotely singed looking, frowning at him. "Are you all right?" Heero repeated and Duo gaped at him.
"Me?!? You're the one that got hit! Didn't you?" He grabbed the guard by the arm and shook him a little. Not a ghost, not a figment of his imagination. "You weren't shielded!"
"Not exactly."
"What does that mean?"
Heero cast a glance around the field. "If it's all the same to you- I think we need to continue this in the air. Someone is going to come looking for these guys."
"Of course." Duo turned to Celia, soothing her and checking her shield for damage. Heero walked over to the last mage and bent down, pulling his dagger free.
"Hn."
"What?"
"Not a Sand mage."
"Not a Sand mage?" Duo repeated and joined him. Sure enough, the badge on the sleeve wasn't the Sand crest- but one Duo hadn't seen in a very long time. "Crap. So either the Sand mages are much cleverer than we thought- or there is more going on here than it seems."
"Should we head back?"
"Hell no. If this enclave is messing around near Winner's territory, we might be able to strike a deal."
"You don't think they're working for him?"
"Possible- but not likely. These guys don't like anyone. Whichever- we still need more information for Chang. Let's get going."
TBC...
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