For Sharon- A bit of Guard vs Mage- I couldn't get all the GoT refs I wanted in- but I am sure the next part will have more!

Guard vs. Mage Part 9

Heero waited until the mage's breathing evened out. It didn't take long. As he'd already pointed out, Duo had been exhausted before he'd started spell casting. After wards he'd been too tired to argue when Heero had insisted that Duo go get some rest.

Leaving the door ajar, Heero left the bedroom and seated himself in front of a small mirror that hung on the wall of the room Duo had been using for an office. Grasping the pendant that hung from his neck, he touched it gently to the mirror's surface.

His reflection vanished and a familiar image growled at him. "It's a little late for socializing."

I wish this was socializing, Father, but I have a message for you from the Sand enclave."

Sand enclave? Didn't I tell you to apply at Forest? Don't you ever listen to your old man?"

I'm working for Forest, we're here assisting Sand." Heero decided to abridge things a little. "It seems that Lake is returned- and they are attacking Sand."

His father's expression darkened. "What?"

Sand sent a messenger to you-"

No messenger ever reached here. Are you sure that it's Lake-?"

We were attacked on our way here by assassins wearing Lake badges. The leader of Sand says that he thinks it's one of their old teachers- his old mentor-"

Ah," his father frowned. "That would explain some of the things that have been happening here as well." He was silent for a moment, then he gave Heero a thoughtful look. "How good are you?"

At what exactly?"

His father waved a hand in the air. "This whole warrior- body guarding- waving a sword around- fighting business. You know-?"

Well, I am still alive."

Good point."

The thing is- I had a feeling something like this would happen after we crushed Lake the first time. So I left something there- a little bit of insurance. But it can't be discovered or activated by someone with magic- and it needs someone that it recognizes. For example- someone that shares blood with me..."

Heero could already see where this was going. "You couldn't just be simple with this, could you? What does it do?"

Well, if Lake is being a problem again, it would solve it. It should eliminate any bad magic users in the area. But any friendly magic users can't be in the area either- my insurance doesn't discriminate."

And what if Lake has some non-magic users around?"

Well, that's where the you being good at your job comes in. I'm sure they will have a few- plus we've gotten a few reports of some other nasty non-magical things there."

Like what exactly?"

Direwolves, some undead, a large tentacled nasty something in the lake itself."

Heero sighed. "Sounds fun."

If you'd taken my advice, you'd be a ranger up north now instead of having to do something like this. Guarding a wall would've been easier."

Repressing the urge to roll his eyes, Heero took a deep breath. "Can Sand and Forest count on you for help? Just in case I don't succeed?"

Of course. Do they have a plan of attack?"

Not yet. They're working on it."

Knowing how the enclaves operate, you'll be there and back again before it's decided on."

Just tell me how to trigger your spell..."

~*~

Heero stood in the doorway, watching Duo sleep. What should he do? He couldn't take Duo with him- his father's spell would hurt his mage. But he had a feeling Duo wouldn't want to stay behind... and he had an obligation to protect Duo. He was supposed to be Duo's bodyguard after all.

Course, taking out an enemy enclave would technically be protecting Duo... but it would leave him here unprotected... he could possibly get Winner to assign someone to Duo- but how safe would that be?

What should he do?

~*~

Duo rolled over and frowned. There was something rough under his cheek, and when he reached up to bat it away he heard the soft crinkle of paper.

What?

Blinking, he sat up, noting the amount of light streaming into the room. He'd slept for quite a while. Why hadn't his guard woken him up?

There was something... off. Something... new. What was it? It teased the edges of his consciousness, but he couldn't put a finger on it. He shook himself and his attention was caught as a piece of paper slid off of his pillow and towards the floor. He snatched for it and smoothed it out.

Mage Maxwell,

I contacted my father as requested. He agreed to assist Sand and Forest as long as I agreed to perform a small task for him. I left early this morning after speaking with Lord Winner who graciously assigned one of his own bodyguards for you during my absence. I should be back in a few days.

HY

Duo's brow wrinkled. He scrubbed a hand over his face and reread the note. What the hell sort of task required leaving so quickly? What sort of game was River playing- and was Heero in on it?

Sliding out of bed, he ran a hand over the back of his neck and paused- what the hell? His fingers had caught on a chain- a very familiar chain with a very familiar ax shaped pendant... why the hell had Heero left this with him?

He had a very bad feeling about this...

 

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