By the Red Moon Part 24

The news that he had just obtained was certainly exciting. Very exciting, indeed.

"My dear, once again you have proven yourself worthy," he chuckled deeply. Shaking his head in amusement, he asked, "What in the world would I ever do without one as talented and clever as yourself?"

Coming out of her deep bow, Dorothy matched his sinister grin and replied, "I have not even shown my full potential yet, my lord. There are any number of things that I could conjure up with that sample from the prince. However, it will take me time in determining exactly which of those options I want to use."

From the corner of her eye, she could see Treize in his dark uniform watching her as he stood close to the throne as was his usual post. And he was clearly a bit unnerved by her words, of her abilities as he stood there without making full eye contact with her.

Those who fought by the sword always lived by that means of warfare as opposed to magic and spells that they could never understand.

It was a good thing for the sorceress that the Commander was scared of her. That was exactly what she wanted from everyone in her wake- fear and respect for what she could do.

Her hands clasping together behind her back, Dorothy focused back on the dark sorcerer and concluded her report with a shrugged, "Since I can only use the materials from him once, I want it to be used to its full potential."

Waving his hand in the air, Dekim replied, "Well, we certainly have all the time that we wish to take before that would even need to come to play or if it would even be needed once we get close to Prince Duo once again. It is, however, a wonderful thing to have for the future should he prove to be more of a challenge than I suspect he will be."

A smirk tugging the corner of his mouth, the old man looked to his Commander and told him, "In fact, I think that it is time we made a move to let our friends know exactly how close and threatening we are. I believe that you have had men tracking the whereabouts of those fleeing from the north, Treize?"

Lowering his head deeply with a fist over his heart, the soldier replied, "Yes, my lord. As soon as we have word on the closest group to the army, my men waiting and hiding in the wings will attack. That should be more than enough to draw the prince out of hiding."

"Yes," Dekim nodded. "Failure on his part to act will only serve to spread doubt in him. Which I believe he would be smart enough to realize and so he would have to rise into action."

He sat back in his misshapen throne and thought aloud, "As for our minion involved in the strike, I care not for their success or their survival. I simply want the prince to see even more what he is up against. I have seen grown men, soldiers of many years, weep in terror at the sight of our ogres and creatures of the Keeper."

Laughing, the sorcerer exclaimed, "For a boy who has never known of such things, he will be shaken to the core and may even surrender before we would have to put up much of a fight at all!" Both Treize and Dorothy grinned at that thought.

The Commander bent at the waist and vowed, "I will personally see to it that my... men will be ready on a moment's notice, sir." Seeing the sudden change in the tall man's gaze in the way he leered at the sorceress, Treize was fully aware that his presence was no longer wanted.

"I shall take my leave," the army official informed. Turning sharply on his heels, he stepped down from his post and walked past Dorothy to make his way down the long stretch of the throne room. On his way past them, the guards at the doors closed the space off.

At the sound of those heavy doors closing, the sorceress knew what was about to come. It always came about the same way. And it was something that she accepted whole-heartedly when she gave herself to this cause... to this power.

It was just another role for her to play. Something to secure her high standing within the Keeper's graces.

Running a hand over his thickly whiskered chin, Dekim smirked, "Well, darling, the hour is late and my bed tends to be quite cold with only me in it. I could certainly use your company tonight."

'Company' was not the only thing that he wanted, Dorothy knew all too well from much experience. Really, the matters of the flesh meant nothing to her now. Whatever her master wanted he could have. Besides, some of the best kept secrets were always revealed between the sheets.

Without hesitating, the sorceress smiled and nodded, "I will be happy to serve you in any way, my lord."

*  *  *  *  *  *

Hilde applauded her cousin as he and Heero approached following another long afternoon of sword training. As usual, the braided teenager's face and bare chest were damp with sweat as he panted while the Captain hardly showed any sign of exertion.

"Not bad, Duo," the princess grinned widely while handing the knights their canteens that she had filled for them. "You are actually keeping up."

Snorting when he was able to control his breathing again, Duo took several large gulps of cool water from his canteen. "I still have a ways to go before I can put my shirt back on without needing a bath in the river," he replied. Gesturing over to Heero as he finished pulling his blue tunic over his head, he smirked, "Unlike someone I know."

The Captain grinned, "Well, being as good as I am does not happen overnight."

At the monumental, smart-alecky remark, Duo's head fell back with a roar of laughter. "Yea, yea, yea," he snickered, tossing the remains of his canteen at Heero who simply dodged the flying water with laughter of his own.

Giggling, Hilde shook her head, "Speaking of that bath, cousin..." She reached up to cover her nose with an over-embellished nauseated expression. There were a few drops left in the prince's container that she let out a squeak to jump away from just in time.

Duo peered up to the trees on the edges of the opening and called, "You heard the lady, Scythe. Let's go." Shooting out from the highest branches, the black dragon glided down for a smooth landing beside her rider.

"I have to go make my daily update with Odin on the ranks so I will see you both when you return. I do not exactly need to worry about your protection with Deathscythe around," Heero informed as Wing touched down next to him. His compliment to her did not go unnoticed by the black steed as she grinned down at him in appreciation.

Climbing into his saddle, the knight nodded to his friend, "Nice work today, Duo."

Violet eyes widening, the prince waved and smiled widely, "Thanks. I appreciate the help." That said, Heero gently tapped the heel of his foot against Wing's scales and they were airborne.

As soon as they were well out of earshot, Hilde turned to face her cousin and sighed, "Thank goodness. I have been anxious to talk with you alone. I had no idea how difficult it was going to be to catch you without anyone around."

Blinking, Scythe tilted her head at the young woman. "Well, any other humans around. I do not mind your being here for this, Scythe," the princess quickly corrected.

With a snort, the steed lowered herself down onto her stomach. "And here I thought that you were just interested in watching me make a fool of myself during my training," Duo teased with a wink. That earned him a light slap to the shoulder and he laughed.

Hilde remained quiet during the short flight to the river. But the moment Maxwell went down into the water to soak, she sat on the bank with her back to him and began, "I know that the scars on your shoulder are from Dorothy." At the girl's name, there was a particularly bitter bite in the princess' tone.

Pausing in unbraiding his hair with the water at his mid-chest, Duo blinked in surprise at her, even if she could not see it. "Yea," he responded and made quick work of freeing the last of his tresses. "Good news travels fast even here, huh?"

The princess hugged her bent legs against her chest and frowned sadly, "Trowa had told me, himself. However, yes, I have heard other soldiers whispering of the attack since then, so I would have found it out on my own eventually. The woods in this area truly do have ears."

A small grin tugging his mouth at that, the prince began soaking himself and his hair as he waited patiently for his cousin to continue without pressing her.

When she did speak, it was so quiet that he had to strain to catch it over the rushing water. "She never deserved him. Dorothy, Trowa and I grew up together in Epyon's castle and were all close friends. But something about her never really sat well with me. That was especially the case when they began their courtship."

Biting his lip, Duo took a deep breath. He had pretty much suspected that this was where she really needed someone to talk to. Going on chance, he responded, "You really didn't know back then that there was something wrong with her as much as you were jealous of her... am I right?"

Her eyes wide and jaw slack, the princess looked back over her shoulder at him. Raising an eyebrow, Maxwell shrugged in a challenge for her to argue. "I could tell that you had a thing for him when you introduced him back in Romefeller," he commented.

Frowning deeply, Hilde turned her head away again. "Yes, I was jealous," she admitted regretfully. "I still am. My feelings for Trowa have never changed... but neither have his. Even now, he still loves her. I can see it... feel it whenever he talks about her despite how she betrayed us all. And really, he is the one who she hurt more than anyone."

She fell silent, shaking her head as she rested her head on her knees.

Duo made quick work at finishing his back to step from the river, dry himself and change into a fresh set of clothes. Briefly, he noted how the only color of tunics that seemed to be available for him was red. Most likely that was because it actually did help him look a little more regal in a loose top and woodsman pants.

A hand gripping his brush, he padded barefoot to his cousin and sat beside her. Reaching over, he wrapped his arm over her shoulders and pulled her against his side in an embrace. "I'm sorry, Hilde. I really am," he all but whispered as a few tears rolled down her cheeks while she just stared ahead blankly.

"Trowa could use all of the friends that he can get right now," Duo offered. "And I know that you're not going to let this keep you from being there for him. More than anything, that's what really matters."

Sniffling, Hilde wiped at her nose and finally looked over at him. "You're right," she agreed softly. A small, sad smile curled along her face as she said sincerely, "Thank you."

Duo released her shoulders so that he could start brushing the knots out of his damp hair. Focused on his task, he questioned, "As far as how things work here, are there any rules on who a prince or princess can't marry? Wouldn't your parents have a hard time over you being with anyone that was not a prince?"

Both amused and pleased to have to teach her cousin the ways of a royal, the young woman grinned and shook her head, "No, there are no such rules."

She brightened further as she added, "In fact, there are no demands that say that there must be a marriage that would bring about an heir. There have been, and still are some kingdoms with two kings and two queens that bring in the child of a relative as the ones to take the throne when they are gone."

Pausing in his brushing, Duo peered at her from the corner of his eye and smiled, "Really? That's pretty cool." He left the whole subject at that and finished getting out the last snag in his hair to start braiding it.

Hilde smirked and lightly nudged him with a giggled, "Oh? Just 'cool?' For someone who is as captivated as you are, I am surprised that you are not more excited by that news." Eyes widening, she realized aloud, "Or do you really have absolutely no idea...?"

Frowning, Maxwell tied the end of his braid and met her eyes. "What are you talking about?" he asked. 'Captivated?' he thought to himself. How did that fit in with what they were discussing and how did she think he was captivated by anyone?

"And all this time I had thought that only the men in this world were clueless," the princess laughed. From where she looked on some feet away, Deathscythe tilted her head and blinked at the cousins.

Echoing his steed's confusion, Duo opened his mouth to question what Hilde was hinting at when he spotted Nataku and Ingier flying quickly to their location. Getting to his feet along with her, they watched as the beasts landed before them while Wufei and Anna remained in their saddles.

Peering down at his braided friend, the swordsman smiled, "Lady Une and Queen Sylvia have arrived with their armies. We will escort you back so that you may welcome and meet with them as they have both asked for you."

With a deep sigh of relief in hearing that all went well with the journey for the reinforcements and their leaders, he cheered, "That's great! Let's get going, then." Scythe was beside him in that instant and he climbed into his own saddle with Hilde right behind.

Once they were secured, they held back and waited for the knights and their steeds to lead the way through the skies.

*  *  *  *  *  *

A bright smile and tight embrace were given to Duo when he arrived back at camp and descended from his saddle as the greeter chuckled, "Hello, my friend." Those standing around besides the lot that had traveled to Virgo blinked in shock over witnessing the hug.

"Good to see you again Lady Une. I hope that the trip here wasn't too bad for you and your men," the prince replied when he pulled back.

Still the eyes around were staring in disbelief and he snickered to himself at just how dumbfounded the soldiers were that a queen was willing to do away with any formal kind of exchange.

Already having had the chance to talk with the newest arrival, King Zechs and Queen Noin had stepped back and exchanged impressed expressions in seeing just how well their nephew was getting along with another leader.

Taking a deep breath, Une frowned, "It was much better than the journey that you and your friends had. I have heard of your encounter with a demon spawn from black magic. I certainly hope that you are as well as you appear."

Good news certainly did travel fast, Duo sighed inwardly.

Quick to reassure her, he puffed and waved his hand with a nonchalant, "Just a few scratches. Nothing to be worried about." The queen's smile returned at that.

Spotting someone approaching, the braided youth turned his head to find a girl who appeared a couple years younger than himself making her way towards him.

Dressed in a long-sleeved dress of deep emerald that was tied low around her thin waist by a gold-colored twine, her blonde hair was swept back in waves that flowed as she walked. There was no questioning her rank between the golden jeweled crown on her head and the way that those around when bowed when she neared them.

For as young as she was, Duo best guessed a couple of years even younger than he was, he found himself struck by how she carried herself with such confidence and poise.

His mouth curling up in a wide grin, he lowered his head when the girl stopped before him and said, "You must be Queen Sylvia of Libra. I'm Duo Maxwell."

Giggling, the young queen's large green eyes sparkled with wonder as she nodded, "Yes, Duo. I have heard much about you and have been looking forward to meeting you in person. Despite my advisors' urging that I stay in Libra, I was not about to allow this opportunity to pass by."

Slowly raising her head, she looked up at the black dragon behind him. "And already, I am most happy with my decision," she smirked. "You truly are a rare person."

Amongst the crowd gathered around, Mueller let out a bitter snort and turned to leave the audience. Catching the movement from the corner of his eye, Duo muttered to himself, "Always a pleasure to see that guy."

Looking both enraged and embarrassed by her Commander's behavior, Lady Une moved to apologize when the prince raised his hand to stop her. "Don't worry about it," he said, shaking his head. "He'll get over this eventually." Under his breath, he threw in, "I hope."

Odin stepped into the ring that had been formed around the royals and bowed deeply at his waist. "Your excellencies, you both must be quite tired from your travels. I will lead you to your tents to settle your belongings and our staff will have dinner prepared soon so that you may all sit and talk."

More than pleased with that idea, Lady Une and Queen Sylvia followed the Commander with Duo and his family close behind.

*  *  *  *  *  *

"We have a location on the army from our spy, Lord Dekim. As it turns out, we do have our sights on a large convoy not far from them."

Smirking, the sorcerer replied, "Very good, Treize. Have the army ready to move in on my word."

TBC...

 

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