Lina gathered up the reins and swung into the saddle, her long crimson skirts settling around her legs and the saddle. She tossed her head,, making the curls on her neck dance where they had escaped from the braided coronet her hair had been bound into. Her horse also tossed it's head, it's fiery mane settling against it's neck.
"Ready to go Lady?" Roland asked, his voice slightly awed by the sight Lina and her horse presented.
"Let's go Roland. We should be there by nightfall if we don't stop at all," Lina said and nudged her horse into motion.
Gourry sat, staring morosely into the fireplace at the Saillune palace, his chin in his hands.
Amelia and Zelgadis shared worried looks.
"He really misses Miss Lina," Amelia said softly.
"Who would have thought that he'd be hit this hard by her absence?" Zelgadis asked the room.
Sylphiel came into the room and sighed when she saw Gourry sitting there. She hurried over to where Amelia and Zelgadis stood. "I'm so worried about Gourry dear. He's stopped eating all together," she whispered.
Gourry could hear the conversation between the three of them, but it meant nothing to him. "Lina," he whispered hoarsely.
Lina and Roland galloped across the wooden drawbridge, the hooves of their horses giving off dull 'thunks'as they hit the planks.
A man ran out to take the reins of the horses, backing off when Lina's horse reared and pawed at the air.
Lina calmed the horse and dismounted. "I'll take care of Demon's Blood," she told the olster and led the docile horse towards the stable.
" 'Kor! It's the Crimson Lady!" a scullery maid gasped as Lina passed.
Lina hid a smile and walked into the stable. She unsaddled her horse and wiped her down. She put out some food and water and left the stables. She made her way to the Great Hall and knelt before the dais, her full skirts sweeping the floor. "Your Majesties," she murmured.
"Rise, dear Lady," the king said.
Lina rose from her curtsy. "You had me sent for?" she asked.
The king nodded. "We are under seige. Already, Beaufort and Ballenrose have be taken by our enemy. We hope that you shall be able to reclaim them and defeat the enemy," he said.
Lina nodded. "Who is our enemy?" she asked.
"Your enemy is the Army of Zephellia," the queen replied.
Lina didn't betray her shock. Her face remained the same. "What started this conflict?" she asked.
"Zephellia has decided to expand it's borders and has chosen Ceilo as the place for it's expansion. They have declared war on us," the king replied.
Lina was silent for a moment. "May I send for some help?" she asked.
The royals looked startled.
"You need help?" the queen asked.
"I have travelled with these people for two years and we work well together," Lina replied.
"Then you may send for these people," the king said.
Lina nodded, curtsied again and swept out of the Great Hall.
"How are you doing Gourry?" a voice asked.
Gourry turned around to see Lina sitting on a tree branch, lazily swinging her feet. "Lina! I missed you!" he cried, running over to sweep Lina off the branch and into a hug.
Lina returned the hug. "I've missed you too. But you aren't going to miss me for long," she said.
Gourry drew back, startled. "What do you mean Lina?" he asked.
Lina kissed the tip of Gourry's nose. "I need you and the others to come to Ceilo," she replied. "There's a war and I want people I know I can trust. Get a message to Xellos if you can. I don't trust him, but he's useful. One to Filia as well. We're gonna need all the help we can get."
Gourry nodded. "How will we get there? We don't know the way," he said.
"When you wake up, you'll find a map and a suit of clothes on the chair near your bed. Also, there's a horse in the stables for you. His name is Hikari no Ken. Only you can handle him. Bye for now," Lina said, kissed Gourry and was gone.
Gourry woke up and looked at the chair near his bed. "Looks like we go to Ceilo," he said.
