Coilsteemer
By: Murasaki
Chapter 7
<Body>X was hanging high above the floor now, looking down on Jesture in fear. The
vampire looked him over, seeing the dried blood in his blue hair. “What’s this?†He
pulled on a lock of the hair and looked it over then waved it in front of X’s face. Jesture’s
eyes were glowing ruby red now. “What is this? Blood?†The druid gave a small nod as it
took a hold of Jesture’s hand in protest. Red Leader let go of X and let him fall to the
floor.
The druid coughed loudly and clutched his throat, gasping for air.
“Explain,†the Darkon leader barked. “I... Fought Marty.†Jesture saw the drying blood
on X’s arm and could tell how big the injury was. The vampire held back his hunger for
blood and spoke. “The Ford child did that to you?†X responded with a nod, still gasping
for air. “Did you kill him?â€
“No,†the druid replied. “Someone else interfered
with the fight. A old man.†Jesture scratched his chin and thought for a moment. He saw
the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. “Eat your dinner then come to the dining
hall for your punishment.†Just as Jesture reached the middle of the staircase he paused
and spoke in a firm tone. “And remember, you are alive because I have foreseen it. That
is the only reason. If you defy me again, death with be your fate.†With that, Red Leader
left the druid to his dinner.
Not too much later, Jesture, or Red Leader as the
Darkons now referred to him, was sitting on his throne in the dining hall. He watched the
night’s entertainment with a small smile on his face. The others has caught a great bear
and caged it. Now they were tormenting it by poking it with sticks and throwing bones at
it. The bear growled
and banged at the cage but didn’t get out. Still, the Darkons teased the bear. Red Leader’s
thoughts were elsewhere, however. The dwelled on his current plan. How he would get
the gem back from Chris Ford and how X would be used to do so.
Something
gently tapped the Darkon leader on the shoulder and he tilted his head ever so slightly
into the shadows behind his throne. A whisper came forth and Jesture nodded. He then
stood up from his throne, his wife at his side still sitting, and spoke in the Darkon tongue.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,†he began. “Well, those of you who can legitimately be referred
to as Gentlemen.†The others chuckled and there was a snicker about how bad a joke that
was. Jesture let that snicker slide, though, as the bear was carted out in its cage. “I have
something to reveal to you.†Now that he had everyone’s attention, including his wife’s,
Red Leader turned to the side and waved a hand to the shadow behind his
throne.
A fair sized figure approached from the shadow, head bowed and
covered by a hood. Hands in the sleeves of the parka it wore. Jesture took a hold of the
figure’s hood and pulled the parka off. There, standing in the light of the torch mounted
on the wall, stood
X, the druid. A few growls were emitted and someone shouted out that Red Leader
should step down as leader for bringing a Coilsteemer into the castle. Although they did
not outwardly fear Coilsteemers, the Darkons knew that the dragon/mortals could very
well get rid of them. “This is not a Coilsteemer,†Jesture told the crowd before him.
“What do you mean he’s not a Coilsteemer? He’s a dragon/mortal,†someone challenged.
“Shut your trap,†another, totally loyal to Red Leader, ordered. “If he’s got a
dragon/mortal here then he obviously has a good reason.â€
Jesture, understand
that those who were challenging him were to drunk to know what they were doing,
nodded. “This is X.†A few chatters arose from the crowd. "He is going
to get our gem back." “Ach! To hell with you’re quest!†One of them shouted, slurring
his words. “I say we eats ‘em!†With a swift flick of the wrist and a show of the eye
embedded within his palm, Red Leader loosened a crackle of black lightning that fried
the challenger where he sat.
The other’s watched as the now black, charred, figure’s hand crumbled, dropping the
flask and spilling the ale. “This dragon/mortal is under my protection. If anyone harms
him or challenges his authority, the punishment will be death.†The others, now a lot
more sober than a moment ago, listened.
“In the morning X will take a group of
our best warriors and begin picking off the Coilsteemers one by one. They are usually in
groups of two to a village and they only
protect the land of Mythal.†X, surprised that Red Leader had not issued a beating on
him, glanced up. He heard the words that were being spoken and under stood each and
every one of them. “X will have the same authority as myself while he and the warriors
are in Mythal. To challenge X will be to challenge me, and that challenge will be met
with unmerciful punishment issued by X himself.â€
“What does this have to do
with getting our pendent back?†One of the crowd asked. “Chris Ford considers the
Coilsteemers to be his family. If we kill them off one by one he
will give in and return the gem.†A grumble rose up from the back. “That’s what you said
twenty years ago, and we still don’t have it back.†“We didn’t have X twenty years ago,â€
Jesture retorted. The others agreed and no more challenges presented themselves. Red
Leader turned to X. “If you do not do get that pendent back, your punishment will be
worse than death.†X gave a slight nod, not wanting to think of what that punishment
could be.</body>