Ethereal

~Marcie~

I cleared my throat, eyeing the approaching birds nervously.

"Charlotte," I muttered.  "I think it's time to revisit your slaying skills..."

Charlotte drew her sword, but I saw her hands were still shaking from her precarious fall off the roof. Tennin put a hand on her shoulder to steady her.

"I got this," She said through gritted teeth, not looking at him. She faced the fast-approaching birds, raising the sword.

Tennin looked behind him at Ashan with a torn expression.

The birds were coming closer. I could see the glint of their sharp talons, reflected off the castle's walls.

There was a snort from behind me.

"Fear clouds the bravest," came Grebon's mutter. "Fear clouds the golden..."

I turned away from him and looked at Charlotte. Now I could see them--black veins of Fear, winding their way through her golden glow. They were growing, moving in time with her heartbeat as she stared at the birds.

I stepped forward, and without thinking, put a hand on her shoulder.

She turned to look at me and I smiled, as the blackness slid from her onto my arm.

She grinned back suddenly, and her aura sprang to life. She turned back to the birds, a sly smile crossing her face as she raised her sword again.

I stepped back, cupping the Fear in my hands and hastily forming it into shapes in my hands. It snaked tendrils up my arm, but I brushed them back and kept shaping it, making it into a clay that I could bend to my will.

I had no idea what I was doing.

I looked up when I heard another screech. The first bird reached Charlotte. It was the size of a large dog--it's feathers were the red of dried blood, and it had wicked silver talons and a dark beak that snapped and screeched at her.

But Charlotte stood perfectly still, smiling, and the bird circled around her and dived suddenly.

His head was gone in a flash.

I blinked, unsure of how I had missed it. Charlotte's sword was still at her side, only now it was stained with blood. She had swung so fast that it was over in a second.

Then the next bird dived, and this time she plunged the sword straight through it's heart--it stuck there, like a limp doll, until she shook it off, dropping it onto the ground, discarded.

As I twisted the Fear in my hands, I watched the birds plan their strategy and I paled.

They were all circling now, creating a tornado of wings, all spiraling down towards my friend.

The first bird stretched out it's wicked claws--

--and she laughed.

Charlotte laughed, and began her dance. It was a slicing, graceful, deadly dance that left the ground littered with feathers and carcasses. Her sword was an unrecognizable blur, moving so fast I couldn't see where she ended and the birds began--there were so many, that as they swirled around her I lost sight of her completely.

"Charlotte!" I made to move forward but someone put a hand on my arm. I looked up to see Tennin, staring intently at Charlotte, making no move to save her.

"We have to save her!" I said angrily, shaking him off.

"No, he said, grinning. "She's saved herself."

I watched Charlotte come into view and saw the truth in those words. She was standing on a pile of fallen bodies, taking no notice of the dead but laughing in the face of those who attacked her. I squeezed the fear anxiously as a bird got dangerously close to her.

Charlotte simply swung her sword in one light movement, and it was cut in half.

I breathed a sigh of relief, and then looked down in surprise as I felt something squirming in my hands. I grinned when I saw what shape the Fear was now--and idea sparked, and I set about shaping it intently.

I heard a whoop, and looked up to see Ashan running up to a triumphant Charlotte. Tennin was already standing next to her, taking her face in his hands and turning it this way and that to see that she was unharmed.

And that was when I looked back down at my hands.

I grinned, as the Fear sat up and stared at me, blinking it's black eyes.

"Hey Charlotte," I said, holding it up to her. "Face your Fear."

She took one look at it and smiled widely, running towards me and taking it in her arms.

"Awwww," We said together, as the black cat curled itself in her arms.

"And what a cute face Fear has,"Charlotte said, scratching her under her chin. The cat purred and swished it's tail.

"Where did that come from?" Tennin said warily.

Ashan looked at me and grabbed my hands. The last traces of energy still swirled around them.

"It seems like our Seer is doing more than see..." He murmured.

Charlotte looked up at me.

And just then, she collapsed.

"Charlotte?" Tennin and I said as one. I ran over to her and Fear coiled itself around her head, mewling pitifully. I bent down and lifted her head--her eyes were drifting shut.

"Oh no," Tennin muttered.

As soon as I saw the dart on her back, I felt a sudden pinch in my spine, and I fell forward into darkness.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When I woke up, my hands were tied behind me and I was standing up against a pole.

"How original," I muttered, twisting my hands around behind my back. I looked around and saw we were in a clearing. Here, the dead trees towered above us, and the ground underfoot was gray with fallen, deteriorating leaves. I wondered when the last time anything living had been here.

To my right, Tennin was standing bolt upright, staring straight ahead. On the other side of my Charlotte was still unconscious, her head lolling to the side. Ashan was next to her.

I looked around for Fear, but the little creature was nowhere to be seen. I did notice a thin black line, almost like a spiderweb, trailing from Charlotte into the forest, and I had a feeling the cat was close by.

"This is incredibly insulting," Tennin muttered under his breath. I looked over at him and he stared ahead, at a ring of tents a few feet from us.

"No more than you deserve," came a voice.

Risun stepped out from behind one of the tents, accompanied by ten or so guards, all carrying crossbows. "I see you two are already awake."

He glanced at me for a moment, then proceeded to Charlotte. He tilted her chin up and put something from a small, brilliant blue bottle to her lips. She shuddered and coughed, and Tennin made a strange noise.

Risun stayed in front of her as her eyelids flickered open. He bent down to stare into them intently, searching her face. Then he took her hair in his hands and ran his fingers through it, studying it.

He looked over at Ashan and then stepped back, to stroll in front of Tennin. Charlotte coughed again.

"We sahll leave the Prince sleeping for now. His fate will be the same whether he hears it or not. And as for you, Sar Tennin, the Order has revoked your position. I am now second in command to Master Arin, and the Koreask is now under my care." He looked down at Tennin condescendingly. "If not for the King's orders, you would be dead."

"Haven't heard that before," I muttered.

Risun glanced at me. "Oh no, young Seer. We still have much use for you. You have Prince Dominiv to thank for your life--his information on your fates--" he nodded at Charlotte. "--Is what led us to capture you alive. Believe me," he said, walking over to Charlotte and tilting her chin up in his hands. "We have much worse weaponry than the Lorsin birds."

"And that's why we're here in the nice, cozy palace." I said. "Because your weapons were certainly enough to drive out a band of ratty hobos."

Risun's eyes blazed. "Careful, girl. I'm sure the Koreask would work just as well without you. You are only alive as a precaution."

"And these two are alive because..." I nodded my head at Tennin and Ashan.

"The King--"

"You said King," I stared at Risun.

Charlotte lifted her head. "The Order places no importance on titles. Why would you use the old names?"

Risun opened his mouth, but it was Ashan's voice that spoke.

"Murderer..."

Risun laughed, and turned to Ashan. "So you have finally recognized me? I wondered if you were growing old. It is not I who dwells on the past. Indeed, Ashan Rei Chorosin, it is you who must forget your place. I myself have moved on from that particular incident."

Ashan's gaze burned through Risun. "It is impossible to move on from the slaughter of thousands. You are a liar--my father would never forgive you. He could never forgive Descar-Dran."

I looked up at Risun suddenly. His hair was such an unnatural white color, and his eyes were a pale, faded blue.

"Descar-Dran is readying it's ships," I murmured. Tennin looked at me sharply.

Risun met my gaze and I stared at him. Taking in his dark tunic, and fine white cuffs. His perfect hair.

"You're not from the Order at all," I said slowly. "You were sent here...to retrieve the Koreask."

Risun laughed. "And how strange it is, that one not of this world would be the one to discover my ruse. Although, I suppose it does not matter now. You are all in my possession." He walked down the line of posts, looking at each of us triumphantly. "To be honest, I only pretended to be part of the Order so that you would come quietly." He trailed a finger down Charlotte's cheek, smiling. "Stubborn, though. And I suppose I underestimated the true...loyalty...of your guards..." He fixed Tennin with a penetrating look.

"It would help if you at least looked like one," I added, looking pointedly at Risun's fancy outfit.

He smiled. "I am far from worried. You will come quietly with me back to the ships, in the morning."

"How can you even tell?" Charlotte blurted out, voicing a question that had bothered us for some time.

"It's morning when the hobos of Gralad stop patrolling the area," I said, fixing Risun with a knowing stare.

"Speaking of, where is Grebon?" Charlotte looked around.

I sighed. "Stupid, slimy bastard must have slunk off whilst you were doing all the dirty work."

Risun raised an eyebrow. "The ladies of your world certainly have deteriorated in eloquence."

"Oh please," I said, rolling my eyes. "I would kill you in a swearing contest."

"I know not what this competition is, but it is unnecassary and frivolous," Risun said. He turned to his guards. "Take them to the tents."

At that moment, Charlotte jumped towards Risun in a blur. I looked over at her post and saw the broken remains of the rope, and a happy Fear cleaning her teeth.

Charlotte was right in front of Risun when she reached for her sword. I saw a second before her that it was missing.

"Oh please." He took her arm and twisted it behind her back. Fear hissed and stalked towards him.

"And take her," he said, nodding towards me. The guards untied my hands and carried me roughly after Charlotte and Risun.

"Can't have you two with your beloved bodyguards," He murmured in Charlotte's ear. He turned and nodded at the other guards, and I didn't see where they took Ashan and Tennin because we ducked inside a tent.

Charlotte strugged in Risun's arms, and he shoved her inside the tent. The guards that held me pushed me in quickly, and tied the door shut.

The tent was made of thick animal skins, bound to the ground with thick metal stakes from the outside. We walked around the inside for a moment, searching for a way out.

Charlotte sat down with a sigh, pulling up a tuft of dead leaves and letting them fall through her hands. "I suppose....now we wait."

There was a purr from the shadows in a corner of the tent, and Fear padded up the Charlotte, rubbing her head against her leg. Charlotte picked her up, surprised. "How did you get in here, little one?" She murmured, stroking her fur.

I walked up to Charlotte and reached out a finger to touch the thin strand connecting the two. "I have a feeling this little kitty is not quite as corporeal as we think."

Charlotte looked down at Fear for a moment. I sat down next to her and looked at her expression--her eyes were worried.

"What do you think they're going to do to Tennin?" She mumbled.

"Nothing," I said, putting an arm around her. "They have direct orders from Mr. High-and-mighty King."

Charlotte gave a weak smile and looked down at Fear, petting her thoughtfully. "And Ashan?"

I laughed. "He can certainly handle himself."

Charlotte looked up at me, smiling a little wider. "Sounds like you really like him."

I stared at her for a moment, and then I bent over, laughing to myself. When I looked up, Charlotte was looking at me with a confused expression.

"What is it?"

"Ashan," I said, shaking my head and giggling. "And me."

Charlotte quirked an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"

"The idea." I stopped laughing for a moment and stood, pacing the tent. I twirled sparks of energy around my fingertips thoughtfully. "Sometimes, Charlotte, I think you forget what is important."

She looked hurt and said quickly, "What do you mean."

"We've been kidnapped. Kidnapped from our kidnappers." I gestured around us. "You don't seem to realize that all we've been doing this whole time is acting like something to be traded. You're like a treasure, that everyone's fighting over, and yet we can't do anything for ourselves." I sat down again and looked at her. "Don't you remember how long it took Tennin to call you by your real name? To them, you are simply hope, a Champion. Not a real person. Something that they desperately want for themselves, to prove something, for honor or glory." I leaned back and sighed. "Especially our fallen Prince. And anytime we let ourselves forget what we are to them, they'll take advantage of us." I looked at Charlotte pointedly. "Ashan is not a love interest. He is my captor."

There was a strange sound from behind us, and the tent shook. Charlotte and I turned around and saw a hole appearing in the wall. The thick animal skin fell forward, and dust shot up into the air.

I waved it away and squinted through the hole. There was Tennin, sitting behind Ashan, who was holding a small dagger.

And staring at me.