a tale of finding inner peace( mature )

the 3 followed her Wolf looked at Devlin."this doesnt seem right" he thought to himself. they ot closer to the cave entrance Vieri moced in closer."the boy seems like he is guilty of somethin...just alittle" he whispered to her

Leila nodded.

I did note his strange behavior... One would think he would have mentioned his lover being kidnapped first. We'll be on the safe side. Have him lead us in.

She glanced at Wolf and nodded once.

Wolf jumped of the horse and looked in the cave. he noticed some odd and made his way inside. Devlin looked away getting out a cross and chanting a prayer. Vieri walked over to him but then was attacked by a lilzardman. more and more kept crawling down the hillside Wolf was lunged out of the cave, in what seemed to be white flames that created a circle around him. just as the lizard slowly enveloped Vieri, Balthazar walked out of the cave. Wolf gripped his arm in agony. Balthazar stopped liela from getting close to him."Unless you want to burn alive...dont go near him." he smirked devilishly

Leila's eyes were wide, full of fear. Not queen-like and serene at all, Leila jumped from her horse and flew up into the air.

Wolf!!


Her voice was full of pain. She didn't know what to do. She started flapping wildly, trying to conjure up a strong enough wind to put out the flame. The fire that engulfed Wolf just barely flickered. She got closer and flapped harder. The flame subsided but would not go out. The pain on wolf's face drove her to flap her wings until her back ached. She would not have him die. The flame was almost out now...

"I order the spirit wthin...to unleash his bottled fury...rise from this vessel...and destroy once-" Devlin plasted him with a flame of his own. Vieri started to break out from lizardmen. Devlin looked at leila."I'm so sorry...he threatened to curse my fiancee and me...I was scared...thats why I lured you here...there was no attack...I'm sorry" he got out a knife and slit his hand, blood started to drop."Leila...stope him...thats demon magic he is using...it will kill him" Devlin's eyes turned a shade of red."your torment starts here" Balthazar back away from the kid. Devlin conjured a sphere of dark red energy. it pulsated violently

Leila swooped toward him, anger in her eyes.

You are one confused kid.

She knocked into him and grabbed his arm, lifting him up into the air with her.

Stop this now, Devlin! You don't have to do Balthazar's bidding! Let me deal with him!

Devlin started to shuffle."let me go!...I'm gonna kill balthazar!...I should have just took that curse like a man...instead I was a coward...just let me go!" he shouted. Vieri broke from the lizardmen, drawing his sword out quickly."now lets see you try that once more!"

Leila grasped Devlin's other arm. His struggling was conflicting with her flight pattern.

Cut it out! You're going to make me crash. No, I am not letting you down here. I'm sorry but I can't trust you.

She flew to a high mountaintop far from the battle and set Devlin down there.

Now maybe you won't get in the way.

She took off again and flew back to the battle, landing beside Wolf. She tried once more to put out the fire.

Vieri killed the last of the lizard men, he was out of breath."must be my old age" Balthazar blasted him with a sphere of dark energy."now leila...dont fight a losing battle...your lover will become my puppet..." he grabbed liela but quickly let go."what!...your!....ha...doesnt matter" the flames around Wolf subsided."take your husband...your already developing somethin more valuable...its in your future...this vision wasnt years ahead like some" Balthazar turned around and walked off. out at the gates. Devlin looked around getting angry." I need to get back...wait" he draw an arcane symbol on the floor, and chanted in the center, dissappearing. Devlin appeared and looked around."where is he?" he asked filled with rage

Leila was terrified as Balthazar grabbed her with a steel grip and relieved when he let go of her. No way could she fight him off on her own...

What does he mean by that...? Something more valuable...?

Her brow furrowed but she was quickly distracted by Wolf's moans of agony.

Jackal! I need you to take care of Wolf.

Suddenly a bright light startled her and there was Devlin standing behind her.

You are a persistent child. I thought I took you away?

She shook her head.

Very well. But if you are going to be here, then you are going to assist me in taking out Balthazar.

She drew her sword and held it with both hands, turning to face the towering man in the black cloak.

Balthazar! You better be prepared to die. Because I will not stop until you are eliminated.

Balthazar turned around. his face was a stoic expression"before you kill me...you should realise...that my vision was just below a year from now...you and Wolf...holding...a "bundle" of life...you should be careful...many shadows will be stalking "Him"..."Balthazar turned around closing his eyes."finish me" Devlin looked at Leila."let me have please...I never wanted to betray you...let me make it up to please!" Devlin said his words filled with guilt and anger

Leila looked at him skeptically but nodded her consent.

Alright... Go for it.

She sheathed her weapon and went to be at Wolf's side.

Devlin waved his hand over his gauntlet, to which the metal stretched out into a fine blade. Balthazar grabbed him and whispered somethin in his ears.Devlin grabbed him and threw him to the ground, stabbing him crazily, hurling insults to him all the while. even when balthazar gave out his last breath he still carried on, blood was all over him. Wolf slowly opened his eyes

Balthazar's blood splattered Leila. She didn't notice. She held her breath as her love slowly opened his eyes.

Wolf? Oh Wolf! I was so worried about you!

She cradled his head in her lap and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Her wings fluttered with her heartbeat.

Vieri went over to Devlin, he grabbed his arm."kid...its over...he is dead" Devlin didnt fight as Vieri lifted him up

Wolf smiled."what happened....and why does it feel like 100 degrees"he said as he held his head.Devlin didnt speak, he looked as if he didnt want to live. Vieri looked at him."my lady...what about the boy."

Leila touched a cool hand to Wolf's forehead. She looked up at Vieri and Devlin.

I am sure Devlin has learned his lesson about lying to a queen. Bring him back to the palace with us.

She helped Wolf up onto her horse and hopped up in front of him, grabbing the reins.


Let's get back.

Devlin followed them as they made their way back to the palace."I take it was an ambush..."Wolf smiled and kissed leila. Devlin didnt talk but looked down most of the way."I shouldnt have bargained with him...now theres nothin I can do" he thought to himself.

Leila grinned radiantly as her love kissed her. She returned his kiss with a passionate kiss of her own, thankful that he was alive and well. She spotted Devlin looking contrite.

Well at least he is sorry for what he did.

As they came up on the city gate, Leila slowed her horse to a steady walk. They weren't far from the palace now. She led her horse through the crowded streets carefully, so as not to injure anyone.

Devlin jumped off his horse, giving it to the stable master, he looked around to which Vieri moved closer to leila." pardon me my lady...maybe it would a good idea if you...talked with Devlin...he seems distraught at the past events. Wolf looked at leila."I would gladly take the horse back if you want me to" Wolf smiled at leila lovingly

Leila glowed as Wolf looked at her. She kissed him softly.

Thank you, love. I'll be along in a while.

She hopped down from the horse and approached Devlin.

Come along, Devlin. Let's talk for a while.

She led him up a tree lined garden path.

Devlin nodded and followed her. he didnt for awhile but he looked at her."whats my punishment?...I did lure the queen in a trap" he said with a depressed tone

Leila shook her head.

I think you've beaten yourself up enough. What I would like to know is what else is bothering you. You were very quiet on the way back and I sense a disturbance in your spirit. What's going on?

he looked at Leila and back down to his feet."after you saved me...I went back home...a small country called liore...I joined the liore crusaders...we ambushed a lizardmen raid...my squad was nearly wiped out...I was about to die...but Balthazar...he spared me, only to place a curse on my love...if I ever broke my code...her soul would wander aimlessly...I...I should have died" he said a tear dropped from his eye

Leila blinked once, astonished.

But now that Balthazar is dead, the curse should be broken... Right?

She cringed as she feared the worst.

he shook his head."I wish...my code was not to put my love in any danger and not to betray her trust....I...I did both...Balthazar's curse can last forever..if I dont break it." he looked up."thats why I started to study sorcery...and other arcane arts...I was always a Alchemist...I shouldnt really be studying the arts...but what choose do I have?" he took out a pendant."she was murdered...and I fooled around...with someone else" he admitted looking away in shame