Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Majesty ❯ Chapter 17 ( Chapter 17 )

Authoress' Notes: It's been a while…I know. This chapter I had some trouble with. It was one of those intermediate, has-to-happen, on-the-way-to-the-real-good-stuff sort of chapters that required effort because I didn't want to bore you all. ^__^U Anyway, here it is! Finally…

Warnings: Yaoi, language, violence, lemons, dramatic angst, etc. Need more? Too bad, `cause there isn't any! Rated R - NC17.

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade or anything to do with it. Only this fic and its OC's (if any).

Pairs: TyKa, ReMa, Hilary/Tala, Lee/Mariah, others to be decided.

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Chapter 17

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Kai awoke slowly the next morning, feeling warm and content with Tyson surrounding him under their shared blankets. The bluenette was spooning the phoenix from behind Kai, one arm curled around Kai's waist, one leg slipped between Kai's and tangled with his, and his face buried against the back of Kai's neck. The crimson-eyed prince could feel his lover's breath flutter evenly over his skin as he breathed.

The only problem was that Kai was a bit uncomfortable. The ground wasn't exactly a soft mattress, after all.

And what the hell was poking him in the back, anyway?

Kai shifted away from the object slightly. Or at least he tried. Tyson's arm tightened around his waist and the phoenix heard a muffled mutter of annoyance near his ear. Sighing, the captive teen tried rolling over instead, so he could at least face his lover - and see what was protruding into his lower back and along his spine. Somehow he managed it, without disturbing Tyson very much.

What the…? A sword?! Where did this come from? Kai blinked owlishly at the gleaming, glossy obsidian blade between himself and the dragon. It's not even a real one. Hn…very nice craftsmanship, though. Looks kind of ceremonial or something. I wonder where it came from… Reaching toward it, he drew a fingertip along the smooth, flat side of the sword. Immediately he felt a curious burning sensation tingle over his skin, and the blade glowed red softly. Kai's eyes widened and he took his hand away. The glow stopped and the weird sensation ceased.

Fascinated, he did it again. And again. And again…until he noticed Tyson stir, open his sleepy, stormy eyes and begin to purr as their eyes met.

"Good morning, my love." The bluenette whispered in a husky voice. "Having fun playing with that?"

"Good morning. And I was not playing with it. I was…experimenting." Kai sniffed indignantly, a small swath of red painting the bridge of his nose. "Where'd this thing come from, anyway? And what's it for?"

"Uh…you're not going to believe this, but…" Tyson explained about his dream to Kai. The prince stared at him silently for a moment.

"You're serious?" He said eventually.

"Very. I know it's hard to believe, but it's the truth."

"Huh. Well, if you say that's how it happened, then I believe you." Kai smiled at little and traced Tyson's features with a fingertip, flicking away a lock of blue hair from his eyes. "You're going to need something to carry that with."

"I'm sure Max can come up with something." Tyson replied, confident that his best friend would have an idea or two. "I guess we have to get up, huh?"

Kai glanced up at the sky, which was just beginning to turn a hazy blue as the sun rose. "Yeah. We'll wake up Max and Rei, get Tala and Bryan back over to the fire, and make a quick breakfast."

"Sounds good!"

"But first…" Kai slid his fingers into Tyson's hair and leaned in to press his lips to his dragon's softly. Tyson sighed and his eyes drooped heavily, raising a hand and placing it against Kai's cheek as they kissed one another leisurely. After a long moment, they broke apart and reluctantly sat up.

Kai went to find Tala and Bryan (who had had the last watch), while Tyson woke up Max and Rei, then went about stoking the fire up once again so they could make breakfast.

After everyone had eaten, cleaned up, and packed up, the group started off on another day of travel.

Dranzer flew along high above their heads while Dragoon took the typical, lazy route and rode curled around his descendant's shoulders and upper body.

To the royal couple's surprise, Driger and Draciel also tagged along. Driger had transformed into a small, white tiger cub and jogged alongside Rei as he ran. Draciel rode comfortably in the hood of Max's travel cloak in a miniature version of her tortoise form.

They rode on for a full day, and as the sun was beginning to set, the group reached the border lands between Oceanus and the Empire.

"Well?" Tala looked up at his cousin from beside Kai's horse. "What do you think?" They were observing the border from a safe distance away, hidden by a grove of trees and bushes. Kai eyed the soldiers wearing Imperial uniforms.

"Border patrols." Kai gave an indelicate snort. "Wonderful. This is where we snuck across before, and there just aren't that many places to do that between Oceanus and the Empire, what with the river and all…"

"Yeah. So do you have any ideas?"

"Not really. Short of going over there and picking a fight, the only other options we have at this point are to either go way out of our way and see if we can find a ferryman willing to take us across the river somewhere to bypass the bridges…"

"Or we wait until it's dark enough and try to sneak through between patrols?" Tala guessed. "Risky either way."

"You got it." Kai sighed and glanced at Tala. "What do you think?"

"If it were my decision, I'd wait until dark. I don't think any of us want to waste time running up and down the border just to avoid confrontation." Tala replied.

"I was kind of thinking that, too." The crimson-eyed prince agreed. "Let's go back to the others and see what they think."

The redhead nodded and snickered quietly.

"What?" Kai glared at him, turning his horse and nudging him forward.

"You can't make a decision on your own anymore? You have to discuss it with your better half?"

"I do not! I'm just being courteous! The others are along for this fight of their own free will and so they will make the decision to follow or not for themselves…"

"Okay! Okay! Don't get your bow in a twist, cousin. I'm just teasing." Tala held up his hands and waved them hastily at the deep scowl the prince was giving him. "Boy, you're sure touchy today."

Kai looked away and grumbled, "Sorry. I guess I'm a little on edge." Tala just gave him a look and jogged on ahead through the trees to where the others were waiting.

"Welcome back, guys." Max greeted them. "So how'd the situation look?"

"It's going to be tricky." Tala informed them, patting Wolborg on the head when the white wolf came up to him, wagging his tail. "Hey, pal."

"Kai? What's the situation?" Tyson asked as the prince rode up beside him.

"Border patrols. I figure they rotate, riding up and down the border, so that there's always at least one patrol group at any one place - with maybe a few minutes between." Kai explained. "If we wait until dark, and we time it right, we may be able to use those few minutes to sneak across the border."

"Otherwise," Tala added. "We'd have to go out of our way, move toward the river, and try to find someone willing to ferry us across - and we'd probably still have to get past the patrols."

"Fabulous." Rei growled an expletive under his breath. "Either way we'll risk confrontation."

"Exactly."

"Then we might as well just try to cross here." Bryan put his vote forward. "It seems to me that right where we are is the best place with the least amount of risk. I mean, if we tried the river, there's too much chance that if we ended up fighting any patrols, someone could get shoved in the water and swept away or something. The currents are strong and the waters deep."

"I agree with Bryan." Tyson sighed. "Less risk to the horses, too."

"Is everyone agreed then?" Kai asked. Max and Rei nodded and Tala yawned.

"Doesn't really matter to me, either way, cousin. I'm ready for whatever comes."

"Hn." Kai grunted. "Let's just settle down right here for a while then. We'll eat, rest up some, and wait for dark." He got down of his horse and tied the reigns to a tree branch. Then he looked up and let out a whistle, calling for Dranzer.

A shrill cry answered and seemingly out of no where the beautiful firebird descended from the skies, swooping in to land on Kai's offered forearm. Tyson dismounted and left his horse with the prince's, joining his lover.

"Hey, Dranzer! Have a good flight?" He inquired, smiling when she cooed at him. Kai stroked her feathers fondly in greeting.

"We're resting here until dark, Beautiful." Kai told her when she gave him an inquiring look. "We'll sneak past the border patrols then, but I was thinking it would be a good idea to have a destination in mind so that we can go there immediately instead of just riding around in the dark blindly." He stopped speaking when a light purr issued from the Dragon God curled around Tyson and Dranzer looked at him., answering with a questioning trill. There was a flash of light and Dragoon suddenly stood beside Tyson in his human form. Dranzer gave a final squawk and launched herself back up into the air from Kai's arm, flying off.

"Dranzer went to scout out a hiding spot for us. I told her to keep an eye out for any dragons that might still be in the area because they would know of any good spots to hide." Dragoon explained.

"Oh. Okay." Tyson shrugged. "Are you hungry, love? I could use a bite to eat." The bluenette clasped Kai's hand in his own, linking their fingers, and tugged him toward where Rei was digging out food from the saddlebags on Max's horse. Kai just rolled his eyes at his lover's fathomless stomach and followed along unresisting.

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Dranzer reappeared shortly before night descended on the group. Taking her human form, she sat next to her lifemate on a moss-covered log and informed them that she'd found an abandoned cabin in the woods on the other side of the border, hidden deep within the trees.

"It's not much to look at, but it will do just fine for what we need." She said.

"You'll have to lead us there when we get clear of the patrols." Kai told her, nodding in acceptance. "Thanks, Dranzer."

"My pleasure."

"Alright. Let's get everything together and go wait for our opportunity to cross." Kai stood up, dusting his pants off. "And remember, if we end up having to fight anyone, wound only to knock them unconscious and incapacitate them. Try not to kill anyone if you can avoid it."

"I still say it would be smarter to just kill them, Kai." Tala grumbled.

"No. Kai's right." Tyson disagreed. "Dead bodies attract more attention than people who are knocked unconscious. Whoever finds them would be more likely to think they were ambushed by bandits or something than by fugitives entering the Empire illegally."

"Don't worry about it, Tala." Max said to him as they made their way toward the tree line. "Tyson and Kai wouldn't steer us wrong."

"Hmph."

The four deities took their non-human forms once more as the group stopped at the edge of the trees and peered through the dark at the borderlands.

{Until we get to Bay City and confront Boris, Takao, we will remain in our other forms like this, otherwise Drisana could sense us and be forewarned of your coming.} Dragoon informed his descendant mentally. {I hope you don't mind.}

{Oh no. Not at all. Do what you think best, Dragoon. I'll let the others know later, okay?} Tyson responded, Dragoon agreed by purring quietly as he wrapped his coils around the bluenette's shoulders and waist once again.

"I can still see the dust in the air from when the last patrol went by." Rei declared, his golden-eyes scanning the area quickly. "And here comes another."

"Then when they ride past, we make a break across the border and try to get to that forest Dranzer told us about." Kai said in a commanding tone. "Go as quickly and quietly as we can."

Everyone agreed and the wait began.

Kali watched the patrols intently for an hour or so, making sure they really would have enough time to make the dash stealthily through the dark and past the Imperial guards.

"Okay. Get ready." He whispered to the group. "As soon as the next patrol goes by, go and follow Dranzer."

There was a tense moment of silence while they all waited and watched as another group of guards rode by. As soon as they were out of sight, Kai gave the signal and Dranzer launched herself into the air from her tree branch.

The group rode out, keeping close together and quiet. Kai led the way, Tyson right beside him, as they followed the firebird over the border and off into the deep woods that were located well into the lands of the Empire.

{So far so good.} Tyson murmured to the dragon curled around him. {Do you think we made it past the patrols without being noticed?}

{Don't count on it, Takao. But it seems like it.} Dragoon responded. {Just keep your guard up. From now on, we won't be completely safe until Boris is gone and we've dealt with Drisana.}

{Believe me, Dragoon, I don't plan on it.}

{I know. I just thought I'd say it anyway. Oh! Dranzer's circling. We must be at the cabin.}

Tyson looked up, peering through the darkness, and spotted a faint red blur circling overhead. He looked over at Kai and their eyes met for a brief second, silently acknowledging their arrival. Almost as one simultaneous movement, the two slowed to a halt and slid off their horses. Kai held out an arm in time to let Dranzer land when she ghosted down to join them.

"Let's get inside everyone." The phoenix said in a hushed voice. He gestured toward the cabin and followed Tyson, who led the way inside.

"That was totally nerve-wracking." Max said, shutting the door behind them. He looked around the single room, the only light coming in from the two windows that were grimy and dirty. "Looks like this place hasn't been used in years."

"Bryan and I will take the first watch." Tala declared. Bryan nodded his agreement. "The rest of you might as well get what rest you can."

"You sure, Tala?" Kai glanced over at him.

"Yeah. I'm too wired to sleep right now anyway." Tala nodded, rocking back and forth on his feet.

"This I can see." The prince shook his head and waved Tala and Bryan away. "Okay. Go on."

"Let's get the blankets and stuff from the horses, Max." Rei tugged his mate back outside, following Tala and Bryan.

{Dranzer and I will stay outside and keep an eye on things, as well, Takao. Sleep well, little dragon.} Dragoon purred and unwound himself from around Tyson's shoulders, weaving his way through the air and out the door. Dranzer winged her way after him, leaving the two alone for a few moments until Max and Rei returned.

The neko-jin and the blonde took up the space on the floor under one window and were joined by Driger and Draciel. Tyson arranged one blanket on the floor opposite them along the far wall. He and Kai curled up together under their other blanket, and Tyson gently rubbed his thumb over Kai's lips as they stared into each other's eyes in silence for a while, until they couldn't stay awake any longer.

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For another three days and nights they rode, moving slowly, and being as stealthy as they could to avoid the frequent patrols they noticed seemed to be everywhere.

"Boris must be incredibly paranoid." Max said as they watched another group of Imperial guards ride by on the road from their hiding place in the bushes near the road. "Or are there usually so many guards running around the Empire?"

"No." Kai shook his head. "Either he's trying to keep rebellions from breaking out or he is paranoid and knows we're going to come after him eventually."

"That and he's just insane." Tala added.

"Can't argue with that." Tyson made a face.

"Let's go." Bryan motioned everyone to follow him. "Before another patrol comes by and we're discovered."

"We should be getting close to Bay City by now." Kai murmured to Tyson as they rode farther down the road. "Once we reach the walls, we'll have to leave the horses outside the city and sneak in through hone of the other secret exits/entrances."

Tyson nodded. "It'll probably be easier to sneak around the city without the horses, anyway."

"Exactly."

"You know, cousin, it would probably be better if we left the horses somewhere at a distance from the city rather than just outside the walls." Tala pointed out. "Someone is bound to see the horses if we just left them there and get curious about them - and where their owners are. I think we should find a farm willing to stable them for us instead."

Kai frowned thoughtfully, mulling over that logic for a moment. "Perhaps you're right, Tala. Do you know of any place that would be willing to stable them?"

"Of course I am."

"There's an in within an hour's walk of the city that we Royal Guards frequented often." Bryan suggested, preventing an argument. At the others' looks of curiosity, he flushed a bit and grumbled, "What? We weren't allowed to `consort' with the Palace maids - or each other for that matter - anywhere within the city. So we'd go to the inn instead."

"Actually, we weren't supposed to have relationships of any kind at all but that didn't stop a lot of us." Tala grinned wickedly. "Much to Boris' disgust."

Tyson narrowed his eyes at Tala. "I really hope you aren't thinking of taking my cousin to this inn, Tala, because I'd really hate to have to hunt you down and…"

"Come, now, Kinomiya…I would never think of doing any such thing to Lady Hilary. She means too much to me and I respect her more than that." Tala defended himself. Wolborg let out a yip that sounded suspiciously like an agreement. The bluenette just gave them both a warning scowl and Kai sighed and decided to intervene before an argument started.

"Alright, you two. Tyson, love, let it rest. And Tala, keep your thoughts on the task at hand, please. Focus, cousin."

"Look, the inn's a good place to leave the horses. Max and Rei can pose as travellers and take them in for us and then rejoin us to move on to the Palace." The red-headed warrior said. "None of the rest of us can go near the place without being spotted and recognized so it'll have to be them."

"It's fine with us." Rei agreed. "Kai? Tyson?"

They looked at one another. "What do you think?" Kai inquired.

"It sounds like a decent plan to me, Kai. Tala's right about leaving the horses outside the city walls - though I hate to admit it." The dragon grimaced and Tala shot him a look.

"Why does everyone pick on me? And why can't you people just trust me for once? Especially you, cousin!"

"Who said we don't?" Kai shot back. "Honestly, Tala, you wouldn't be here right now if Tyson and I didn't trust you…" the hard stare he gave his cousin was scary and cold. The red head looked away, unable to hold that gaze very long.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness." Tala apologized softly. "I didn't…I mean, I know I'm not always the most reliable person in the world, but this time…"

Kai closed his eyes and reigned in his horse, forcing the others to stop, too. "Forget it, Tala. We're all on edge and it's making us…disagreeable. I know you too well, cousin, and I have always known where your true loyalties lie. Besides, I owe you."

Tala's head whipped around to stare at Kai in surprise and confusion. "You owe me? For what?"

"I'd never have made it through Boris' training and…the punishments for failure if it hadn't been for you - and you, also, Bryan." The prince gave them a tiny smile, though Tyson could see the haunted look in his crimson eyes. "in a way, you two helped make me who I am today."

"Urk." Tala winced. "No offence, Kai, but that's a very scary thought."

"Maybe. But it's still the truth."

"So where is this inn,, anyway? Are we nearing it?" Rei wanted to know, sensing the need to break up the solemnity of the conversation and turning it back on track again.

"Not much farther. About another mile or so down this road, I'd guess." Bryan responded.

"Maybe we should walk the rest of the way?" Max looked at Rei.

"It'll have to wait." Tyson said suddenly. Everyone looked at him and saw his grim expression as he stared back up the road in the direction they'd come from..

"Oh, great." Tala sighed. "Looks like we've been discovered."

"Imperial soldiers." Bryan shook his head, drawing his sword with one hand while grasping the reigns of this horse firmly with the other.

"Kai?" Tyson questioned, drawing his horse up next to Kai's.

"They've seen us. We have no choice but to fight." The prince confirmed. He could hear the shouts and exclamations as the soldiers hurried toward them.

"Uh…guys? Would this be a bad time to mention I'm not a warrior?" Max clutched his reigns.

"Don't worry, buddy, and stick close to me. You'll be fine." Tyson pulled a sword from the sheathe on his saddle and tossed it to the blonde. "But just in case, hang onto that."

"But…"

"I don't need it, Max." Tyson looked back at the soldiers and a light breeze came up, rustling their clothes and hair as well as the leaves on the trees around them that had already undergone their autumn transformation to fall colours of reds, oranges, browns, and yellows. His eyes went stormy silver-blue and Dragoon uncurled from around his shoulders and floated up and way.

{Dranzer, Draciel, Driger and I will stay out of the fight for now, Takao. We're too close to Drisana to use our powers now. We'd never be able to sneak up on her.}

{Sure. We can handle it, Dragoon.}

The Imperial soldiers rode up to them and surrounded the group in a half-circle, weapons steadily directed at them.

"You dare to return and show your faces in the Empire, you filthy traitors!" One of them shouted. "By order of His Majesty, Emperor Boris…"

"And you pathetic weaklings dare speak so to me and call that evil, murdering bastard, Boris, by my rightful title?" Kai glowered at the one who'd spoken. "No, soldier, how dare you." Faster than anyone could see the phoenix had drawn an arrow and loosed it on the soldier, piercing his armour easily, as if he wasn't even wearing it. The man toppled over with a stunned cry and the arrow suddenly burst into flame, consuming him.

"We will give you all one opportunity to leave without further struggle." Tala called out, leaning casually against Kai's horse as he eyed the soldiers disdainfully. "You must know you have no chance against us. It would be foolish to waste your lives for the monster who has usurped the throne."

The soldiers exchanged glances among themselves, obviously unsure what course of action to take. Then one of them stepped forward, brandishing his sword in a threatening manner, and said, "Do not listen to them, men! They are trying to confuse and weaken us! Attack! For the Empire, attack!"

"Well, I tried." Tala shrugged and the battle began. The soldiers charged and soon the sounds of fighting filled the evening quiet and the metal of the swords flashed in the rapidly fading daylight.

Many of the soldiers fell without much effort, but some of the older, more experienced ones managed to hang on and put up a better fight. However, as Tala had said, they were not match for their opponents, and the fight soon ended.

Rei blew a loose strand of hair out of his eyes, breathing heavily. "Is everyone okay? Maxie?"

"I'm fine, Rei. You?" the blonde slid off his horse and checked his mate over. "You've got blood on you. Are you wounded?"

"No. It's all theirs." Rei's fangs glinted and he jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the bodies littering the ground.

"Kai?" Tala dusted his hands off in a business-like manner and looked up at his cousin. "You're not hurt are you?"

"I'm fine. But…" The crimson eyed teen was looking around worriedly. "Where's Tyson?"

The red head blinked and began looking around, too. "I don't know. Tyson!?" He called, moving to check the dead and silently praying that the bluenette wasn't among them.

"Over here!" Bryan's voice suddenly echoed. "He's over here! I need a hand, though…"

The others hurried over and Kai slid off his horse, moving to Tyson's side quickly. The dragon was partially trapped under his horse, which had a large gaping sword wound in it's side.

"Tyson!" Kai reached out and laid a palm against his forehead.

"I'm okay, love." The bluenette winced when he tried to move. "Ow! Damn it! Someone get this horse off of me!"

Tala, Bryan, and Max worked together to lift the dead weight of the poor animal off of Tyson long enough for Kai and Rei to pull him out of the way.

"You take care of him, cousin. We'll see to the clean-up." Tala motioned the others away and led them over to hide the evidence of the battle, leaving Kai and Tyson alone for a while.

"Is anything broken?" Kai asked softly, gently running his hands over his lover's legs and torso, checking for broken bones and ribs. "What happened?"

"I don't think I broke anything." Tyson flinched when he tried moving his arm. "Ow! But my shoulder is killing me and I can't feel my arm…"

Kai probed carefully with his fingers and Tyson let out a small pained noise. "Sorry, love. It's just dislocated. I can set it again for you and that will hurt - a lot - but after it should stop hurting so much, though it will be sore for a while."

"Great. Fine, Kai. Just do it." Tyson grimaced in pain. Dragoon and the other deities returned, Driger and Draciel sitting together nearby on the ground while Dranzer perched herself on an overhanging tree branch. The Dragon God encircled his descendant's upper body and held on firmly, looking to Kai for a brief moment as the prince grasped Tyson's arm and braced himself for what he had to do.

{I will hold him, young phoenix.} Dragoon assured him. Tyson closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths.

"Ready, Tyson? On three…" Kai took a deep breath himself and said, "Three!" sharply twisting and creating a loud popping sound as his dragon's shoulder joint slipped back into place. Tyson let out a choked howl of intense pain and a few tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Fuck!" He cursed, whimpering and clutching his arm to his chest protectively. After the initial pain began to recede, though, he found Kai to be right and that he could feel his arm again. Dragoon let him go with a soothing purr and floated upward to join Dranzer.

Kai pulled Tyson into his arms and buried his face in Tyson's hair with a shuddering sigh. He fought back the nausea that had welled up in his stomach at the sound of Tyson's shoulder and his cry of pain. "I'm sorry, Tyson. Is it any better?"

"Yeah. Thanks." Tyson leaned against Kai's chest wearily and flexed his fingers, working the feeling back into them and to get the blood flowing again. "It wasn't your fault, Kai."

"I know, but I'm still sorry for the pain I had to cause you to put your shoulder right." Kai apologized again, brushing his lips across Tyson's brow. "How'd you end up under your horse, anyway?"

"One of the soldiers tried to make a break for it - probably to run and get help - so I went after him to stop him. But he dodged to the side just in time to avoid me riding him down and stuck his sword in my horse, the bastard." Tyson growled a little. "My horse just keeled over and I landed on my shoulder, which is probably how I dislocated it."

"You're lucky it wasn't worse than that." Kai felt a chill at the possibilities. "Gods."

"Hey. I'm okay, though. No use dwelling on the could-have-beens, beloved." Tyson looked up into Kai's eyes and drew his mouth down to meet his own with his good hand. Kissing him slowly, with a reassuring sort of gentleness, Tyson pressed his lips to Kai's firmly and held them there for quite sometime, until he felt the tension in his lover's body drain away and relax slightly. Then he pulled back and smiled. "I love you."

Kai wanted to melt into a puddle but refrained with admirable restraint, flushing a little. "I love you. Come on, Tyson. Let's get up, shall we?" He helped the bluenette stand and wrapped an arm around his waist when Tyson teetered shakily on his feet.

"Whoa. Vertigo." Tyson shook his head to clear it and make his ears stop ringing, leaning against Kai willingly for support.

The others had buried the bodies of the soldiers and were working to hide the burials by spreading dead leaves and broken twigs and branches around. When it was done, they used the last of their water supply to clean themselves up a bit - especially Re and Max, who had to be fairly clean when they took the horses to the inn to get them stabled. Rei had to change his clothes, too, since the ones he wore were white and had blood on them.

Just as they were preparing to leave, Bryan stepped up and slapped a cloth pouch that jingled into each of their hands.

"Take these. It's the money those soldiers had on them. Use it to pay the innkeeper for stabling the horses and promise more if they're well taken care of when we return." The lavender haired warrior instructed.

"I don't know…" Max hesitated, eyeing the purse with distaste.

"I know what you're thinking, Max." Kai shook his head. "But I don't think they care what you do with it, wherever those soldiers might be now. Consider it their contribution to getting Boris off the throne."

"Well…I suppose. It just feels wrong - like we're stealing from the dead, or something."

"Let's go, Maxie. We should all get out of here before we're caught again." Rei ushered his mate away, leading Kai and Bryan's horses while Max led his own. "Be safe, guys."

"You, too." Tyson nodded, waving. "You know where to meet us?"

"Yep. We'll see you again soon."

The group split up then - Max and Rei heading for the inn while Kai, Tyson, Bryan, and Tala made their way toward Bay City and their ultimate destination: the Imperial Palace, Boris, and the dark phoenix Goddess, Drisana.

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Authoress' Notes: Okay. Go ahead and yawn. The good part's coming…just as soon as my essay season is done. *winces* That'll be in…December, sometime. *sighs* In the meantime, look for my other WIPs: Hallowed & Endure. Please R/R!!!!