Fan Fiction ❯ Vailla ❯ Chapter 5

Vailla walked ahead of Trigger and Laurie seldom talking to them but instead kept concentrating on the map. Her Staff hadn't been treated with the same kind of care as before and Vailla had tied it to her bag rather than carrying it. It had been two weeks since their little conversation and Vailla had stayed in her present state since. Laurie carried and played with Hayley and often fed her, so Vailla hardly talked to her either, after all Hayley had found a new master. This didn't really bother Vailla, because she knew she had to leave Hayley with someone and Laurie was perfect. Vailla looked up from her map and saw the town of Lin coming closer with every step. "We're here. We'll stock up on supplies and leave by midday. I don't want to stay in this town for long if we can help it." Vailla told Trigger. He understood why she didn't want to stay in the town and he respected that. He picked Laurie up and put her on his shoulders, and as usual she laughed.

Vailla had told Trigger that she would get the supplies if he got the horses and walked off in the opposite direction. She had left the Staff with Laurie when Trigger wasn't looking. It hadn't taken Vailla long to `borrow' supplies as she did not want to hand over perfectly good money. She had told Trigger that she would meet him and Lake Lin. She had thought of leaving Trigger and Laurie here and cross the Lake without them but it was almost like a sixth sense that she didn't, something was going to happen soon and she would have to protect them. She sat out of the way of the busy people and the fishing boats and started to practise her magic. She only did little spells, like to catch a small twig on fire and to make a pebble float and even that took a lot out her. Practise makes perfect she thought to herself as she levitated the pebble and dropped it into the Lake.

Trigger and Laurie choose their horse carefully. Laurie picked a pretty little mare with shiny brown hair and a thick black mane. That horse wasn't very difficult to get since its owner had only just tied it onto a pole outside a shop. Next Trigger got two massive steeds; with a strong build a thick black hair that glistened with sweat. The only difference between the two was that one of the horses had one single white streak in it's mane, but other than that they looked exactly the same. These two were a little harder to get and in order to `borrow' the horses Trigger had to create a distraction while Laurie got the horses. Trigger walked up to the two men guarding the horses and slapped one of the men in the face and then bolted down the street. Even though only one man had been slapped they both found it very offensive and ran after Trigger. The two horses followed Laurie as soon as they were untied. Animals always had had a strange attraction with Laurie and seemed to follow her without even noticing it. Once they had completed their tasks they made there way down to the Lake.

Vailla had sensed Trigger and Laurie coming mainly because of her Staff and she quickly got rid of all evidence that she had been practising magic. Vailla stood up and waved to them both, he held two beautiful black horses while Laurie held a smaller but still very young strong horse. She was about to walk up to them but before she could move an inch she saw two very angry men running after Trigger and Laurie, they both were shouting `thief' and `get them!" Vailla immediately knew this was the trouble she had been expecting and without hesitation she ran up to Laurie and snatched her Staff and then walked calmly up to the two screaming men. "Get us a boat Trigger." She ordered. Trigger nodded and took Laurie down to the Lake to hire a boat. "Hello sirs. May I help you?" She asked innocently.

"Get out of the way wretch." One of the men shouted while giving her a hard shove that nearly made her fall over. This angered Vailla and the gentle approach she was going to take went completely out of the window. Vailla whacked both of them around the legs very hard with her Staff causing them to fall to the floor.

"The problem with you two gentlemen is that you believe to be above people and you look down at the people like myself. You wouldn't last two minutes in Wrendore." She laughed half to herself. Before either of the men could answer she threw a punch that hit the first man directly in the nose, making him stumble off his feet. The second man Vailla dealt with by swinging her leg and kicking him in the stomach. The first stood back up clutching his nose, his face flushed with anger, she laughed and whacked her Staff very hard round his head before he had time to attack her and knocking him out cold. The second marvelled at the strength and courage of this girl and as soon as he caught his breath he ran away. Vailla dusted off her hands then walked causally to where Trigger and Laurie waited in a boat with the horses.

"Sorry about that." Trigger apologised. Laurie was giggling while feeding her new horse a stolen apple.

"I take it the horses didn't cost much then?" Vailla laughed. "I needed a little fun anyway, this trip was starting to get depressing."

"This boat will take us to the other side, we got to hand it in at the boat house on the other side when we're done." Trigger explained as he helped Vailla into the boat that wobbled slightly under her foot. "Laurie is calming the horses so they don't topple this boat over."

"Lucky it's big enough. How long will it take to cross the Lake?" Vailla asked.

"About half an hour, maybe a little longer, Lake Lin is very big."

"Very." Vailla agreed as she looked out at the vast stretch of water in front of her. Then suddenly a dreadful thought came to her. "You two can swim can't you?"

"Very well actually. Laurie and I have been swimming since we were very young, why do you ask?"

"No reason." She replied.

They had been rowing the boat for about half an hour and they were slowly but surely reaching the other side. It had taken them a while to get the hand of rowing but now they were gliding across the water gracefully. Laurie tended to the horses and had kept them strangely calm. Vailla looked into the clear blue water and saw the shimmer of green fish scales reflecting on the surface. The air was calm and peaceful and the sun shone lazily behind the fluffy clouds. They had been quite lucky with the weather; it had not rained that badly considering that it was almost the end of autumn. Vailla look gravely at her Staff, her mind filled of deep-felt thoughts and regret. "Are you okay?" Laurie asked Vailla. Her face looked too concerned for one so young.

"I'm fine, just tired is all." Vailla smiled. She hadn't really realised how much energy such little tasks of magic could take. Laurie lent over to Vailla and brought her lips close to Vailla's ears.

"Trigger has his top inside out." She giggled. Vailla took a closer look at Trigger's clothing and laughed.

"What?" Trigger asked the two laughing girls.

They had made is safely across the water and Vailla was relieved, she did know what she would of done if she had to face her father on the water. Her feet had got a little wet while getting out of the water but they soon dried off after a while hours of walking. Trigger and Laurie rode on behind while Vailla insisted on going in front to keep an eye out for trouble. Her steed was a total beauty with strong bones and a good noble spirit. His single white strand of hair dangled just above his glistening brown eyes. Vailla hadn't rode a horse before but Nyme (what was the name of the horse) seemed to understand this and was sensible and careful not to let her fall. They rode through a small forest that would eventually led to a small village called Hiye, there they would rest for a night. Vailla was already falling asleep in her saddle, her little magic tricks down by the Lake had tired her beyond belief and she struggled to stay awake. Finally her head slumped forward and she dozed for a while letting her horse guide. Suddenly a low rumble that echoed all around them awaked her. Vailla sat straight up, expecting it to be her father again and ready for action but instead she saw the sun blocked out with black threatening storm clouds. "Looks like rain." Trigger noted as he too looked at the clouds. He and Laurie rode up to Vailla's side and stopped. "Shall we take shelter?"

"A little rain never hurt anybody, presides we're nearly by the village, we may even reached it before the rain starts." Vailla replied. Trigger looked uncertain but that was just too bad, Vailla would not be slowed down by the elements. Laurie held Hayley in her arms and smiled, and then she looked at Vailla who was frowning.

"We're going to meet a new friend in the rain, maybe we'll meet her today." Laurie said excitedly.

"A new friend?" Vailla raised an eyebrow in interest. "Tell me Laurie, how do you know this?" She asked gently. Laurie just shrugged and rode on in front of them.

"We better hurry up if we don't want to get caught in the rain." Laurie called. Trigger looked at Vailla as if looking for some answers but Vailla just ignored him and caught up with Laurie.

They hadn't reach the village before it had rained, and they had gotten very wet. The rain poured down as if from a bucket and seemed to even soak their bones. Vailla was almost fascinated with so much rain, in Wrendore, hot and dusty, it hardly ever rained there and when it did it would only rain gently for about a month. That month had been called the Month of the Water Spirits and it was fabled that it was the month that all the water spirits in Wrendore would rise up and fed the land. But it never rained like this, not even on the worse of days. Vailla had laughed when it began to pour down and while Trigger and the others took cover in a small cave, Vailla went outside in the rain. She had taken her Staff with her but not Hayley; her little pet wimber-woki hated this weather and did not trust this amount of water falling from the sky. "You're going to get sick." The Staff warned after Vailla had been out in the pouring rain for over an hour.

"No I won't." Vailla disagreed. "Oh I meant to ask you. Who is this `new friend' Laurie was talking about?"

"I'm not sure yet, in many ways I think that Laurie has more power connected to her than I do." She flicked a pale blue light. "It's a new generation to replace the old Vailla. I don't think we got long for this world." She said sadly. Vailla smiled and stroked the marble of the Staff.

"I know, either way I think this old generation is going to end after my meeting with or without Trigger and Laurie. Do you think there is any ways to defy the stars?" Vailla asked solemnly.

"I think there is, you've done it before hadn't you? The stars are just like guides to show you what is likely happen. If there is a way we'll find it." She replied.

"What about Trigger and Laurie? I couldn't read them in the stars the other night, do you have any ideas what might happen to them if they come along?"

"Are you actually starting to agree to the fact that they should come along?" The Staff asked mockingly.

"Maybe, I mean it is selfish of me. If I fail and die the world will be doomed and that means Trigger and Laurie will have also be doomed. If they come along together we can save the world and Trigger and Laurie will be able to live long healthy lives."

"So will you." The Staff reassured her master. Then Vailla sneezed. "I told you so." The Staff said smugly.

"I was only one sneeze." Vailla objected but before she could say any more she sneezed again. The Staff was about to reply but instead it glowed a warning red.

"Someone is coming Vailla, be ready." Vailla suddenly became very alert and quickly scanned her surroundings. At first she couldn't see anyone but then she saw a woman by a tree. She had long black raven like hair and solid dark green eyes. She wore a long silk navy blue dress trimmed with silver and wore on top of it a fur coat. The woman looked no older than twenty-five but Vailla was never any good at estimating age. She sat gracefully on a pure white horse, rain dripping from them both she beckoned her steed to walk forward. The horse's feet were thick with black mud that could easily be seen against the white hair.

"Hello little girl, my name is Galdine. I am looking for a sorceress by the name of Vailla. Have you seen her?" She asked softly. Her voice was posh; she was obliviously a noblewoman of some kind and for this reason Vailla immediately didn't like her.

"Maybe, who is asking?" Vailla snapped. The woman almost jumped at the hostile girl but she quickly regained her posture.

"I am destined to aid her in her journey, the ancient prophecies had told me so." She replied smugly, determined to spread her self-importance. Vailla didn't care if this was a trap, she just couldn't wait to tell this snobbish woman and she could hardly contain her amusement.

"I am the one called Vailla the sorceress. Tell me, Galdine, in what ways can you aid me in my journeys?" Vailla asked; her voice filled with her own self-importance. The woman and first looked shocked then disappointed.

"Please tell me you're kidding!" She groaned, and she now sounded more like Laurie when she was hungry than a noblewoman.

"Sorry. I am Vailla, how do you know me?" Vailla asked overrun with curiosity and suspicion. Vailla sneezed.

"Bless you." She said almost absently. Vailla glared at her, she didn't need to be `blessed' by this woman. "It is raining. Why don't we find some shelter and there I will explain myself." Vailla grunted her response and beckoned her to follow with a small gesture of the hand. With Staff in hand she walked back to the small shelter where Trigger, Laurie and the horses waited.

Vailla walked into the small cave expecting the lady to follow but she did not, instead she waited outside. Laurie looked at Vailla than saw Galdine waiting in the rain; she walked out to her and stared at her intensely. "This is the new friend I was on about Trigger." She called back into the cave.

"Hello little one, what is your name?" Galdine asked politely even though her teeth chattered.

"Laurie don't leave her outside, bring her in by the fire." Trigger said before Laurie could answer. Galdine was thankful to finally get an invitation into the shelter so she climbed off her horse and followed Laurie in. The can not very deep, the walls of the cave were cold and damp to touch. The only light came from the small campfire that Trigger and Vailla sat by. Laurie ran up to her brother and sat on his lap.

"Sit down Galdine, I want answers." Vailla said coldly. There was a pained expression on her face as she sat down by the fire as told.

"Are you really Vailla the sorceress?" She asked once more.

"Yes, do you want a written I.D?" Vailla huffed angrily. Galdine shook her head apologetically.

"No, that's alright. It's just that I expected someone…" She struggled to search for the right word.

"Older?" Trigger suggested.

"Yes." She quickly agreed. She saw the long cold stare that Vailla gave her and sighed. "Not that it matters. My name is Galdine as I've already told Vailla and I've been training my whole life for the day I am to help the fabled Vailla the Sorceress in her fight against the evil that threatens the world. The stars told us of the Event and I've been travelling for many moons to reach you. Please forgive my rudeness, I had to be honest expected a much older person." Galdine explained.

"Well I'm for one is glad of the help. My name is Trigger by the way." He held out his hand and shook hers friendly.

"My name is Laurie, please to me you." Galdine smiled at the small girl huddled on Trigger's lap.

"And I believe you already know me. Let me warn you Galdine, I do not need help in destroying my father so if you are a traitor I can easily destroy you as easy as I can snap a trig." Vailla warned. "Anyway what can you offer us?"

"I do not know, only that I am to aid you in this righteous cause." She replied meekly, Vailla had scared her a little.

"Ok then, help them. I do not need your help but if they are in danger protect them even as I will but leave the fighting up to me. Got it?"

"I think so." Galdine replied. Trigger saw that this was getting a little too much for Vailla's temper but before he could say anything a terrible bloodcurdling sound echoed in the cave.

This sent fear into Trigger's heart; he had heard this noise before. In only a few second over a dozen of the demons that had attacked them before filled the cave blocking the exit. They breathed excitedly, blood dripping from their long white gleaming fangs and evil red eyes that glowed in the dark. At first they just stood watching as if waiting for some kind of command.

"Damn it! Get behind me you three, if any gets past me Trigger you shoot them." Vailla snapped while pushing them behind her. She held the Staff in her hand and shot a beam of fiery energy and exploded into a small cluster of about four of the demons. This almost triggered off some command and they all rushed forward. Vailla could hear Laurie crying in fear behind her. She shot again, aiming at the ones most likely to get to the others behind her. Trigger hot his arrows at the demonic beasts while Galdine held Laurie protectively in her eyes, trying to comfort not only Laurie but herself too. Vailla saw some of the beast collapse with arrows sticking in them until Trigger called to her.

"I've run out of arrows Vailla!" Now she had to be extra careful not let any get past her. Together her and Trigger had destroyed about half their force, but there were still more and some even attacked while arrows stuck into them. She struck another two just to her left but before she could turn round one of them jumped on her from the right. Vailla's Staff got knocked out of her hand on impact. She tried to force its claws away from her throat, the creature gave one swiped across Vailla's eye and slashed her flesh.

"That's it you little bastard, now I'm angry!" She held it back with one hand as she poked it in the eyes with her other hand. For a moment the creature was over come by shock it let go of his grasp giving Vailla a chance to reach for her dagger. The beast took his paws away from its face only to have a dagger thrust into its right eye, and then it's gut.

Trigger had seen the beast jump the Vailla but before he had a chance to help her about four of the creatures attacked started to advance on Trigger and the two girls. He had to protect them before he could help Vailla. He threw two of his daggers with deadly accuracy and for the other two he removed arrows from the corpses and shot them both in the heart. Trigger saw Vailla fending off another three and so he ran over to the Staff picked it up and threw it over to Vailla. She saw the Staff approaching her and grabbed it. Then she knocked two of her attackers out cold with one swipe.

"Thanks!" Vailla shouted over the commotion. There were now only five monsters left, and seeing they had no hope in winning they ran away with their tails between their legs. Vailla lent on the wall and sank to the ground, she watched as they ran. Blood trickled from the slash that the monster had given her and felt like acid tickling into her eye. She looked at the others who were safe and wiped the blood away from her eye only for it to slowly come back and trickle down her face again.

"Vailla? Are you alright?" Trigger rushed over to her but Vailla just laughed.

"Just because I sit down after a very tiring fight doesn't mean that I am in mortal danger." She wiped the blood from her face once more and looked over toward Galdine, who huddled with Laurie, her eyes alive with fear. "And you were as useful as a boat with holes." She commented but Galdine did not reply. "If all you're going to be is another person for the monsters to attack you may as well go home now and save yourself a lot of trouble later."

"Vailla leave her alone, she was scared and you can't really blame her. We can talk to her later." Trigger insisted. Vailla nodded her head grudgingly. "Come on, let's get that cut sorted out."