Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Dragon Rising ❯ Chapter Fifteen point Five ( Chapter 16 )

So, out of a random urge to write sort of a random chapter but not totally move away from the story and its plot line, I was inspired to write a chapter for you Kaiba lovers out there. Also, I'm rather fond of the brothers myself, and its been a bit hard to not do something, so, here you are!

 

In which Kaiba meetsseveral persons of interest, one of which attracts more than intellectual attention

 

Seto Kaiba trusted that his little brother would be safe enough. After all, they were in a palace that had several protections that he could sense and had many guards that he could see. They were also in a place that tingled with magical potential and the young wizard trusted that Jade had taught his brother enough to allow the boy to defend himself until Kaiba could get to any trouble that did occur.

 

That still did not stop him from keeping a sharp eye out and casting several spells that would alert him to the slightest bit of foul intent.

 

Once he had set them, he closed his eyes and leaned against the balcony railing, hands in loose fists on the smooth stone. He let a tendril of magic reach out from him, searching around, learning what he could of what was around him.

 

The statue at the far end of the balcony was a golem that could animate to attack any intruder without permission to be here.

 

The potted shrubberies where sentient plants that could strangle.

 

There were several kelpies out near the lagoon that was to one side of the sheltered cavern and he vaguely sensed the presence of what he presumed to be merfolk further up the coast.

 

He also located all the magic users in attendance. Many of them were only minor magicians, the majority of whom dressed in the stereotypical style of flowing robes and other eccentric accessories. There were several powerful mages, however, who wore clothes like the rich nobles they were, one with several ioun stones circling around his head in slow revolutions.

 

He easily located Jade, who was easily one of the most powerful magicians in the room. She appeared as a shifting cloud of red and silver in his mind's eye, next to a cloud of green and copper that he identified as Alianna. Nikki was purple and white, Bakura a soft gathering of ivory smoke, and his little brother a whirling ball of magenta.

 

Then he found Yugi, a cloud of black with sparks of color crackling. The interesting thing about Yugi's magical signature was the glowing wall of silver that cut right through it and encircled the majority of the black, trapping it. The eldest Kaiba smirked at his rival's foolishness, thinking it utterly ridiculous that Yugi would fight so rebelliously against something that couldn't be denied.

 

Didn't the fool know that power was meant to be used? Had he not be told implicitly that magicians who tried to fight their gift either died or had it ripped from them by a more powerful magician who decided they were undeserving?

 

Kaiba opened his eyes and turned to look at Yugi, who now stood with a tall male elf and a pretty dark haired female. The female was a smoky cloud of rose pink and white. A healer, since he'd learned that healers had streaks of white or were shades of white in their signatures. He smirked again as it occurred to him that Yugi probably couldn't even see magical auras.

 

He knew that his rival barely even felt them. A tingling in the tips of his fingers, he'd say. What did that tell him aside from magical presence? Kaiba had grown in his new found talent and learned to see it.

 

“Pathetic,” he muttered with disgust, turning away to look back out over the balcony.

 

And now he had a new puzzle to solve. The magic of ice and winter Jade had told him about had struck a chord in him, much to his surprise. The allure of the secrets that this lady of winter so jealously guarded was quite tantalizing. He frowned and drummed his fingers on the stone. Now if only he could figure out some way to learn it.

 

A presence near him drew him away from his thoughts. There were quite a few people on the balcony, but none closer than ten feet from him. This one was not more than five feet away and registered as a soothing lavender mist shot through with black.

 

Kaiba turned his head slightly to see who it was and could little help himself when he stopped and stared.

 

A half-elf, judging from her delicately pointed ears and seemingly delicate features and frame. Her skin was a pale ivory, tinged the faintest pink from the sun. Her eyes were a lovely shade of honey brown, closely matching her hair, which was only a shade darker and had a tint of red and blonde to it. Her dress was a light green and was cut to expose her shoulders. It was fitted through the bodice and arms and fell in elegant drapes from her hips and wrists, drawing the eye to slender, graceful hands. She wore no jewelry or ornaments save for a single, white flower tucked behind one ear.

 

He blinked and wondered what her name was.

 

He also noted that the curve of her waist would fit perfectly in the crook of an arm.

 

What am I thinking? he then asked himself, shaking his head to clear it and looking back out over the balcony.

 

“You're the wizard, aren't you? The one Lady Jade found in the Hidden realm, where magic is secret,” said a feminine voice, one that was light and soothing. Kaiba looked over to find the young woman looking at him curiously.

 

He nodded and she smiled. “I thought you'd be more intimidating, the way I have heard people talk about you,” she said. He raised an eyebrow.

 

She shook her head, “Word travels fast and gossip faster. Don't mind me, I talk too much for my own good.”

 

He wasn't sure how to respond to that other than to continue looking at her, which wasn't a bad thing.

 

“What is your name?” she asked.

 

“Seto Kaiba.”

 

“Seto Kaiba,” she repeated with a small smile and she extended her hand to him, “I'm Faye Swallowsong.”

 

He took her hand gently in his and placed a courtly kiss on her knuckles, noting that she seemed surprised by this, and murmured, “Faye Swallowsong. A pleasure to meet you.”

 

She grinned, “And you as well. Did Lady Jade teach you the ways of a court?”

 

The faintest hint of a grin appeared at the corner of his mouth, “The basics.”

 

“She found you to have enough charm on your own, I suppose, then?” she said.

 

“Perhaps,” he conceded.

 

She laughed, a sound that was the essence of happiness and cheer in nature. “Not an ounce of shame in you, is there?”

 

“None that I have found, so far.”

 

It occurred to him that she was flirting with him and that he was flirting right back. What am I doing? he thought.

 

Soon he found himself casting cantrips to amuse her, ranging from several little flames that leapt about and changed shape as one of them played a little tune on an equally little fiddle and a skittering of spiders that did a three minute version of Much Ado About Nothing, to a spray of bubbles that popped and showered her in flower petals that just as quickly joined together and flew off as colorful, sweet smelling butterflies. One fluttered around her head for a moment before landing on the flower in her hair with what could only be taken as a contended air.

 

She grinned and looked from the parade of butterflies back to him, “I would not have taken you as one that cared for such things as butterflies and bubbles.”

 

“And I would not have taken you for one that cared for such things as fire and spiders,” he replied.

 

“The lesson behind this then would be that not all of us are what we seem to be then, I suppose?”

 

“That depends. Are you in actuality a withered old woman in disguise looking for a young knight to ensnare?”

 

“That also depends. Are you a knight?”

 

She grinned again and he found himself returning it with a small smile.

 

The playful, bantering air was interrupted suddenly by the approach of an older man with salt and pepper hair wearing a long, dark cape over flowing robes of deep purple and red.

 

“Ah, there you are,” he said, directing it at Faye, whose face fell suddenly. “Come along, girl, it is time for us to be going.”

 

“Why can't we stay here a bit longer? I'm having such a nice time.”

 

He stopped and arched an eyebrow reproachfully, “Are you arguing with me?”

 

“No, sir, I'm only asking why we can't stay.”

 

“Because I deem it time to go. Now let us be off.”

 

“Can't I stay and come back later? I can get there myself.”

 

He glowered at her, “I think not. Bid your—” he eyed Kaiba here, frowning in slight distaste, “companion here farewell, and we shall discuss why you are even speaking with him once we're back at the tower, and let us leave here.”

 

“I was only talking to him,” she replied a bit defensively, “There's no harm in talking to anybody—”

 

“I did not ask, girl!” he said in a surge of temper, cutting her off. “Now, I will not tell you again. It is time to leave.”

 

With a heavy sigh, Faye turned to Kaiba and opened her mouth.

 

Kaiba stopped her with a raised hand, glaring at the man icily. “It's very rude to interrupt people when they are having a conversation,” he informed the older male in a calmly cold voice.

 

“And she knows very well that she has been forbidden to talk to any male other than myself, boy,” came the waspish reply as Faye's wrist was seized and he began to lead her away, her stumbling behind.

 

Boy?

 

She jerked her wrist free, “I can walk on my own, thank you very much. And I'll have you know it's indecent to treat people like—”

 

“Be silent, girl,” the man ordered and Kaiba picked up on the force behind the command, one that he saw manifest itself as an invisible band around Faye's throat that was visible only to him and completely hindering her ability to speak.

 

She glared at the man hatefully.

 

For some reason that Kaiba contributed to temporary insanity, he reached out with his mind and called. There was a rush of wind that encircled the young wizard before it blew outward in a forceful gust, whipping the clothing of the people on the balcony and the hair of the ladies wildly.

 

The band around Faye's neck burst open in a scattering of light.

 

“I really don't think she wants to go,” Kaiba said simply, crossing his arms over his chest, “And don't call me `boy'.”

 

The man glared at him, “This is none of your concern—”

 

“I just made it my concern.”

 

By now they'd attracted the attention of everyone on the balcony and those nearest the entrances onto the balcony. Faye stood staring from the man, to Kaiba, and back again.

 

“Seto, you really don't have to—”

 

“Do not speak to him, you little slut!” the man shrieked in fury, earning shocked gasps from the onlookers.

 

Faye went pale with obvious anger and frustration, and embarrassment.

 

Kaiba, arms still crossed, flicked a finger. The man suddenly was launched into the air, spinning in tight whorls until he fell with a thud to the ground several yards away.

 

“Insults are not necessary,” he said, “Speaking to a man does not make a lady easy.”

 

The man scrambled back to his feet and pointed a shaking finger, “No magical battle outside the arena! I claim insult and demand retribution!”

 

Kaiba quirked an eyebrow, “Insult?”

 

The man's feet were suddenly swept from under him and his robes disappeared, leaving him sitting in nothing but his loin cloth and stockings.

 

“I haven't insulted you, you slimy piece of filth,” Kaiba said, “I have just embarrassed you.”

 

The man's head snapped to the side as a glove appeared and slapped him several times across the face then made a rude gesture before disappearing.

 

“Now, I've insulted you, prince of worms,” Kaiba said, with a little mocking bow, “And I've done it all without touching you, so as to avoid catching some disease, great cankerous blossom.”

 

The man was once again on his feet and trembling with fury as new robes appeared on him. “I demand a match in the arena!” he shouted, pointing at Kaiba once more.

 

The glove appeared again and slapped his hand down, then shook a finger at him. “It's very rude to point,” Kaiba drawled.

 

“What is going on here?” a guard demanded, coming up.

 

“He attacked me!” the man said, once again pointing.

 

Kaiba widened his eyes innocently and looked at the guard, “I have done no such thing. I only tripped him up. Attacking would imply something like this—” An arrow materialized in the air by Kaiba's head and shot at the man, missing by a scant millimeter, “Or this.” A loud bang accompanied the small ball of fire that had him leaping to the side to avoid getting singed.

 

“I challenge you to a duel!” the man shrieked.

 

The guard's lips were thin and he looked at Kaiba with a hard glare, “Rule of protocol dictate that you must face him in a duel, otherwise yield and pay whatever boon he demands.”

 

Kaiba raised an eyebrow, even as Faye glowered.

 

“Boon?” Kaiba echoed after a moment.

 

“If you forfeit the duel, he may demand anything of you and you must pay it,” the guard replied.

 

“That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard,” Kaiba said. “I either waste my time grinding an insect into the dust or pay a boon to a cretin who doesn't deserve it?”

 

“Just turn him into something and be done with it,” someone muttered near him. Kaiba's eyes flicked to the side and he smirked when he saw Yugi, the owner of the voice.

 

His rival caught his glance and smirked in reply. The look passed between them was something bordering on an understanding.

 

“Fine,” Kaiba said, shrugging as he turned his gaze back to the old wizard and guard, “I'll waste my time with a duel. It won't last long anyway.”

 

The old man sputtered as the guard nodded and motioned for one of his fellows to alert the host of the development.

 

A moment later and there was a crack and the audience chamber began to shift into an arena, tiered benches rising so the guests had a place to sit.

 

“You will pay for your cheek, boy,” the wizard hissed as he stalked by. “Come, girl.” He reached out to grab Faye's arm, only to have the young woman gently yanked out of his reach.

 

“Yugi, please see to it that Miss Swallowsong is kept away from this doddering old fool,” Kaiba said, giving her a light push towards Yugi, who stepped forward.

 

“Certainly,” the half-blood replied, sending a scathing glance at the old wizard.

 

Faye glanced back at Kaiba as she was guided away by Marina and Caspian.

 

The wizard gave an angry huff and stalked off inside.

 

“Cankerous blossom?” Yugi said as Kaiba turned to follow. “I had no idea you read Shakespeare.”

 

Kaiba shrugged.

 

“Of course, where I him, I'd throw myself away,” Yugi continued. Kaiba paused and turned to look back at him.

 

“He is smelt above the moon.”

 

“He hath more hair than wit.”

 

“I was seeking a fool when I found him.”

 

“Death would be too soft for him.”

 

The two rivals grinned at each other, the understanding taking root. “Kick his ass, Kaiba,” Yugi said. “The only one allowed to beat you is me.”

 

Kaiba snorted as he turned and began moving inside again, “Maybe once you get to my level, if you ever do.”

 

Yugi winced slightly in acknowledgement of the jibe and turned and followed him in.

 

The great hall now resembled a grand arena, with a large, stretching oval surrounded by tiered seats and a raised dais where the host and his lady sat. The arena itself was large and covered by sand, making landing softer but footing a bit more treacherous.

 

“Keep your weight on the balls of your feet,” Yugi offered quietly, “That way you can shift directions easier.”

 

Kaiba nodded in the equivalent of gratitude and Yugi hurried off to seat himself near Marina and her brother.

 

“Hey, Kaiba!”

 

He turned his head in the direction of the shout and found Joey and Tristan sitting near Tea and the Amazons. He frowned slightly and the blonde grinned, “Grind his face into the dust!”

 

A cool smile was the reply.

 

Mokuba hurried up the bleachers and seated himself by Faye, who was gripping Caspian's arm in worry.

 

“Seto,” said Jade quietly, walking up to him and straightening the collar of his tunic. “Be careful with this one. He's not as powerful as you, as you've probably guessed, but he also lacks a sense of honor. He'll be underhanded and it won't be beyond him to throw floor in your eyes. Keep a sharp eye and stay on your toes.”

 

“Think like a drow, in other words?” he asked with a slight grin, which she returned as she smoothed a few imaginary wrinkles from the front of his tunic. “Better. Think like me,” she replied, then kissed his forehead, “Good luck.”

 

“What's his name?” he asked before she got too far away.

 

She looked at his opponent and frowned for a moment. “Derven,” she replied, “And he tends to dabble in minor necromancy and magical experimentation.”

 

“Great,” Kaiba muttered as his teacher hurried out of the arena to seat herself by Drizzt and Bakura, by whom was sitting a tattooed monk.

 

Derven eyed him and smiled maliciously, “Prepare yourself, boy.”

 

I hate this man.

 

A guard thumped his spear shaft on the ground to earn attention. “The rules of engagement are as follows; no sudden death spells. No transforming into extraordinary creatures and no summoning of any sort of monster or humanoid aid. No invisibility. And finally, no mind controlling spells. Each participant is allowed one second. The second's job is to keep any on lookers from interfering and to keep the other's second from interfering. The duel will end with the drawing of first blood or when a participant yields. You have one minute to choose your second,” he said.

 

A second? Kaiba ran through his options. Under a grimmer duel, a second would step up to take his place in the event of his death. At the moment, he saw it was more as a precaution to keep everyone around them safe and from interfering, as the guard had said. He frowned faintly. Mokuba was too young, Jade or Alianna would not be allowed to be his second. Bakura was a possibility, but Kaiba also knew that his minimal knowledge of battle magic put a damper on his ability to engage an opponent.

 

That left him with one option.

 

“Yugi,” he called, looking up and over at the other teen, who blinked in obvious surprise. “Get down here and make sure that little twit,” he indicated the sniveling little excuse of a man that was scurrying over to Derven, who scowled, “Doesn't get in the way.”

 

Yugi excused himself from his companions and easily slid over the wall and hurried over.

 

“You're insulting me while complimenting me. I didn't think it possible,” he said. Kaiba smirked in reply and both looked back at Derven and his second, who was nodding and bowing so furiously that he might topple over at any moment.

 

“Jade said he's underhanded,” Kaiba said, running a hand through his hair. “And the rules say nothing about you shouting out a warning if you see something I don't.”

 

“Right,” Yugi replied as he undid the cuffs of his sleeves and rolled them up over his elbows, “I'll watch your back and sing out if I see anything.”

 

Kaiba nodded curtly and began to roll up his sleeves as well.

 

“So, one question.”

 

“What?”

 

“Why all this trouble for a girl you just met?”

 

“If I knew that, I probably would've avoided all this,” Kaiba replied. “Still,” he continued, looking at Yugi, “Wouldn't you do the same thing for that girl you're sitting with?”

 

“I've known her since we were kids.”

 

“But you only just were reintroduced after a period of forgetfulness, so it's the same situation in basic logic.”

 

“True,” Yugi replied as he glanced over at the pretty elven maid, “And I would.”

 

“Then there's your answer.”

 

“You like her.”

 

Kaiba faltered and felt heat rise to his face. “I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that.”

 

“Pretend all you'd like.”

 

“And this doesn't mean we're friends.”

 

“Right.”

 

“Duelers, at the ready!” the guard cried. Yugi stepped back several paces as Kaiba turned to face Derven. The two seconds glowered at each other from over their companion's shoulders. “Begin!”

 

“Petrify!” Derven shouted, stepping forward and gesturing grandly with a ring laden hand. Kaiba snapped a hand up and blocked the jinx mid stride. He smiled thinly at Derven. A twist of his hand changed the make up of the spell and he shot it right back, the sand at Derven's feet exploding up in a shower of dust.

 

“First blood,” Kaiba reminded his opponent.

 

Derven sputtered and pulled a wand from his sleeve.

 

“A wand?” Kaiba heard Yugi mutter in disbelief. “You have got to be kidding.”

 

Kaiba had to agree until the ground exploded under his feet and hurled him into the air, spinning like a top.

 

Kaiba saw Derven's lip moving in another spell and scowled. A large bluish bubbled appeared under him and he landed quite gracefully and rolled off in one fluid motion, casting his own spell simultaneously.

 

“Performance of sword!” Derven shrieked just as a ball of fire bloomed in front of Kaiba and was sent hurtling towards the other end of the arena.

 

Swords and knives whistled through the air.

 

“Shield,” Kaiba heard Yugi mutter and a large, glassy looking surface slid up from the floor to encase their end of the arena from the crowd, a solid barrier protecting them from the magical battle below. “Performance of sword is a card.”

 

A card?

 

Kaiba threw his hands up and called his own shield as the weapons thudded into it or past the shield to thud into Yugi's. “What do you mean a card?” he asked, simultaneously hurling a great, oozing blob of goo towards Derven, who only half got out of the way and ended up getting his left foot stuck.

 

“It's a Duel Monsters card. A ritual summoned monster,” Yugi replied. “Son of a bitch!” A shield rose in front of Kaiba as Derven's second hurled a barrage of lightning at him. The lightning rebounded and hit the second, making his hair stand on end and his clothing smolder as his limbs jerked and twitched.

 

“Good catch,” Kaiba said, twisting away from another onslaught of jinxes from Derven. Right now, he was focusing on Yugi's observation. “You mean he used a card?”

 

“Something like that.”

 

“Well, in that case, two can play at that game.” Kaiba ducked a low flying fireball and began running down the list of cards he knew right off the back.

 

“Of course,” he muttered as he came across an obvious one. “Fissure!”

 

A great crack boomed through the air and Derven just managed to leap away from the long fissure that snaked across the ground. His crisped second was a little less fortunate and fell with a terrified, pained squeak.

 

“Now what am I supposed to do?” Yugi complained.

 

“Shut up and keep the shield up,” Kaiba replied and released another round of fireballs.

 

Derven, despite his lower power, was holding fairly well. As the two battled, they slowly edged closer and closer to one another, due to having to take spinning dodges and stepping to give their spells greater leverage.

 

“Magic missile!” Derven shrieked.

 

Kaiba's eyes widened as twenty electric blue bolts shot at him. He crossed his arms over his chest and got a shield up, which protected him from all but five, which slammed into him when the shield finally faltered. He flew backwards and cracked into the wall.

 

Another shield went up to protect him as Derven continued the assault with acid bolts. Kaiba scrambled to his feet and rubbed a jaw that would be bruised in the morning. “This is getting really annoying,” he muttered, stepping forward again and throwing a whirling vortex of crackling energy towards his opponent.

 

“Kaiba, behind you!” Yugi shouted.

 

The young wizard whirled and leaned back harshly, barely avoiding the spinning blades that whipped over his head, grazing his hair as it flew up around his face.

 

He let his inertia do the work for him, placing his hands down and throwing his legs up and over and landing in a crouch and spinning, throwing a hand out and releasing streams of blue lightning.

 

Derven got hit solidly in the arm and flew backwards.

 

Then he disappeared.

 

The crowd roared in disapproval at the apparent rule breaking.

 

Kaiba's senses tingled and he began to turn, even as Yugi shouted another warning.

 

Things slowed down it seemed, time's hand going sluggish.

 

Derven was behind him, hand held rigid like a blade as it went right for Kaiba's heart, crackles of electricity and raw magic sparking along it. Yugi was starting an incantation, hand cricked to throw a spell, despite the rule that implied he couldn't do anything about the actual battle.

 

Jade was on her feet, eyes blazing in anger as she moved towards the railing.

 

Joey, Tristan, Tea, and Bakura were shouting in outrage. Mokuba was clinging to Faye, who looked terrified for the young wizard. Drizzt and Alianna were already starting over the banister, along with the monk.

 

Caspian was shouting at the guard, his sister's lips moving as her hand slowly outstretched.

 

An icy, calm feeling filled him, snaking through his veins. His vision narrowed, became crystal clear like he was looking through glass at the bottom of a stream. Frost formed on his fingertips and along his arms, ran down his legs and ringed his feet.

 

The time snapped back to its normal pace.

 

Derven and Kaiba collided.

 

There was a scream of agony.

 

The crowd went quiet in sudden shock as Alianna, Drizzt, and the monk hit the sandy floor.

 

Yugi halted his casting.

 

Kaiba gave the icy spear in his hand a vicious twist and it ripped through the back of Derven's shoulder, even as the icy shield on his other arm blocked the rival wizard's hand, absorbing the shock of the spell.

 

Blood dribbled onto the sand.

 

“First blood!” Caspian roared, over riding the guard. “Match finish!”

 

Kaiba glared into Derven's eyes for a moment before pushing him away, the ice rapidly melting away as Jade also made it over the railing.

 

“You okay?” Yugi said, keeping an eye on the defeated wizard. Kaiba nodded, staring at his hand.

 

“Seto!”

 

He looked up to see Mokuba and Faye clambering over the railing and rushing towards him. He grinned slightly, in spite of himself and moved towards them.

 

“No!” Derven shrieked, scrambling up and rushing at him, hand once again aimed for his heart.

 

He didn't get more than two steps before he was blasted in the chest by a bolt of red and silver and identical bolts of green and copper. He flew back into the wall, where Tea grabbed him by the throat and pinned him.

 

“I believe Master Caspian said `match finish',” came a calm, cultured voice.

 

Jade stalked up, glaring at the wizard and patting Kaiba's shoulder as she passed, “Touch my student again and I swear to the gods you'll be begging mercy of the Spider Queen herself.”

 

Alianna walked up alongside her brother, who paused in front of Kaiba and looked him up and down.

 

“Well done,” he said after a moment. Kaiba inclined his head.

 

“If it's all the same to you,” Alianna said, looking at Caspian, “I think we're all funned out. We're heading out.”

 

“I don't particularly blame you,” he replied, hauling Derven roughly to his feet. “You are dismissed from this court, Master Derven. Indefinitely.”

 

“You can't do that—”

 

“Get out!” Caspian roared, shoving him towards the grand entrance as the tiers and arena began to shift back to the great hall.

 

Derven stiffened before huffing indignantly. “Lord Raoul, surely you won't let—”

 

“As much as my son and I tend to disagree, I fully support him in this decision. I will not have such things happening in my court. You are dismissed,” Raoul said with a glare.

 

Derven huffed again and turned on his heel. “Come, girl. We are no longer welcome,” he ordered Faye, who shrank slightly and began to walk quickly after him.

 

“Thank you,” she whispered to Kaiba as she passed.

 

Kaiba looked at Jade pleadingly.

 

It was Renan, however, who stepped out and caught the half-elf's arm gently and pulled her back. “You, my dear girl, will not be going anywhere with this old letch,” he said.

 

Derven had stopped and spun back around and was now glaring hatefully at Renan. “You have no right,” he said, “Girl, come here.”

 

Faye looked at him, Renan, Kaiba, then back to Derven. She took a step away from Renan.

 

“Don't even think of it,” Renan said, placing a hand on her shoulder and leveling a steady gaze on Derven. “She will stay here. With me.”

 

“If you have an interest in her, then you will have to pa—”

 

“Don't you dare insult him like that!” Alianna snarled, hand going for the hilt of her sword. Renan raised a hand and she stopped.

 

“My interest is nothing of the kind. The only thing I'm interested in is getting her away from a little sleaze such as you. She stays with me. Now get out.”

 

“You have no authority in this court—”

 

“I am my mother's personal representative in this allied territory. I have her authority, and I am sure I have Raoul's backing. Now, leave the girl, get out, and make no attempt to get her back.”

 

Derven opened his mouth to argue again but was silenced by the sight of Drizzt and Alianna sliding their weapons from their sheaths and stepping forward.

 

“You heard Lord Renan,” Marina said quietly, stepping up beside Faye and placing a hand on her arm. “You have also heard my brother and father. Get out.”

 

“I will not take orders from a woman—”

 

“Seems like he's having some trouble getting the message and headin' out, Joey,” Tristan suddenly said, casually, as he looked at his blonde friend, who grinned.

 

“You're right, Tristan. Whad'ya say about us givin' him a helpin' hand out the door?”

 

“Oh, certainly. Sarra? Care to join us?” the brunette asked politely of the female standing with them. She smiled and nodded, “It would be a pleasure.”

 

All three psions suddenly snapped their heads to look at Derven and inclined their heads in unison. Derven shot into the air with a terrified squeak. The three raised their heads then and with a squeal, Derven was sent hurtling through the hall and out the door to land roughly on his rump and skid.

 

The large doors shut with a bang.

 

Alianna smirked and returned her sword to its place before resting an arm on her brother's shoulder. “Well, what to do with you,” she said, looking at Faye carefully.

 

Renan smiled slightly, “You're more than welcome to accompany my wife and I to our home, although I'm sure my darling sister has already found a place for you with the tribe.”

 

Faye blushed faintly, “I really don't want to be much of a bother.”

 

“Bother?” Drizzt echoed, coming up with his arms crossed over his chest, scimitars back on his belt. “Three of my students and two of Jade's have already had offers to be schooled with members of their respective kin. We have slots to fill, and if I'm not misjudging the look on Ali's face, you have potential.”

 

“That's putting it lightly.”

 

Faye blinked and looked at Kaiba, who was crouching so Mokuba could whisper to him.

 

She smiled shyly as she looked back at the three elves. “Well…if you're sure you don't mind putting up with me.”

 

“I put up with these two, don't I?” Alianna asked, indicating the two males by her, who gave her identical scowls. Faye laughed.

 

“Can we go now?” Jade demanded. “We have some traveling accommodations to arrange, lessons to give, and I'm tired of this court nonsense.”

 

“Right,” Drizzt said. “Alright, kiddies, let's load up and move out!”

 

Alianna went to say formal good byes to the hosts while Drizzt oversaw rounding everyone up.

 

“You're coming with us?” Kaiba asked as Faye walked up to him, smiling. She nodded, “I am. And I can't thank you enough for…well, for everything you just did. With Derven and all, I mean.”

 

Kaiba shrugged and turned to follow Jade out. “Nobody should control someone else's life,” he said.

 

“Step lively!” came Drizzt's bellow.

 

“Is he always like that?” Faye asked.

 

Kaiba grinned, “You get used to it.”

 

“Seto, let's go,” Jade called. “You too, young mistress.”

 

Tea walked up behind them and placed a hand on both their backs, steering them out. “Come on, you two,” she said with a grin, “Best not keep the drow waiting.”

 

The palace was carved into the glacier itself, a beautiful abode that glimmered like crystal and glass. Icicles hung like chandeliers from the ceiling, reflecting the light from thousands of candles and torches that ran along the halls. Smooth, oval patches of ice where polished to mirror-shine.

 

Kaiba took it all in with an air of keen intellectual interest, noting that the ice didn't even drip despite the candles and torches and large, warm hearths in the rooms he had passed.

 

Now he stood in front of a large door carved from opaque ice. A guard—some being with blue skin and blue-white hair—knocked on the door before seizing a large, silver ring that was the handle and pulling it open.

 

“Ah, Seto Kaiba,” said a woman's voice that was cultured, cool, and rather pleasant, “Do come in and have a seat.”

 

The young wizard did so, not even flinching when the door closed behind him, and took a seat in a chair made of white wood and covered in furs. Across from him sat the mistress of the palace.

 

She was seated in a plush wingback chair that was piled with furs and pelts. She would be tall, if she stood, a good six inches taller than he, and had long, graceful limbs and a long, regal neck. Her skin was pale, almost as pale as the snow that covered her dwelling and lands, with hair the same shade as the snow. Her eyes were a crystalline blue that glittered with cool intelligence and the faintest hint of apathy.

 

Her gown was a simple one of pale blue silk that exposed her shoulders and hung in rich folds from her frame, sliding loosely over her curves but favoring more the design of robes than a dress. A circlet of glittering crystal beads and ice droplets decorated her brow and snuck up into her hair, where several elegant icicles rose up from the crown of her head.

 

She looked at him for several minutes, eyes scanning him up and down and taking his measure. “So,” she finally said, resting an elbow on the arm of her chair and delicately propping a cheek on her fist, “I understand it you have taken an interest in learning my secrets, even if it displeases me to share them.”

 

He raised an eyebrow, “Your secrets?”

 

“Yes. Mine. The secrets and magics my parents gave me on my birth when the first glaciers formed and the first snows fell.”

 

“So you're the lady of ice and winter that Jade and Drizzt were talking about.”

 

“I am. And you are Seto Kaiba, the human wizard everyone has been buzzing about, next to Master Yugi, of course.”

 

Kaiba's face formed into a faint scowl.

 

“Ah, a rivalry. And do you hate him?”

 

“What?” the question threw him off.

 

“Do you hate him?”

 

Kaiba slowly shook his head after a minute or two of thought, “No.”

 

She raised an eyebrow, “Do you trust him?”

 

Another pause for thought. “That is the best way to put it, for lack of a better term,” he finally said.

 

She nodded in approval and straightened, “A good answer.” She leaned down and poured steaming tea from the crystal tea pot sat on the table between them. “Tea?” she said politely.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Another cup was poured and handed to him.

 

“So,” she said, leaning back again as she stirred honey into her tea, “You are the one who wishes to learn my secrets. You do realize that is a great thing. I do not share lightly.”

 

“So I've been told.”

 

“Do not be so pert with me, Seto Kaiba, else wise I may change my mind.”

 

He paused and looked at her, the faintest look of eagerness lightning up his eyes. She smiled, “Yes, your little hope is correct at the moment. It so happens that I've wanted to pass on some things to another wizard for awhile now. There are so few who have the aptitude required, and I believe that you will be able to stand up to the task. Your little duel with Derven proved it to me, which is why I gave you access to my domain.”

 

“You mean the spear and shield…?”

 

“Of course. For one thing, that little bug would have killed you other wise and even I have a great deal of trouble convincing Neera to reverse death on the rare occasion I need her to. Secondly, the fact that you accessing this domain manifested itself as a spear and shield pleases me greatly. The spear is one of my favored weapons when I do need to take one up.”

 

He stared at her. “Am I dreaming?”

 

“In a sense. You could not travel to this place physically and come back to where you dwell in a day, so your lessons will be conducted this way. Now, shall we begin?”

 

His questions disappeared in a flash, replaced by the eager attentiveness he always had whenever Jade or Alianna brought up something new. She chuckled and pushed the tea tray to the side, several large and old books appearing on the table.

 

“Eagerness is appreciated. So, we will start with the basics,” she flipped open a book with a pale blue cover. “And keep in mind, this is for you alone. You may share a spell or two if you desire, but all the knowledge and secrets that we will encounter later on is for you only. I do not like those I do not find worth the time to know what my domain is capable of.”

 

He nodded in acceptance.

 

“Good. To begin, ice, cold, and the elements of winter are not always necessarily elements of death, merely sleep, hibernation and rebirth…”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, wow, this chapter was way longer than I planned. A-whoops. Oh, well, I found a way to use it to my advantage with plot, anyway, and did something for you die-hard Kaiba fans out there. Hope you enjoy it, it was rather interesting to write.