Chapter Two
[Eldaron1]
2 Dope approached the party and comforted them.
"Don't worry, I've got archers lying in wait for any unbidden guest from
any direction. I'll be quite surprised if Flea can make it by them
all, especially with the burden of Cyclinbear," 2 Dope managed to say with
a half-grin on his face (Cyclinbear being somewhat burly). One by
one word was received that a shadow in the trees had passed by many of
the outposts without being within bowshot or close enough for anyone to
recognize a face. The party of Roland, Parsnip, Tazor, Spyder, Eldaron1,
IDM, and Crippy accompanied by 2 Dope sat in the large hut around a fire
desperately thinking of a hopeless plan.
"So where exactly are we?" Parsnip asked.
"About 2 and a half leagues north of King Marley's
troops' camp," 2 Dope replied.
"Really? We made it that far in so little time,"
Tazor said with a look of wonder at his legs and feet, surprised they were
not sore.
"We have to get Cyclinbear back without getting
him hurt, at any cost," Spyder said. "He helped us so we owe him
the favor."
They then contrived a plan to follow Flea and Cyclinbear
the next day. Though the trail would be cold, GFX2000, a resident
of 2 Dope's empire, was a very good hunter and tracker. The night
passed with all the guys in one room and Spyder alone to herself.
During the night they all had dreams of a hidden power that is locked beneath
the earth awaiting it's time to serve a master. The only one who
understood it was Roland, for it was the being that would be released by
the spell that they had now possession of. He pondered whether to
ask Parsnip to summon it yet or wait until
the time is ripe.
The next day they departed from 2 Dope's Fort for
Marley's area but not without properly dressing in camouflaged armor.
Eldaron1, IDM, Roland, and Crippy were all given great bows of yew with
a quiver of long arrows. The others were given curved knives in the
shape of silver leaves emblazoned with green characters about the hilts.
They all thanked the gift-givers with a hardy hug and a gracious "Farewell
until we meet again." The company then moved on slowly yet steadily
through the forest of green to get their comrade. Along the way Parsnip
talked and discussed what they should do after they recovered Cyclinbear.
"Only time will tell, only time will tell, for we
should not have too much foresight as to what will come next on our quest
to conquer Marley," Roland replied in a intelligent voice.
[Flea]
As the party advanced towards Marley's castle, the
sounds of the forest were strangely subdued.
"This is rather odd...I am feeling rather uncomfortable..."
remarked 2 dope, as he scouted ahead.
"We must stay alert for any traps. King Marley
will do anything to eliminate us. And, we don't know about what that
Flea character maybe up to. He could possibly have already turned
in Cyclinbear, and is waiting to abduct someone else," Roland cautioned
the party. Spyder moved over to join the rest of the party.
"Hell, if I get my hands on that Flea, I'll strangle
him 'till he turns purple. How dare he do this to us in our time
of need! How could someone be so cruel?"
"Some people are just naturally uncaring.
But I agree. If we find him, we'll make sure he doesn't
get away unscathed," Crippy said, grimly.
Suddenly, the party heard a loud commotion in a
clearing up ahead. As they rushed toward it, they saw a dark figure
holding 2 medium length blades, fighting off armored troopers. They
saw Cyclinbear's crumpled form nearby. He wasn't moving.
"OK, Flea, this is as far as you go!" a trooper
yelled, as he circled around Flea's deadly blades.
"Hah. Scum like you cannot bring me down.
I defeated an entire legion of the king's elite guard in under 5 minutes.
And you have the audacity to think someone as weak as you can kill me?
I spit upon the woman that bore you."
"Grrrr...you will pay for that insult with your
life! I will present your head to his majesty myself!" the trooper
growled, as he rushed in towards Flea. Flea easily parried his thrust,
and slit the man's stomach open.
"Hmph. Foolish ma--aaaaaagh...." Flea cried
as he slumped onto the pile of bodies, knocked cold by IDM's staff.
"Well, it looks like the king didn't trust his hired
help much, eh? Well, let's truss him up, and see what he has to say.
Crippy, go check Cyclinbear, see if he's OK," 2 dope said impatiently.
2 dope examined Cyclinbear. "He's OK, just a lump on the head.
He should wake up shortly."
Spyder walked over, and rolled Flea on his back
with her foot. "Well, so much for the mighty Flea. It's almost
a pity we may have to kill him after we question him. He would have
been a great
asset."
"Mmmph! imph gomme kiff augh yerf msses whmph
I grey oupha herph!!!" a soldier swore, as he gradually woke up.
"Damn. I missed one..." Flea said, noticing the
guard coming to. "I must be losing my touch..."
"Yes, but not your love for leaving sentences unfinished.
So, how are you, Flea? Uncomfortable and angry, I hope," Cyclinbear
sneered at him as he passed by.
"Haha, aren't we clever?"
"Ah, shuddap, scum!" Cyclinbear yelled, as he turned
around to deliver a blow to Flea's head. Flea wasn't there anymore.
Suddenly, Cyclinbear felt a tap on his shoulder. As he turned around,
he saw a large fist, belonging to Flea, coming toward his face.
"I'm getting really tired of-ooof!" Cyclinbear groaned
as he was knocked silly for the second time. Flea slung him over
his shoulder, and proceeded towards the camp to confront the others.
"You must keep a better eye on this man," Flea said,
as he dumped Cyclinbear's unconscious form next to the fire. "He
keeps having these momentary blackouts."
"Why I oughtta...!" 2 dope yelled as he rose from
the ground.
"SIT DOWN, Mr. 2 dope. I won't hurt him unless
you force me. I have a proposition for you. You cease all hostilities
toward me, and I will lend you my skills."
"And why should we trust the likes of you?
You already tried to sell 'Bear to the king, you spoony assassin."
"Fine. So be it. We shall meet again."
Flea walked off, despite the sputtered outrages
from the heroes. After they watched Flea walk off, they revived Cyclinbear,
and told him what happened.
"Wait...hold it...shut up! Let's just do a
quick resource check before we go after him." The party went through
their stuff, and discovered that Flea's equipment was missing.
"Hey...where's Spyder?"
"She had guard duty after Flea left." As they
walked over to where the captured soldier was, they discovered a small
dagger in his forehead, and no sign of Spyder.
"Well, I officially really hate that S.O.B. now,"
Tazor said angrily. All through the wood, they heard Flea's echoing
laughter.
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