"Sir Neo...do you really think the group has traveled
this way? The wood looks as if it hasn't been traveled in 50 years,"
a trooper exclaimed.
"Enough, Vicks. I know you and the men dislike
this, and I sympathize, but Witch told me that the group has gone this
way. Sir 2 dope is an experienced ranger, and could easily hide his
tracks to seem as though no-one had come by. Continue marching.
And find Wedge. I need to talk to him..." Neo told the trooper.
As Vicks walked toward the back of the squad, he saw a shadow flicker in
the trees. He watched as it moved towards his general, and saw a
form jump from the trees to land in front of Neo.
"General Neo, how nice to see you again. I
take it the King does not trust me to handle matters here? And Vicks,
you really must watch more carefully. I could have slit the throats
of the entire squad without anyone raising an alarm," Flea admonished the
private.
"Hmph. So the mighty Flea has shown up once
more. You were due to report to His Majesty four days ago.
Where have you been?" Neo remarked, watching Flea carefully.
"I was out here attempting to reclaim the magic
book, you oversized can opener. Your sword's so damn heavy, I'm surprised
you don't have a hernia. I was unable to recover the book, but I
did get something just as valuable. And much cuter, I might add,"
Flea said, as he walked over and picked Spyder up from the underbrush,
and removed her gag. "I must warn you, though. She is under
my protection. If you or any of your troops try anything, they will
see how tough life can be without means of relieving themselves.
Spyder shall remain under my guard until we reach the capital," Flea told
Neo.
"As you will. Upon my honor, she shall be
safe from any danger. Let us set camp here for the night. My
men are weary from our travels."
[Dhsu]
"NOOOOO!!!" screamed Spyder. "You'll never be able
to control me! You won't be able to do this! I'm stronger than you think.
Even if you do, you won't get away with it for long!"
"We'll see about that," snickered Flea as he shackled
her into a metal chair. Tiamat looked on with an amused look on her
face, complemented with an sinister smile.
"I can sense her inexperience. She will be a very
willing and useful servant soon."
Spyder kept struggling, but knew it was useless.
She had never felt so helpless in her life. She just hoped that someone
would break the curse before she killed anyone. Suddenly, she had
a thought and settled calmly into the cold seat.
"Good, I see you've come to your senses and realized
that it's useless to resist," said Flea. "Rest assured, we will not hurt
you as long as you are faithful to our..." Flea stopped and sniffed the
air. "What's that smell?"
Tiamat glanced at him in alarm and exclaimed, "Fire!
She's cast a fire spell on your clothing!"
"Wench!" Flea shouted furiously, trying to put out
the flames. When he succeeded, he immediately gave Spyder a hard
slap. "You will pay for this!" He turned to Tiamat. "Control her,
NOW!"
Spyder had just enough time to utter the magic incantation
for a quake spell. Suddenly, the whole encampment trembled and large
cracks appeared in the ground. Tiamat was oblivious to all this,
engrossed in chanting her spell. Spyder broke free of her weakened
bonds and disappeared into the woods. Flea screamed in rage, but
in a few moments he saw her calmly walk back to the camp with wide eyes
and a blank look on her face. The spell had been successful and she
no longer had any control over her body. Tiamat opened her eyes and
a wide smile broke out on her face. "She will give us no more trouble
now."
"Well, now, my dear Tia," Flea said when he had
calmed down. "Why don't you clean up this mess with a nifty Return
spell?"
"My pleasure," smiled Tiamat. Flea watched
as she closed her eyes once more and muttered something under her breath.
He saw the confused look on her face when she opened her eyes and saw everything
just as before. She closed her eyes and murmured the spell again,
but not a stone
budged when her eyes opened the second time.
"What's wrong?" Flea asked.
"I...I don't know," Tiamat replied, just as confused
as Flea. "I can't seem to cast it."
"What? Of course you can, I've seen you do
it several times before!"
"I know, but..." Tiamat knit her eyebrows
as if trying to remember something. "Curse my old age! I totally
forgot about that!"
"About what?"
"The manipulate spell lets you control another body
and use whatever abilities the creature has. However, in turn, you
lose your own abilities. The only way to regain them is to kill the
controlled subject."
