"Friends will help you through the darkest times, and be with you through the brightest light."
"Get your lazy butts moving!" The strident voice of the Swordmaster of Seyruun shouted to the squadron of guards as they moved out for morning practice. They were gathered around the entrance to the practice yard pointing at something inside. Archand pushed his way through. "What’s going on here? You can’t practice out here!"
"Look, sir," the Captain said and pointed inside.
Archand froze: The entire line of practice mannequins had been reduced to ruins. Archand walked slowly along the line of targets. Nothing remained of them except splinters and shredded leather and sacking.
As he approached the end of the line, he spotted something in the dry dust of the yard. He came to a stop over it and looked down at it in silence a moment before he bent and picked it up. Dusting off the hilt, he recognized it and frowned.
He turned and strode quickly back to the entrance to the yard. "All right, looks like practice is canceled this morning. Instead, you lot are going to rebuild these targets. Get on it!" He continued on towards the garrison.
"Master Archand!" the Captain shouted.
He turned. "What is it, Darun?" he said.
"I found this over there." Darun held out an empty scabbard.
Archand took it and slid the sword into it. "Thank you, Darun. Now you’d better get your men busy in there." Darun nodded.
The Swordmaster turned away to enter the garrison.
* * *
"Gourry, stop."
"No," the swordsman said flatly. His head hurt and his eyes felt like they’d been peeled, but he’d gotten up before dawn after only a couple hours’ sleep. Now, at mid-morning, Amelia and Zelgadis found him pacing the sitting room of the apartment like a caged lion. His head was down and his fists clenched at his sides; clenched hard enough to leave welts on his palms from his fingernails. He was dressed in his everyday clothes, having cast off last night’s finery when he woke. "I’m going to go find Lina," he said suddenly, turning and grabbing up his armor.
Zelgadis stepped forward and stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Where are you going to start looking?" the Chimera asked. "We don’t have the first clue as to where Xellos took her. She could be anywhere."
"What about where that Master of his lives? Wolfsomething Island?" He shrugged Zelgadis off and slung his hipguards around his waist.
"You’re going to go to Wolfpack Island all by yourself?" Zelgadis asked.
Gourry finished buckling the belt to his armor. "If I have to."
"You’ll never survive! The place is crawling with Mazoku; you wouldn’t last two minutes after you got there, provided you even managed to find it in the first place."
"I’ll manage," he said as he buckled his breastplate into position.
"You won’t," Zelgadis said flatly. "Not by yourself and we are not going to let you sacrifice yourself on some fool’s errand!"
The big swordsman flushed uncharacteristically and paused in picking up his shoulder guards. "A fool’s errand?" he yelled. "Is that what finding Lina is to you? Am I a fool for wanting to get my wife back?" Amelia stared at Gourry, shocked that he would think they felt that way about him. They had never considered him a fool—and definitely not one for loving Lina.
Exasperated with the older man, Zelgadis grabbed the shoulder guards away from him and threw them to the floor. He grabbed Gourry’s arms and jerked him around. "Listen to us, damn it!" he shouted.
Gourry gave the Chimera a hard look and said in a low voice, "I thought Lina was your friend, Zel."
Zelgadis stiffened and his fingers clenched on Gourry’s arm. "How dare you?" Zel grated. Gourry grimaced from the pain but did not pull away. Two pairs of eyes were locked on each other, each challenging the other to back down first.
"Stop this!" Amelia ordered. Neither man looked away from the other. She stepped forward and put her hand on Gourry’s arm. "Gourry-san, you’re being unfair." The steel behind her words broke the stalemate. Gourry looked away from Zelgadis’ eyes into hers.
"Zelgadis-san only meant that going off by yourself without any help won’t help Lina. And if anything happens to you, Lina-san would never forgive us." She laid a hand on both their arms, willing them to stand down. "Please, listen to us. It’s not that we don’t want to help you find Lina-san, but until we figure something out, running off without some sort of plan isn’t going to help her. We’ll only end up defeating ourselves in the process."
"There’s got to be something I can do," he said softly, the pain in his voice heartbreaking.
"We need time," Zelgadis said as he unlocked his fingers from Gourry’s arm. The taller swordsman rubbed his arm there. "Time to find her and time to come up with a way to fight Xellos."
Gourry’s mouth twisted bitterly. "That’s the one thing I can’t do." He sat on the sofa and rested his arms on his knees.
Amelia sat next to him. "No one is doubting your skills with a sword, Gourry-san," she said. "You wounded him last night and that’s more than either Zelgadis or I were able to do. But you just can’t fight a high-level Mazoku like Xellos with a sword made of plain steel. We need some sort of spell or a magic weapon." Her eyes were sad because she knew her friend was suffering.
He sighed. "Thanks, Amelia," he said, patting her hand. He looked up at Zelgadis and said sincerely, "I’m sorry, Zelgadis. I shouldn’t have said what I did."
Zelgadis shook his head. "It’s understandable. You’re upset. We’re all upset, but one thing is certain, Gourry: We will get Lina back. Leave it to Amelia and myself to find a way."
"But what do I do in the meantime?" Gourry asked. "I just can’t sit here and do nothing."
"Get your strength back, Gourry-san," Amelia said, hugging him. "Be in the best condition you can be for when we finally do come up against Xellos so you can beat the crap out of him."
Unable to resist, Gourry chuckled and put his arm around the little Princess. "You can count on it, Princess."
Smiling, Amelia stood up and went to Zelgadis’ side. "Do you want to come help us?" she asked. Zelgadis winced but she hushed him with a wave of her hand.
Gourry shook his head. "No, you know I’m no use there. I don’t know anything about magic; it just confuses me." He looked up at Amelia and smiled. "Thanks for asking me, though."
She smiled back. "We’ll be back later. If you need anything, just send someone to fetch me. We’ll be over at the Sorcerer’s Guild Library."
He raised a hand. "I’ll be fine," he said. He sighed as they left and picked up his shoulder guards. Yes, he’ll be fine, he thought to himself. Not very likely. He may say it, but it wasn’t the way he felt.
Feeling restive, he got up and wandered around the sitting room. He found himself by the table that was still piled high with books and Lina’s research. He picked up a wooden case and opened it and took her spectacles out of the padded lining and held them in his hand. Carefully replacing them, he put the case back on the table and turned away. He spotted the hatstand on which her cloak and shoulder guards were hung. Walking over there, he bunched the cloak in his hands and held it to his face. He could still smell the fragrance she wore; was it lavender? He could never remember what it was.
Suddenly, Lina’s presence in the room was too much for him and he needed to get out. He dropped her cloak and quickly made his escape before his grief could overcome him again.
* * *
Gourry wandered through the streets without really seeing them or where he was going. He eventually found himself in the marketplace but kept to the edges as he didn’t want to be among quite so many people. So it was with surprise that he found himself back at the Street of Cunning Artificers. Hesitating only a moment, he turned and headed for Jardaan’s shop. He didn’t know why, but he just wanted to see the old man again.
The little bell over the door announced his entrance as he peered into the musty darkness. "Hello? Jardaan?" he called.
"Coming, coming," came the voice of the shopkeeper from behind the curtain. "Gourry! What are you doing here? No, wait, you’ve come to show me your bride, haven’t you?" Jardaan smiled and looked around.
"She’s not here," Gourry said sadly.
"Why not? I told you to bring her along, didn’t I? You two aren’t having marital problems are you?"
"No," Gourry said softly. "She’s…A Mazoku took her away last night."
Jardaan froze. "A Mazoku?! Gourry, what are you talking about?"
The blonde man hung his head. "It’s a long story, Jardaan. I’m not sure I understand everything that happened, either."
The elf took Gourry’s arm and led him around the counter and past the curtain. "Come inside and I’ll make us some tea. Then you can tell me your story."
* * *
"And he just…took her." Gourry drained his tea cup and set it carefully down on the table. He stared at it a moment. "We don’t know where to start looking for her or…" His voice broke as he voiced his deepest fear, something he hadn’t let himself even consider before now. "Or even if she’s still alive."
"Gourry, do you think she’s dead?" Jardaan asked suddenly.
"I—I don’t think so," he replied slowly. "I don’t know how I know, but somehow I know she’s still alive. How is that?" he asked the elf.
Jardaan took Gourry’s left hand and turned it over. "The rings I gave you. They’re Soulbonding Rings."
Startled, Gourry sat back. "But we never went to Mipross!" he said. "I haven’t even asked Lina if she’d consider going yet, let alone go through the Soulbonding ceremony!"
The old elf smiled and patted Gourry’s hand. "Those are mere formalities put in place to recognize the bond that has already formed or to help along a bonding is only half-formed. Even being part human, you have enough Elven blood in you that they weren’t necessary. True Soulbonding has nothing to do with that. True Soulbonding comes from here." He put his hand over the younger man’s heart and fixed him with a look that was both scowl and smile. "I can tell your bond is already strong; you’ve probably been bonded for longer than you realize."
Gourry looked at him in dumbfounded amazement. "I always thought—"
"I know, I know, that’s not the point. The point is that the bond is already there."
The swordsman looked at his hands. "You know, now that you mention it, I’ve always felt very close to Lina. Even from the very start. There have been a couple times when I thought Lina was dead and yet, somehow, I knew she wasn’t."
Jardaan nodded. "There you are." He leaned forward suddenly. "Tell me, Gourry, have you ever mentioned your Elven heritage to Lina?"
Gourry shook his head. "Uh, the subject never came up."
"Pity. It would have made things easier."
"Made what easier?"
Jardaan fixed Gourry with a sharp look. "Do you want to find Lina?"
"What kind of question is that?" Gourry demanded, tiring of Jardaan’s cryptic statements. "Of course I want to find her!"
"Then look for her with your heart. Use what you have—the Rings will help you."
"What do you mean?" He looked down at the ring on his finger and remembered the shock both he and Lina had felt when they’d put them on each other.
The old elf sighed and shook his head. "I can’t tell you that. Not because I don’t want to, but because it’s something that can’t be explained. You have to find out for yourself."
Gourry looked at him questioningly a moment then hung his head. "That’s it?" he asked quietly.
Jardaan shook his head. "I can’t explain it; it’s not something that can be understood on an intellectual level. It has more to do with your feelings, your emotions." Jardaan shook his head. "Someone who has never experienced it before can’t understand what it’s like, to be able to sense your Soulmate through the bond. It’s…" The elf gestured helplessly. "It’s both fantastic and frightening at the same time. To know that someone else can sense your thoughts and feelings—It’s not even that clear-cut. It’s not as if you can read your Mate’s mind, but you can know what they’re thinking. Be more in tune with them. You and Lina do that more than you realize; focus it and you’ll be able to find her."
"How do the Rings fit into this?"
"Their magic heightens and intensifies the bond if you know how to use them."
"But I don’t know how." He was getting very exasperated with all these half-answers.
"Again, it’s a matter of finding out for yourself. There is no trick required to using them; their magic simply amplifies what is already there."
The swordsman sighed and lifted his head; his blue eyes were shadowed. "Thanks, Jardaan. You’ve given me a place to start at least. Even if I don’t understand it." He shook himself and looked around the cluttered room. "I should probably be heading back to the palace." Standing, he headed towards the curtain that separated the back room from the shop. He’d just put his hand on it when Jardaan’s voice stopped him.
"Remember, Gourry: Feel, don’t think. That’s the only way."
Gourry looked at the little elf sadly, then disappeared through the curtain and made his way through the cluttered little shop and headed back to the palace.
* * *
After the teeming marketplace, the palace courtyard seemed deathly quiet. Gourry deliberately took a wrong turn to avoid having to go back to the apartment that now seemed so empty without Lina. Just like he felt. He hadn’t realized just how much his life centered around Lina until she was gone and he was helpless to do anything about it. When the L-sama-possessed Lina had disappeared in his grasp, the real Lina had appeared moments later. He hadn’t really had time to think about life without her. Now, however…
He wandered along the paved walkway that skirted the palace and wandered through carefully manicured gardens and under one of the many huge walls that characterized the White Magic Capital. On this side of the wall was the Temple of Ceiphied, sparkling white in the early afternoon sunshine. As he passed the open doors, he could hear the voices of the choir inside, singing hymns to Ceiphied. It was strange to hear them; he hadn’t been to a worship service for years, but somehow, miraculously, he remembered the words:
"God of mercy, God of love,
Let thy Spirit, like the dove
Touch and humble, teach and bless,
As we serve in holiness."
As if drawn inside by the promise of peace, he entered the dimly lit Temple. The afternoon service was still going on so he ducked into the back pew so as not to disturb anyone. The atmosphere was restful and he found the emotional turmoil he’d suffered since that horrible moment last night when Xellos had taken Lina from him slipping away. It was still there, but now he didn’t feel as if it was going to overwhelm him at a moment’s notice.
The service ended and the congregation filed out of the chapel. He was aware of the curious glances that they shot at him; an armored man sitting in on the service was probably quite unusual in this peaceful city. He ignored them, however, and kept his eyes fixed on the statue of Ceiphied in His dragon form at the front of the chapel.
"May I help you?" The question startled him out of his study of the statue.
"What?" he said and looked up, startled out of his thoughts. The priest who had conducted the service stood there trying to not to stare at Gourry’s armor. He was probably no older than Gourry himself, with light brown hair and black eyes. "No," the swordsman said. "I’m just…I just need to think. Someplace quiet."
The priest looked as if he were about to protest, but a movement on the other side of the chapel drew his attention. Dios, the High Priest, nodded at him and motioned at him to leave the man be.
Nodding, the priest said, "Take as much time as you like. If you should need anyone, I’ll be through there." He pointed through a door to the back and smiled. Then he bowed and was gone.
Alone in the chapel, Gourry leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees; his hands were clenched together in front of him. He thought about Jardaan’s words about finding Lina through the Soulbond he shared with her. Turning his hands over, he looked at the ring on his left hand. He ran his fingers over it; if he concentrated he could feel the power in it. Jardaan said they amplified what was already there; he needed to focus it. Taking a deep breath, he wondered if it was anything like focusing his will to power the Sword of Light? He’d had years of practice doing that, though he was afraid he might have grown lax in the months since the Sword of Light had been returned to its original owners for safe-keeping.
He bowed his head and concentrated, drawing upon his willpower. He could still feel it obey him, and he focused it upon the Ring and its latent magic. He felt something leap within him, expanding until it completely filled him. He tried to grasp onto it and felt it slip through his mental fingers and die down.
Taking a deep breath, he cleared his mind for another attempt. Jardaan had said feel, don’t think. This time, he let his will build until he could feel its sharp edge, like a sword. Yes, a sword; he was familiar with swords. Fixing this mental image in his mind, he slid the swordblade into the circle of power formed by the Ring.
As the two met and merged, the power filled him. He could feel it leading away, leaping along some sort of channel. Inexplicably, the power felt like Lina—it smelled, looked, sounded, and tasted like Lina. It was Lina. He could feel her along the bond!
He reached out to her: Where are you, Lina? he thought along the bond. Tell me where you are and I’ll come get you! They weren’t real words, merely the shape of them.
Darkness was his answer. Darkness, desire, relief and confusion. Unformed images giving off the general sense of these things. He felt her reaching for him. Then, very clearly, he heard, Who are you!?
Startled, he sat back. The shock closed down the bond that had been formed. "Lina?" he whispered into the dimness of the chapel. "What has he done to you?" he asked in a stricken voice.
Slayers copyright 1991-2000 by Hajime Kanzaka/Rui Araizumi/Kadokawa Shoten/TV
TOKYO/SOFTX/Marubeni.
The other characters copyright Wendy W Lee.