"In order to act you must be somewhat insane. A reasonably sensible man is satisfied with thinking." – Georges Clemenceau
The deadly sound of steel ringing on steel echoed and re-echoed around the circular chamber, for the moment drowning out the sound of the storm as Gourry and Zelgadis drew their swords and faced their guide. Amelia conjured a spell in her hands and stood at the ready. All three fixed the silver-haired man with intense glares.
"What’s going on here?" Gourry demanded, his voice low and growling.
"That’s what I’d like to know, too," Zelgadis said. "Where did you disappear to?"
"And why are you dressed like that?" Amelia added.
Jarix looked thoughtful then grinned at them. "Tell you what, you tell me what you think and I’ll let you know if you’re right or not. Sound okay?"
Silently and with incredible speed, Gourry crossed the distance between the two of them and grabbed the front of the other man’s robe. Even using just his left hand, he was able to pull the shorter man up. "You should already know we don’t like games. Why don’t you cut the bullshit and just tell us what we want to know?"
"You know, you really need to work on your people skills," Jarix said calmly. He looked into Gourry’s eyes without a trace of the fear he’d shown the previous evening when the blonde had attacked him. His grin and mocking attitude were gone. "Give me a good reason to tell you anything."
"I could kill you right now," Gourry said. "Give me a good reason not to." Zelgadis and Amelia started forward, surprised at the venom in their friend’s voice.
"Could you really kill me?" Jarix said calmly, his green agate eyes still locked on Gourry’s sapphire ones. "Kill a man who’s done nothing to harm you?" He looked over at the Princess. "Is this your so-called Justice, Princess Amelia? Not only have I not harmed you, I’ve done nothing but offer you the benefit of my services. Yet I’ve received nothing but abuse from the three of you." He nodded as the shock registered on her face. Both Amelia and Zelgadis stood frozen as they realized he was right. Turning his hard green eyes back to Gourry, he said, "More importantly, Gabriev, kill me, and you’ll never find what you’ve come looking for."
Gourry jumped as if bitten and released the other man. "How do you know my name? I never told you."
Jarix smoothed the front of his robe. "It’s part of my job to know these things."
Zelgadis stepped forward and put a hand on Gourry’s arm, turning him slightly. "Wait," he said to Jarix. "You’re the Temple priest here, aren’t you?"
Jarix inclined his head slightly. "You’ve finally figured it out."
"I knew you were more than the simple trapper-turned-guide you tried to make yourself out to be."
"But I’m both of those things as well. I need to eat, don’t I? And how else are people going to find the Temple if I don’t show them the way?"
"Then why all the pretense?" Amelia asked, coming up on the other side of Gourry. "Why didn’t you just tell us?"
"Because, Princess," he said politely, bowing to her without the slightest hint of condescension that he’d used earlier, "that would have made it too easy. It was also a test, to see how much you actually wanted to get here. Many people come looking for the Temple. Not many have the courage or ability to make it this far." He turned his eyes to Gourry again. "Fewer still are actually able to claim the prize." He sighed and half-turned. "Come. We don’t need to stand around here and discuss it. I’m sure you could all use something hot to drink and eat." Without waiting to see if they followed him or not, he started down the stairs. Zelgadis, Gourry and Amelia looked at one another curiously. The two men shrugged, sheathed their swords, and the three of them followed the priest.
* * *
A shadow twitched beside a tree on a hillside overlooking the White Magic capital of Seyruun. The shadow shifted and formed itself into that of the General-Priest of the Beast Master, one of the Five Dark Lords of Shabranigdu. He smiled as he looked upon the City, so fair, so unsuspecting, so ripe for the plucking…
But he was here for another reason. He reached into the pocket of his slacks and felt for the wadded bit of black silk he’d wrapped the ring in. A grin, mirthless and ugly, spread across his face. Time to go taunt the swordsman again. Darkness flashed again and the sunny hillside was perhaps a little sunnier now that the shadow had left it.
* * *
He phased back into reality just inside the Palace grounds, in the shadow of the wall. He stayed back in the shadows, taking a moment to re-orient himself to the physical plane. While only a short time had passed for himself and Lina in his little dimensional bubble, a month had come and gone here in Seyruun. His mouth quirked upwards in his usual half-grin; he wondered how he’d find the swordsman. He hoped that he was still alive; he so much wanted to see his face when he gave him back Lina’s ring. But then again, if he had gone berserk and offed himself, that would be fine, too.
Gripping his staff, Xellos stepped out of the shadows and joined the crowd that flowed in and out of the gates. The line leading out of the Palace was quite thick today while there weren’t as many people coming into the Palace as there normally was. Interesting…He looked over his shoulder and saw the reason why: People were being stopped at the gates and closely inspected. Xellos wondered about that but shrugged. He turned and headed into the Palace proper, using his abilities to blend in to get him past the suspicious guards.
Sending his senses outwards, the Mazoku could taste the delicious taste of fear and worry and anger. It was quite strong and was coming from over…He oriented himself and found the source. There. Not one to turn up such a fine meal, he decided to see who would be feeling so negatively in Seyruun’s capital. Hopefully it would be the swordsman, or maybe even the chimera.
Finding the chamber from which the rich meal was emanating, Xellos passed through the dimensions and took up residence in a convenient shadow. Glancing around, he didn’t see any of Lina’s constant companions, only the Crown Prince of Seyruun and his brother, Christopher.
Phil jumped out of his chair and slammed his huge hands onto the table in front of him. He leaned forward and yelled at his younger brother, "What do you mean Amelia isn’t here? My daughter would not have abandoned her duties as my surrogate! The name and cause of Justice burns too brightly in her heart!"
"I agree, Brother, but the circumstances were extenuating!" Christopher held out his hand placatingly Philionel.
And what circumstances are those?" Phil demanded.
"Two weeks prior to the reception to present her consort to the court…" Christopher paused as if trying to find a way to couch his words in a way that would provoke Philionel the least. "The sorceress, Lina Inverse—"
"This is Lina Inverse’s doing?!" Phil looked ready to launch into another speech, but Christopher stopped him
"No! Brother, listen! Her companion had been wounded—"
"Gabriev? Wounded? How can that be?"
Christopher looked ready to try some of his brother’s pacifist techniques on the man himself. "Please! Let me explain!" He took a deep breath. "He’d been wounded by some mercenaries, who we later found out had been hired to kill him and take Lina. At the Princess’ and Master Greywers’ reception, the priest Xellos appeared and took Lina. He said he’d been behind the attack on Master Gabriev. The two of them fought, but the swordsman was defeated and the Mazoku disappeared. Three days later, the Princess, Master Greywers and Master Gabriev left to seek out a way to defeat the Mazoku who had stolen their friend away from them." Christopher took a deep breath and hung his head. "That’s why Amelia isn’t here."
Philionel stared at him. "Lina Inverse? Taken by a Mazoku?" He sat back in his chair, face behind his bushy mustache and beard pale at the thought.
"Do you understand now?" Christopher asked.
Starting, Philionel nodded. "Of course, of course. Amelia couldn’t have let this crime against her friend go unpunished or abandon her to the machinations of this Xellos." He looked at his brother. "Forgive me for losing my temper, dear brother."
Christopher’s response was cut off as Xellos phased out of the palace and onto the roof. Mouth set in a thin straight line, he brought the head of his staff down on the tiles below him with inhuman strength, smashing several of them. He watched unseeing as they skittered downwards and slipped off the eaves. As they crashed to the courtyard below, he gathered his wits and forced himself to be calm.
He thought about what he’d learned from the little conversation between Philionel and Christopher. Gourry, Zelgadis and Amelia had left Seyruun. How dare they not be here when he wanted to gloat?!
Huffing, he leaned on his staff and wondered where they could have gone. Or why they’d left. Did they really think they could find Lina? Was that it? He had been so positive he’d find that idiot swordsman still here, wasting away and pining over his lost love, he hadn’t even considered the possibility that he might actually try looking for the sorceress.
Sitting up, Xellos looked around the city. If the three of them weren’t here, they must have gone looking for something to help them find Lina. There should be some sort of clue as to what that was or where they went around here. It was just a question of knowing where to look…He smiled to himself: He knew where to look. Taking hold of the space around him, he twisted it and slipped through—straight into the apartment that Lina and her lapdog had been using.
Xellos leaned his staff against the wall and wandered around. The place had a lot of negative energy clinging to it; he grinned to himself. For those emotions to hand around for so long, they must have been intense indeed. He took a moment to savor the flavors, a bit faded but still flavorful. Grief, rage, hatred…Definitely from the swordsman.
Leaving those for the moment, he turned his attention to the physical plane. The room was immaculate. Everything had been put away; there was no clue as to where the three had gone, or what they were looking for. He stormed into the bedroom and ripped open the doors to the wardrobe, pulling items out at random and throwing them everywhere in his search for clues. Nothing. Back to the sitting room. There were no books lying conveniently open to a page that would give away their plans, no forgotten notes, no errant piece of paper with a name scribbled on it wedged under the table leg. Not even in the fireplace. And he checked, too.
Nothing.
Banging his fist on the polished table, he gave the place one last glance, grabbed up his staff, and phased out of the palace.
* * *
Deep within a mountain in the Lancre mountains, a door opened. The darkness was pierced by warm firelight as the priest carrying the quarter moon staff led the little party of three friends into a room that while spartanly furnished, still managed to feel welcoming and friendly. A large part of the was due to the fire that blazed in the huge hearth opposite the door and the pot of stew that was simmering close to it.
Jarix leaned his staff against the wall near a row of hooks. He shrugged off his robe and hung it on one of the hooks then gestured to the others. "Come in, take off your cloaks off and have a seat." He hurried over to the fire and stirred the stew.
The others looked wearily at one another and shrugged. Amelia was the first to remove her cloak and hang it on one of the waiting hooks. Zelgadis and Gourry did the same, but neither removed their swords. The three of them wandered towards the table and sat, all looking very weary and worn out.
The priest returned with the pot and set it upon the table. "I hope you don’t mind rabbit," he said. "About all I can catch up here in the wintertime." He left them to fetch bowls and spoons from a cabinet.
"What is this place?" Zelgadis asked when he returned.
"It’s what I call my home," Jarix explained. "Where the priest of the Temple lives. Well, some of the time. Actually, I spend most of my time in Beram and Melkur when I’m not performing my duties here." He scooped up the stew and served it.
They ate gratefully in silence for several minutes. When their hunger had been abated somewhat and they were beginning to feel warm again, the Chimera fixed Jarix with an icy stare. "Care to explain a few things now?"
"Anything you like. What would you like me to explain?" Jarix asked without pause.
"How did you know my name?" Gourry asked suddenly, cutting across Zel’s response. His voice was brusque.
The Chimera looked from him to Jarix and nodded. "A good place," he said.
Jarix leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. "That’s not a big mystery: This is Princess Amelia Wil Tesla de Seyruun, right?" He pointed to Amelia and she nodded. "Even here in Beram we’ve heard tales of the Princess having traveled extensively in the company of a Shamanist sorcerer who is a Chimera. That would be you, Zelgadis Graywers." Jarix looked at Zelgadis, who also nodded. The priest then looked at Gourry. "Her other companions have been the famous sorceress Lina Inverse and her guardian, Gourry Gabriev." He shrugged. "I took a guess as to your identity, that’s all." Fixing the blonde swordsman with his green eyes, he asked, "Where’s the other member of your group? The sorceress, Lina Inverse?"
"Gabriev," Gourry said in a toneless voice.
"What?" Jarix asked.
"It’s Lina Gabriev now," the swordsman repeated. "She’s my wife."
"Is that so?" Jarix said, raising an eyebrow. "Congratulations. So where is she?"
Gourry’s face twisted in pain. "None of your business!" He smacked his hand on the tabletop, and stood up. The chair scraped across the stone floor. "I’m tired of your games! Just tell me how to get the fucking sword!" He found himself hunched over and glaring at the priest, fists clenched tightly at his sides and breathing hard. With a loud noise of disgust, he whirled around and stalked through the large double doors that they’d come through.
Jarix stared after him. "What’s eating him? Or does he always act this way?"
Amelia looked worriedly after Gourry. "Do not mock our friend!" she snapped, turning to face Jarix. Her face was an angry mask. "There are things in this world you cannot possibly understand!" She pushed away from the table and ran after Gourry.
"Would somebody please tell me what’s going on? I’ve had my head bitten off so many times in the past two days that I’m going to need the services of a surgeon before you people leave." He looked at Zelgadis.
"I guess we do owe you an explanation. Got any coffee? This might take a few minutes."
Sighing, Jarix got up and fetched a pot from near the fireplace. Grabbing two mugs from the mantel, he set them down on the table and poured the coffee into it.
* * *
Amelia looked up at the sound of the soft footfall. Her dark brows lowered as she saw who it was. "Princess Amelia," Jarix said, bowing to her. He looked at the swordsman, sitting with his arms resting on his drawn up knees and staring out at the raging storm. "Would you excuse us? Your friend and I have some things to discuss. Don’t worry," he added as she hesitated. "I’m not going to say anything stupid this time."
The girl looked at Gourry, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Gourry-san?" she asked quietly.
He nodded and looked up at her. "It’s okay." She rose to her feet, directed another acid glare at Jarix and left them.
Jarix sighed and dropped down on the opposite side of the glassed in archway and watched Gourry for several moments. The swordsman was playing with the maroon scarf that was tied to the hilt of his sword, running it between his fingers. "Is that Lina’s?" he asked, not knowing what else to say to start up a conversation between them.
"It is," came the curt reply. Nothing more.
Taking a deep breath, Jarix tried again. "Look, Gourry, I’m sorry about my earlier comments, but how was I to know what happened?"
Gourry looked at him, his blue eyes hard. "I don’t want your apologies or sympathy, Jarix. I just want the sword so I can get my wife back."
"Are you certain that the sword will even help, though?" the priest asked.
Closing his eyes, the swordsman took a deep breath. "I can’t let myself think about that. It’s got to help." Jarix watched his fingers clutch convulsively around the scarf. The man was obviously suffering.
"Tell me," Jarix said suddenly. "Just how do you think this sword will help?"
For several minutes the only sound was the howl of the wind outside. Jarix watched the other man closely in the semi-darkness. The light from the moon-symbol on the floor limned the swordsman’s face in silver and made him appear carved of stone so cold and hard were his features.
"Its magic might help me defeat the Mazoku bastard that stole her from me," Gourry said.
"But it’s only a sword. You can’t touch a Mazoku with a sword, even a magic one. They’re just too fast and powerful."
"I don’t need the sword for that. I’ve wounded him before. I need the magic in the sword to keep him from playing his dirty tricks. Keep him on the same playing field as myself."
"I’d heard the Swordsman of Light was the best swordsman in the world. Are you really that good, though? To defeat a Mazoku?"
"I am the best and I said I’d wounded him." Gourry looked over at him, his eyes gleaming in the half-light. "How do I get the sword?"
Jarix took a deep breath and nodded. "You’re right; I can’t put this off any longer. I can’t keep you from going after the sword, but I have to warn you, you won’t have an easy time of it."
"I’ll do anything to get it. Anything to get Lina back."
"You shouldn’t say things like that; the Universe might hear you."
"Let it. I’ve fought Mazoku, Dark Lords and even helped defeat Shabranigdu, himself. I’m not letting one Trickster Priest get the better of me now."
Jarix sighed, leaned his head back and looked up through the glass-domed ceiling. "To win the sword, you must defeat the Guardian."
"Just what is this Guardian?" Gourry asked.
"I can’t tell you that—Not because I don’t want to," he added quickly, holding up a hand to forestall Gourry’s angry outburst. "But because I don’t know. I’ve never been to the Temple of Light—or Shadow for that matter."
"But I thought this was—"
Jarix’s silver hair shone as he shook his head. "This is the Temple of Light and Shadow. There are separate Temples for each of the aspects: One appears tomorrow at the Full Moon, the Temple of Light. That’s where you’ll find Graeswandyr. And the Guardian. I can’t offer any advice on what it is or what it will entail to defeat it. I do, however, know that if you manage to defeat the Guardian, the reward will be great, but the price will also be high. More than you realize, perhaps."
"What price is that?"
"Everything that makes you the person you are, Gourry Gabriev."
Slayers copyright 1991-2000 by Hajime Kanzaka/Rui Araizumi/Kadokawa Shoten/TV
TOKYO/SOFTX/Marubeni.
The other characters copyright Wendy W Lee.