Escaflowne: The Return - Ch.11

6 November 2002

The Vision of Escaflowne :

“The Return”

    By : The MOUSE                           



“Search the Palace from top to bottom!” Sheahan shouted to his attacking Raiders.  “I want those Royals found and brought to me at once!”

His men scrambled through the snow-covered streets and over the city’s main square, chasing after those who tried to escape, all the while heading for the mighty Fanelian Palace to storm its walls.  Many of their number had already breeched the tall battlements, but that was still too small a number to take control of the heart of this city.

And Sheahan demanded complete control.

The Raiders’ leader strode purposefully and unhurriedly towards the Palace’s main gate.  As if on cue from his approach, the towering iron doors swung upon with the barest of squeaks.  Inside, hundreds of bodies littered the ground, the corpses of guards and guests who had tried to prevent the onslaught.  

Sheahan smiled at the sight.  

Carnage was always his favorite thing to see early in the day.  It always gave him such a rush.  And this particular moment was certainly no exception to the rule.  A vast and opulent Palace lay before him, a domicile he knew was filled with countless riches beyond imagination.  The Fanelian King’s ransom for the Seeress of the Mystic Moon had certainly been proof.  And, were he to capture the young monarch, Sheahan would have an endless supply of the precious Draconian feathers every collector and fanatic in Gaia coveted so much.  The Raider nearly drooled at the prospects of so much wealth.  He wouldn’t let those riches slip through his fingers.  

And there was an extra prize aside from the gold, jewels and feathers: the girl from the Mystic Moon.  Princess Cadoma could say what she wanted, the King would be captured and the Seeress would not be killed.  Afterall, if she really could see the future as people said she could, she was a weapon no one in his right mind would let escape.  Sheahan had to admit; Lord Fanel was a shrewd one to propose marriage to the little witch in order to keep her within Fanelia.  That, and she was a delicious looking woman.  He smiled again from the lurid thoughts drifting before his mind’s eye.

Yes, he would enjoy the little green-eyed beauty.

*  *  *

Kanzaki Ushida trembled in her husband’s arms as they, and the Royal party with a handful of Palace Guards, huddled inside an empty room, all eyes fixed on the door to keep from being surprised by the Palace intruders.  Ushida looked at each face around her in turn.  She noticed how each person from this world seemed unperturbed by what was happening.  Actually, they seemed quite annoyed.  Her eyes they fell on Hitomi and the sight caused her to blink.  Her Daughter was sporting the same annoyed expression as those around her as she crouched near the young Fanelian King.  This intrigued Ushida.  Her Daughter, the way she knew her in any case, was usually not the calmest of girls in stressful situations.  She remembered times when Hitomi would go into hysterical fits when the moment surpassed her.  

So then why did she seem so calm?

The elder woman strained to hear what was being spoken by the others of her group.

“Why is it I was certain that bastard was going to retaliate somehow?” Van muttered, his hand repeatedly squeezing the hilt of his sword.

“Because he’s a madman and we’ve fought enough of those to know how they think.” Millerna replied with a twinge of irony in her voice.

Hitomi smirked, greatly surprising her Mother.  “If we know what psychos think, what does that say about us?”

“That we’re in dire need of a relaxing retreat.”  The Princess then turned her eyes away from the door.  “Anyone have any ideas on how we’re going to get out of this?”

Van grit his teeth.  “I’d call on Escaflowne, but I’ve only ever controlled him from short distances.  I don’t know if it’ll work.”

“Then we’ll both try, Van.  Just like back in Zaibach.” and she gripped his hand.

“You’re sure about this?”

“We don’t have much of a choice at this moment.”

He paused for a heartbeat, in fear for her.  The last time she spoke of she had been forced to feel the searing pain he himself had felt when Zaibach’s warriors had begun to disassemble the ancient Ispano armor.  

His eyes then locked with hers and nodded at the determination and bravery he saw shining there.  Ushida was almost in awe at the sight.  Hitomi’s willingness to help was a shock, given the present situation.  Both she and Ito watched as Van and Hitomi closed their eyes, entering some sort of deep meditation, the pendant at Hitomi’s throat beginning to glow in the dim light.

Kanzaki Tai perked up slightly at the mention of Escaflowne, suddenly curious in something other than the battle waging outside.  “Who’s this Esca-whatsit guy?”

Prince Sid grinned at him knowingly.  “You will see.”

*  *  *

Holding their weapons before them to ward off any unforeseen attack, five Raiders carefully penetrated into the Palace’s inner sanctum.  It was a huge garden that must have been thick with lush greenery during the warmer seasons.  For now, all the trees and bushes were bare, carving eerie paths through the snow.  The lead Raider squinted over the glare of sunlight on snow, spying a tall structure at the center of this sanctum.  Not saying a single word he signaled to his men and led the way to this building.  The only sounds that reached their ears in this short trek were those of the on-going battle and their feet crunching in the snow.  The closer they came to the structure, the better their vision became.  It was a simple building of wood and stone.  A grain storage, no doubt.  The lead Raider began to grin.  It was also a perfect place for frightened Palace staff to hide from their attackers.  

The five carefully positioned themselves around the immense door, preparing themselves to burst through the smaller door built into the larger entrance.  An unspoken signal was given and the group rushed into the building.

Nothing.

Not a living soul was about.  All that was visible were tall piles of grain and hay, some under tarps, others left bare to the cold.  The five searched everywhere conceivable, searching for any signs of humanoid life, but there was absolutely nothing to be found.  Not at all what these men had expected to see.  Disappointed by the lack of a prize find the men began to head back towards the door.

The sound of mechanics coming to life caught their ears and they whirled around.  One tarp, far in the back of the chamber, had begun to move.  Shouts passed between them as they sought to place the blame on one of them for not checking that particular area.  The moving tarp grew to an imposing height moments before a massive metal hand tore it away.

One of the men blanched in recognition.  “Escaflowne…!”

*  *  *

Their eyes remaining closed at all times, both Van and Hitomi stiffened at the images presented to them before their mind’s eye.

“They made it to the Inner Garden.” the young King voiced.

Allan Schezar leaned forward in urgency.   “How many of them?”

A frown formed on Hitomi’s face.  “I only see five.  They’re inside the grain silo.”

“Get Escaflowne out of there, find Sherazade, and bring it here.” the Caeli Knight instructed.  “We’ll need both to get everyone out and away.”

Kanzaki Ito was completely lost.  “What’s happening?  What are they talking about?” he demanded.

“Van and Hitomi are seeing through Escaflowne’s eyes.” Sid explained patiently.  “Everything is fine, sir.  Have faith in your Daughter.”

More confused then ever, Ito looked to his Daughter in hopes of seeing an answer suddenly appear.  He merely saw her cock her head to a side, the frown remaining.

“Don’t kill them, Van.” she voiced softly.

A quirky grin turned up the corners of the monarch’s lips.  “Only because you ask me not to.”

*  *  *

The five Palace intruders scrambled to escape the massive guymelef bearing down on them, ducking into hay and grain piles to avoid its large feet.  Thunderous booms resounded with every step of the living armor.  The grain store’s doors splintered, unresisting to the machine answering its owner’s mental call.  Unhurried, Escaflowne easily made its way out of the Inner Garden towards the Palace armory.  Raiders scattered in every which direction, terrified at this behemoths approach.  Some of the braver men took aim with fire torches in hopes of stopping Escaflowne from getting wherever it was heading, but not even fire impeded the Dragon Armor.

Again wooden doors gave way to the machine bearing down on them.  Inside stood rows upon rows of untouched, inactivated guymelefs sitting in their alcoves, waiting for pilots that would never arrive.  Against one wall, in what was termed a guest alcove, sat Sherazade.  Its metal body gleamed in the dim light of the armory, its blue cape draped casually over its seat.  Four steps brought Escaflowne before his ally.  Moving with more care than was possible for such a lumbering machine, it effortlessly picked up Sherazade and draped it over its shoulders in a fireman’s carry.  Then, as unhurriedly as it had arrived, Escaflowne exited and headed for the Fanelian Palace.

*  *  *

From a safe distance Sheahan watched the armor walk across the Palace grounds, unable to be stopped by any Raider who dared offer resistance.  Sheahan scowled.  He would not be denied his prizes by anything, legendary or not.  A thought occurred to him as he watched Escaflowne move with a distinct mindset.

It was heading towards the Palace and not away from it.

Why?

So far as he was aware everyone had fled the Palace, then why was it heading back?

The answer came to him like a flash of lightning: the Fanelian King was still within the Palace!

And where the King was, the Seeress certainly was with him.  A slow smile returned to the Raider’s face.  This move by the young monarch was a grievous mistake.  It gave away his position.

Victory was at hand!



To Be Continued...