The Courage of an Alliance
Chapter 1
"What do you think they are talking about in there?"
"…What do they ever talk about?"
"Good point." Paul and Taby were standing guard outside
the doors of House Zu Heltzer, as most body guards would do during
a meeting as important as this one. Every year the Luxon Elder
Rhea and the Kurzick Count Zu Heltzer would have a council meeting
to discuss the issues in Cantha. After a while, Elder Rhea pushed
the doors open in a fury, went aboard her siege turtle, and left...
Not one thing she said.
"Come, bodyguards." The Count said wearily. Paul and
Taby, being Kurzick bodyguards, had to obey the Count´s every
command. As they came in, they saw the Count´s 'lapdog' Jun
standing beside him, whispering something in his ear. Jun did this
often, due to the fact that he thought Paul and Taby were too
incapable to understand what he was talking about. "It has
come to my attention that Tyria has experienced a catastrophe known
as 'The Searing', and Elder Rhea insisted that we take some of our
soldiers overseas to help cope from this epidemic."
"This truly is a depressing time. Nothing like this has
happened since Shiro´s assault on the Empire," Said Jun. It was
typical of Jun to put in his two cents on every subject that the Count
brought up. "We said that we would take our two best bodyguards
over there to help."
"SCUMBAG!" Taby shouted. Paul and Taby never trusted Jun,
and kept their eye on him.
"Taby, watch your temper. The Count might mean the other
bodyguards." Said Paul. Paul never was the brightest person, but
he was always optimistic.
"Paul, there are no other bodyguards."
"…Oh yeah"
Jun was starting to look irritated. "This is why we chose you two!
You get along so well, and who knows, you might get to meet
Prince Rurik and this Draco character that Elder Rhea kept talking
about."
Taby was still upset. "Prince Rurik is a phony, and Draco sounds
like a chump."
"ENOUGH!" the Count was very aggravated. "You two have
no say in the matter. If you two are faithful to me then you will
leave! The ship will be arriving tomorrow, so I suggest that you pack
your things."
Paul and Taby did as the count said, but they still felt like something
was wrong.
"Jun is just trying to get rid of us, I know it" Taby said as
she was packing her clothes.
"Well why would he?"
"Because we are taking his spotlight! Don´t you get it? If we
were out of the way then he would have the count all to himself."
"But who will take our place? We are the best bodyguards
around."
"They are making things called Kurzick Juggernauts."
Taby and Paul paused. They could hear Jun talking to someone in his
room. They crept around the corner of the hallway and listened very
closely. Jun was speaking.
"I don´t understand how two buffoons could possibly help destroy
you. It makes no sense." There was a monstrous voice that they
didn´t recognize.
"Neither do I, but the prophet told me that they will play a dramatic
role in my downfall. If you want to be the new Count, then you will have
to do as I say. You must Free Shiro once more."
"But…he would kill ALL of us!"
"That is what you believe. Shiro and I have a History. Bring him back,
and he will come to me. I would do this job myself, but I am merely an
essence at the moment. Bring me back and I will have the world at my
knees, and you as my personal assistant."
"But…wouldn´t Paul and Taby be able to come back and defeat you?
It is only Tyria, they can simply take a ship back"
"Paul and Taby aren´t the only ones involved in my defeat. I
must have all of the heroes split up so I can pick them off one by
one."
Paul looked back and Taby was gone. He rushed back to the room and she
was packing faster than he had ever seen.
"What are you doing?"
"I think there was a reason Elder Rhea was so upset. I think she
knows what is going on. We need to go to the Jade Sea and ask for help,
besides, the count would take Jun´s side any day."
"So…we are Luxon now?"
"I no longer want to be known as a Kurzick."
