By Kaze

Being a hunter, he saw the signs of a trap. Her beauty was the bait, and her charms were what caught him and held him firm. Since the moment he set eyes upon her, he couldn't seem to look away.

And so, whenever he could, he spent his free time watching the young woman at a distant. The very thought of coming within an arm's reach of her caused his stomach to churn uncomfortably, and so he was left to watching her from a distance, desire burning within his heart.

A foreigner by heritage, he had come to the kingdom of Xeris as a slave. It would be his talent with the bow and the beasts of the sky that would promote him to a member of the king's hunting party. Darius did not particularly care for the king, looking for every opportunity he could to leave this horrible place.

Ever since Xeris' ascension to the throne, the prestige of his kingdom began its fast deterioration. The hard work which the ancestors of Xeris was all for naught.

The temple of the Phoenix, Xeris' totem, was neglected. Many of the old priests had been sent away, to be replaced by those of Xeris' choosing. Their concern in life did not seem to stem for the goodness of all, but to twist the words of the sacred texts about for their own benefits or Xeris. The miniature palaces which lined just outside the palace grounds were recently built and belonged to the priests.

"Its been three months, Darius." a voice said from behind him. "Aren't you EVER going to introduce yourself to her?" The voice was also lined with some amusement as Darius turned around to look at his friend, a member of the Royal Guard.

"Its not quite so simple, Sauris." Darius whispered, returning to attention to the more appealing sight. "I can't go up to her like any bumpkin and introduce myself to her, she deserves better than that."

"By the gods." Sauris swore. "Do you know how many of those bumpkins I've encouraged to stay away from her? Her beauty isn't obvious only to you, my love-stricken friend, and you best introduce yourself to her before one of her many other admirers get to her before yourself."

"But . . . but . . ." Darius protested.

"You're right." Sauris mused, deep in his own thoughts now. "A hunter of the Crown might make TOO much of an impression on her. Maybe I can grab a few extra clothes that the servants wear, the gods only knows where I can find any of those." Xeris was too cheap to provide his servants many things, including clothes. Sauris looked over his friend critically and nodded to himself. "Stay right here, I'll be back shortly."

"What?" but Sauris had already left.

Sauris returned shortly with a bundle in his arms.

"Here, change into this." Sauris tossed the bundle at Darius.

"What's this?" Darius unwrapped the cloth and found a set of worn servant clothes. "Where did you get these?" Darius asked suspiciously.

"A little minx gave them to me." Sauris sniggered. "Apparently, she and her lover had a falling out. To get back at him, she stole his clothes."

Darius looked uncertainly at the clothes his in arms. They looked a little TOO worn . . .

"Oh, don't worry." Sauris assured him. "They were washed, she took them when he set them out to dry."

The clothes were a little uncomfortable, its previous owner's shoulders were not as wide as Darius' and he had a belly judging how loose the clothing was around his abdominal. Sauris helped him the best he could as Darius changed out sight. When Darius finally stepped out, Sauris was looking at him critically.

"Well, its the best we could do on such short notice." Sauris shrugged as he gathered up Darius' belongings. "Now go introduce yourself to your princess, don't worry, most of the guards on shift won't question why you're there."

Before Darius could ask how Sauris was so sure of that, Sauris was already gone.

Taking a deep breath, Darius stepped into the open garden.

----------

Sauris, the Royal Guardsman, was also from another land. Despite his status in Xeris' court, Sauris had not willingly arrived in this vile place of corruption. His village had bordered this kingdom and a raid from his nation had brought him here in chains, it was only because of his talent with the blade that he had been spared of life in the mines.

Ten years had passed since, and Xeris had obviously forgotten where this member of his Royal Guard had come from. But Sauris remembered, and with every passing day, he nurtured a darkness that grew. He had just seen his sixteenth winter, passed the trials of manhood, and would wed a beautiful bride. A month after his wedding, they came.

He remembered every bit of it . . .

Covered in the blood of his enemies, Sauris looked wildly about in the burning chaos of what was once his village. Livestock ran everywhere as the people of his village fought against the invaders. They were a village of warriors, trained since birth at a weapon of their choice.

Sauris held his sword, given to him once he completed his trial into manhood, covered with the blood of those who faced him. He was fortunate to have brought his sword along when bringing his wares to the market, a tense chill had haunted him all morning. And that feeling was justified by the battle which raged about.

Sauris had no desire to battle, only to head back home to his wife and family. Dark images loomed his thoughts as he deflected an enemy's overhead ax and followed through with a thrust to the throat. Kicking off the larger man, Sauris' blade was a blur as he cut through the ranks of his enemy.

In his village, he was looked upon as a prodigy of the blade. He had never before been in a battle, and inside the calm icy shell that covered him, he found the experience horrifying. People screamed this way and that, men shouting, children crying. As a crimson mantled soldier threatened to cut down a child who held his mother's dead form, Sauris snarled as he swung, cutting the man down in half. Ignoring the blood that covered him, Sauris continued on his unrelenting path, a sea of bodies behind him.

When he saw the dead form of his neighbor's dog, he realized he finally reached home. How long had he been fighting? Looking up at the sun, he realized he had only been fighting for ten minutes, it seemed like hours. With renewed energy, Sauris ran for his burning house, eyes wild as he stared at his estate.

He burst through the doors and the sight, which greeted him, chilled his blood. His brothers and sisters strewn about the floor, each with a weapon in his or her hand. They had fought to the very death, refusing to submit to their invaders. But the sight that chilled him the most was the soldier who ran his blade through his wife.

He saw his wife's face, eyes wide and pale as she stared at the blade in her chest. Before the life left her eyes, she saw him, and she smiled a sad smile as her form went limp.

The breath of her killer stopped a fraction of a second later.

Literally clawing the sword out from his wife's chest, Sauris stared. It had only been a month since their arranged marriage, and he had grown fond of her. He knew that she had grown fond of him in turn.

Today was supposed to have been the happiest day since their marriage. From his clothes, he shakingly pulled out a flower. Bloodstained and flattened from the combat, Sauris nevertheless did his best to smooth out the petals. Numbly, he setted the flower in his wife's hair.

Looking at her, he could not help but smile at how beautiful she was even in death. At least she no longer bore the pain of living, and he regretted that he could not join her soon. Suicide would place shame upon his house, and he could not bear to see her frown at him in death.

But he could not bring himself to fight anymore. And when the village finally surrendered and the soldiers took those who survived as slaves, Sauris had not resisted.

From a distance, Sauris smiled when his friend finally gathered his courage and walked towards the servants tending to the garden. His silver hair would always stand out to mark him as a foreigner, so no one else would pay any mind to this 'harmless' servant. It was a rare sight to see Darius enamored of much except theof leaving this wretched kingdom. Although Sauris worried that this would impede his friend's chance of realizing his dream to leave this kingdom.

Sauris did not want to leave the kingdom, for ten years he had worked slowly up the hierarchy for an opportunity to slay the man responsible for the obliteration of his village. Vengeance was an empty goal, but Sauris felt as if he were an empty man.

They were talking! Darius and the servant were talking, and the Guards did not seem to notice for some reason. Sauris smiled at the sight, Darius reminded Sauris much of what he once truly was. He had come to look upon this young man as a younger brother. Before he slayed Xeris, he would make sure Darius and his beloved were far away from the chaos which would ensue.

Leading her by the arm, Darius suddenly ran off with her towards the forest, somewhere private no doubt. The servant girl looked uncertainly at the suddenly unperceptive Guards, but Darius was quick on his feet and gone. Sauris smiled, the girl needed not worry about her duties, many people owed him favors.

Juliana needed not worry.

----------

"Are you sure we won't get into trouble?" Juliana whispered as the two sat near a small creek in the forest. Darius had been here often to find peace in a chaotic world. "I know we've evaded the guards easily enough . . ." Her voice trailed off, showing doubt that they would not be punished for leaving their duties.

"Don't worry." Darius assured her again. "Nothing will happen to us, I promise you." The two were sitting near the creek on two large boulders that were convenient as seats. Holding her hands in his at his favorite resting-place, Darius had never felt more at peace with the world than he did now. Brought to this horrible land as a slave, Darius' sole desire was to leave it. Supposedly he had already seen seventeen winters since his birth, but he was unsure because his parents were no longer alive to tell him.

He had only been a little boy . . .

It was evening, and young Darius was at the table eating dinner with his family. His father, elder brothers, and himself had come home bursting with smiles as they proudly displayed what they had brought in from the hunt. His mother and sisters had been bewildered and happy, whispering how this would last them for quite a long time.

Darius also stood proud, as this was his first hunt with his father and brothers, and he had done exceptionally won. Earning himself many pats on the back on how great a hunter he would be some day.

Of course, he disliked the task of gutting the animal, it was a part of his responsibilities as a hunter, not to mention honor the animal which he killed.

Their family sat at dinner that evening, eyes shining bright at all the food on the table. Darius no doubt had more than his fair share of the meal, but his mother had been too happy to pay any mind. It was a happy time for all, because the hunt had been good today.

But the happiness was short-lived. The alarm bell of the village rang furiously in the middle of dinner, catching Darius in mid-bite of a tastey leg. His father and elder brothers immediately got up and went to the door, putting on their gear along the way. He had tried to join them, but his mother held him in a firm grip and led him away to his younger siblings and sisters.

And all too quickly a battle was suddenly raging from outside. Men shouting, dogs barking, and horses neighing as all mingled with the sound of chaos. Held protectively in his elder sister's arms, Darius watched as soldiers charged into their house, the vivid image of his father skewered by a large man's sword appeared. His family screamed as he and his sister clung to each other tightly.

His brothers retreated into the house, and shouted in surprise as their sisters moved forward to take a hunting knife from their gear. His sister had him between her and the wall, holding a knife of her own as the elder children positioned themselves to protect the younger children.

All too soon were they slaughtered. His eldest brother had tackled a soldier to the table, struggling to maneauver his knife into the other man's gut. The candle they had carefully set on the table fell over, and flames appeared. Darius didn't remember much else as smoke filled his lungs, bringing tears to his eyes and causing himself to cough.

His family was dead, he had counted their bodies when he found himself several yards away from what had once been his home. He was young, and had no weapon to defend himself with, so it was simple enough to take him away as a slave.

"Darius, are you alright?" Juliana asked, concern filled her eyes.

Darius shook his head to clear his mind of the dreadful images of the past and instead focus on the future. "No, nothing." he smiled. That had been five years ago, and Darius felt that his family would not wish him to burden himself of their deaths. His sole desire had always been to find a way out of Xeris' kingdom, and looking at the person sitting before him now, he had found a new desire.

Love. He would take her away with him.

----------

For the next few months, Sauris had setted it up so Darius could spend more time with Juliana. Always in the role of a simple servant boy, Darius brought food to her whenever he visited, appalled at the condition which the head maid treated her. Darius was very fond of food, and he was willing to take away significant portions of the food that the king allowed his hunters and guards to eat.

At times, the food was not enough, another personal grudge which Sauris held against the king. When there was not enough food, Sauris knew that Darius often stole food from the kitchen to bring to his beloved.

A year had passed, and Sauris knew that a strong bond had formed between Darius and Juliana. Summer was upon the horizon, and Sauris overheard horrible news.

"The king has taken a fancy for that girl, Juliana." Korvil whispered softly to Sauris as they ate in their barracks. "You best get her and your friend out of here before he gets his hands on her."

"That disgusting pig." Sauris snarled, suddenly losing his appetite. "He's old enough to be her father!"

"Funny you should mention that . . ." Korvil whispered. "She's his illegitimate daughter."

" . . ."

----------

The expression on his face was somber, the escape had apparently failed as surely as he stood before the hangman's rope. His hands tied behind his back and his legs tied together as well, he listened passively as his executioner droned on about the charges set against him. Juliana had been taken away to Xeris, with the confidence that he would be safe and allowed to live.

Darius' jaw clenched at the memories of the happy moments which he had spent with his beloved Juliana. Never in his wildest nightmares would he have thought things would end this way. Among the ranks of the guards he did not see Sauris, from which he could only assume that his friend had been caught.

Darius trusted Sauris.

"Bring the fiend forward!" the executioner sneered. Darius' eyes flashed as he was roughly shoved forward, the noose quickly looped around his neck. "Darius, once Ranger of the Crown, for treason, you are sentenced to death by hanging!"

He did not even have time to scream, and even if he did, he would not have time. Once the floor beneathe him was removed, his world was a blur of colors before it finally became . . . black. The pain had been horrible.

Yet his soul remained, even as the others left, he waited. At his side, a white tiger suddenly appeared, but that did not surprise Darius.

----------

"It failed!" Korvil bursted into his room, eyes wide with fear. "Your friend and his lover were caught!"

"Oh, no . . ." Sauris whispered. He knew the plan wasn't perfect, he did not have enough time. It would have been better if he had gone with them instead, but . . . Sauris buried his head in his hands as he wept. The first real tears he had shed in five years. Darius would be executed soon, no matter what deal Juliana would attempt to settle with the king. "We've got to get moving!" Before he could even move, he found the sharp edge of cold steel at his neck.

"Not so ,traitor." Korvil whispered.

"Kor-Korvil?!" Sauris was shocked.

"I knew something good would happen if I stayed with you long enough." Korvil smiled thinly. "Now that I've uncovered a highly respected member of the Guard as a traitor, the king will reward me generously." Korvil's blade moved to his back. "Now, move, traitorous scum!" He shedded a small piece of blood in Sauris' shoulder. Sauris' eyes darkened, Korvil had sealed his fate, no one shedded his blood in such a way and lived to tell of it.

----------

"Darius . . ." Sauris whispered as he looked hard at his friend hanging before him. One could hardly recognize him now. Darius had been full of life, while the corpse before him . . . was obviously lacking in that area. "I failed you . . ." Sauris' eyes glittered at the thought beneathe the cloak he had taken from on the guards whom he slained.

Korvil, the one who betrayed him, was dead. Drawing his sword, Sauris looked at it. "My motives have been exposed, no more planning, Darius, the time for vengeance is now." He stared imploringly at the body of his dead friend. "Lend me your soul, Darius . . . My soul is not as strong as yours. Years of nurturing my vengeance has weakened this soul of mine. Merge your soul with mine and perhaps vengeance can be brought for the two of us . . . as one."

What happened next was unexpected. Before him floated a spectre, the spectre looked like Darius. Sauris smiled bitterly as his friend floated to him. This was the end of his long journey, where he would end up next, he did not know.

----------

He didn't know who he was, even as he cutted down the men who charged at him. He didn't even know why they were attacking him or why he was attacking them. Battle raged on about him and he found others who fought at his side. He thought he knew them, they certainly seemed to know him. He knew not where his legs took him, even as they climbed stairs after stairs, running with a purpose.

When he reached his destination, however, he met those who matched him blade to blade. They danced back and forth, the silvery sound of steel clashing against steel ringing along the halls. His opponent was experienced and relentless, driving him back more often than not.

Even with all his effort, he could not defeat his opponent. He gasped when the blade entered his stomach. He stared at it as his opponent kicked him off to finish him off. He stared up, and the door behind his opponent slowly opened. The sound caught his opponent's attention, he turned around to face whoever it was. That was his opponent's mistake as he ran his blade up his gut. As his opponent dropped, he stared at whoever distracted his opponent's attention.

She was beautiful . . . but the sight of her suddenly pained him. Her eyes were the windows to the horror that she had experienced. An amulet glowed ominously upon her chest. He reached out weakly with his hand, calling to her . . . but he felt tired . . . darkness . . . darkness overcame him as his head dropped to his chest. Life no longer filled his eyes.

----------

"*Where am I?*" Kay whispered in his mind. "*Darius? Where are you? Where are you, Darius?*" For some reason, he felt so much stronger now. He felt as if he was not half a soul now, but instead, a whole soul. "*These memories . . . are they my own?*" As quickly as they appeared before him, they were gone. The moment was slowly slipping away, and Kay could feel himself lulled back to sleep. "*Wait! No, there's something there!*" But that thought and desire were forgotten.

Later, his mind stirred again as he felt a presence . . . Aya? Why was she here? His questions were forgotten as he felt her near him. There had always been a special bond he had felt between him and Aya since the very moment they met, as if a part of him knew her. Now, all of himself knew her. Aya . . . she felt so familiar . . .

Images flashed across his mind, images of fire and blood. Steel clashing against steel. And a young woman with a sword through her chest. He had found her . . . he knew it. And when he recovered, he would hold her as if he would never let go. No longer did two souls co-exist in one form, merged together for the single purpose of vengeance. He was himself, and there was no one else in his mind to deny that.

And when Aya looked at Kay's face, she saw him smile in content.