For writtenidealist... wow, it's been a bit since I've done anything in this universe!

Guard vs. Mage Part 6

"All clear?" Duo asked as he cautiously perched on the bed.

"Seems to be," Heero answered as he double-checked the door. "Celia?"

"Sent her back, under shield. The innkeeper didn't seem too keen to have a dragon in his stable- and I didn't want to worry about her out there." He settled himself a little more securely. "I'm going to ward the room. Make sure I'm not interrupted."

Heero nodded and sat down, back against the door, sword out and resting across his lap.

Duo closed his eyes. First he summoned a tiny air sprite, charging it with a message for the head of the Sand Enclave. 'We are here and ready to negotiate- or help.'

That might be a little risky, but based on the attack they'd fought off on their way to town, Duo had an inkling that there was more going on here than met the eye.

He built his protections next, adding several layers to the room and an extra layer to his personal protections. Opening his eyes slightly, he regarded his stoic bodyguard, still sitting against the door, his whole body in a pose of watchful wariness.

Heero had the necklace his father had given him- there wasn't any need to protect him. But Duo put a layer of protections around him as well.

Just in case.

Opening his eyes up all the way, he stretched and gave Heero a reassuring smile. "Protections are in place- and I sent a message to Winner. We should hear back soon."

Heero nodded, getting to his feet. "I meant to ask," he said, pointing to a tray of food beside the bed. "Who brought that?"

"It was here when we arrived- wasn't it?" Duo frowned at the bowl of hard boiled eggs. Something wasn't quite right...

"Maybe, but I think the food from our packs would be safer."

"I-" Duo paused, his gaze still on the bowl of eggs. "Now... that's odd."

"What's odd?" Heero moved closer.

"Those aren't hen's eggs... they look a little green..."

"Green?" Heero leaned close and gasped. "Those are-"

"Yes. Don't move." Duo kept his eyes on the eggs, keeping his breathing steady. "I think we woke them up..."

The eggs twitched in their bowl, a cracking sound filling in the air.

Before Duo could utter a sound, Heero reached out and scooped up the bowl, tossing it towards the fireplace. The eggs hit the back of the fireplace and small green shapes fell towards the flames.

Duo made a quick gesture and the fire blazed up bright and hot, charing the green shapes into ash.

"Don't move!" He snapped again at his guard as he slid off the bed to make sure the flames had killed all the beasts. "That was madness, flinging the bowl like that!" Did the guard have a death wish?

"They were hatching," Heero replied calmly. "The caravan came upon a nest once- they grow very quickly-"

"I know that." Duo shook his head and turned his attention back towards the tray. "Let's not even risk it," he decided, and tossed the entire tray into the flames.

Heero watched as the tray and its contents burned. "Whoever is after us is tricky," he observed. "The ambush- and now this-"

"Snuck into the room before the protections went up- I'd say more than tricky." Duo frowned. "I have a feeling someone doesn't want us to meet with Winner."

"What should we do?"

"Well, we can wait here until they try again- or we can go right to Sand."

"Winner won't like that."

"At this point, I don't much care. I'm getting tired of being a target." Duo tossed his braid over his shoulder and crooked his finger at his guard. "Let's go."

TBC...

 

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