Chapter Ten: Reroute

Nuada-

It was going to get more frustrating if rumors had started and I and my sister had become a target of anyone searching to take over the throne. Too long had we been away from the leadership for people to easily take our word. Though I knew that there were some that would be loyal regardless of passage of time, and I could eventually use those to turn the rest to me. I couldn't tolerate a civil war to last much longer.

I had to admit for all the trouble the half-elf had an ability I couldn't overlook. Her combat prowess was mediocre at best, worse than my sisters which wasn't saying anything good. Though the fact that she healed so quickly and had even brought us back from the long sleep that awaits the elves upon death. She had basically breathed life back into my sister and therefore myself. It was a gift of healing unlike any I'd ever seen, mother had possessed some gifts with such spells, but nothing of the level of this woman or the rate at which she regenerated herself.

Her nose had been broken during the short skirmish but it was fixed before it was even over, a bit of blood had remained on her face but I could tell that the bend the creature had caused smoothed out in about a minute of time. Better that she didn't whine about it like most women warriors (or even a large portion of the male ones I've come across).

She was quick to think about ways to distract the enemies, and while I didn't personally care for a lack of truth in my transactions I had to admit that her wit had saved us the need to possibly linger longer in the human city without a pilot.

Though the grin and the manner in which she'd called the exchange fun after she'd broken her nose, even if it was repaired quickly, caught me off guard. I couldn't help but stare at her as if she was a little mad, the exchange had been annoying without any true threat of anything more than extra frustration. The manner in which she smiled about it so easily was difficult to take in.

I didn't realize I'd been staring until she grinned at me and I dropped my gaze too quickly for it to not be suspicious. Looking back would have made it worse so I busied myself mimicking the others and buckling in, the plane was already moving for the runway.

A reminder that things would be more dangerous now, I could trust that the fool she'd hired to take us had also given away our destination in Shahjahanabad. It was very likely we'd face a second ambush as early as our arrival. My spear would have the chance to practice despite the long time beneath ground.

When we reach Atlantis there is the chance now that father is dead the sword will no longer be sealed and I'll have a new weapon for my arsenal. Not to mention a keepsake that will leave no one able to deny my right as ruler. It was something I'd wanted before I'd fallen back to plan B of using the army, but I'd not had the time then just to check to see if the seal had been removed. There was still the matter of dealing with the guardian of the old temples, as well as if the sword's seal had even resolved itself. A long shot but one of the only options I had, if I didn't remove the connection between my sister and myself she would end up being the death of me. Again.

I didn't like the idea of bringing along the girl...the location of Atlantis was a sacred right meant only for the royal family. Though, it would have died with Nuala and myself if she hadn't saved us. I don't like it but I have to allow it, it is a reasonable request for having saved both our lives more than once. She continues not to side with Nuala though she easily could, I suppose I should listen to my sister and try to be nicer before she changes her mind and lets us both die.

I knew she'd taken to playing with her checkbook, which was well enough, I didn't appreciate her preoccupation with human money but at least for now it was logical not to distract her while she was funding our trip. Nuala was watching me and I was still eyeing the ground as we got further from the land below.

I'd never liked to travel in this manner, but it was the quickest route and while I doubted it was the safest I knew that time was of the essence, if we didn't move it along then it would only get more difficult. Word would eventually travel back to the group with the demon that had stopped us last time, and I want to have reached and finished with Atlantis before they caught up with us. I would not lose to the red one again, the sword would solidify that victory.

Nalia -

Son of a bitch.

I'd spent more than expected.

I hated that.

I knew that they were paying, that I'd make certain to get the money back, but I'd miscalculated a couple of the dishes on the room service order. I'd certainly complain next time I passed through the area, throw a fit and maybe get a little something for free in return for the trouble.

I hadn't had much time to look over things when I left, his highness had just wanted to go to the airport and at a glance it'd seemed okay. Hotels weren't usually my favorite thing but the open markets in New Dehli where I could haggle would be a blast. I was looking forward to that.

I'd more or less forgotten the busted nose the oozy one had given me not more than an hour before, we'd been flying for a little while now. My face was just a bit sore, but I'd always recovered quickly and this wasn't any different. We were back on track to Atlantis so my checkbook had been stop number one, now that I'd discovered they were over charging even more than they should it ruined the amused mood I'd gotten from tricking the Leshtrun trash.

Instead I realized that Fred talking too much would be real annoying once the losers got back to their more oozy master. If it was their dad, or mom, that thought made me forget about wanting lunch, then a full Leshtrun demon would take the chance and sell information about where they were headed not just to the highest bidder but to at least a dozen. Once they reached the destination shit would only get more dangerous.

It isn't that I'm afraid of wounds. Not really a problem when you regenerate almost anything. It's more the pain those wounds leave, I'm not a masochist and so not into that sorta thing. I doubt any semi-sane individual wants to get hit or beat up. That being the case I slipped away from the surprisingly quiet twins toward the front. I needed to have a word with Fred so we could divert to another airport and take the rest of the trip by boat or car. Long as we were close the perv shouldn't complain too much, I was the one getting us there and I'd get us there.

Sides, it was much cheaper than flying, smuggling these two was already so expensive, I wouldn't like having to deal with any other hotel costs but hopefully we could rent a boat. Usually the freaks in this area of the world were so poor it didn't take nearly as much to get places. Though the choices that Fred left me with were a port town or something much further inland. I went for the port town, Atlantis was a sunken island after all, seemed the most logical.

By the time I returned the pair was having a conversation in Gaelic, not my best language. Though it seemed civil and from the words I could pick out I guessed they were discussing what to do next.

"I already talked to Fred, he's diverting us to a small strip near a coastal town." I tried not to pay attention to the surprised look from Nuala or the glare from her brother and continued. "I know you said New Dehli but it'll probably be covered in folks looking for you CAUSE OF FREDS LOUD MOUTH."

I knew it was rubbing it in more, but he really needed to learn to stop drinking, he certainly could have left us in more pain if it'd been a group more easily organized or more trained in combat. He deserved to feel like a ass for the mistake.

"So I went with the coastal town because well, Atlantis was an island and all. I can tell him to divert to a place much further inland but it'd be a lot more of a drive to the city you wanted originally that way." I shrugged, no pleasing the pervert prince, that was already something I knew well.

"It is more on the way." Nuala seemed a little amused at the name of the small port city I'd repeated from Fred. "You are a good guide Nalia. We feared an attack as well after the events in Paris. It was a wise choice."

"Course it was." I looked at her funny. Duh statement that one.

"We will discuss the next part of the journey when the loose lipped goblin can't overhear." Nuada's statement was precise, he'd gone back to looking out the window and being generally gloomy but I figured that was something he did a lot of.

It was just in character for him somehow, the dark and broody prince that murdered his own dad and peeped on girls in his spare time though he was obviously gay as he wasn't actually interested in them.

Maybe he had to keep face for being a royal and all. There wasn't an heir, guess that responsibility landed on the girl of the twins. Was I still bitter about being peeped on so un-passionately? Fuck yes I was.

I had been told before that most male elves tended toward the homosexual side of the bedroom but had taken it with skeptism given father had a healthy like of women that had gotten him in trouble with mother and a few others I'd known weren't geared that way. Not to mention any sort of graceful man in todays society was often called such, but in this case, I was quickly starting to think so.

I knew I wasn't the prettiest girl, but he'd barely missed a beat before walking away, that's a pride killer right there. Him being gay was a neat little answer that didn't leave gaping holes in my vanity.

Sides, a lot of other demon nobility sure seemed to swing any which way that would have them, of course, most of them were so ugly it wasn't as if they could be blamed for the lack of a picky nature. The one that ignored me just had to be eye candy though.

Emo, gay, perverted eye candy. I reminded myself with a frown as I realized I was staring at his face while he looked outside. It wa

s so dark compared to any other elf I'd seen, instead I glanced at my backpack, I didn't like to use up battery life but I had brought my DS along, and it was better than staring at the pervy prince.

Hopefully we would get there and probably the next step was getting a boat. Should be easy enough, for now though we had a couple hours and there was some pies that needed to be made or corrected by Cooking Mama.

End Chapter

This chapter was downright painful to get through. Parts of it were just difficult as hell to write and I still don't like it much. I disliked my rendition of Nuada...the whole thing felt off. :(

-Nera

To my reviewers: Thank's to all - the continued interest is why I took the time to update :). Answering comments/questions:

femalewraith - not quite for fearless behavior...

momslilnightmare - Thanks much, sorry for long jumps between updates, it's hard for me to find time to write.

blackrosekali - the tense cross is accidental. I have a heck of a time with it :(