"Hmph." She only squirmed even more now that she was tied up, finding the ropes all too uncomfortable... and tied a bit too tightly, almost so that it was cutting off her circulation.

"I thought you didn't want anything to do with my friends." She spat sarcastically at him. "Have a sudden change of heart and feel like dying sooner?"

She cut her eyes away, hating this whole situation more and more with each passing minute. That, and his breath really was starting to make her sick. "Couldn't you at least carry me with my head facing your back so I don't have to deal with that horrid breath of yours?"

"My job is to ensure that Cid winss and I get my fee. To do that, I will seperate your friends from each other so that he will have an easier time swarming them and eliminating them, until such time as he is happy and releases me from hiss service. "

"And of coursse I won't be fighting your friends."

He grinned, an ugly half-moon that exposed rows of razored teeth,

"You will."

"Me?" She quirked her brow, then tried her best to hold in a snicker. "You must have a pea-brain underneath that helmet of yours."

Though she laughed about it, inwardly she was a little worried. "You really think that I can fight? When I've never picked up a weapon in my life?"

"Don't worry about that. I have my wayss..."

OOC: In any case, I think we ought to stop posting until the others come back. It would suck if Ch. 17 ended in the middle of our banter and the first stroke of Cid's sword...

[OOC]
That, and I'm tired as all hell right now... x_x My cousin was supposed to come home... at least I thought. And now I'm all worn out, even though my fiancee TOLD me I needed to sleep since I'm on the verge of exhaustion. She's gonna be screwed in a couple hours when I'm out cold and she's locked out in the cold -.-; That and she's supposed to take me back home today. She BETTER get back soon. Grarr! >.<

The two brothers fought. Cid was stronger and better protected, but Gin was faster. He was quick enough to deflect any of Cid's attacks, but Cid's armor deflaected most of his.

"Not bad brother, but does it bother you you want to kill your own flesh and blood." Cid said.

"Trying to play on my emotions won't save you. I have no emotions." Gin was stonefaced and calm. He brought his katana down leaving a vertical gash in Cid's shield the weapon was caught. Gin quickly reacted by snap kicking Cid in the chest. Cid went flying back.

Kalimare faced the shadow warriors that stood before him. Once carried an overly large flail (think the witch king from lotr) and the other carried a great sword. Kalimare then swallowed his pride as he realized he had no weapon other than his teeth and claws.

((flail boy will be called george, and sword boy will be called bob, to make it easier on me and you))

George swung the flail overhead at Kalimare, and Kalimare jumped to the side as the flail cracked into the floor. Kalimare lunged at Bob and swung his claws at his throat. Bob raised his sword and blocked Kalimare, then pushed him back. George swung horizontially at Kalimare. Both Kalimare and Bob jumped, but Bob flipped over Kalimare and came down with his sword. Kalimare landed and jumped to the side as Bob and his sword came crashing into the ground. Kalimare took this moment to attack. He pounced onto Bob and dug his claws into his neck. However, it did nothing to Bob! George swung again at Kalimare, and Bob ducked to make it easier for George. Kalimare was then hurled several yards away by the swing, and now had several holes in his side. Kalimare growled and snarled at the two shadow warriors. Like a mad animal, Kalimare made a mad dash at the two. George swung at him again, and Kalimare leaped over and stood between them. Kalimare jumped right as Bob swung down behind him and then George swung at him. Kalimare flipped behind Bob and kicked him forward into George's attack. The weapon killed Bob as his weapon dropped to the ground. Kalimare looked at the shadow sword and smiled at George.

"Now you die."

George readied his weapon and held defensive stance. Kalimare then rushed at him with the new sword. George swung at him and Kalimare jumped and came down on him with the sword. It was over now with that fight. Kalimare held his new sword in his left hand, for his right side was now bleeding.

Where is that damn healer?

Kalimare looked around and saw that Dawn wasn't anywhere near the throne room. Kalimare intended to find out where their healer was. Putting the sword into the sheath on his back for his old sword, Kalimare lunged at the wall and then began climbing up. After all, the best place to look for someone was at a high elevation. He continued climbing up while the others fought.

((i'm not gonna put anymore for now, but later i may put Kalimare finding where Dawn is, if that is alright with Celes, or whoever made up that part to the story))

"FIRE!" A commander for Cid cried, and all at once, no less than ten mortars fired at once. The man smiled as he saw the opposing troops recoil and try to run, then was shocked as he saw the mortars waver in midair and return course. They were halfway back to their original shooters when they burst in midair, then rained down metal death on anyone in their radius.

Jude settled down into the middle, surveying his handiwork.

"Wind powers rock. Now, If I could only find that son-of-a-bitch lizard..." He said to himself. He saw a horn lying on the ground, and decided to blow it, just for fun.

He gathered his breath, then blew a deafening bellow.

"Well, that was fun...now, where to look..."

ooc: you do realize you just killed our troops the Albans are on our side. and how do you know about the lizard guy?

ic: Cid got up his sword flared he pointed at Gin and fired a fireball at the unarmored warrior. Gin ducked and rolled out of the way. he hit the ground running dodging a couple of fire balls. He closed range and blocked the last fire with his black hand wincing at the seering heat and the pain of the magic absorbtion. He struck for cid's shoulder that had the damaged pauldron and drew blood as his katana pierced his chain mail. Cid knocked him to the side with his shield.

OOC: I believe BM created the lizard guy at the first battle of Alba, but didn't fight him then. I belive he mentioned the lizard before Dante even took over the lizard guy that he was looking for him to fight him.