The Disjointed Tales Of Renryre Island

20-1: Seven Sevens

EARTH

Madrik woke up. He didn't like waking up. And he certainly didn't like waking up in the middle of the desert, bleeding into the sand.

"Godsdammit," he grunted. "Not again."

He stood up, barely noticing the girl laying next to him in the puddle of blood, several wounds across her body. No, he was more concerned about the wounds on his body.

"Where are you?" he shouted. "Bloody hell, I am not having it. Not this time. Show yourself."

"Who the hell are you talking to?" asked Talyreina, attempting to get up herself. "My head hurts. What did we drink last night?"

"Look around you, Tally," he barked. "We're in the middle of the desert. How many times has a big night landed you in the middle of the bloody desert?"

"Alright, calm down," she said, scanning their surroundings. "I grew up in Rhytheport, remember. So to answer your question, I have woken up in the desert with a hangover more times than I can remember."

"And how many of those times had you also been ripped to shreds by some savage creature?"

Talyreina looked over her wounds and shrugged.

"Right, well this particular one is going to have you riding on the back of an invisible dog by noon."

She glared at him, uncomprehending.

"It's a long story," he added.

Madrik searched around for any sign of their former captors – the bastards that had left them out there. He checked his pocket, and found a note neatly rolled up.

"Sorry to do this to you," he read out aloud, "but you really were in the way. I hope you understand that you two are in fact the least important people in my grand designs. It's nothing personal – a concept I am sure you are familiar with in your line of work. I do hope you enjoy your time in the desert; especially given that you have remarkably better company on this occasion. Regardless, I'm sure you know the way back home by now, so I expect to be seeing you soon."

Madrik dropped the note onto the drifting dust.

"That slimy servant bastard. I will kill him. I will kill him, and his boss. Arynlock will die. Tailfin will die. They will all die."

"Okay," said Talyreina, "calm down."

"I am bloody calm!" he roared.

"What's that?" asked Talyreina.

"What's what?"

"That barking. Can't you hear it?"

"Godsdammit," he said, hanging his head, then turned to shout for help. "Abbikson! Lytette!"

"What?"

He turned around again. As if out of nowhere, there was someone standing right behind him. Someone with tattered clothing, and very little at that.

"Lytette? Are you real?"

"Madrik? What are you doing back here?"

Madrik smiled, hoping he wasn't talking to an illusion.

"I am just planning my revenge."

*   *   *

WIND

"Lytette?"

Abbikson spun around, searching for the demon-goddess.

"Lytette?" he called out louder.