The Horn and the Fang

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.... cause if I did, Sesshomaru would be in *every* episode.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 2 - Golden Sight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The ride was slow and bumpy, but he didn't complain. In fact, he hadn't said a word since leaving the ship several days ago. Threw a small slit in the curtains covering his cage, he'd watched the landscape change. From marshy swamp near the shore to dense forest and now grassy hills. Leaning back against the metal bars, Sesshomaru reached up to trace a claw across the silver collar around his neck. This simple looking collar, etched with a few runes was all that held him here. Somehow, the Unicorns had empowered it with a magic to bind demons, suppressing their powers, stealing their strength.

Narrowing his golden eyes, he resisted the urge to pull on the collar. It was no use, he'd tried for weeks to get the cursed thing off but to no avail. Dropping his hand back down to rest on his knee, memories of his capture replayed threw his mind. "Luck, that's all it was. Pure luck." he thought to himself. He'd been on his way north, to deal with two lesser Lords that were fighting over a parcel of land when he'd come across a raiding party from the Eastern Kingdom....

******Flashback******

The smell come to him first on the wind. Smoke, blood and the all too familiar stench of Unicorns. Then the sound of fire and the shouts, screams and roars of the villagers. "Stinking horned mules." He'd hissed softly, almost to low to hear.

"My Lord?" asked the squat toad man beside him.

"Stay here Jaken." was all he said before taking off threw the forest. The trees blurred past him and in no time he was outside the little seaside town. Two of the buildings were on fire as were several small ships in the harbor. The sounds of fighting could be heard from the docks. Moving swiftly, he found that the battle was nearly over. Several dozen demons lay on the docks or in the water, dead or wounded. The Unicorn raiders were swarming threw the town, looting the shops and storehouses. "Filthy horses." He snarled before slicing threw their ranks. Taken by surprise, they were slow to react. By the time he'd reached the docks, half of the raiders had fallen. That's when it happened.

The captain of the ship appeared on the gangplank. Moving swiftly to kill him, and thus demoralize and frighten those Unicorns left, he almost missed the smile on the stallion's face. He held out his hand and something silver flew at him. The moment the collar clicked shut around his neck it felt as if he'd run head first into a stone wall. His speed and strength disappeared. He stumbled, for the first time in his life, and hit the rough wooden dock. It felt as if his whole body was being weighed down with boulders, he couldn't move.

The captain's harsh laugh filled his ears, "What a fine catch! My lord will reward us handsomely for this one." then there was blackness......

******End******

The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ship. He's powers and strength none existent and his swords gone. Sesshomaru growled softly as the wagon his cage was bound to gave a jerk to one side. The road seemed to be getting rougher and rougher. Though he would never have admitted it, he almost wished he was back on the ship. Even though he was a prisoner, his rank still counted for something and he had been given the use of a small cabin. It had been no more then a large closet, but at least he could walk around. This cage was hardly long enough for him to stretch his legs out and he couldn't even kneel without bowing his head.

Suddenly, the wagon lurched to a stop, nearly throwing him forward. Biting back a growl, he wondered what was going on now? There was a flurry of whispers outside from his guards. His sensitive ears caught their words easily.

"I can't believe it!!"

"Is that really her??"

"Yes, it's Lady Amber....."

"..... Lord Talon's eldest daughter, she's so...."

"I think I'm dreaming....."

"I'd heard she was beautiful but..... wow!!"

Sesshomaru grimaced at the scent assaulting his nose. It was growing stronger as the Unicorn guards continued to whisper. It was the distinct smell of lust. Who ever this "Lady Amber" was, she must have been a rare beauty to cause so many young stallions to pant after her.

Shifting to his right slightly, Sesshomaru glanced out threw the slit in his curtains. His guards, all in human form, where looking up the hill beside the road. Shifting slightly again, he looked up the hillside. Though his face remained a blank mask, inside he gasped. At no time during his month of capture had he seen any of the unicorns in their true, undisguised form, yet here before him was one. The drawings he had studied as a child paled in comparison to the real thing.

Lady Amber was a golden idol given life. Her hide was a warm honey gold that gleamed in the sunlight. Her long mane and tail were a darker burnished gold and seemed to dance around her on the breeze. Her horn was silver as were her hooves he noted when she lifted one long, delicate leg to paw the earth. Even from this distance, he could see the ripple of muscle under her shining coat. It spoke clearly of hidden strength, but her lean build told of speed as well. This was hardly the "horse with a horn" his teacher had described so many years ago. Comparing her to a horse was like comparing him to a stray dog.

He realized he'd been starring when a loud, gruff voice shouted, "Close your mouths, ya young colts." The knight in charge of his guards appeared, glaring at his men, who snapped to attention, "That's no way to behave, starring at a lady." Giving then another glare, he spun around and matched up the hill towards the golden unicorn. Stopping several feet from her, he bowed low. The unicorn bobbed her head in acknowledgment. Sesshomaru strained to hear what they were saying, but couldn't.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"M'lady, what a pleasant surprise. I was not expecting to see you so soon."

Amber bobbed her head towards her old personal guard and friend, "Hello Sir Marcus, it's good to see you again." She spoke not with words heard by ears, but heard by the heart, "I was merely in the area when I smelled you coming. Tell me.... what manner of demon is that?" she asked, pointing her head towards the shrouded cage.

"A dog demon, m'lady. Sir Darkwood captured him on his last raid of the season. He is a gift from the Southern Keep to your father." said Sir Marcus, keeping his head respectfully lowered, lest he embarrass himself in front of his men by starring.

Amber snorted in surprise, "Royalty? Sir Darkwood has outdone himself this time." Silently, Amber cursed, "Just what we need. As if mischievous foxes, lazy cats and high-strung wolves weren't enough. Now I have to put up with the insufferable attitude of a royal demon." Looking away from the covered wagon, Amber nodded her head, keeping her voice civil, "Thank you, Sir Marcus. I'll let you go on your way. I'm sure my father awaits you."

"Thank you m'lady." Sir Marcus bowed again, before heading back down the hill.

Turning her gaze back to the wagon once more, Amber caught a glimpse of something white moving around inside the cage. Wheeling around, she sprinted back towards the castle, her happy mood now black. She was going to have a "talk" with her father.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

to be continued....

but only if someone out there likes it.

PLEASE REVIEW!!