French people piss me off . . .  
    Julian looked around him and realized that he was completely surrounded. On one side was still and angry, yet severely beaten group of possessed furniture, on the other a severely pissed off bard. Bazil already lay at the feet of Cordicello. Hopefully, Bazil wasn't at full strength, because if he was, than the weary warrior (who by the way was very far from sexcrazed, when was the last time Bal or Baz got some) would have no chance at all. Julian had heard stories aplenty about the
mad bard Cordicello, but he never expected him to be this utterly powerful.
    "You have no need to fear of me, Defiler, not right now," the bards voice had changed again, this time into a much smoother, snakelike voice. This voice Julian recognized, though he wasn't sure from where. The bard snapped his fingers and his exterior layer of skin fell from him as a cloak would when disrobing to take a nice warm shower, (which Bazil could really use, as Julian noticed with a crinkled up nose) Underneath the skin a dark and sinister man was revealed. It almost looked like, Gavriel?! No it was not this man was much to young to be Gavriel Darqueson, but the resemblance was uncanny. Then the figure's identity hit him like a brick that did come down.
   "I guess I don't win the million dollars," Julian muttered. He straightened and looked directly at the figure. "Hello, Rastipher." If the figure was surprised that Julian Stillsmore was aware of his identity, then he certainly did not show it.
    Rastipher Baine, for those who are unaware of his utmost evilness, is the high prophet of the dark lord Loki and harbinger of Ragnorok, the great battle to decide the fate of the universe. However most of you already knew that, because we know you are up on your Ragnorok chronicles, and if you aren't, what are you waiting for? Anyways, when one of the most evil persons in history says he means no harm, one must question hsi motives a little.
    "What are you up to, Baine?"
    "The bard is looking for something. I seek the same thing. You want the bard dead, I want the g... the treasure. I think we can work a deal out."
    "Oh, and if I renege on it, I get it like silent bob down there?" Julian asked pointing at Bazil's motionless body.
    "I didn't kill him you fool, he irked me though so I needed him quieted for a short time, when he awakens, we will be gone. You are free to either take my proposition and help me or go freely."
    "I don't do deals with the devil, Baine, so sorry, you will have to find another guinea pig to play with."
    Rastipher shrugged. "Very well, Sir Stillsmore, I will consider it your loss. In any chance, remember we will meet again, sooner than you like, and next time, I will not be so kind." With that, Rastipher Baine shrugged and disappeared in a puff of smoke and with a  rotten cheese smell. He turned and saw that the remaining furniture was in a state of awe.
    "That was Rastipher Baine?" asked one large but softspoken bar.
    "And you told him off?" questioned an incredulous armoir. "Mon ami," he said with a slight and corny french accent, " I am afraid we have been mistaken. We, my fellow furniture, merely want to live at peace, one with the trees that we once inhabited. However when we or trees were formed into furniture, which all in all is not a truly bad thing, we like any good wood spirits tried to find new trees. However, cruel spellcasters like Rastipher, wrenched our souls out of the tree and bonded us to the furniture. It was he that made us like this. You seem to be his foe, therefore you are our friend. You are a brave warrior,
and we accept you as one of our own." What then ensued was the furniture version of the crappy sitcom "Full House" . Fortunately, there were no olson twins in this version. there was, however the most disgusting group hug that julian ever witnessed. The warrior was picking splinters out of himself for days. It was then he realized that Bazil had dissapeared... with Rastipher....
    Days went by, and the furniture had set about to building a gigantic ark-like boat out of the remains of the city and their fallen comrades. Julian was glad he know had an army of some sort to balance Bal's skeleton crew. The furniture spirits which were actually wood sprites, and were very resourceful. In less than a week, the ship was done. Sprites took turns possessing the boat so its speed was one to be reckoned with. Though Bal was days ahead, Julian's craft, known as the U.S.S. Argio (in honor of his fallen comrades, it was the sprites idea, they believed he was a great warrior, just a little misguided), could easily catch up to it. The warrior set off that day, with high hopes and spirits.
    Somewhere far, far, off, Bazil awoke... Wherever he was, it was cold,  dark, he was chained up and naked (he seemed to get in these situations often), and for some reason he thought something was licking his toes...
 
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