Well I believe I will have to dedicate this to kit, I don't get to talk to you a whole lot but I feel like writing something else for right now. I gotta lil bit of a writer's block so here I am; here is your k/z!

Across the barren desert rode a company wearing royal blue and flashing silver of the King's Own. The horses rode in a column of two with the riders' garbs flashing against the ferocious wind. In the front was a tall man on a black gelding with white socks. Next to him was a determined looking standard bearer holding onto a flag that held the insignia of the Own.

The horses thundered through the sand-like-gravel, making it easier for those in the back. In the back were two figures, which wore their burnooses tightly around their heads so as not to get any of the sand kicked up into their eyes from other horses. If one was to look at the two back riders from farther away, they would merely assume nothing was different other than Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak was going to visit the tribes that the Own had become friendly with.

It was not a ride for vacation; although Raoul did in fact enjoy riding to visit the Bazhir. He was ordered by King Jonathan to help them calm a few of the Bazhir tribes. The tribes had began to become unsettled, for a reason that most in Corus could only begin to guess, but the unease had started six years back when Keladry of Mindelan had started her page training.

Raoul raised his hand in a signal for the lines to stop. The line slowly stopped their horses, instead of stopping abruptly in fear of their horses injuring themselves in the sand. He made a hand motion for everyone to circle around him, and the blue and silver clad men did his bidding.

"We will be arriving to the Soaring Eagle tribe in a little while. For those of you who do not know their traditions converse with Quasim on the ride there. He grew up there, and will be more than happy to explain anything." Everyone nodded their heads in understanding. As one head bobbed up and down, she wiped sweat and sand off of her face. Despite that she had the burnoose tightly around her face most dust had stuck to her sticky face, giving her a dark tanned complexion.

"Would you be the one he is talking about Kel?" Keladry of Mindelan, Kel to her friends, turned around to see a man who was in his late thirties; he had a blunt nose, with the dark skin of a Bazhir. Along with his dark skin he had dark hair and dark brown eyes.

"Yes I believe he was. I am the only one who hasn't been to visit the Bazhir yet. We didn't learn much about Bazhir traditions in our page education, since they were so caught up with teaching us about the Yamanis."

"Ah yes the incoming Grand Progress that is quickly approaching us." He said with mirth in his eyes. "So shall we start your quick lesson of Bazhir traditions?"

Kel merely nodded her head. "Well if I may be so frank, they won't like you."

"But why?" Kel asked surprised at how blunt he had started the lesson.

"They don't believe that women should be warriors. They think that women must wear a veil when she is not married, so you will defy two of their ideas."

"Great it'll be like being with a pack of conservatives." Kel mumbled.

"I wouldn't say that. They might just grow accustomed to you. You do know that the Bloody Hawk tribe accepted Alanna eventually too."

"Yes, but she had magic and was able to help them to a great extent. What can I do to prove myself? All I do is mix in with a crowd of great warriors. I am nothing special to them."

"Ah, but you are wrong. Most women do not try for knighthood, so you are different." He said wryly, "But let's skip that part. I will warn you never to bet a horse race against the Bazhir, because they have some of the fastest horses in the realm. They call them 'children of the wind.' Hoshi and Windpainter," he said gesturing to his pinto horse, "wouldn't stand a chance."

"Oh because I am always gambling." Kel said laughing.

Quasim shrugged his shoulders, "You never know. But most important is-" Quasim broke off as Windpainter collided into the horse in front of him. This sent a chain reaction down the line until it reached Lord Raoul. Upon the hill in front of them was a band of Bazhir. The sun was beginning to set, but the sun seemed to stop directly on their backs to give them godly attributes.

As the nimble mares galloped down the mountain of sand Kel could see why they were called children of the wind. They were able to run down the hill of sand with such grace that the horses appeared to be flying. Kel looked at every horse singularly, until she stopped on one horse. She had seen the mare before at the palaces, but couldn't remember whose horse it had been.

As the group got closer the sun went behind the mountain of sand, leaving Kel to be able to see better. Her hazel dreamer eyes cast to the rider of the creamy paint and saw none other than Zahir ibn Alhaz.

Kel had last seen him when he had barely come out of the Chamber alive. He had grown taller in the last couple of months and was now taller. He still wore a majestic demeanor although his eyes showed a hint of shock when his eyes met her hazel ones, but that quickly evaporated as if it had never been there.

Raoul, Captain Flydan, and Kel stepped forward to greet the chiefs and warriors. For the most part the six Bazhir ignored Kel, but the only one that even looked at her was Zahir. Raoul had wanted her to come forward with him so she could learn, but she could barely hear the mutters since she and Zahir were the farthest away from the discussion. Raoul kept looking worriedly over at Kel, and she felt unnerved by the concerned looks her knightmaster was giving her.

With a final nod he allowed the Bazhir to lead them to the Soaring Eagle settlement. Raoul dropped back to talk to Kel, since she was giving him questioning looks. "Kel," he began, "they don't have enough room for all of the Own so you will either share a room or sleep outside."

"Sir that's not a problem I have slept outside so many times, that it doesn't matter anymore."

"You didn't let me finish, you are to have an escort around the village. They do not trust a woman who can wield a weapon. They believe that you could turn on everyone. So they would have you alone outside their encampment. There are many bandits that go around."

"Sir I can handle myself against bandits."

"These are different types of bandits though Kel. They take women and they usually have shamans within nomadic bandit groups. Please Kel, I understand that you wouldn't want to share a tent, but you'd be defenseless against them." Kel looked at Raoul in alarm. 'Is he pleading? It almost sounds like he is pleading for me to stay with someone.'

"My lord that's fine. I can stay with Dom or Quasim couldn't I?" she asked imploringly.

"They do not trust Dom, since he is not married; they think he would do something, well, not virtuous." He said slightly turning red, "Quasim is betrothed to a women, and they believe he could also be tempted. The chief really only believes his own son to be compatible for the job."

"Sir, do I even want to know who it is?" Kel asked her voice somewhat icy as she noticed Raoul's nervous behavior.

"It's Zahir ibn Alhaz. The boy who was friends with Joren, but you said he drifted away from Joren so maybe he has changed." He said his eyes hopeful.

"I doubt it; a leopard can't change his spots. Even if it has been five years." She said darkly.

"Well will you do it?"

"I will, but you must do what I wish the next time we are at a ball." Kel said smiling wickedly.

"I think I'm going to regret this later, but guess what squire, today we get to practice jousting." He said giving Kel a cynical smile.

"So not only are the Bazhir going to dislike me since I'm a warrior, now they can laugh at me too."

"Ah so you see the method of my madness finally?"

"Pardon me sir, but you are a bad man."

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Sorry but it seemed like a good place to end it, like my other fic I don't know when I will be able to update this story. Try-outs for soccer just started and I have no idea if I will have time later. Please review so I know if I should continue this fic. It would be lovely if I could get as much input as possible, who knows maybe more reviews will speed it up. Till next time...

Edited 7/24/09