Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine, they all belong to Tamora Pierce ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kel shivered with nervousness. She was riding to Kennen with Cleon to meet his mother for the first time. If his mother liked her, she would marry Cleon. If not, he would have to marry another girl (A/N: you know, the one it is assumed he will marry). Cleon looked over at her from his horse. "Nervous?" he asked. She nodded. "Don't be," he assured, but Kel thought she could detect a trace of worry in his voice. "I'm sure Mother will like you." 'I sure hope so,' she thought as they rode on in silence. Suddenly she was grabbed from behind. "Cleon!" she screamed. "Help!!!" "Be quiet," a voice whispered fiercely in her ear as a hand was clapped over her mouth. "Just tell me where the Jewel is and I'll let you go." Kel's mouth went dry. The other reason they were going to Kennen. They were to bring the Dominion Jewel to King Jonathan who was held up there with a badly broken leg. He needed it because of the recent attack from Saraine, trying to get revenge on Queen Thayet. The whole kingdom could depend on it. "No," she screamed, wrentching the hand off her mouth, " I'll never tell." "Fine then," the voice swore, "Be that way, but I'll get you for this." Suddenly Kel went flying. Seconds later she landed hard in a ditch. She heard a thump beside her and looked up. Cleon lay next to her, looking very dazed. "Do you still have it?" he gasped. "I think so, but let me check," Kel replied. Reaching into her shoe, she triumphantly produced a shining stone. "Yes," she proudly proclaimed, holding it up to glint in the sunshine. They sat for a moment, gazing at the beautiful stone. Then Cleon came to his senses. "Kel, we've got to put that away before anyone sees it." "Yes, you're right," she said, and stowed the Jewel once more. Noticing his worried look she said "Well at least we got out of that without many injuries, just a lot of scrapes and bruises." Noticing his worried look, she asked," Is there something you're not telling me? You aren't hurt any worse, right?" "That's not what I'm worried about," said Cleon as he slowly surveyed her disheveled form, "I'm worried about what Mother will say now. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So how was it? Please read and review, even flames are welcome. Tell me what you want to happen.