An Interesting Day

(Subtitled: Set in Stone)

By Saphron

A/N: So I wrote this fic YEARS ago but I've decided to revamp it. By revamp I mean take out the annoying author messages and fix a spelling error here and there. So if you've already read it…kudos to you! If not, please r&r (and keep in mind I wrote this when I was 14…) and most importantly, enjoy. :)

Disclaimer: So not mine, all TP's.

And by the way, the story picks up, I promise! Just bear through the descriptive introduction and you'll see in chapter two…

Chapter One -- The Trip to Town

"Come on guys, hurry up!" Kel hollered at her friends. For a rare treat they had been given permission to head into the city as a break from their studies, as apparently Lord Wyldon had gone stark raving mad. (as if he wasn't nuts already.) And who were Kel and Co. to refuse? A trip to town sounded like fun, a lot more fun than doing homework or practicing with their weapons.

They were originally going to take their horses along, but voted against that decision because they would have nowhere to stable them, unless of course they wanted to pay. And everyone wanted to save all their cash for the important stuff, like ice cream.

Kel was excited, she had been to the urban area of the city a few times of course, but she had never spent the entire day out shopping and wandering around aimlessly with her friends. She expected it was going to be a very interesting day—just how interesting she'd soon find out.

After arriving amidst the hustle and bustle of town, the first thing Kel, Neal, Cleon, Faleron, Roald, Owen, Merric, Seaver, Prosper, Esmond did was get, you guessed it, ice cream! They trouped over to the Eskimo Bar and plopped down on some plushy red seats. Kel never had ice cream before; the Yamani islands were way too hot for it, but here in the cooler climate of Tortall ice cream was all the rage.

She decided to keep it simple, plain sherbet with a cherry or two. Neal went for the more exotic spumoni, and you don't even want to know the terrific frozen dessert rampage Cleon went on. Let's just say it involved lots of nuts and a few bowlfuls of hot fudge and about a thousand marchino cherries. Everyone else more or less stayed simple like Kel.

"Oi, my honeybee, pass the caramel!" Cleon asked Kel, grinning broadly.

"Cleon, that's your sixth spoonful! Don't you ever take a break?"

"Nope." Too impatient to banter with Kel, he reached over her and grabbed the liquid gold syrup himself, while Kel just rolled his eyes. He better be careful with that sugar if he wanted to stay in good enough shape to win his shield!

After their frozen yogurt, the gang decided to check out the rest of the busy marketplace. They passed stall after stall of the most interesting little gadgets, total junk that would send any pack-rat-obsessive-kleptomaniac happy for weeks. Esmond, who was one of these crap-lovers, bought out half the town by the time they reached the lower city. Everybody else wisely decided to keep their purse strings closed.

After window shopping for a little while, the group wandered into the central square, where there was some sort of strange commotion going on. A large crowd had gathered and was buzzing noisily. After worming their way through the throng, they saw in the plaza a theater troupe performing! There were jugglers juggling, mages doing light magic tricks, comical clowns bopping each other on the head, crazy costumes, and a large red and gold wagon. It was most entertaining, and Kel and Co. were quick to gather up front row seats (even though they were standing) to 'ooh' and 'ah' along with the crowd.

When a collection hat went around though, most of the people dispersed, leaving some very disgruntled performers. The boys were all for slinking away unnoticed but Kel made them pay up.

"Aww, Kel!"

She gave them a look that shot daggers, then there was blissful silence, and finally the clinking of a few coins being dropped into a shabby cap.

Eventually, after more wandering pointlessly around, they stopped in a local inn to get a few drinks. Kel didn't like the idea much, but the boys all wanted to try some hard alcohol, which they knew wasn't likely at the palace under Wyldon's supervision.

The group entered and grabbed some seats and soon a woman came to wait on them .She was pretty, with curly black raven hair that fell in ringlets and framed her face, and a very, er, large chest, something Neal was quick to notice.

"Aye lads, what's yer pleasure?"

The boys glanced at each other somewhat nervously; they were what, twelve year-olds? They'd never ordered beer or whiskey before. Neal took the initiative though with, "well lass, my pleasure would most certainly be you, for you are as lovely as-"

"A goat." Cleon interrupted, face crinkling with mirth. "Stop flirting with the nice waitress Neal, I'm thirsty!"

For once Kel was glad for Cleon's random sense of humor and equal sense of random love of interrupting. Anything to get Neal to shut-up.

Neal, looking very miffed, "fine." He muttered, "I'll have vodka on the rocks."

"Me too!" Merric piped up. Followed by a chorus of the rest of the boys

The waitress raised her eyes, "aren't ye all a bit on th' young side?" she asked, "well except you." She pointed at Neal and then turned back to the indigent pages.

"No." They all said at the same time, clearly offended.

"Whatever," she shrugged.

Soon everyone had ordered except Kel, who really wasn't much of a drinker.

"Come on Kel, it won't kill ya. It's just one glass."

Kel looked hesitant, "I don't know…"

"Aw Kel, don't be such a wuss."

"Who are you calling wuss, Queenscove?" A look of fierce indignation crossed her face. She turned to the rather bored waitress and added a "Whatever. Me too. Actually, make it a double!" Surrendering completely to peer pressure. She didn't show it, but she couldn't stand to be called a wuss, especially not by her best friend/crush.

Soon the drinks were brought and placed lightly on the table. Neal attempted to flirt with the attendant a bit more, but suppressed giggles from his friends made him think better of it.

They were all eager to try their first sip of real alcohol, but at the same time somewhat hesitant. After all, if their parents found out they'd kill them for sure!

Kel tasted the drink and nearly spit it out. How could people actually drink that stuff? Willingly! And without choking to death! It was insane, it tasted terrible! But she wasn't going to let anyone else know what a wimp she was, so she obediently drank it up and was even so bold as to order another. For which she got teased mercilessly by Cleon.

"Ooh! Innocent little Kel is turnin' bad on us!" He nearly squealed.

"Shuddup Cleon," she grumbled, semi-embarrassed by his joking.

Neal, who hadn't been paying much attention, as he was far too busy trying to catch the serving girl's eye, suddenly snapped out of it and turned to Kel, as usual, concerned in a brotherly way, "don't over do it Kel," he frowned.

Kel just rolled her eyes, now completely embarrassed, "What? You think I can't handle it?" She accused mockingly.

"No…" he said slowly, "Umm, maybe we should go…"

"No way, José. I'm not done yet." She ordered another drink, just to spite him, and when it arrived tipped her head back and gulped it down in one go. Everyone was very impressed.

"Go Kel!" Owen cheered, as approving whistles from Cleon followed.

Neal shrugged, "Fine, do what you want, it's your body." But none the less they soon finished their drinks and left the tavern, heading back onto the main street.

Kel stumbled as she stood, feeling a sudden rush of warmth engulf her. Uh-oh, she thought wearily to herself, I think I may be a little…drunk.

And the interesting part of their "interesting day" hadn't even begun yet…

...Saphron..

Er, do you guys want me to bother posting the rest? I mean it's all written, I just need to revamp it a bit...but yeah. I guess I won't bother if there's no interest. Just let me know :)