DISCLAIMER: I know I don't own anything…I am flat broke…lol
"Ugh. My head hurts." Kaie rose onto her forearms and looked around. She was lying on her sleeping mat near the pool. A cold compress fell off her forehead when she rose and Kaie picked it up. It was slightly damp still meaning that her now empty cave wasn't so for long.
"You should lie back down." Kaie turned to see Neal standing with his hands on his hips. He was rather handsome, but Kaie wasn't going to let him order her around.
"Then I shouldn't be the only one." Neal winced as Kaie smiled. She gingerly stood on her feet and instantly felt better. Her previous dizziness caused by the healing was gone and she felt ravenous.
Looking out the cave entrance it looked to be early evening. Stretching her muscles, Kaie took another quick look around. Nothing seemed to have been disturbed. Nodding, she followed Neal out of the cave to see a large number of tents erected in the small plateau below the ledge and behind the trees. Shaking her head Kaie looked at Neal.
"How is in charge of all of you?" Kaie asked, hands on hips. She couldn't believe that these soldiers would erect their tents so openly in the enemy's land.
"Why should I tell you? You know, we only stayed here because we owed you for saving my life." Neal looked stern and crossed his arms. For some reason, Kaie's hands twitched to slap him.
"Because, it is rather important that I speak with them." Kaie spoke evenly and calmly. She would not let him get the better of her temper. Neal shuffled from foot to foot, thinking. Exasperated by his slowness, Kaie jumped off her ledge onto the ground which was twenty feet below. She had done this jump so many times that her muscles were used to such abuse.
Hearing Neal cursing at her from the ledge, Kaie allowed herself a small smile as she searched for the largest tent in the group. She remembered all the stories her father told her about war and how they were fought. In all the stories, they generals and leaders always met in a large tent, so it was only logical that these men would do the same.
After about fifteen minutes, Kaie decided that she had found whoever was in charge. She had been studying the men from the shadows of the forest. She spent little time on finding the largest tent, but the problem was there were at least three tents of the same size in a circle at the center of the masses. The tent to the left near the sycamore tree was the leader of the group. More men came and went from there, only suggesting that is everyone was getting their orders.
Jumping down from her perch in a tree, Kaie walked up to the tent. Looking behind her, she was surprised that the sentries hadn't spotted her. Shrugging, she arrived at the tent entrance. Clearing her throat, Kaie waited for someone to answer.
"Come in." A baritone voice spoke the words and to Kaie they seemed amused. "And I thought everyone knew to just-" the man turned around as Kaie entered. He had been rummaging through a saddle bag on the ground of the tent. He stood up and Kaie cowered. This man was twice her height and very broad in shoulder.
"A-are you in charge of this camp?" Kaie asked stuttering. She couldn't help it, she rarely saw people. Let alone tall people.
"Yes I am. And who are you?"
"My name is not important but your camp is. You cannot be here." Kaie said gathering her courage to speak. She knew that it was important that she tell him the danger they were all in.
"And why not?" This man had put down whatever was in his hands and crossed his arms.
"Because, less than a candle mark away there is a guard house. They are scattered throughout the area. They recruit the willing and punish the resisters. They have spies everywhere. With such a large force, you will be spotted soon, if you already haven't." Kaie spoke with anger at these Tortallians for being so arrogant in their pride.
"This I did not know. But don't worry. We have a mage here that can veil us from anyone." The man sat down behind an untidy desk and studied her. Kaie felt uncomfortable.
"Well, how good is this veil anyway?" Despite herself, Kaie was interested. She had a little Gift and was always interested in learning new things.
"Well, it covers all the tents and the area it is in."
"Does it cover the cave over there as well?" Kaie asked uneasily.
"No it doesn't." Shaking her head Kaie turned to leave the tent.
"Then this veil doesn't work. I could see your camp from the ledge of my cave. If I can see you, then your veil must not be working." Kaie commented as she left. Outside, she took a deep breath. Her mind started to think fast. If she could see through the veil, then so could others. That means soldiers were coming and she had to get out of here. Running through the men milling about, she ran into one. Muttering an apology she reached the bottom of the ledge to her cave. There were small hand-holds she had carved into the stone years before to climb to her cave; they were much quicker than having to go to the slope that led to the entrance.
Arriving at her home, she dashed around looking for her father's old traveling packs. She had to get out before everyone got slaughtered. She wasn't a Tortallian and she wasn't going to die for their arrogance.
"Okay, I need: shirts, breeches, tunics, stockings, boots…" Kaie spoke the list aloud as she grabbed each item. When she was finished packing, she jumped off the ledge once more into the darkening night.
"Kel, this is a miracle." Neal had been ranting all day about the girl who had healed him. "My father can't even heal like that. I mean, she literally brought me back from the dead. Only the Lioness has done that, and then she had to bargain with a God to bring the King back."
Kel was rubbing her temples. They had just put the girl in her bedroll and left the cave. Neal had insisted that he be able to keep an eye on her, making sure she got no ill affects from the healing.
"That's grand Neal. But please, stop talking about her. Your wife might get jealous if she heard." Dom joined them as they walked through the camp. Sir Raoul had ordered that they camp in the only flat ground they had seen in days. They were leading the march to the capitol to kill King Maggur in the fourth year of the war.
At the age of twenty two, Kel was still single and a commander. A year before New Hope became a town and Kel had been relieved of her duties there. Tobe stayed along with the other children. Mistress Fanche was taking care of him now. The King had given her a field command and she was now in charge of over five hundred men. The idea still shocked her, but she pushed that feeling back.
"And why would my Yamani Lily be mad? She is currently happy taking care of young Yuka, who has just turned two years old." Neal said smiling. He was still such a romantic.
"Because, you are obsessing over a rather pretty girl who nearly killed you." Owen had walked up and heard their discussion, so he added his own teasing. He was now a Knight and engaged to Lord Wyldon's youngest daughter.
"Oh, you don't understand my scholarly interests. Now, be gone. I have to check on my PATIENT." Neal said the word loud and clear to make sure his point was across. Kel smiled as he climbed up the slope that led to the girl.
The girl. Kel couldn't get her mind around the fact that she lived in the cave in the wilderness away form everyone and have such a Gift. She had to admit that Neal was right to be interested in the girl. She had gotten angry, defended herself and nearly killed Neal. And yet through it all, she never truly tried to kill anyone, even they were the enemy.
Lost in thought, Kel and the others wandered around, trying to find something to do. When they couldn't Kel went to go to her tent that was placed next to Raoul's when someone ran into her. She caught a flash of black hair and scared blue eyes. It was the girl.
Kel hurried into Raoul's tent to find a rather agitated commander. She had never really seen him like this before. It must mean something bad has happened.
"Sir?" Raoul looked at Kel in surprise.
"Do you know where Numair is?" Kel thought about the days events.
"No so, I don't believe I have seen him. What is wrong?"
"According to our new friend, our veil doesn't work and there are probably men coming to fight us. Our plan of surprise attack won't work. Now go, alert the men. We may have a battle on our hands soon."
Please review. I hope you like the new chapter 2!