Chapter Three-Trouble in Romance

Kara came into the tent the following evening after the Moment of the Voice.

"The Voice said he'll put other tribes out on the watch for her, and tell them to let him know if they find her. Then he'll let us know and tell us, so we can tell you"

"What if she goes strait to the capital? Or Strait to New Hope?" Kaiya asked

"He will also let the palace guards and your adoptive mother know, so they can be on watch for her as well. We'll find her, don't worry"

"Jon is going through to much trouble" Kirsten said "I say we let Carly go"

"Kirsten, what is wrong with you?" Kaiya asked

"Nothing" Kirsten said "Carly is the one who went and threw a tantrum over not having a suitor. She is the one who ran away"

"She's our sister!"

"She didn't act much like a sister last night, why should I act like one now?"

"You didn't help things by rubbing it in her face" Kaiya said hotly

"It was the truth. Sometimes you need a wake-up call, and Carly had one coming to her"

"Your wake-up call didn't have to be so rude"

"Are you siding with her?" Kirsten asked "Remember, she shot you down for being engaged to Caden as well"

"She was right to! We have been ignoring her since we got involved with Caden and Nicholas. She was right when she said we treated her like a third wheel. You said she needed a wake-up call...maybe we did too"

"We did not ignore her"

"Kirsten, come on. Be honest"

"Well, we didn't completely ignore her! And it's not like it was just when we were planning things with her that we invited the boys. We invited her to join us when we planned time with the guys"

"I know that, but-"

"No buts, Kaiya. I am not letting Carly's tantrum ruin my celebration of completing knight-training. If you remember correctly, this trip was going to be the three of us. It's not our faults our suitors wanted to join us and protect us"

"Maybe Caden and I should return home, and you two should go look for Carly"

Kirsten and Kaiya jumped-they hadn't heard the two guys come in

"Don't be silly, Nick" Kirsten said "Carly has been like this before. She'll cool off, apologize, and it will be forgotten"

"But for how long?" Caden asked "She didn't just suddenly get upset about us being here. It's been building up...how long until she started bottling her feelings about us again?"

"Caden and I have been talking" Nick said "And we decided we won't let ourselves come between you two and Carly"

"What are you talking about?" Kaiya asked

Caden hesitated "We'll stay with you until we find Carly, but-"

"But?" Kirsten asked, looking from Nicholas to Caden "There is a 'but' in this conversation?"

Nicholas walked over to Kirsten, and rested his hands on her shoulders "Yes, there is, and this is it...if Carly tells us that it bothers her that you two have someone and she doesn't-"

"Don't say it" Kirsten said, tearing away from Nicholas "Don't you dare say it"

"Kirsten, listen to me"

"No! If you are going to say we'll break up because of Carly, I won't listen to you!"

Kaiya looked at Caden "You both feel this way?"

Caden nodded "Neither of us like it, but we agreed that if we are the problem-"

"It's Carly who is the problem!" Kirsten snapped "I swear, when I find her, I am going to kill her for making you two feel this way"

"Kirsten, no" Nicholas said "I won't let you and your sister have problems because of me"

"And I won't let you and Carly have problems because of me" Caden told Kaiya, holding her close. Kaiya tried to pull away

"We can't touch like this, Caden" she said "It is considered disgracing me"

"I'll leave" Kara said "Then you won't be in public anymore, and it will be perfectly fine for you to touch each other, and don't worry, I won't tell anyone"

Kara left, and Caden pulled Kaiya close to him again "We won't decide anything until we can talk to Carly" he promised

"If she makes this engagement fall apart, I'll help Kirsten kill her. That will solve the problem right then and there" Kaiya said. She turned to look at Kirsten. Her head was buried deep into Nicholas's shirt, and she was shaking. Nicholas was rubbing Kirsten's back in a soothing gesture. Kaiya's eyes grew wide. Kirsten never cried! Kel was more likely to cry than Kirsten.

"If we aren't worth ruining your relationship with Carly, what makes you think we feel like we are worth you two becoming murderers?" Caden said, lifting her chin to look into his eyes

"We think you are worth it" Kaiya said

"That's sweet, Kaiya, but we aren't" Caden said. He pulled her away from him enough that he could kiss her "Are you two ready for supper?"

"I'm not hungry" Kaiya said

"Neither am I" Kirsten said, pulling away from Nicholas. Her eyes were read and swollen, and her nose was pink "I think I'll just go to bed"

"Yeah, me too" Kaiya said

"You two promise to not run off like Carly did?" Nicholas asked

"I promise" Kaiya said

"So do I" Kirsten said

"Alright. Good night" Nicholas said, kissing Kirsten "Remember, we haven't decided anything yet"

"No. You're just leaving the choice in the hands of our jealous triplet" Kirsten said, returning the kiss

Kaiya kissed Caden "We'll talk more about this in the morning. Kirsten and I deserve a say in if we break up or not because of our sister"

Kirsten nodded

"Ok, we'll talk tomorrow" Caden promised

"Sleep well" Nicholas said

The two boys left.


Carly shivered in the tent she had packed back at the palace. She had become spoiled with all the warm blankets and rugs at the Bloody Hawk that had been made to block out the cold desert night air.

I am being stupid she thought What kind of sister am I if I begrudge my sisters for being happy.

After a moment, she realized she was only mad herself, not her sisters Kirsten was right. she thought There were plenty of times when I could have gotten a suitor if I had wanted one...why didn't I pick one?

She shook her head and cleared it of the thoughts of suitors and love. I'm starting to sound like Cousin Meathead when he writes Yuki love poems she shuddered at the thought

I just need to be around some friends he thought They'll keep my mind off of love...but I can't go back to the capital. Then I'll have to explain to mom all about my petty jealousy. Maybe it's better if I don't have a suitor...I won't be worrying about them if I go off on a mission for the Crown.

Yes, time with some friends was exactly what she needed, and she knew just the place to go...she knew how to get there. It would only take a week. Then she'll ask someone to let Jon know where she was through the Moment of the Voice. If she hurried, she could make it a day or two before Kaiya, Kirsten, Nicholas, and Caden were suppose to leave the Bloody Hawk. Then they could come and they would make up, get back to their adventures, and everything would work out just fine.

Well, I can't sleep anyway. I might as well start riding now. Please Mithros and Great Mother Goddess, don't let me loose time by having to fight hill men.

She quickly broke down her make-shift campsite, and loaded up her mount before saddling her mare and riding off in the desert night.


Review Reply

dares to dream: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, and I am glad I can still have twists that no one is expecting. Thanks for reviewing.

SOPROL: I love it when people tell me they like my work. Thanks for reviewing.

inktounge58: Just so you know, when it comes to my stories, there is no such thing as a questions that is spacy and stupid. I see it as you are paying attention to my stories, which flatters me. I am glad you liked this chapter.I feel for Carly too. I only have one older sister, and we are only 18 months apart, so I really spend a lot of time feeling left out...as to you're idea...it is scary how much it is like where I was taking this story, only I like part of yours better than mine, so now you have me thinking if I can use it, and still get the rest of my story to work...I'll probably be combining my idea with yours, so thanks for the idea! Thanks for reviewing!

ElvenPrincess69: I am glad you liked the chappie. Yeah, I know Kirsten was harsh to Carly, but I figured one of the triplets has to have a fierce temper and I already made Kaiya the romantic one, so (shrug) I probably could have gone easier on her, but too late now. I'll have Kirsten make it up to Carly later. Thanks for reviewing!