DISCLAIMER: Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce. And half of this story belongs to The Shang Kudarung as we are know writing this together. So thanks go to The Shang Kudarung for extending their hand to help me! And contrary to what my penname is THIS WILL NOT BE KEL/DOM
I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING! PLEASE DON'T HATE ME! I will be updating more frequently now that I have a writing partner. On to the story!
Chapter 3. Caught in the Act
Snow gently fell around a traveling party. A group of shang coming to Tortall. Many were shang traveling on their year around the lands.
All were bundled up in heavy winter gear, except for one.
A young woman, in a short-sleeved tunic and thin pants. Even though the weather was going on it's way to below freezing, this woman was perfectly fine. Every time a snowflake fell on her skin, it would sizzle and steam would rise.
This woman was Keladry of Mindelan, the Shang Phoenix. It was many months after her ordeal, and she was known throughout many empires.
People whispered her name when she passed. She had protected and fought for those who couldn't, gaining the title of Protector of the Small.
And now, on her way to the land she was born in, she couldn't help but smirk. She looked around at everyone else, with their frostbitten noses, and shaking limbs, and felt amazed again at the weird gift she had been bestowed.
Finally the group of shang stopped for the night. As a special treat, now that they were in the boundaries of Tortall, the traveling group paid for rooms in an inn so they could rest.
As everyone settled, the Shang Phoenix grabbed her weapons; having thought she had seen glimmers of metal throughout the groups journey. Kel had constantly felt as if she was being watched while traveling, and knew the others did too but were too cold to do anything about it.
She smirked at that thought, thinking of the incredulous stares she still received when a new shang joined their group. She had at first viewed her gifts as a crutch, but now she realized that they were an advantage; none of her opponents would even dare the things she did now.
She took her dagger and bow, stringing it with only one arrow and storming down the stairs. The Shang Phoenix did not care what the owner thought of her rudeness, knowing that they'd prefer to be safe over her explanations. Once outside, instead of prowling around to find the intruding scouts she simply chose to crawl up a nearby tree.
Making sure her arrow was firmly in place, she aimed it at a spy in a nearby tree, the scout must have been new as he was still busy staring at the inn.
Kel made an obvious sound as to make the scout turn towards her; silently she put up her bow and arrow so that they blocked her face.
Almost comically the spy turned towards her, only seeing the tip of the arrow and what looked like a shadow or a ghost holding the weapon, and promptly fell out of the tree in surprise. Kel lowered her bow, once again smirking at the scout's inexperience.
It's not like she's trying to kill him or anything, she just wanted to scare him! Laughing to herself she decided to jump out of the tree in front of the crowd of people trying to see if their comrade was all right.
She pulled out her beloved daggers, and in an uncharacteristic moment of ego, threw up a leaf and cut it to shreds; all in order to make these men understand she is not a force to be reckoned with.
"Where is your leader.'
She seemed a little awed at how predictable their next moves were, as...
They ran.
Once again i'd like to thank my co-author The Shang Kudarung, and you all for being loyal reviewers. I know there are many of you that have just put this story on alert, but i'd/we'd appreciate some reviews. Thank you!
Mrs. Dom Masbolle