AN: Sorry for the bit of a delay. I was sick most of the weekend and Monday.

Emma fingered the crook of her nose with one hand; the other was placed on her hip. Her keen eyes followed Eris's fingers move along the knotted string. He explained the importance of the code hidden in rope. "Tortallan spies have used this code for a long time, since Alanna's father was spymaster. I wouldn't dare change it; it works to well for that. No other country has yet managed to crack it. That we know of." The wide grin spread over his face as he laughed at his own joke made her smile too. Codes and things she understood easily, picking them up in a matter of minutes. The other ones he had showed her were already memorized and stored in her head.

Eris unsheathed a knife that had been lying on the table beside him. Emma swallowed hard, a nervous prickle creeping up her spine. Why did he have to bring out that accursed weapon?, she thought sourly, though she knew this was coming all along. Lower class women didn't usually carry weapons, and she was no exception. She had never touched a knife before, let alone wielded one. He thrust it in front of her, insisting she take. Slowly, she reached out and took it like it had the plague. The knights watching and the spymaster laughed. "You must learn to hold a weapon better," Eris said, wryly shaking his head.

The men lead her to the practice courts used for the squires and pages. Arnell and Robert showed her a few thrusts and jabs to go through. She stumbled through them, embarrassed. Later, they went through the blocks and trick moves that spies needed to know. "You must continue to practice these on your own. I cannot stress how important a knife is to a spy. It will save your life." Eris, who had been watching from the side the whole time, pointedly said to a sweaty and tired Emma. She wiped the perspiration from her forehead and nodded. Words wouldn't come just yet. She tucked the newly sharpened knife under her clothes, loosening them to hide the weapon from view.

"You will not come back here for more lessons. All you learned today must be practiced alone. It will look too suspicious if you continually return to my rooms, especially with two notable knights accompanying you. I wish you luck. You can contact me when you have more information on the rogues." He patted her shoulder, signaling the end to the day and his need for her. Exhausted mentally and physically, she slumped her shoulder and trudged back to the gates. A cheerful Robert came along. Desperately wanting to wipe the silly smile off his face, she snapped, "Oh, why are you smiling?" He shrugged, knowing his grin was affecting her. She scowled back, marching through the gates without a look or word back to him.

-----

Emma took that night off from practicing. Her aching muscles screamed all night, until finally she fell into bed earlier than usual. When morning came, she felt surprisingly well rested. "Sleep heals everything," she whispered tiredly to herself, yawning. Her daily routine took over, and she thought while her body went through the motions.

Work went normally, with a few brawls springing up through out the day, but altogether nothing to notable. Ellen let her go home earlier than usual, as she had a new girl she wanted to train. "I won't need you this afternoon, duckling. Just go home and relax," the older woman had told her, patting her shoulder. She didn't refuse. I feel bad leaving them, but if she insists, she thought guiltily.

She came upon Conall sitting alone on one of the tables, looking bored. His mother and father frequently left him to tend the shop alone. They had better things to do, while their capable son needed to learn how to run a shop. Her entrance spooked him out of his trance. "Surprising seeing you here, Emma. How'd you get off work early?" He questioned lazily, hopping off the table. She grinned at his loping walking as he neared her. "Ellen let me off. We've a new girl needin' trained. No customers, I s'pose." She stated, more of a statement than a question. He nodded his agreement.

She watched his athletic movements when he went to get a cup of ale for both of them from the back. She bit her lip as a preposterous idea struck her. Accepting the cup of ale, she looked up into her longtime friend's eyes. If I can't trust Conall, I can't trust anyone, she reasoned to herself. "If I tell you something important, you can't tell anyone," she started mysteriously. He smirked. "Emma, you can trust me." He looked back into her eyes, sending reassurance coursing through her.

Sighing, Emma started out awkwardly, "Well, you see, it all started with them two knights I was telling you about. You know, Sir Robert and Arnell." He nodded, understanding her train of thought as always. "See, they invited me to the palace. Crazy, huh? I went; I can't be refusing nobles. They took me to Eris, this man at there. But he wasn't just any man! He was the spymaster. And him and them wanting me, plain old Emma, to go around spying for 'em. The Gods must've possessed me, for I said yes. And now they want me to use a knife!" She slumped her shoulders, while Conall laughed wildly. "Why, of course I'll help you learn to use a knife. But you have to calm down, and teach me what they taught you." She smiled gratefully, glad someone understood her.

Conall learned the moves with an ease and grace she wished she possessed. He practiced diligently with her, correcting mistakes here and there. They kept an eye out for her father, who would be coming home soon. All too soon, her father rounded the corner, and she hurriedly hid her knife. Wiping sweat from their eyes, the two stood in a line and greeted the man. Glancing suspiciously from face to face, he nodded for them to continue whatever they were doing. "See you at dinner, Emma," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. She rolled her eyes. Both fathers were expecting to get an engagement organized someday between the two young people. She heard Conall chuckle quietly beside her. Turning to elbow him, she asked jokingly, "What's so funny? That my father thinks we were professing our undying love for each other down here, is that it?" She giggled and Conall nodded, grinning wickedly. Suddenly, an odd gleam came into his eyes. She became aware of how close they really were. He slowly, almost fearfully, bent down to kiss her. A thrill shot through her, but as soon as it had happened it was done. "I-," he started, but Emma shook her head. They both smiled sheepishly. She couldn't take the awkward moment anymore. She dashed up the stairs without another look.

-----

Dinner had been another ordeal, with amused glances and raised eyebrows from her father. Her little sister kept screeching, "What is going on? Tell me!" Emma would pale, pleading with her laughing father. Finally escaping to her room, she shut the door. What had happened, she thought, still amazed She had kissed boys before, but had never imagined kissing Conall. She hoped their kiss wouldn't create a permanent space between them. His friendship was too important to lose over this. She sighed and started undressing for bed.

This chapter didn't progress much of anything.

I just thought Emma needed some romance.

Lady Zarobiti// Thank you again! I heart DJ MacHale. Who couldn't love his work? Pure genius. Glad you share that with me!

Doms// I try! Thank you. I liked the tip anyway.

Sonja Mascari// I hate it when people can't spell write. Some people just shouldn't write...but thank you! I worry about my descriptiveness, I really do.

Icklekins// Hanhan! hehe. EEEK. I agree with you on the spellchecker thing. But thank you on the compliment.

deceased && Time and Fate// Thank you, thank you.