Did i ever say my disclaimer? Maybe not, So here it is: Nothing but the plot and a few characters are mine.
That said and done, i still don't think i like this story. Mark me, i'll finish it, but i don't think i like it.
November 22- New Hope
"Tobe! There you are!" Tobe looked up to see Gydo coming towards him, wringing her hands and looking frantic, "Lady just gave me expresss orders, you and me and if we can find Loey, her too, are supposed to set up the guest house."
Tobe sat up quickly, "What? But Loey never said that anyone was coming..." He looked around the stage, as though waiting for her to appear from the wings with an explanation, the whole point of her warning who was coming and when was so that they could do this annoying chore when they felt like it, not in a a few minutes notice.
Irania entered the theater and ran down the hill toward him, "Oh good, Loey's already on her way to headquarteds to see whats going on... she's bit upset, she didn't know anyone was coming."
The trio atarted their way up the hill, "But," Tobe said slowly, "If Loey didn't read about this in the reports, then this isn't exactly a scheduled visit, is it?"
"From what I hear, it's nothing to worry about, it's just Master Numair." Gydo said, skipping down the dirt road towards the village.
"Oh. Great thinking Gydo, the black mage is just coming for a vacation is he?" Irnai gave Gydo a look of disgust.
"Maybe..." Tobe said slowly as they pushed open the guest house door, "It has something to do with the enemy mage we keep hearing about?"
"No. The scanran mage wouldn't come to New Hope..." Gydo said slowly, then with a look of dawning horror turned to face the other two, "Right?"
Kel was pacing again, a habit she'd acquired recently, and detested.
"Wait, so Wyldon thinks that the army is heading towards us? Towards New Hope?" Buri looked aghast at the thought, "But Kel, we have nothing that can withstand that many soldiers, thats almost half of the army and the mage."
"Yes." Kel looked green.
"But why would they want New Hope, it's just a refugee villiage, not a base," Merric fiddled with the quill on Kel's desk.
"Use your head Merric," Neal sighed, "If they take over us, then they have plenty of housing and food, and slaves at their disposal, not to mention the wife and children of a highly important member of the King's inner circle." He wisley ducked as to avoid the paper ball Buri threw at him.
"And," He continued, "They'll have you Kel, the ones that know what you did to Blayce are eager to get their hands on you."
"Great," Kel stopped pacing to glare at Neal, "Now i feel loads better."
"When did Daine say Numair was arriving?" Merric asked.
"Today sometime, I've already set the children on the task of setting up the guest quarters for him." Kel said sighing and sinking into her chair.
"Oh," Neal said sarcasticly, "I'm sure that they aren't wondering why they didn't know he was coming."
All the others looked at him, confused, which spurred him to continue, "Come on, are you seriously denying the fact that these children know more then we'd like them to know. About both the war and who comes and goes and why? And when they don't know something, haven't you noticed how they always find out whats going on?"
"Maybe we can use that to our advantage," Buri looked thoughtful, "I mean, really if they already know more then we'd like, we might as well find a way to use what they know."
"Maybe..."
November 25- New Hope
"Commander Buri?" Tobe and Loey stood in the doorway of Buri's rooms, a mix of hopefullness and incredulity in their eyes.
Buri glanced over at the two of them and sighed, "I figured you'd show up here eventually, Kel told me who you're planning to fix this year."
"Oh. Well um you were right, we came here for well... help?" Loey looked a little surprised that Buri already knew.
"Take a seat." The two obliged immediately, perching themselves on a large trunk stamped with the Rider crest.
"So," Buri started, "I'm afraid you four may have reached a roadblock with Miri and Evin..."
"I wouldn't be so sure Lady," Tobe said quietly.
"Now don't think I'm underestimating you, it's just that theres some things that even the gods can't fix."
"Fix? We don't fix, we prod and poke and show." said Loey indignantly, even though Tobe privately agreed with Buri's termanology.
"I mean fix, Fisher and Larse have been through alot, more then they'd like me to know, and more then they think i know. I trained them after all, and i know what Larse has done and what Fisher hasn't forgiven."
"Which is what?"
"Larse is a Player at heart, he was always getting himself into trouble with the noble ladies. The married and betrothed ones I mean."
"So we've heard," Loey sighed, "And the women's signifigant other would nearly always find out, so Larse would get into some trouble, but Fisher would nearly always patch him up, right? I mean, it does put some hinderence on the trust issue, but if Miri helped him then..."
"At first she did. Then something happened, and here's where it get's foggy, from what i hear, they actually did fall in love and Miri was lead to believe that Evin had finished with all the other courtly ladies."
"But he hadn't?" Tobe was begining to get a picture of what he was facing... and it wasn't pretty.
"I think, for a while he had, but one woman had always been after Evin, no i won't tell you her name, she deserves to live a life with out being tortured by small, devious children. And i expect that one day he gave into her... and Miri found them together."
"Oh, but... they're friends now?"
"It's been years since then. Years. So I believe, they've reached some sort of mix between friendship and detachment, but honestly i think she still loves him and any dolt with eyes can see he still loves her." Loey's eyes were wide and calculating.
Buri sighed, "So there you are young ones, if you can solve this mess, then i'll give you a satchel of gold, for Larse isn't the same since he and Miri stopped being... whatever they were." Buri turned away from them, and went back to her reports, and while she did not ask them to leave, they could tell that there was nothing left for them to learn here.
Out in the hall, Tobe turned to Loey, "We're in way over our heads."
You know, i may be beginning to see where this story is going... maybe, Review please!!! I always love reviews.