Frodo007: Thank you for the compliment and the review!

Magebear7: I'm sorry if it's getting a bit hard to follow with all the characters and such, but just so you know, this new chapter is DESIGNED to be chaotic, so….yeah.

Kingdom of tom: Thank you so much! I tried to give descriptions without going overboard…

FireEdge: Yeah, even my best friend (who gets previews and such) got confused by Cale, Faye, and Lorn (She kept mixing up Cale and Lorn)

Macky: Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy this new chapter as well!

Hipparkia: I understand it gets confusing with all the new characters, but I'll try and keep the confusion at a minimum from now on. Well….it'll be awhile before we see any more of Rhys and Mia…so much to do and so many characters to introduce…

Gamerandrew: Ena and Rajaion would be VERY difficult to incorporate, and right now I doubt they'll even be in this fic. But I promise, there will be some RanulfxLethe (and one other beast couple) but alas, poor Mordecai probably won't have a significant other (if he's in this fic at all)

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"Leila, we need some more butter. Would you go get some?"

'I'm not Leila. I'm Ardena." The sixteen-year-old corrected Calill without pausing, walking away before her mother could say anything more.

Obviously irritated, Calill immediately seized the next child that went by.

"Khalon, would you-"

"Aiden." Her son clarified, also continuing on by. Calill frowned.

"Kira, we need-"

"Can't Mom!" Kira called back, up to her elbows in soap suds.

Another girl walked by.

"Leila-" Calill began.

"Nope. Still Ardena." Her daughter contradicted.

"Well, Ardena, then, could you-" Ardena was already gone.

"For ASHERA'S SAKE! SOMEONE get some more butter!" For a long moment, there was complete silence as all eyes trained themselves on Calill in an unnerving stare. Suddenly, she was no longer important and was promptly ignored once again as everyone went back about their own business. It was enough to drive a woman crazy. Calill was about to snap, when-

"Here, Mother." Khalon, her eldest son at nineteen years old, handed her a stick of butter wrapped loosely in cloth.

"Thank you, Khalon."

"We….we heard you from outside." He told her, look at her worriedly. "Father says maybe you need to rest for awhile."

"I'm fine, Khalon."

A drunken man at the counter flirted shamelessly with her daughter as she refilled his mug. Calill groaned and put a stop to this, taking the mug and filling it herself.

"Leila, go help Kiera with the dishes."

"Mother!" Her eldest daughter cried indignantly.

"Go!"

She went. The man at the counter watched appreciatively as she retreated. He was only distracted by his refilled mug being shoved under his nose. When his eyes refocused, and he caught sight of Calill, he leered suggestively and opened his mouth. A raised eyebrow cut him off. Although she would not admit it, Calill still enjoyed the attention. It was flattering to know that, after twenty years of marriage and eight children, she could still catch a man's eye, no matter how drunk he was. She pushed the thought from her mind and glanced over to where her two youngest, Jana and Jayda, identical lavender-haired twin girls, carried a heavy pail between them, refilling the water pitchers.

As the air began to cool from the hot afternoon, Leila, Ardena, Kira, Taniya, Jana and Jayda ventured outdoors. Evenings were always set aside for practice in their respective skills. Soon, the boys, Aiden and Khalon, would finish with their own chores and join their sisters. Ardena made a beeline for her older brother. She stood in front of him, axe resting on her shoulder in an ongoing challenge.

"Come on, Khalon. Put your shirt on, get your lance, and get ready to lose."

Khalon shook his head and smiled, stacking his armload of firewood against the side wall. "Alright, Ardena," he conceded, "but don't get too cocky." Ardena might typically head up the sibling hierarchy, but for those infrequent moments when Khalon got involved, there was no contest.

Red-haired Leila nocked an arrow and took careful aim before releasing it into the center of the target. Three more embedded themselves in the target in quick succession. Three for aim, three for speed. The pattern had long since become habit.

Kiera practiced alone with a wooden sword, while a sapling between the twins crackled; it's spindly branches alight with flames. Aiden, who had a gift with horses, had cared for their customers' steeds, and emerged.

"Come on, Taniya!" He wheedled. "Practice with me, please? Everyone knows you're the best with magic…"

Flattery would get him nowhere, but, as usual, his pleading finally wore quiet, peaceful Taniya down, and she gave in. Between the eight of them, it was amazing that anything was left standing.

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Khalon- Eldest son of Largo and Calill. He is nineteen years old with blue eyes and blonde hair. Khalon is a kind and responsible young man.

Leila- Eldest daughter of Calill and Largo- Leila is an eighteen-year-old redhead with blue eyes. Leila is social and a bit of a flirt. She is engaged to a young man named Brenden. Leila is her mother's favorite daughter.

Ardena- Second daughter of Calill and Largo- Ardena has indigo hair and eyes. She is significantly tougher than all her siblings, save Khalon.

Taniya- Third daighter of Calill and Largo- Sixteen-year-old Taniya had blue hair and violet eyes. She is the most adept at magic, but also he most reluctant to use it. She is unnervingly quiet at times, and will do almost anything to avoid conflict. She is Largo's favorite daughter, although Calill is unnerved by her

Aiden- Violet-haired, blue-eyed Aiden is, at fifteen, the youngest son of Calill and Largo. He, as one of the middle children, is often looked over and, to make himself noticed, frequently asserts his usefulness.

Kira- Fourth daughter of Calill and Largo- Blonde, violet-eyed, thirteen-years-old Kira is an extremely positive, helpful child. She is particularly skilled at any detail-oriented work with her hands.

Jana and Jayda- The two youngest daughters of Calill and Largo- The twins are posess lavender hair and purple eyes. They are typical adventurous, destructive children at the moment (Calill is praying they'll grow out of the destructive phase)

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I dunno...truth be told, I gave them eight children on a dare from a friend, but I kinda like it. Poooooor Poor Largo. Lol. SIX daughters. SIX! It's enough estrogen to drive any man crazy!

Review and tell me what you think!

Next Chapter: BACK TO THE GREIL MERCENERIES!