Okay Quick Note: Certain inquiries have come up about Aly having the Gift and healing magic. I ask u all to bear in mind that to have the Sight one must have the Gift, and everything will be explained in the next few chapters. And yes I do know that Aly's fight with the Duke was a bit OOC, srry, I couldn't help myself, it was too damn funny! Anyway, she needed to get some anger out, trust me, keeping it in will just make u sick, srry for the delay, I ran out of my stock of anti-writers block potion, im hopin to get another shipment soon. And yes I know I suck and am WAY too pushy, but it is only a few reviews peoples, it can't actually be too hard to write a few short words. FLAMES WILL BE USED IN THE FIRE PLACE! (its funny actually, I have an electric fire place! Hehe, but no one has to know! waves knife around and grins cheekily Understand!)
LGotS
Home again, home againNear the end of the journey
Aly crept into her quarters quietly, making as little noise as possible. Once again in front of the bunks was Kayla, calmly packing up their saddlebags for the ride ahead. She put silencing charms on the door, and lightly tapped the girl on the shoulder, and crouched down, ready for the sparring that was to come. Kayla spun around, her hair flipping with her, attacking without a second thought. And so the training continued.
A few hours later, the girl was once again had her sore butt resting on the floor. Aly was across the room, calmly leaning against the wall and polishing a dagger that seemed to have appeared out of thin air just for that purpose.
"Couldn't you at least try to act tired?" asked Kayla while sitting up.
"Hey, now where is the fun in that?" asked Aly with an impish grin. The only response she got was a loud groan from the floor. "See? Now that's the spirit!" she replied cheerfully, and then continued, "and don't think we'll slack off of training when we reach land, I still haven't seen your sword or archery work." Another groan came from the girl, but at the mention of swords it was cut off, replaced by a malicious grin that Aly wasn't quite sure she liked.
The next morning
They exited the ship at a dock near Pirates Swoop while the horses were being assembled, and Aly finally got her first whiff of home in almost five years. They mounted up on the beach, preparing for a hard half a day of riding up steep packed dirt paths. On the top of the cliff that they had been climbing for hours on end they finally got their first glance of the castle.
Aly found that she could hardly look away from her old home, but none the less she gave the signal for them to continue on down. Once they had reached the Swoop, Aly led them to the stables, where they took care of their horses, and prepared to enter. Aly even made the extra effort to go pet Darkmoon before they went in.
At the door they were greeted by Maude who showed the servants where to go, and told Aly that her parents were just engaging in dinner with a few friends, and to head on up. Aly moved into the dining room, and gave her father a hug from the back as soon as she was able. Whispering, "Guess who?" into his ear.
As soon as he heard her voice, the dagger that he had been fingering under the table disappeared, and he jumped up to embrace his only daughter.
When he finally let go from his bone-crushing grip Aly got a chance to view everyone else in the room. To her Da's right was her mother, and to his left her older brother Thom with what she assumed was his bride to be. On the left of her mother was her twin; the newly knighted Alan who it seemed this get together had been thrown for. Across the table were her mother's old squire, Sir Nealan of Queenscove, and his once again pregnant wife Yuki. On the other side of Blossom as she had taken to calling him was someone who had his nose and chin, as well as two brilliant blue eyes. She recognized him at once as Blossom's cousin Domitan of Masbolle, Sergeant of the Kings Own.
She had always gotten on well with Dom, at least at the few balls that they had attended together. But then her eyes settled on the woman on Dom's right, none other than the Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan, Protector of the Small, and the second Lady Knight of the Realm. At the moment the woman looked rather uncomfortable with the seating arrangements, something, which Aly thought, she might have to fix.
Also there were her Grandparents, Sir Myles of Olau, and his wife, the former Mistress Cooper. There were quite a few empty chairs in view, leading Aly to believe that there little get together had been going on for quite a while.
By the time she had finished analyzing the people in the room her mother and the rest of her immediate family were at her side, and in line for hugs.
A week later
Aly had returned to the Swoop with the rest of her entourage yesterday evening, and this morning they were scheduled to move on to Carthak. Aly took one last look at the room that she probably wouldn't be seeing for a long while, and was forced to collect herself once more in the mask that was part of her life as the Lady Spymaster of the Copper Isles.
After the tearful goodbyes of her family, and the promises to be back for longer during the wedding, Aly and her embassy mounted up for the ride back to the ship and the days onboard that would follow. Remembering, yet never looking back.
End of Chapter 7
Okay, so I lied! My writers block was a little worse than I thought! I'd like to thank all of my reviewers for they provided the motivation I needed 2 continue even with my funk. K, enough with the sappy stuff. It should only be about a week at most until I update again, so be patient! HA! THERE IS NO SUCH THINGS AS PATIENCE! MUHAHAHA! Runs of screaming, 'BEWARE OF THE FLYING HAIRLESS RATS!'
Lady. Of. The. Own. Thanx
Caity-b cookies 2 the first person 2 guess about the charm
ConfusedKnight I will, and thanx
Okaliedokalie Nawat is still in the Isles with the kids, and he might make another appearance later, not sure yet though
DaydreamQueenMisha which baby? I seem to remember 3 baby triplets and 2 toddlers
Tricksters Lioness can't believe I stopped it there either, grins sheepishly, and I'm sorry for not showing more Tortallan scenes, but there may be a few flashbacks in later chapters
Anonamus its ok, but I'm not quite sure if I posses any feelings, least of all rational ones, try 2 bear with me 4 what I said at the beginning
That's all 4 now folks
LGotS
