Guys the next chapter is up. I updated this a few days later than the other as this quiet a lengthy one. So I hope you don't mind the' few days late' bit but the 'how long it is' bit. Hope this goes to your satisfaction. Thanks for the always awesome reviews of you guys. XD They are totally the best. Oh yeah before I forget;

Disclaimer: RavengirlX doesn't own the study series because if I did Validas would have been one of the characters.

Chapter 10

*Sabah POV*

I had an awesome dream. I was kicking some serious evil-dud ass, when Validas pops up, with Jace and my new mates from Sitia, and help me. We kick butt, and then get taken back to the castle, and the commander was all like 'Well done!' We all got a medal, and lived happily ever after. There was just one thing I couldn't understand. When I was asleep, I could smell the chair from the library. You know, mushy, spicy and faintly something fruity, like cherries. What the heck had that got to do with my epic battle?

Anyway, I got up, and once I had rubbed my eyes, I noticed that once again, Validas wasn't there. This was starting to get seriously annoying. Just when I thought he would be fine with m, he would shut off. I took a deep breath, left the tent to get breakfast. Turned out that I was late, so I barely had a chance to scarf down my breakfast before we began running. Not much happened as we run, except that I had a MASSIVE stitch, which nearly made me fall over.

Oh yeah, a couple of had to run ahead of the regiment and delegation to get the castle ready for the delegation's arrival, since a lot of the preparations needed a little help. Our group included me, Adrian, Jace, three soldiers and (I was surprised to find out) Sonia, Repat and Dev (Validas' brother). Originally only Repat and Dev were coming with us, because they were requested, but I asked if Sonia could come, mainly because it would give me a chance to tease Jace, but I also thought Sonia was a really nice person.

We reached the castle pretty soon. I saw Repat's face was really red.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it" I laughed. She shot me a look which said I'm-gonna-kill-you. I laughed harder at that. I understood why Dev wasn't tired, but Sonia? She said she was a maid, so why wasn't she tired? I shot her a questioning look, but she just shrugged.

A messenger came up to us

"The commander would like Adrian, Jace and Sabah to bring the Sitian's; Repat Sonia and Dev to the commander's office" He said, quite fast. "The soldiers; Rom, Kate and Peter may return to their posts" He left after that.

We all went walking our separate ways after that. Adrian began a conversation with Repat about 'oranges and cherries; which was sweeter?' (Random)

They waited ahead of all of us, Adrian leading the way.

Jace was trying (though not very successfully) to get Sonia to talk about herself, and ended up lagging behind.

So I was stuck in the middle, waiting silently with Dev, Validas' fraternal twin. I took a moment to look at him. He was large, maybe as tall as Validas and had a very square build, with broad shoulders and a square face. He had bright green eyes, courtesy of the soulfinder. He was very different from Validas' lean, graceful form and liquid movements. I wondered about what Validas had said to me about Dev in the tent. Was it really Dev that was distant, or was it Validas' lack of communication?

"What's it like in Sitia?" I asked, in hope of starting a conversation. He looked down on me from his great height.

"Erm, like Ixia, except people don't wear uniforms" He shrugged.

"Oh" I said, lamely. I guess, in that aspect, he was a lot like his brother. Not very talkative with people he doesn't know.

We reached the commander's office, and then went in.

The commander looked from his piece of paper on his desk.

"I hope you had a pleasant trip" He said to our Sitian friends.

"It was very good, commander, thank you" Repat said. Wow, she could be really gracious when she wanted to. "If you don't mind me asking, where did you manage to get that" She pointed at the glass figure.

"A friend" The commander replied, with a slight smile.

"Anyway, we have prepared for your early arrival. Jace, Adrian, you two look after our guests. Dev, you'll find your own way around, your father wanted to talk to you. Sabah, I want you back here in an hours time, I need to speak to you, everyone understand?" He said. We nodded our replies. "Good, then be on your way" he said in a dismissive tone. We all backed out of the room, and Dev instantly headed off to some place. The rest of us looked at each other.

"Well, I don't know about you lot, but I really need a bath" I said.

"I agree" Jace said, holding his nose. I swatted his head.

"I'll take Repat and Sonia to the baths, and then I'll meet you two in the food court in half an hour, OK?" I said.

"OK" Adrian said.

I took them to the baths and we all got clean. Repat and Sonia weren't very comfortable around each other at first, but they began talking a hell of a lot by the end. They dumped their packs in my room, and then came with me to the food court. There, we spotted Jace and Adrian sat on a table, got our food and went toward them. We sat down and began talking. Well, I was. Arian was looking at Repat and Repat was looking at her food. She finished her entire plate, and was eyeing my uneaten piece of cake.

"You gonna have that?" She asked me.

"Take it" I said. She didn't need more telling than that. Adrian looked pretty surprised, but also looked at her with admiration.

"You hardly find a girl with an appetite anymore" He said.

Jace was busy making moon eyes at an oblivious Sonia, who was picking at her food.

Before I knew it, an hour had passed and I had to go back to the commander's office. I was really nervous, since the commander never really talks to may people the age of 15.

I went inside the office, to find the commander and Valek sat inside, with a girl stood by them.

I waited by the door until the commander spotted me. He waved me closer.

"Sabah, this is Icicle, the youngest advisor I have ever had" I nodded at Icicle. Seriously, what kind of name was that? "Icicle, this is Sabah, Validas' student" She nodded in return.

"I know what you're thinking" She had a low scholarly voice."That isn't my real name, but I never tell it to anyone" I nodded.

The commander turned to me again. "Sabah, the reason you began training was in order for you to become a medic, which is a very accomplished position, and you seem very capable of achieving that goal" He said. "However, I have been getting regular reports of Validas and Janco, and both of them fell that, while you have great deal to learn, you are an exceptional fighter. You have very logical thinking and can make strategic decisions very quickly" He stopped. My mouth was open and I stared long at the commander.

"OK" I said. "So...?"

Valek began speaking then. "We were rather hoping that you would decide to become Validas' second"

My face must have betrayed my feelings, because both the commander and Valek laughed.

"Don't look so shocked. You're the perfect candidate" Valek began ticking off points in his finger. "You get on well with him, you're determined, you're a reasonable fighter, you have quick thinking, and you're also a medic, which is really good" He stopped.

"So, do you accept?" The commander asked me.

I thought for a few moments.

"Yes, I accept" I finally said.

"Good, Validas will be informed when he comes back with the delegation, and you'll have a room in his suite" The commander said. "Pack your things, you'll shift in later tomorrow"

I nodded then left the room. That was definitely not what I expected.

So guys what did you think. Is their a secret behind the Sonia, is she more than a maid? Is Adrian falling for Repat? What's going to happen when Sabah and Validas' share a suite?

Well guys have to review like hell to for me to put up the next chapter, so the answer to some of the question will be revealed. So get reviewing. :D

RavengirlX