Chapter 11 is up and thank you to my uber awesome beta who was an extreme help with this chapter

The last one was a bit short, so I hope this makes up 4 it

"You hungry?" Joren asked as they reached their inn.

Kel shrugged. "Sort of," she replied. "Are you?"

"Yeah. You mind if we go get something?"

Kel shook her head. "No. I could go for something small."

"Great," Joren spoke smiling. "The gas station attendant told me of a really great Yamani style restaurant a few blocks from here, are you up for it?"

"Okay," Kel told Joren. After a few moments pause Kel asked gently, "Are you okay? You've seemed a bit jumpy since we left Wayland's complex."

Joren glanced away from Kel and focused on the street. "Yea, I'm fine," he said a bit roughly. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Kel cringed, wishing she hadn't asked the question; she had liked his new good mood. "Well you just seem a bit jumpy. Sorry I was only wondering."

"Yea, well don't. I'm fine," Joren added moodily. "Since when do you care anyways? Back out of my business, Lump

"Well, excuse me for being considerate. Mithros forbid I actually have a slight concern for your well being," Kel fumed, angered at Joren's reversion to his old self.

"Yes, Mithros forbid," Joren spat.

Kel's Yamani Mask slipped into place as they rode toward the Yamani restaurant.

"This way please," a short, plump, Yamani led Kel and Joren through a maze of scattered dinners to a table near the back of the restaurant. Kel glanced around nervously; the restaurant was filled with mostly with couples who were busy holding hands, talking close, and giggling. Lavish decorations covered the walls. Kel stared at the ornate fans and intricate wall hangings surrounding the tables. Shadows danced on the vibrant red walls, compliments of the burning candles at each table.

"Feeling better?" Kel asked stiffly after they were seated.

"Of course," Joren replied icily, gray eyes shadowed. "There never was anything wrong"

"Right," Kel murmured before turning her attention to the menu.

Joren followed suit and looked at the menu. His steely orbs grew wide as he looked over the selections. "There's quite a bit," he said lightly.

Despite his efforts to keep his voice light, Kel noticed the slightly panicked undertone in his speech. Unlike her, Joren did not have a Yamani mask to hide behind and his apprehension at the new culture's possibilities was showing through.

"I rather enjoy the Yamani rice balls. They're probably excellent here," she supplied, hoping to ease his uncertainty.

"Sounds great," Joren told her, the relief coming through in his voice.

Kel smiled at Joren over her menu letting her Yamani mask drop. Their unspoken apology for the harsh words exchanged earlier made the meal much more pleasant as the conversation turned to more vital things concerning their stay in Scanra.

Later that night, back at the inn, Kel emerged from the shower to find Joren pacing back and forth, brow furrowed and eyes snapping in frustration.

"What's going on?" Kel asked quietly.

Joren looked up startled, eyes frantic. "Nothing," he said quickly.

"Joren, come off it! You are practically bursting with anger. What happened?"

"Commander Cavall called," Joren muttered darkly. Kel sighed, frustrated. It seemed he was back to his usual closed self- mysterious and exasperated.

"And?" Kel prompted.

"Nothing," Joren yelled, voice cracking. "Not one gods blest thing.

"Joren, please, what is the matter?" Kel pleaded, her green-hazel eyes searching his face.

"My mother's dead," Joren snapped, unable to restrain his emotion any longer. Their eyes met and Kel was started; his icy orbs were filled with a haunted, subdued look making it seem as if he had lost his soul.

"Joren," Kel began, moving towards the hurting man before her. "Please, take a deep breath and-"

"She's dead," he yelled louder, cutting Kel off.

Tears that had been building up in Joren's eyes began spilling over. Frustrated and angry with himself Joren swiped them away. Resuming his pacing Joren traversed through the room. He stopped by the desk and yelled in frustration. In an act of anger he kicked at the desk

"Joren, I'm sorry," Kel told him simply, at a loss for what to say to this troubled man.

Joren paused in his rant and looked at Kel; his eyes were bloodshot and filled with a deep hate. "You don't get it, she's dead and it's my fault. I didn't protect her."

"Joren, I don't know what happened but it is not your fault," Kel said quickly.

"You don't get it," he roared, fists clenching in anger and frustration. "It is my fault. I promised her I would protect her and now she's dead."

He flung himself into a chair and put his head in his hands. Hard sobs shook his muscular frame. Kel rushed to his side and put an arm across his back. She quietly murmured soothing sounds.

After Joren's sobs began to subside, Kel ventured a question. "Do you want to talk about it?"

All defenses down and tough man exterior aside, Joren turned dull eyes towards Kel. "Kel, I promised her, I promised my mother I would protect her from him and I failed."

"Who?" Kel asked gently.

Joren's reply emerged as no more than a whisper. "My father."

"Joren, it wasn't your fault," Kel told him firmly.

Joren didn't reply but rather he looked down, fists clenched. "I'll kill him," he said, more to himself than to Kel. "I'll kill him."

Kel put Joren to bed and went to the front of the inn to get some coffee for the two of them. Standing at the counter, Kel heard someone calling her pseudonym. Looking around, she spotted Wayland waving to her from a nearby table. He motioned for her to come over to his table which was covered by loose papers and an opened briefcase.

Kel cautiously made her way to his table, still holding two steaming cups of coffee.

"Wayland, what a surprise to see you here," she said politely.

"Yes, well a friend of mine is staying here while the plumbing in his apartment is being fixed and I was just dropping by to meet with him. How are you? Where is your friend?"

"I'm fine," Kel replied friendly. "Matthew is back in the room. Something he ate upset his stomach – he isn't feeling too well. I came down here to get some coffee to help settle his stomach."

"Ah – well tell him I hope he feels better," Wayland said casually before checking his watch. "Oh, I'm going to be late for my meeting with Winslow if I don't leave now. He has to leave for work soon or he'll be late. He's just down the hall, but having to stay here puts him ten minutes behind in getting to work, the location is terrible. Would you like to come with me?"

Wayland's attention was fixed on gathering his papers and packing his suitcase. Because of this, he missed seeing Kel's eyes widen in shock at the mention of Winslow and he failed to notice her brief battle to smooth her features into their general Yamani calm. Trying to keep the panic out of her voice, she apologized, saying, "Oh, I wish I could but I really should be getting back to Matthew. Some other time maybe."

"Okay," Wayland said cheerfully. "Well, see you around."

Xxxx

Kel quickly made her way back to the room she shared with Joren. She was trying hard to suppress the panic that was rising inside of her but not doing a very good job. 'Snap out of it Kel,' she mentally scolded herself. 'You need to be strong for Joren.' Trying to keep this in mind, she let her Yamani mask slip into place as she opened the door to their room.

Joren was lying across the bed, eyes closed, breathing in short, uneven gasps. His blond hair was mused and tear stains were clearly visible on his cheeks.

Kel slowly approached the bed. "Here's some coffee," she told him softly.

He raised himself up and gratefully took one of the cups Kel had been holding. For a few minutes, neither of them spoke as Joren sipped his coffee. Kel was pacing back and forth glancing at the door. She was so preoccupied with her thoughts of Winslow that she did not notice Joren rise from the bed and come over to her. Only when he laid a soft hand on her back did she snap out of it. Flinching, she backed away from him towards the door.

"Kel," he said, bright eyes filled with concern. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing, Joren," she lied, trying hard to keep her voice from quavering. "I'm just a little tired."

"Kel, please!" Joren's voice was filled with anxiety. "Please talk to me."

Kel turned away, shoulders tense. "Joren, it's behind me. I don't want to talk," she told him quietly.

"Kel, please," Joren began again, voice urgent. "What happened when you went to the lobby?"

Kel turned around, eyes dull. "I saw Wayland there. He's visiting a friend."

Joren noticed how Kel's voice dropped at the word 'friend.'

"Who might his friend be?" Joren asked slowly.

"Winslow," Kel whispered.

"Kel, who is he?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Kel abruptly lashed out. "I've had enough talking."

She brushed past him and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door hard behind her. Joren could hear her muffled sobs echoing against the hard walls of the bathroom.

It was a fairly small inn, not small enough to feel very cramped, but small enough for visitors to run into their neighbors occasionally, especially at the breakfast buffet. This fact was what kept Kel dreading going to sleep that night, afraid of what she might be faced with in the morning.

After Kel's retreat into the bathroom, Joren had retrieved a book from his suitcase to read until she came out.

A more composed Kel emerged from the bathroom, hoping she would not have to face Joren. She saw him draped across the bed asleep, head resting on an open book. Smiling, she retrieved a blanket and laid it across him before finding a comforter and making herself a nest on the floor.
It was a long time before sleep engulfed her.

please review…… tell me what you think puh-lease