Disclaimer: I don't own Tamora Pierce's characters.
Not Taking Anymore
Chapter 21
"Could we slow down a bit, Thom?" Jen yelped as they almost ran into a priest.
"Not unless you want to be attacked," Thom growled irritably.
"WHAT!" Jen hissed furiously at the male holding her arm.
"We're being followed, and until we get to where we're going, we won't be safe," Thom frowned.
"Thom… DUCK!" Jen used her weight to knock Thom out of the way of a cloaked figure that tried to jump them.
"Thanks," Thom gulped out as he made them run over the fallen form of the cloaked figure. He pulled Jen down many a hall, twisting and turning down different passages, and finally pulled her into a room and shut the door behind them.
**********
"Ouch, Bianca, what happend?" Beatrice seemed to have come to her senses.
"I'm not really sure, but I have a massive hang-over. What were we drinking?" Bianca held her head in hopes to make the room stop spinning.
"I thought we were drinking water…" Beatrice groaned. Then she screamed in outrage, "SOME BASTARD DRUGGED US!"
"My ladies, are you well?" asked a guard.
"Please bring Jen Pride or Kyle Redfern! Quickly!" Beatrice was breathing heavily and her eyes were flashing about the cell.
"I will do my best, my ladies," the guardsman sighed as his shift was over and he began to search for either of the two people the lady had mentioned.
*******
"Thom, what are you doing here? What happened?" a strong masculine voice asked as Thom and Jen turned to face the lone figure in the room.
"Mr. Cooper!" Jen gasped.
"Dad, I'd like you to meet the girl from another world, Jen Pride. Jen, this is my father, Baron George Cooper of Pirates Swoop," Thom introduced the startled girl to the notorious King of Thieves with a flourish of his hand. "Father, Jen wishes to learn the art of lock-picking."
"Well then, this is a first!" George Cooper laughed merrily, "Why don't we just teach her to be a thief and be done with it!"
"Dad, are you serious? She just wants to pick locks…" Thom frowned.
"Actually, I don't mind either way, because it might help me to notice when I'm being followed. The only fighting skill I have is to either use my fist… and punch them out, or I could kill them by shoving the palm of my hand under their nose. My father taught me that much," Jen shrugged.
"Right decent chap, your father?" George smiled. "He told you how to kill a man?"
"He was in the Coast Guard," Jen stared at him defiantly.
"A bit like our Royal Fleet, yes?" George winked at his nervous son. "I'll take her on and train her as a thief, mind ye, it will take a bit."
********
"Serpenia, are you feeling any better?" Kyle smiled as he gazed down at the girl in healers.
"A bit, but what happened to those terrible men that were chasing me?" Serpenia shivered involuntarily.
"We took them out right nicely, then called for the guards, and a healer for your wound. I'm glad that you are much better," Kyle grinned happily at the girl he seemly was smitten with.
"Oh! Young sir," it was Jeri! Our favorite 'Oh'ing trainee! "I'm sorry, but may I speak with you out in the hall?"
"I'll be back to visit Serpenia, you get some rest, okay?" Kyle watched as Serpenia nodded and yawned.
Jeri was waiting for Kyle when he closed the door, "Oh, young sir… I don't know if they've told you, but the young miss was poisoned! Oh! We're doing our best for her, but we haven't found the cure, as of yet."
********
"KEL!" Neal yelled angrily as he banged on her door, "YOUR RUDDY HORSE BIT ME AGAIN!"
"Hello, Neal," Daine chuckled as she walked past him.
"Daine," Neal bowed as she passed and blushed thoroughly.
"KEL!" Neal began yelling again.
"Nealan Queenscove!"
"Y-Yuki?" Neal winced.
"You were NOT just behaving like an utter fool in front of Sir Raoul's door!" Yuki stared sternly at him while he stood flabbergasted at the thought that he'd forgotten which room belonged to his best friend.
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Thanks to the following over the course of the last 2 chapters:
Wildphire: As usual, your support is always wonderful!
Rubber Duck: Glad you enjoyed it! It might be getting a bit more serious soon, but I love comedy a bit too much to let it all waste away!
Lizai: I'm sorry, but it wouldn't have gone over nearly as well if I had left that out. It shows who and what Jen wishes she was more like. It may just seem a minor detail, but it may end up being a very important part of this story and Jen's character. You will always have your opinion, and I will always have mine. So, let us agree to disagree, mellon (Mellon is "friend" in Elvish)?
flames of the heart: Actually, that story was read to me when I was very young, but I recall it well. It was a good story, but I prefer more adventurous tales, nowadays. I suppose that's what happens when you grow up on the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries.
MistyFox14: I very much plan to continue, though, right now is a difficult time for my family.
AJ 4EVA: I do not plan to stop for quite a while, I have yet to plan out the battle scene or scenes as they may take place.
bob: How right you are, I do plan to spice it up a bit more, and soon. The characters have yet to uncover the villain in their midst, I keep thinking that I have a proper one picked out, and then I get another possible one.
singer-of-all-songs: She is not hyper, just easily excited.
Lady Aioria: Thank you for the complement, dear Lady. You must often understand your character's shoes if you wish to represent them correctly. I hope you continue to enjoy this tale.
Mad Meg Askevron: I am sorry, but Ally is still in the same place where she was for Trickster's Choice.