I am so sorry about this. I lost my USB at school (stolen), my computer that I type on doesn't have internet, and it took me a week to get time to buy a new one. On the bright side, this is a 2000 word chapter! Read On~DE

Merlin

"Please, please, please tell us!"

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Because it's a surprise!"

"Why can't you surprise us now?"

That would be Gazzy and Nudge. I was leading everyone to the place where I had booked us for dinner.

"It wouldn't be as good a surprise if I tell you now."

"No, it'll be better! That way we will be excited all the way there!"

As you can see, I had failed to mention exactly where I was taking us, and those two just wouldn't take no for an answer. They probably would have already found out by now, but Max (who was watching with no small amount of amusement) had forbidden Angel to read my mind to find out. I wasn't sure if she would listen though, so I kept my thoughts focused on the route I was taking, rather then the destination.

After about fifteen minutes of walking, I was ready to duct tape Nudge's mouth shut. No matter how many times Max, Iggy, or I told her to stop talking, she just wouldn't stop! I was thankful that we had finally arrived at the area where we were going to eat.

"Oh, Max, look! That building says FOOD on it! Is that where we're going?"

"I don't know Nudge, ask Merlin." Max answered, grinning. Oh so your going to sic her on me now, eh?

"No Nudge, we are not eating there. This area is called the Exhibition, and is open during the last few weeks of summer as a large festival and amusement park," I said as we continued walking. "The FOOD building holds a huge number of fast food stores, many of which are only found in a few other locations. I would consider taking you there, but it is only open during the weeks the Ex is open. We are going to an attraction that is right next to the park, but is open year round."

"And what is this attraction?" Fang asked.

"Hallelujah, he can talk!" I cried, stalling. We weren't quite there yet.

"You're stalling," he said as the others laughed. I led us around the corner and held out my arms in a dramatic fashion.

"Behold! Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament! Tonight we will have a feast while enjoying the sight of knights competing in swordplay and jousting."

Of course this sent Nudge into a fit of squealing, and Iggy and Gazzy slapped me on the back for picking such a good place. I looked over at Max for her agreement that this was okay by her. She seemed to think it over for a second, than nodded. I turned and led the group inside.

There was a large crowd of people in the front entrance. We were fortunate to arrive when we did, because the staff had just opened the doors to allow everyone into the ticket lines and the waiting room. I went down one line and bought our tickets, paying extra for front row seats and a second serving of food (I didn't think for one second that the Flock was going to be full on what normal people would eat). After that, we entered the "Courtyard" a large room dressed up in medieval theme with suits of armour, shields and swords hung along the walls. As we entered, a man dressed in a peasant costume handed us each a paper crown. All of our crowns were gold with yellow gems, which seemed kind of redundant.

Nudge saw the horses being taken care of in their stables in a window dragged Max along across the lobby to see. Gazzy led Iggy through the crowd towards a set of rooms that held the 'Museum of Horror', while Fang walked over to the shopping area and examined the swords that were for sale. I motioned for Angel to join me as I walked to the bar to buy us drinks.

"Angel," I started, "I know you can hear thoughts and send them. Is there anything else that you can 'hear'?" I made air quotes around hear. I had been thinking about this in the back of my mind ever since I left the Internet café.

Angel frowned. "I don't really know, I can get strong emotions, and can tell what someone is feeling. Sometimes I can see what they see if I try hard enough."

That made sense, due to the brain being where all of your senses and emotions are linked. I smiled at her as I spoke. "That might help with what I'm thinking. You see, this dinner is like my way of saying thank you to all of you guys. You've all been pretty accepting of me, even though you only met me yesterday."

"Well we couldn't just leave you," she said smiling back. "Even if Fang has issues with you being with us."

"I'm pretty sure Fang has a lot of issues, but I think they have more to do with Max then me," I laughed. "But I'm more concerned with Iggy's issue."

"And what issue is that?" Iggy's voice came from behind me. "Is my being blind a problem for you?"

I turned to see him scowling at me with an understandably angry look. "Here me out Iggy. When I met you, I couldn't even tell you were blind; in fact, I would probably still be clueless right now if Angel hadn't filled me in on it. Knowing you are blind only increased my respect for you, seeing you navigate this city just like any normal person."

"Then what's-"

"The problem," I cut him off, "is that you about to go to a show that will only disappoint you if you can't see it."

Iggy relaxed, realizing that I hadn't meant any offence. "So what can you do to change that?"

"I am only the idea maker, the one to put my plan in action is no other then…"

"Me!" Angel piped up. As I had hoped, she had seen what I needed her to do in my mind. "If I try hard enough, I should be able to send a picture of what I'm seeing to you. I just need you to try not to block me out like you usually do."

Iggy looked (or at least pointed his head) at Angel. "Do you really think you can do that Angel? Really?" It seemed he was trying hard to keep the desperate hope out of his voice.

I can try. After all, when have I not been able to do something?

I looked at Iggy. "You can block her? You have got to teach me how to do that."

Max walked up to us then, finally having made it away from Nudge, who was now looking at the falcons that were being displayed in a glass enclosure. "What are you guys up to?" she asked.

"If it works out, Iggy can tell you. If it doesn't, never expect us to speak of it. How are you enjoying yourself so far?" I asked, handing her a tall glass of coke.

"Other then a slight case of paranoia from the crowds, this is okay."

"I promise that if we get ambushed while we're here, I'll hold still long enough for you to beat me up before Billy kills me." I put my fist over my heart in a mock salute.

"Billy?" Iggy asked, catching my slip.

I winced. "Now he's the wolverine hybrid on the DSB squad. He used to be my evil tormentor, always trying to hurt and humiliate me. If he can remember me in the slightest, it won't be pretty."

"How can you remember him, and not the rest of your life?"

Angel answered Max for me. "Bad memories are always clearer."

I nodded. Clearly I'm not the only one with inner demons.

MAX

"So where are the others?" I asked, eager to change the subject and do a head count.

"Fang's looking at swords, Gazzy's looking at the toy swords and armour sets, and Nudge…"

"Is right here!"

Merlin turned around to see her standing right behind him. "Good, all accounted for. Here is your root beer Nudge. I'll take these," he picked up two glasses of soda, "to the other guys."

"How did you know she liked root beer?"

"Of the many things she has told me, it's one of few I can put to use."

I looked to Iggy as he walked away. "What did you think of the Museum of Horror?"

"From what Gazzy said before he turned the entire room into a torture device, it is filled with torture machines that makes the tests the whitecoats put us through seem tame. The whitecoats wanted to keep us healthy, for the most part. These things would disfigure you or kill you only after you had felt the most pain possible."

"Maybe we could build one and stick ter Borcht in it."

"His screams would give away our location for miles."

I sighed, "All right, lets go see what Fang and Gazzy are doing."

Fang and Merlin we found conversing by the sword counter. Fang was holding a short broadsword with a wooden handle (it's called a hilt right?) while the sword selling serf explained about the quality of the sword.

"What kind of steel is it?" I heard Merlin ask as we approached them.

"My lord, all of our swords are made only from the finest Spanish steel," the seller replied, right in his role as a poor blacksmith trying to get by.

"I mean, stainless or carbon steel."

"Stainless of course."

Merlin swore and spoke under his breath so that only the Flock could hear. "Put it back Fang, if a modern sword isn't carbon steel, it isn't battle-ready, and I don't think you are planning on hanging it on a wall. Stainless steel will break or bend after only a couple hits, so a small weapon like a set of daggers that don't come into contact with another blade would be better." Fang nodded and handed the sword back to the serf, and requested to look at the daggers kept in the glass counter.

"What cha doing?" I asked. "Finally decided to admit to the bloggers that you really are emo?" That had been a topic of debate for a long time, especially since Fang had answered that girl Jess's questions.

Fang looked up at me, smirking. "No, it's just that now we aren't fighting just robots anymore. Seeing as you've forbidden us to use guns, a bladed weapon seems like a nice way to take away the advantage their claws give them."

"How would you learn to use a sword or knife?"

"It's not too hard, just stick the pointy end in the other guy," Merlin said, to everyone's great amusement. "And if we want to practice without cutting each other to bits, I think Gazzy has the right idea."

I looked, and was rewarded by the sight of Gazzy lifting a wooden sword almost as tall as himself. Five minutes later, we were all outfitted with the swords of our choice. Iggy, Gazzy Nudge, and I had all chosen the largest type of sword, Fang the smallest while Merlin got two of the medium size. Angel simply said that she didn't want a sword, and that if she wanted to try it she could borrow one of Merlin's. Merlin had also sprung for seven matching long daggers, that we each had stowed in the side pockets of our bags for easy retrieval. I especially liked his choice, because the blades were etched with the design of being a long feather.

After a few more minutes of waiting, a man in a brightly coloured costume stepped into the room. "My lords and ladies, gather round! Welcome to the tournament! Tonight we have many of you here to celebrate a memorable occasion, weather it be a birthday, a wedding…Perhaps a divorce. No matter the reason, we are happy to serve you, and hope you enjoy your meal and show. Now without further ado, please make your way to the arena!