Joren watched from across the main hall as the girl pulled something out of her pack. She smiled as she began to explain the foreign object. He loved it when she smiled. Her eyes would have a spark in them and her whole face would just light up.
*_*_*_*_*
"CD," Cleon asked as he looked at the thing Riley was holding.
"What's a CD?" Kel asked.
"Yeah, CD, stands for compact disk. Here lemme show you." Riley popped open the CD player and pulled out the flat, shiny disk. "This," She explained. "Is a CD. When you put it in the CD player and push the play button you can hear music through these." Riley held up the earphones. She saw the blank looks that Neal, Kel and Cleon were giving her and let out a small sigh. "You put these over your ears and no on else can hear the music…see?"
"Oh I get it," Neal said. Cleon scratched the back of his head and peered at the CD.
"How do they fit the people in there?"
"No see that's the whole point, see you don't need people…" Riley began when silky voice interrupted her.
"Can I try?" Joren asked. It was more of a demand in the form of a question. Riley figured this was due to the fact people were around and he had his own reputation to hold. Riley turned around and looked at Joren, she was grinning.
"What's my name?" Riley asked as she leaned against the table. She looked into his eyes and saw a flicker of something. Then Joren gave her devil like grin of his.
"If I guess your name I can see it?"
"That's right," Riley replied smiling.
"It's um…Riley," Joren answered smiling. Riley's face fell a bit and she looked over her shoulder at her backpack. Of course there in white print was her name, sewed into her pack.
"Great job Sherlock," Riley said grinning. "Here," She handed him the CD player and put the headphones over his ears. "I donno if you'll like the music, it's Aerosmith, you won't be used to it."
"Try me," Joren said smiling. Riley shrugged and pushed the play button. At once the loud notes of Sweet Emotion…well it was loud considering Riley had turned it up all the way last time she had used it. Immediately Joren flinched and tore the headphones off from over his ears.
"Ahhh, told you," Riley said shrugging. "That's not even the worst CD I've got. Wanna try another one?"
"No, no I'm good thanks," Joren said. Riley head Cleon snicker a bit and saw Joren shot daggers at him through his eyes. "Anyway, Numair asked me to show you where his office and room was. He's going to be busy for awhile and wanted you to know where it was."
Riley looked at Joren and then at her new friends. They didn't seem to be happy that Numair had chose Joren.
"Sure, why not," Riley answered. "I mean, if it's not to much trouble."
"No, none at all." Riley caught the glint in Joren's eyes.
"Alright well let's go," Riley put her CD player back into her backpack and slung it over one shoulder.
"Wait, Riley," Kel said grabbing onto Riley's arm. "You don't want to wander around along with this guy, he's not the best person around."
Riley had to smile. This was great, these people were already looking out for her and she hardly knew them. "Thanks for the warning, but I'm sure I'll be ok, I have ways of handling things."
"Are you sure?" Neal asked.
"Yeah, positive, I can do damage in the worst of ways," Riley smirked. "I'll be ok, I'm a big girl."
Slowly Kel let go of Riley's arm and Riley flashed her a bright smile. "Se you later!" Riley said as she followed Joren out of the main hall.
*_*_*_*_*
"Now, we will begin your lessons on how to control your magical talents tomorrow," Numair was saying to Riley the next day. She had been half asleep through most of his speech but now her head jerked up in interest as he sounded like he was finishing.
"So I can go now?" She asked excitedly. He had wanted to go find Joren all day. She knew while he and his knight master were at the castle he was training with other squires in battle combat and taking some other classes.
Numair let out a small chuckle. "Yes, you can go now."
"Thank you!" Riley shouted as she leapt out of her chair. Numair smiled as he watched his young pupil run out of the classroom.
As Riley flew down the halls she grinned as she remembered the night before. After she and Joren had walked around a bit they had talked some, and for some reason she believed everything he told her. Deep down she knew he wasn't lying or anything. He had then walked her back to her room and given her a goodnight kiss. She let out a small sigh and ran out of the castle. She knew the boys would be outside training today. A Shang Warrior was instructing them. Joren had told her about the Shang last night and to Riley it had sounded a lot like karate, but wanted to see for herself.
When she arrived at the training court she was surprised to see how the Shang Warrior actually was.