The next morning Xlelon knocked on the door that read Numair Salmalin. Daine answered. She still wasn't sure as to when Daine moved in, but her question was answered now. She was trying to figure out how long was between the books, and thought it was about five, but still wasn't sure. Though she had heard about a diplomatic mission to the Yamani Islands. It seemed obvious that that was Keladry and her family, but she was unsure. She was waiting for news of Ilane of Mindalen saving the Yamani treasures.

"Hello Xlelon, how are you?"

Xlelon looked at Daine, she had a bow in her hand. Xlelon's jaw dropped.

"Oh my gosh! Did I interuppt you?"

Daine shook her head.

"No, I was just going to do some target practice."

"Whoa, can I come and watch? Please?"

Daine looked at her and shrugged.

"Sure, oh wait, why did you come?"

Xlelon shrugged.

"Just to tell Numair that I finally found a job."

Daine laughed, they had become good friends recently. Daine had heard all about her luck in finding a job, which was namely unluck.

"Oh really, that's wonderful! Where is it?"

Xlelon blushed.

"Billy Frog's inn."

Daine just smiled.

"That's great, I've heard the knights and pages talk about that place. They say that the servers are the best payed in the lower city."

She nodded.

"I believe them. It's quite a bit. I'm a server and a maid."

Daine grinned.

"Be careful, some of those men are downright filthy."

Xlelon giggled.

"In more than one way I'm sure."

Daine gasped and shoved her lightly. Xlelon just continued to laugh. They made their way slowly down to the archery yards. When they got there, Xlelon sat on the rail and talked to some of the sparrows. One sparrow in particular caught her attention. It had a small ring around the top of its head, as did it's mate. When she thought about it, she figured out that it couldn't be Crown. However, when she asked, she found out that they had just hatched chicks that looked just like them. One of them was female. She didn't know whether this was Crown and these were her parents she was talking to, or if these were her grandparents. Shrugging, she continued to watch Daine shoot. It was quite something. When she had spent her entire arrow stock, she went and retrieved them. Coming back, she looked closely at Xlelon. Xlelon did not like that look.

"Would you like to learn?"

"Me?" She squeaked, "Of course!"

So Daine taught her how to hold the bow correctly, and more difficult, she taught her how to draw and aim it. By the end of an hour, she had only managed a large amount of welts on her arms, two nasty scratches from the sharp ends, and three arrows on the haybales, no where near the targets. Well, she thought, I always knew that wasn't as easy as it sounded.

"Ow."

"Whats wrong?"

She showed her her arms and hands. Daine tsked and told her to follow her. Xlelon put her arms down and winced. That stupid bowstring, was the only thought on her mind. By now, some of the weals were bleeding slightly. She tried to ignore it, though from a distance, her arms looked as if they were holding something invisible against each side of her body. Daine stopped and knocked on a door, Xlelon still trying to ignore the cuts. A boy with green eyes and dark hair answered. He looked to be about ten or eleven. For a moment, he seemed to be frozen in place and then shook his head.

"May I help you?"

Daine smiled.

"Hello Nealen, is your father about?"

He nodded and dissapeared. Xlelon grinned, that had been Neal! Kel's future friend! She smirked, he was already slightly infatuated with Daine. Daine was now looking strangely at her.

"What are you smiling at?"

She giggled.

"Nothing, nothing at all."

Another strange look. She shook her head as a dark haired man came to the door.

"Hello Daine, what is it?"

Daine gestured to her and Xlelon bowed as she was introduced.

"Duke Baird this is a friend of mine, Xlelon Padrifamay. I was teaching her to shoot and she um, procured some scratches."

Duke Baird smiled and motioned for them to come in. Daine smiled and told her that she needed to go. Baird told her that that was fine, and to have a good day. Then he told her to sit and disappeared.

"So," he said, coming back, "I see that the bow bites."

She smiled.

"Yes…" She thought frantically, what's the title for a duke?! She couldn't remember for the life of her.

"Um…sir?"

He looked up from inspecting her arm.

"Yes?"

"Could…Could you tell me the title for a duke? I've sort of forgotten."

He smiled. He had heard of her already, Imrah was one of his closer friends and had told him all about her during his stay. He knew that she had come from a strange place, and that Jon was planning to train her as a diplomat. It was this knowledge that kept him from being at all offended. Not that he would have been extremely offended anyway, he had a rather calm nature. Washing the cuts, he said,

"A duke is addressed as your grace, though I am also addressed as 'master' because of my training."

"What do they call you most often?"

"Your Grace, though you are welcome to simply use Baird."

She smiled.

"Thank you your grace."

Then she grinned, realizing that she had just contradicted herself. Neal had now come back into the room and was watching his father closely, along with Xlelon herself. The wounds closed with the help of a dark green light. It was simply awe inspiring for her, someone who had only seen magic worked for three weeks. It was something that would probably awe her forever. Neal seemed equally as absorbed, even though he had seen it multiple times. She suspected that he was trying to learn. Baird sat back after only a few seconds and announced that he was done. She inspected her hands, two thin scars ran across them, the only remnant of her cuts.

"I'm afraid that your scars are permanent."

She smiled.

"Oh no, its not that, I'm just amazed. You just stuck what would have taken two weeks into two minutes!"

He smiled.

"That is the art of healing my dear."

She looked at the wall, it's shelves held pots of herbs and oils.

"What's in those?"

"Herbs and oils that help me cleanse different wounds."

"Wow. Can you teach me some? I don't know much herbology."

He blinked.

"Aren't you taking the page's courses? Herbology is included in those courses."

"Really? I had no idea! Cool."

Duke Baird shook his head, smiling.

"Is Neal going to be a page next year?"

Neal shook his head violently.

"No mam, I'm going to the university. There's no way I'm going to be a knight."

She smothered a chuckle with her hand. She hadn't expected that particular answer. However, she supposed that if his fickleness in women was so obvious, perhaps his career choice had been as well. Rising, she shook out her skirt. It was a peasant skirt that was made of light material and flared out from the knee. She didn't know whether that was intentional, but it suited her well. The blouse that went with it was equally light and was a white that complimented the skirt well. She was very happy in these cloths, she had always said that she looked better in peasant skirts and blouses anyway, just so long as they were short sleeved and light. She had cut off and hemmed the sleeves on this one, silently thanking her mother for teaching her how to sew all the while. Bidding goodbye to Baird she walked out the door…and realized that she was utterly lost.

"Damnit."

She walked back in. Neal looked up from a book that he had picked up.

"Neal, could you possibly show me the way to the pages mess hall?"

He smiled and bounced off the chair.

"Of course Milady! I should be happy to escort such a beautiful thing as yourself to lunch."

She rolled her eyes. Apparently his humor was intact at ten. He led her around a few corners and suddenly the mess hall opened up to them. She sighed at her own stupidity. Well, she thought, at least I know where Baird is. She looked around and sighed. It was empty now, but in about two weeks, she might have to convert to eating in the rider's mess. Think of that when it comes to it, she thought, this year's pages might be a good sort. She feverently hoped so. Quickly, she ate lunch and went to the market. She only had two days to find enough cloths and such to last her through until she got a break. It was nearly exactly like the renaissance fairs at home, except on a cobbled street. She looked at everything, and then made her choices, ignoring the sellers and keeping her hands in plain sight. Her purse was just a small bag that she kept close to her on her belt. She was looking at a dagger when she felt a small brush on her hand. Quickly, she grabbed her purse, and a hand that was on it. Keeping a hold on the hand, she turned around. A girl with brown hair and a mean look on her face stared back at her. Xlelon sighed and held up her other hand.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to report you. Just give me back my money."

The girl dropped a few coins into her hand. Xlelon looked at it carefully.

"All of it."

The girl looked surprised, but dropped the rest of the money.

"Thank you, and don't even consider trying it again."

Upon second thought, she looked around. Finding a noble, she pointed to the girl.

"There, go lighten her purse a bit, she could use it. Now no one will kill you for being unproductive. Just make sure not to clean her out totally, I'd take a bit out of everyone, you'll have less of a chance of being caught."

The girl looked amazed.

"How did you know?"

"Know what?"

"That he would kill me?"

She sighed.

"You belong to the rouge?"

She nodded.

"Well, I know that they aren't exactly forgiving."

The girl shook her head.

"No, they aren't. How do you know how to steal? You aren't a thief."

Xlelon raised her eyebrows.

"I'll take that as a compliment, and I was a thief, just not of money."

It wasn't exactly true, but it was close. She had taken the odd thing or two out of her parent's room. Her parents rarely noticed. She had also studied people and found that if you took a little of something, you'd eventually get the entire thing with patience. The victims often thought that they had used more of it than they thought. The girl shook her head.

"You are a strange sort of noble."

Xlelon started.

"I'm not a noble! What makes you think that?"

The girl scuffed the dirt.

"I've been following you for awhile."

She hadn't noticed that? Well, she had, but the girl had been at another booth, looking at items, and it hadn't seemed important. She made a note to pay more attention in the city.

"How long?"

"Since the temple district."

"Ah. Well, try not to do it again…wait a sec, what's your name?"

"Kalee."

"Xlelon, I am pleased to have met you, and hope to see you again. Where do you stay in the city?"

"Usually the dancing dove, but sometimes one of the temples takes me in."

Xlelon's ears perked up.

"The Dancing Dove? It's still around?"

"Yes."

"Do you know where Billy Frog's inn is?"

"Uh huh, it's a few streets away."

"Cool, I work there, come and see me sometime!"

The girl stared at her blankly.

"Your not mad?"

"No, just annoyed, but I understand that you have to have a living, yours is just different then mine."

"Um…ok…"

"I hope to see you again Kalee, so long!"

With that, she walked away, humming again. Kalee stood for a moment, then ran to find the women that Xlelon had pointed out.

((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))))))))

Well, its interesting anyway. And LONG. K well, I'm going. And yes, I really am that nice. It's a curse really.