The exiting sequel. Yay. Mayhem.
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Chapter 9: Murderous Mayhem
Cleon, in a blind rage, tramped down the hall to Neal's room, and knocked hard on the door. Neal, looking content, opened it.
"Oh, hi, Cleon, I was about to talk to you-"
Cleon punched him in the face.
"What the fuck-" Neal ducked another blow, one hand over his bleeding nose. He then launched a fist of his own, hitting Cleon squarely in his chin. Soon it was an all-out brawl in the hallways, and it was only to be considered lucky that neither of them had a knife. Otherwise, they would both have been gutted in a minute. Soon a small crowd gathered, watching. Kel was one of the first, rubbing red eyes. She saw what they were doing, and waded into the fight herself, not choosing sides, but hitting both.
"You senseless ninny!" she yelled. "You got into a fight with Neal- knowing the damned betrothal probably wasn't his idea. You little bastard!
"You senseless ninny!" she yelled. "You got into a fight with Neal- knowing the damned betrothal probably wasn't his idea. You little bastard! I bet you knew it all along, and you didn't try to stop it, Nealan. Take that! And that!! And that!!!" Kel was thoroughly enjoying herself, beating both men to a pulp. Leaving both of them sore and bruised, she walked away calmly as if nothing had happened.
Neal and Cleon lay on pallets in the Healers', while the Duke administered to them and gave his son a tongue lashing (not to mention Cleon). Neal had a bloody nose, a sprained wrist and ankle, and a pulled tendon. Cleon sported a broken arm and jaw, and they were both riddled with cuts and bruises. Cleon glared at his ex-friend from across the room. Neal glared knives back.
Suddenly Kel burst in, and started giving them both lectures. To imprint her point, she told them that if they ever did that again she was taking a vow of chastity. That shut them up.
"You idiots! I can't believe you did this! This has nothing to do with you, Neal, I am eloping with Cleon whether he likes it or not. And Cleon! Acting like a senseless bully! I ought to dump you right now!" Duke Baird held back hysterical laughter.
***
Princess Chisokami flipped through the pages of the book that Tortallan mage had given her. The one in the thick black robes with the sign taped on his back reading "I'll get you, Daine- and your little dog too!" Chisokami assumed it was the product of the pathetic sense of humor of some page. But Chisokami pulled her mind away from those thoughts and turned her mind to the problem at hand. That Keladry of Mindelan- The so-called Shang Snow Leopard. Who ever thought of a Noble Shang! Keladry would pay- with more than some minor injuries to her boyfriend. Chisokami had placed that fury spell on Cleon and Neal- too bad they hadn't had any weapons on them. But no. Chisokami wanted more- she wanted Keladry's life.
The Yamani princess could feel someone breathing down her neck, kissing it. She turned around to face her lover, running her hands through his smooth blond hair. No- she would never love Roald. But this man, this smooth, delicate, savage man, fulfilled all her desires. He was cunning- and shared her hate for Keladry.
"Chis…" he whispered in her ear, and she turned around, succumbing to the passion of Joren of Stone Mountain.
***
Kel lay on her bed, their bed, her face in her hands. It was all wrong, all wrong. Ever since she and Cleon had made their proposals he was so… different. He was brutal, cruel, even. Where was the thoughtful and funny Cleon she had known? And there was a bigger problem. She was pregnant.
Yes- pregnant with a child not Cleon's. It was one of the nights when Cleon was wild, wild and mad. Kel had punched Cleon, and when he rose up she pulled her dagger, lying on a side table, out of it's sheath and rapped Cleon on the temples, throwing him unconscious. Scared, horrified, she had ran to Neal for shelter. And they had made love. Now Kel was petrified- petrified with fear about what would happen when Cleon found out, what would happen when- she cut off her train of thought. She rose from the bed, wiping away the last signs of her tears, and went down the hallway. She knew Cleon. There was something wrong- something terribly wrong.
Walking down the hall, she was so entangled in her thoughts that she didn't notice when she bumped into someone. Someone wrapped in an embroidered silk kimono. Someone who hissed and stomped on Kel's toe.
"Watch where you're going, slut!" princess Chisokami spat. "Not having enough fun with your two lovers?"
Kel turned beet red. "Yeah, and I'm sure you'd know something about it," she spat back.
Chisokami smiled, a frosty, poisonous smile. "Does Cleon please you with his rants?" she said, voice dripping honey.
Kel turned white. "It's you," she whispered. "You've been doing this- don't try and deny it!"
The Princess bared her teeth. "But of course. But who are they going to believe- some slut who may or may not really be Shang- or the Yamani Princess, soon to be queen of Tortall?" Chisokami sauntered off, and Kel turned the opposite direction, running for the rooms of the only person who could help, a great mage, called…
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Who? You ask? Who is the great mage? Well, really think about Tortall's Twin part one, think about it… what happens… and what doesn't?