The next morning they were all up at the crack of dawn, as Grandpa wished it. The girls were very groggy due to their extrusions after hours. Grandpa pretended to ignore their tiredness, and went right on with training.
"Today, you all shall work together," he said, "Boys you will help teach them the first practice routines I taught you. But first, we must learn the moves. I understand that you all know how to kick and punch properly, so now we must put it together in motion."
Grandpa paired them up appropriately, by size.
"Is this going to be hard?" Mel asked Rocky in a whisper.
"No…it's not so bad," he smiled.
"Alright," K said, "I am ready to learn."
Colt laughed, "You sure are determined."
K nodded, "Sometimes."
The next couple weeks were spent in intense Kata training. Rocky, Colt, and Tum tum doing most of the training. Grandpa had planned it that way, he wanted to put the boys in that position of power. Grandpa was testing what the boys new by teaching the girls what they knew, and in doing so, he could see how much the boys had really learned.
The girls had spent many late nights out in the far woods and were tired most of the time, Grandpa had let it go for sometime. He was trying to understand them, but still he found them a mystery.
"Tomorrow morning," Grandpa told them at the end of training on this day, "we will begin weapon fighting. Boys, you are experts in all the weapons I have shown you. Now, it is your turn to give your knowledge to our new trainees."
Jaz sucked in a quick tight breath.
The boys all snapped to a salute, "SIR!"
In all reality this training had worn them out as well. They had never imagined that training others could be such a difficult chore. Making sure the body was in proper alignment while kicking, punches were strong and controlled, it was all a learning experience; and in their heart they knew that was what summer training was about. Colt was completely in his element, he loved summers at Grandpa's. Rocky was mostly deep in thought. And, as always, Tum tum was good humored.
"These are the weapons with which each of you shall learn first," Grandpa said revealing a table with 3 different weapons laid out on it.
"Melissa," Grandpa began taking the katana off the table, "Rocky shall help you master this weapon. It is a special ninja sword. I have no doubt that you shall learn quickly how to use this."
Mel cocked an eyebrow. 'How could he know?' She thought.
"This," Grandpa picked up the long wooden stick, "is a bow. K you shall learn how to attack with this. You are the most versatile and you should have no problem learning this simple yet complicated weapon."
K bowed while accepting the bow.
"And, you, little one," Grandpa said turning to Jaz, "will learn this." He picked up two beautifully polished si. "These weapons are called si. They can be very dangerous. They have always been a kind of mystery, and because I can not figure you out perhaps these will suit you best."
He extended them to her, but she hesitated in taking the offered weapons. K looked over to her in the realization that she would not do well with real weapons. Jaz reached out slowly, and once in her hands Tum tum could feel her body tremble. She squeezed them tightly for 10 seconds, and then dropped to her knees on all fours and emptied the contents of her stomach.
She quickly stood, leaving the si on the ground, she brushed the knees of her pants off. Still pale faced she turned without a word and went into the house. Grandpa and K followed her. The others stood for several seconds in shock.
"Jaz," K said taking her cousins shoulders, "I am so sorry I made you come out here."
"Let me go," Jaz said pushing away, "I'm fine."
"Jasell, Kelsey," Grandpa began while getting a cool glass of water from the refrigerator for Jaz, "do you care to tell me what is going on?"
"I don't know what you mean?" Jaz said sitting at the table and taking the offered glass.
"I have seen you out in the western woods," Grandpa offered, "several times."
K looked up to him, "It's nothing odd. Nothing that you would find strange, just practice."
"What kind of practice and why?"
"Because we enjoy it. Mel and I have always wanted to sword fight, and we used to take classes in it."
Grandpa looked over to K in a skeptical manner. "And what of this display?" He looked to Jaz.
"Ahh, she is terrified of weapons, and she can't handle them well. That is why she doesn't sword fight," K explained brushing one of Jaz's stray hairs from her face.
"Okay," Grandpa said, "I am giving you the rest of the day off. You and the boys are welcome to do whatever you like." He smiled at them, he had enjoyed their company. The girls were entertaining to him, but he still couldn't figure out what they were hiding. "Oh, and one more thing."
K and Jaz looked up to him.
"No more late nights, okay?"
"Okay," K smiled.
"I will give you time to practice your art in the day time, and if you do not wish the boys to know I will not tell them. And Jaz I will teach you myself tomorrow, without the weapons."
"Thank you Grandpa," K said.
Once he had gone, K looked over to Jaz who was still sipping the water.
"What?" K asked, "you are thinking something."
"Yes," Jaz said putting the water down gently, "I think this is all getting too real. We are getting involved, and that isn't safe. We can't let them figure us out."
"Well, it's not safe to go home yet," K said seriously, "besides do you really want to leave Tum?"
"No, and that is the problem," Jaz looked sad, "K, you know me better than anyone, except perhaps my mother. I have never been attached to anyone, or anything for that matter. I never cared either way about anything, but Tum tum…I couldn't let anything happen to him…ever. I don't want him to hurt, I only want to see him happy. And that is dangerous to me, too dangerous. I can't be attached, I can't! And neither can you. But I know you are. Our parents will string us up as it is. Mel, she has been the worst, already verbally giving her heart to Rocky. But what would he say if she told him the truth? And Colt? What would he think?"
"He'd never believe me."
"Exactly, be glad you aren't a "girlfriend". Don't you feel bad deceiving him?"
"I am not deceptive."
"You don't think so, nor do I. But you have to see it from his side, he would certainly think so. I think we need to get away from this place. Just disappear."
"NO!" K told Jaz harshly, "we aren't going anywhere."
Jaz stood abruptly, "Fine, but you'll be sorry." And with that she turned and went back out side.
"We have the rest of the day off," Tum tum told Jaz excitedly, "we can hang out the rest of the day!"
"Great," Jaz said without a hint of happiness, she just stated it.
"Jaz? Are you okay?" Tum tum stepped closer to her.
"I'm fine, now leave me alone," Jaz said and turned away from him.
Tum tum felt his heart sink, and a tear well up in his eye, "Jaz?" he questioned softly.
"I said I want to be alone." She said folding her arms across her chest.
"Okay, Jaz…okay," Tum tum turned away as a puppy who had just been whipped.
Jaz just began to walk, she wanted nothing other than to be alone. She knew she had hurt Tum tum, and she couldn't bear herself at the moment. She wanted to feel like herself again, not like a girl in love.
Colt met K at the door.
"Have you seen Jaz?"
"No," Colt said quickly, "but Grandpa gave us the rest of the day off, I thought maybe you'd go for a walk with me, I know how you love nature. It's really cool out here. I know some great places."
"Yeah, sure, but I need to see Jaz first," K said.
"She'll be back later, just come with me?" Colt offered his hand.
K couldn't help but smile, she took his offered hand. "Yeah, I can talk to her later."
Colt smiled.
Rocky and Mel had opted to go swimming in the nearby river, kissing and flirting the whole time.
Colt took K to a beautiful open field about a mile past Grandpa's cabin. The lilacs were just in bloom and covered the entire open area.
"Oh, Colt it's breathtaking." K said placing a hand on her chest.
"I thought you'd like it," Colt said sliding his arm around her waist, "K, I was thinking, we have been friends for awhile now…maybe you'd do me the honor of being your boyfriend?"
K's heart stopped, she wanted to say yes, but what if Jaz was right. 'Who am I kidding,' K thought, 'Jaz is right.'
"K?" Colt said.
She looked over to him, he was so handsome, so wonderful. She knew she should say no, but "Yes, yes of course."
"Really?" Colt smiled.
She nodded, "Really."
He put both arms around her and hugged her tenderly. She found comfort in this grasp, but could think of nothing but Jaz. She looked up to him, and their lips met. Jaz left her mind, training left her mind, everything left her thoughts at that moment. K had never been happier.
"Hey Mel," Rocky said splashing her and then changing to a serious tone, "what's wrong with Jaz? I have always known she was weird, but why did she get sick."
Mel threw herself into Rocky's arms, "She has always been a sick kid. She was never healthy."
"Do you think she'll be alright?" He asked holding her tight.
"Oh yeah, she always is. You know what?"
"What?" He said with his smile that could melt butter.
Mel's smile left her face, and she became serious, "I think I love you."
Rocky let her slid from his hands so they were both standing in the water at about waist level, he looked into her eyes and placed a finger under her chin lifting her face to his, "I think I love you too."
And they fell into a passionate kiss.
The next morning none of them had felt more rested, except perhaps Tum tum. He had been a wreck most of the day, Jaz hadn't returned for dinner and only came in well after dark. Grandpa had had a talk with her, and then everyone was off to bed. She had kept K up most of the night crying, K had never seen Jaz cry. She had said nothing, just cried on K's shoulder the whole night. K wouldn't have been able to sleep as it was, her heart hadn't stopped racing since Colt's kiss in the field earlier that day. But still they all felt rested.
"Today before we begin weapon training, I would like to take the opportunity to say what a wonderful job all of you are doing," Grandpa said at the breakfast table.
"Thank you," K said.
"And today, I have something that we must do before training starts. I realize that today marks the half way period of the summer, and I have realized that you all are ninja."
Mel nudged K under the table and they both exchanged smiles.
Grandpa took them all outside and sat before them, "This is a ceremonial thing that all ninjas go through upon becoming a ninja." He pulled a red and black mask from his bag, "This is the day of names, my father gave this mask to me on my day of names. And now ladies, I shall grant you your masks and your names."
"Cool," Mel said.
"Melissa."
"Sir."
"This mask is for you, and from now until forever you shall be known as Flame. As upon our day of introduction you showed me that you are full of fire and passion. You must be careful though, the flame that burns brightest dies fastest."
Mel accepted the purple and black mask that was offered, "Cool, Flame," She said.
"Kelsey."
"Sir."
"From this day until forever you shall be known as Venus. The plant from which your name comes dictates how you attack perfectly, you are beautiful and kind but upon approach you can bring your opponent down quickly in one ferocious bite."
"Venus? Neat," she took the mask he presented to her. It was a greenish one, which might match the color of a Venus flytrap.
"Jasell."
"Sir."
"And now for my tiny ninja. From this day until forever you shall be known as Enigma. Enigmas are the grand term for intricately designed puzzles, which almost no one can solve. And because you have been the biggest mystery to me, I can't understand you in anyway…I give you the only name that can match that."
Jaz smiled, but said nothing as she took the black and red mask he handed her.
As the summer began to come to a close Grandpa gave all the young ninjas more time to themselves. Many times they still practiced. K insisted that Colt help in practicing her weapons. Mel was even attuned to extra practice, and she was really beginning to enjoy it. Jaz had done her best to avoid moments alone with Tum tum and stuck to K's side as much as possible.
Today K had challenged Tum tum to a duel. They were all circled round the two warriors who fought with bamboo sticks as bows. They were fiercely whipping the long hollow wooded poles at one another when Jaz motioned for them to stop. Tum tum, still trying desperately to attract Jaz's attention once more, halted instantly. K, not noticing her cousin, whacked Tum in the side of the head awfully hard knocking him to the ground.
"Oh, Tum tum! I'm sorry," K said kneeling next to him.
"Thanks Venus!" Tum tum muttered, rubbing the soft sore spot on his head.
Jaz longed to run over next to him, but she stopped herself, the old Jaz wouldn't do that. She just growled viciously, "Shut up you nimrods."
"What? What is it?" Mel asked impatiently.
"Shhh." Jaz warned. She turned away from them, and walked out from the canopy of trees that they were using as shield from the sun. She looked up into the sky, and then looking back to the group she turned her attention to Rocky.
"Are falcons native to this area?" She asked, knowing Rocky was the most knowledgeable of them.
"I don't think so," he said, "I've not seen one here."
"I didn't think so," Jaz said looking back to the sky. Then, quickly, she bent and gathered some smooth round rocks and went to Tum tum as snatched the bamboo stick he was leaning on out from under his arm.
"Hey," he said in protest.
Jaz had to smile at him. He smiled back, she hadn't smiled at him in days.
Jaz dashed back to the opening.
"Jaz, what are you doing?" K asked.
Jaz didn't answer, she simply loaded the bamboo with a stone and aimed it up into the sky.
"No!" Rocky said running to her side, but he was too late she had already let the stone fly.
She looked back to him with a truly disgusted look and shoved the bamboo in his hands, "Here, hold this."
"Why did you do that?" Rocky demanded.
"You said they weren't native."
"Yeah," Rocky said bitterly, "but that doesn't mean it should die."
Jaz rolled her eyes in annoyance, "I didn't want to kill it because it wasn't native, but because it shouldn't be here."
"Jaz that's wrong." Rocky said.
"No Rocky, not just because it shouldn't be here. But because it is here for a reason, a reason that it shouldn't be here."
Rocky looked over to her confused, but she was already walking away. They all followed.
She dodged brush and bramble while Rocky continued, "I don't understand."
"You will," she said.
It didn't take long for her to find the fallen bird.
"Aw," Mel said.
"You won't be thinking that in a minute," Jaz said.
Mel cocked an eyebrow, "You are evil Enigma."
"Not me, the person that sent this bird." Jaz bent down and picked up the bird. "See, I just knocked it out, I didn't kill it. I didn't want to kill it."
Rocky looked even more confused, "I don't understand."
"Of course not, not yet. But I am about to show you. Have you any idea what these birds are best at?"
"Stalking prey?" Tum tum asked.
"Yes, at night…but what could it be used for in the day, and in a place that it would not be native to?" She questioned.
Colt jumped in, "Sending a message?"
"Exactly," Jaz said taking a small silver case from the bird's leg.
All of them looked at her in the realization of what she had done.
"Well, what does the message say?" Mel leapt for the note.
Jaz pulled her hand back, "Wait Flame, patients is a virtue."
"Hurry up, I want to know."
"Yeah, me too," Tum tum said.
As Jaz unfolded the paper and had a moment to comprehend what it said her face contorted in disgust.
"What?" K said, "What does it say?"
Jaz looked up to the group and searched each of their faces. All of them waited patiently, "Well?" Colt said.
"Do you know anyone that is a falconer?" Jaz asked.
All of them sighed in relief, "Oh, is that all?" Rocky asked.
"No," Jaz said, "I was asking you that."
"Oh," Rocky said thinking, "no, I don't think so. Why, do you?"
Jaz nodded, "Plenty of people."
"Damn it Jaz, the note…what does it say?" K demanded.
"It says…" Jaz paused, "I have found them."
"What? What is that supposed to mean?" Colt asked.
Jaz shrugged crumpling the piece of paper and tossing it over her shoulder, "Who knows? None of us know who sent that bird."
K studied Jaz, 'who was she trying to protect now?' K thought. K knew Jaz was horrible at lying, she damn well knew who wrote that note…and exactly what it meant. But somehow everyone else had believed her when she said she had no idea who wrote it and what it meant.
K cocked an eyebrow and grabbed Jaz by the arm a little hard, "Knock that shit off you ungrateful little brat, tell us the truth! It couldn't possibly mean what you say…nothing. You know, and you're hiding it. Why?"
Jaz jerked her arm back, "Well, what's gotten into you?" She said as if she didn't know what K meant.
K ground her teeth together; pride and familihood kept her from beating the piss out of Jaz.
With her back to K, Jaz hissed, "I told you before. You'd be sorry."
K couldn't help it, she leapt for her cousin, "You lying bitch!"
K knocked the breath from Jaz in that one tumble to the ground.
"No!" Tum tum called, trying to dive into the mix. Rocky and Colt, both, grabbed either one of Tum's arms.
"Don't little bro," Colt warned.
"GET OFF ME!" Jaz screamed.
Mel began to cry. She didn't know what to do, she was frantic and instantly pacing, ringing her hands trying to calm her nerves. She had never seen K and Jaz fight, they had always gotten along.
K grabbed Jaz by her hair, "You could be putting us in serious danger by ignoring that letter."
"Or I could not," Jaz said grabbing K's hand.
"And are you the one who should choose when we die or not?"
"When I am the one with the information." Jaz squealed as K pulled tighter.
"You know I can out brawn you," K warned.
"Yes, and I can out brain you…if you do this you know you'll be sorry."
K let go of her cousin and stood up, "Who are you? I thought I knew you…and what are you really doing here?"
Jaz turned to her cousin and narrowed her vision, "You really will be sorry." And with that she turned and dashed off into the woods. Tum tum wiggled and squirmed until he broke free of his brothers' grip.
"Jaz!" He called chasing after her.
"Great!" Mel said sarcastically, "now you've really done it K." She brushed away a stray tear, "We may never know what that note meant."
"I think I know, and so do you Mel," K grabbed Mel's arm. "Come on we've got to get back to the cabin."
When Mel and K turned to head back, they found a pissed off Rocky and Colt.
"What is going on?" Rocky demanded.
Colt stood next to his brother with his arms folded across his chest tapping his foot impatiently.
"Uh…" Mel stuttered looking down to K.
K looked up to Mel, "Um…"
"Well…"they said together, "nothing."
Tum tum caught Jaz who had stopped to catch her breath.
"Jaz?" He said running up to next to her, "can I talk to you?"
Jaz turned and buried her head in his chest. He put both arms around her, holding her gently.
"Are you in trouble?" Tum tum asked pulling her away from him and looking at her.
She said nothing, just nodded.
"What kind of trouble?"
Jaz shook her head, "Not now…just stay here with me Tum?"
Tum tum looked down to her, "You really want me? You want me to stay with you?"
"Yes, Tum. I am sorry, I have been so mean to you lately. I am just afraid of you, afraid of what we may become."
"Why? You don't like me?"
"No, that is the problem Tum tum, I like you too much."
"That's not bad."
"It'll be bad when I leave."
"When you leave?" Tum tum looked sad.
Jaz nodded, "Yeah, when I leave."
"Well, let's not think about that, let's think about us being together now."
Jaz nodded, "Okay Tum."
"Here," he said pulling a bag of skittles from his pocket, "survival kit."
Jaz laughed.
He opened the bag and poured some into her hand, "There. Some for you and some for me."
Jaz smiled. She looked over to him, he was happily eating his skittles; but when she looked over to him he stopped. "What?" he said.
"Nothing," she shook her head, "I was just watching you."
"How come?"
"Because I like to."
"You are so cool," Tum tum said with a grin.
She let the smile fall from her face and she leaned over to him. Tum's manner turned serious too, she embraced her and they fell into the kiss they had missed the night of the sunset.
"Wow," Tum tum said with a sigh.
She smiled shyly.
Then Tum tum froze. "Do you hear something?" He whispered.
She strained to hear, "Yeah, it sounds like footsteps."
Tum tum nodded, "You think it's my brothers?"
Jaz shook her head, "No, I don't think so."
"Then who?"
"I don't know." Jaz stood and peeked around the tree that was behind her.
"Balthisar," she whispered to Tum tum in shock, "he must be the falconer."
"What do you mean?"
"That bastard," she grabbed Tum tum's arm in instant realization, "quick we have to get out of here, before he sees us."
Tum tum nodded and they took off as quickly as their feet could carry them.
"MEL, K!" Jaz screamed as she broke into the opening they had been in only moments before.
All eyes went to her. Rocky and Colt let down their guard while Mel and K turned quickly nearly jumping from their skin.
"What?" Mel asked, "What is going on?"
"We have to run…quick!" Jaz said, "It's Balthisar, he's a traitor."
"What are you talking about?" Rocky asked looking down to Jaz.
There was a bright flash and everyone fell unconscious.
Colt woke to Tum tum crying, "Get off me! Colt you're crushing me!"
Colt leapt to his feet, "I'm sorry Tum."
Rocky rubbed his head, "Where are we?"
Colt shrugged.
"Where is Flame, Venus, and Enigma?"
"I don't know," Colt said, "but thinks are getting really weird."
Rocky nodded in agreement, "I hope she is okay, come on guys…we have got to find them, they are probably scared."
Colt nodded, and them Tum tum became frantic, "Enigma said they were in trouble, we need to find them quick."
Colt looked a bit uneasy, and Rocky took charge saying, "Okay, okay, let's think about this." Rocky looked up to examine their unfamiliar surroundings. They had somehow come to be in a city, the road was cobblestone, and the buildings were crudely made structures of wood, rock, and mortar. People passed them on the streets looking at them strangely. They were still dressed in their white uniforms, and these people seemed to be dressed in peasant closes of the medieval times. Way at the far end of the city, Rocky could see, a castle placed atop a hill.
"Hmmmm," Colt said, "hey Toto I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
"At what's new?" Tum tum suggested, "Every summer something bizarre happens."
Rocky laughed, "Yeah, I guess you're right." As Rocky began to turn he bumped into a large man's chest. Slowly backing away they all were able to get a good glimpse of him, he was a muscular man with no shirt on but leather straps tied around his biceps, that were the size of Rocky's thigh. His head was shaven smooth, and he was missing several teeth as he bared them with a growl.
"MOVE IT, SLAVE!" The man's voice boomed so loud Rocky, Colt, and Tum tum found it hard to hear after he stopped screaming.
"Oh, I think you may be mistaken, we are not slaves," Rocky said.
The man looked pissed, "If you are not slaves than you should be off to the war."
"No you see," Colt broke in, "we are travelers seeking shelter."
The man threw back his head with a laugh, his large barbaric group joined in, "And which direction did you come from? The war is going on all over…and where did you expect to find shelter…the castle perhaps?" The man laughed harder, "You hear that guys they came seeking shelter at the castle." The man's party also found this extremely humors.
"Okay slaves," the man said wiping a tear from his eye after regaining his composure, "who was your master…so that I might return you?"
"I told you," Rocky growled, "we are NOT slaves."
"Oh," the man said, "well you will surely fetch a great price at the auction. You shall be slaves, but don't worry boys there are many lonely ladies out there who buy young boys simply for pleasure. However," his tone turned a shade off from sadness that reeked of fake, "there are plenty of people who buy them for hard labor."
Tum tum looked up to him and spit in his face, "I won't be a slave!"
"Oooo," The man said wiping the liquid from his eye, "A feisty one, perhaps I shall keep you myself."
Then a noble voice broke the crowd, "What is the meaning of this?"
The crowd parted like the Red Sea, and at the end of the mass of people stood a beautiful woman in perhaps her late 30's.
"Your majesty," the man said, bowing with the rest of the herd.
She had long dark hair, tanned skin, a small waist and broad shoulders. She wore a long gown that was something only fit for a queen.
"You still have not answered me, Hodge? What is the meaning of all this?" She walked closer to him.
"I am sorry highness, we were just picking on the midgets," he said, gesturing to the 3 ninjas.
"Oh," she looked over to them, "I have not met you boys…are you traveling from afar? Or are you not of nobility?"
"No, we aren't from here ma'am, and no, I don't suppose we are nobility either," Rocky said.
"Was Hodge giving you a hard time?"
"No, nothing we couldn't handle," Colt said.
The lady smiled, "Wow, very brave. I am the Queen of this land, my name is Starre. I don't suppose you have anywhere to go than…do you?"
Tum tum shook his head, "No ma'am, no where to stay."
She smiled again. Rocky looked at her intently, "Majesty, I mean no disrespect, but have we met?"
"No, I don't think so. I have told you my name, yet you have not told me yours."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Rocky said blushing, "you look very familiar. I'm Rocky, and these are my brothers Colt and Tum tum."
She smiled broadly, she was very beautiful, "Pleased to meet you. Surely you will be my honored guests in my house?"
Colt looked over to Rocky, Rocky at Colt and Tum tum at both of them, "we need somewhere to stay," Tum tum suggested.
Colt nodded.
"We would be honored," Rocky said, not really sure if that was the proper way to approach such an issue.
The Queen bowed to Hodge with a devilish smiled, "Good day Hodge." He manner showed obvious humor, she loved embarrassing him.
"Majesty," He growled.
Them in one smooth motion she snapped her wrist out and grabbed his huge well defined jaw, "Don't show me contempt young man, or I'll have you hanged."
"Yes, your majesty," He said between her tight grasp.
"Now make your self useful, fetch me my horse and 3 others from the royal stable."
"Of course your highness," he said standing.
"And make it quick, we wouldn't want to keep my guests waiting…now would we?"
"No your majesty, of course not," he hissed.
Once they had disappeared she turned back to the boys with a wide smile, "I don't want you to think me unpleasant, however I truly can not stand that man, and I would see him suffer any way I can make him. He gives all my people a hard time, and these are not the times to be bad."
"I'm hungry," Tum tum said quietly.
"Did you say hungry?" The Queen looked concerned, "oh my poor dear, you must be starving with all that travel."
"Starving?" Colt said looking to Tum, "that is an understatement."
"Hey," Tum tum said giving his brother a shove.
The Queen's smile turned sad.
"Your highness," Rocky said looking to her, "If there is anything we have said or done"
The Queen cut him off, "No, it's nothing that you have done, but obviously be yourselves."
"I'm afraid, your majesty, that I don't understand?" Rocky asked.
She smiled again, "It's just that you remind me of my boys when they were your age."
"Oh, where are they now?"
"My oldest are off at the war."
"War? That is the second mention of it today?" Rocky offered.
"Yes, child…we are at war, you didn't know?" She looked surprised. "You really must have been traveling for some time."
Rocky nodded, this was getting worse by the minute. His girlfriend had disappeared and was in danger, he nearly became a slave, and was tossed into a medieval world where there was a war going on. The only thing that made him feel remotely safe, and he wasn't sure why, was this woman who he barely knew.
"Wait," Tum tum suggested, "you aren't looking for recruits are you?"
The Queen laughed, "Certainly not, no."
"Oh, okay," Tum tum said more at ease.
Just then some of the Queen's ladies appeared, they must have been near the boy's ages.
"Your majesty," one bowed but not before letting Rocky catch her eye, "the King insists that you come home at once. He is concerned for your safety, highness."
The other girls giggled and whispered, one smiled at Colt and another winked at Tum tum.
Tum tum and Colt exchanged worried looks.
The Queen rolled her eyes with a sigh and a smile, "Good man," she told the boys, "but far too over protective."
"Oh, and also to tell you Matt and Kand have returned from their journeys, His Majesty was talking the war up to them…hoping they would volunteer. I wasn't supposed to tell you that part," she giggled.
"Oooo," the Queen made her best angry face, "I don't want another one of my children off to war. And I am sure my best friend wouldn't appreciate me sending her son to her while in battle."
"If you still agree to my offer of a safe place to stay, and I must apologize, we will have to start now, on foot."
All of them shrugged, none of them minded walking, besides it would give them the opportunity to see their new surroundings
"Today, you all shall work together," he said, "Boys you will help teach them the first practice routines I taught you. But first, we must learn the moves. I understand that you all know how to kick and punch properly, so now we must put it together in motion."
Grandpa paired them up appropriately, by size.
"Is this going to be hard?" Mel asked Rocky in a whisper.
"No…it's not so bad," he smiled.
"Alright," K said, "I am ready to learn."
Colt laughed, "You sure are determined."
K nodded, "Sometimes."
The next couple weeks were spent in intense Kata training. Rocky, Colt, and Tum tum doing most of the training. Grandpa had planned it that way, he wanted to put the boys in that position of power. Grandpa was testing what the boys new by teaching the girls what they knew, and in doing so, he could see how much the boys had really learned.
The girls had spent many late nights out in the far woods and were tired most of the time, Grandpa had let it go for sometime. He was trying to understand them, but still he found them a mystery.
"Tomorrow morning," Grandpa told them at the end of training on this day, "we will begin weapon fighting. Boys, you are experts in all the weapons I have shown you. Now, it is your turn to give your knowledge to our new trainees."
Jaz sucked in a quick tight breath.
The boys all snapped to a salute, "SIR!"
In all reality this training had worn them out as well. They had never imagined that training others could be such a difficult chore. Making sure the body was in proper alignment while kicking, punches were strong and controlled, it was all a learning experience; and in their heart they knew that was what summer training was about. Colt was completely in his element, he loved summers at Grandpa's. Rocky was mostly deep in thought. And, as always, Tum tum was good humored.
"These are the weapons with which each of you shall learn first," Grandpa said revealing a table with 3 different weapons laid out on it.
"Melissa," Grandpa began taking the katana off the table, "Rocky shall help you master this weapon. It is a special ninja sword. I have no doubt that you shall learn quickly how to use this."
Mel cocked an eyebrow. 'How could he know?' She thought.
"This," Grandpa picked up the long wooden stick, "is a bow. K you shall learn how to attack with this. You are the most versatile and you should have no problem learning this simple yet complicated weapon."
K bowed while accepting the bow.
"And, you, little one," Grandpa said turning to Jaz, "will learn this." He picked up two beautifully polished si. "These weapons are called si. They can be very dangerous. They have always been a kind of mystery, and because I can not figure you out perhaps these will suit you best."
He extended them to her, but she hesitated in taking the offered weapons. K looked over to her in the realization that she would not do well with real weapons. Jaz reached out slowly, and once in her hands Tum tum could feel her body tremble. She squeezed them tightly for 10 seconds, and then dropped to her knees on all fours and emptied the contents of her stomach.
She quickly stood, leaving the si on the ground, she brushed the knees of her pants off. Still pale faced she turned without a word and went into the house. Grandpa and K followed her. The others stood for several seconds in shock.
"Jaz," K said taking her cousins shoulders, "I am so sorry I made you come out here."
"Let me go," Jaz said pushing away, "I'm fine."
"Jasell, Kelsey," Grandpa began while getting a cool glass of water from the refrigerator for Jaz, "do you care to tell me what is going on?"
"I don't know what you mean?" Jaz said sitting at the table and taking the offered glass.
"I have seen you out in the western woods," Grandpa offered, "several times."
K looked up to him, "It's nothing odd. Nothing that you would find strange, just practice."
"What kind of practice and why?"
"Because we enjoy it. Mel and I have always wanted to sword fight, and we used to take classes in it."
Grandpa looked over to K in a skeptical manner. "And what of this display?" He looked to Jaz.
"Ahh, she is terrified of weapons, and she can't handle them well. That is why she doesn't sword fight," K explained brushing one of Jaz's stray hairs from her face.
"Okay," Grandpa said, "I am giving you the rest of the day off. You and the boys are welcome to do whatever you like." He smiled at them, he had enjoyed their company. The girls were entertaining to him, but he still couldn't figure out what they were hiding. "Oh, and one more thing."
K and Jaz looked up to him.
"No more late nights, okay?"
"Okay," K smiled.
"I will give you time to practice your art in the day time, and if you do not wish the boys to know I will not tell them. And Jaz I will teach you myself tomorrow, without the weapons."
"Thank you Grandpa," K said.
Once he had gone, K looked over to Jaz who was still sipping the water.
"What?" K asked, "you are thinking something."
"Yes," Jaz said putting the water down gently, "I think this is all getting too real. We are getting involved, and that isn't safe. We can't let them figure us out."
"Well, it's not safe to go home yet," K said seriously, "besides do you really want to leave Tum?"
"No, and that is the problem," Jaz looked sad, "K, you know me better than anyone, except perhaps my mother. I have never been attached to anyone, or anything for that matter. I never cared either way about anything, but Tum tum…I couldn't let anything happen to him…ever. I don't want him to hurt, I only want to see him happy. And that is dangerous to me, too dangerous. I can't be attached, I can't! And neither can you. But I know you are. Our parents will string us up as it is. Mel, she has been the worst, already verbally giving her heart to Rocky. But what would he say if she told him the truth? And Colt? What would he think?"
"He'd never believe me."
"Exactly, be glad you aren't a "girlfriend". Don't you feel bad deceiving him?"
"I am not deceptive."
"You don't think so, nor do I. But you have to see it from his side, he would certainly think so. I think we need to get away from this place. Just disappear."
"NO!" K told Jaz harshly, "we aren't going anywhere."
Jaz stood abruptly, "Fine, but you'll be sorry." And with that she turned and went back out side.
"We have the rest of the day off," Tum tum told Jaz excitedly, "we can hang out the rest of the day!"
"Great," Jaz said without a hint of happiness, she just stated it.
"Jaz? Are you okay?" Tum tum stepped closer to her.
"I'm fine, now leave me alone," Jaz said and turned away from him.
Tum tum felt his heart sink, and a tear well up in his eye, "Jaz?" he questioned softly.
"I said I want to be alone." She said folding her arms across her chest.
"Okay, Jaz…okay," Tum tum turned away as a puppy who had just been whipped.
Jaz just began to walk, she wanted nothing other than to be alone. She knew she had hurt Tum tum, and she couldn't bear herself at the moment. She wanted to feel like herself again, not like a girl in love.
Colt met K at the door.
"Have you seen Jaz?"
"No," Colt said quickly, "but Grandpa gave us the rest of the day off, I thought maybe you'd go for a walk with me, I know how you love nature. It's really cool out here. I know some great places."
"Yeah, sure, but I need to see Jaz first," K said.
"She'll be back later, just come with me?" Colt offered his hand.
K couldn't help but smile, she took his offered hand. "Yeah, I can talk to her later."
Colt smiled.
Rocky and Mel had opted to go swimming in the nearby river, kissing and flirting the whole time.
Colt took K to a beautiful open field about a mile past Grandpa's cabin. The lilacs were just in bloom and covered the entire open area.
"Oh, Colt it's breathtaking." K said placing a hand on her chest.
"I thought you'd like it," Colt said sliding his arm around her waist, "K, I was thinking, we have been friends for awhile now…maybe you'd do me the honor of being your boyfriend?"
K's heart stopped, she wanted to say yes, but what if Jaz was right. 'Who am I kidding,' K thought, 'Jaz is right.'
"K?" Colt said.
She looked over to him, he was so handsome, so wonderful. She knew she should say no, but "Yes, yes of course."
"Really?" Colt smiled.
She nodded, "Really."
He put both arms around her and hugged her tenderly. She found comfort in this grasp, but could think of nothing but Jaz. She looked up to him, and their lips met. Jaz left her mind, training left her mind, everything left her thoughts at that moment. K had never been happier.
"Hey Mel," Rocky said splashing her and then changing to a serious tone, "what's wrong with Jaz? I have always known she was weird, but why did she get sick."
Mel threw herself into Rocky's arms, "She has always been a sick kid. She was never healthy."
"Do you think she'll be alright?" He asked holding her tight.
"Oh yeah, she always is. You know what?"
"What?" He said with his smile that could melt butter.
Mel's smile left her face, and she became serious, "I think I love you."
Rocky let her slid from his hands so they were both standing in the water at about waist level, he looked into her eyes and placed a finger under her chin lifting her face to his, "I think I love you too."
And they fell into a passionate kiss.
The next morning none of them had felt more rested, except perhaps Tum tum. He had been a wreck most of the day, Jaz hadn't returned for dinner and only came in well after dark. Grandpa had had a talk with her, and then everyone was off to bed. She had kept K up most of the night crying, K had never seen Jaz cry. She had said nothing, just cried on K's shoulder the whole night. K wouldn't have been able to sleep as it was, her heart hadn't stopped racing since Colt's kiss in the field earlier that day. But still they all felt rested.
"Today before we begin weapon training, I would like to take the opportunity to say what a wonderful job all of you are doing," Grandpa said at the breakfast table.
"Thank you," K said.
"And today, I have something that we must do before training starts. I realize that today marks the half way period of the summer, and I have realized that you all are ninja."
Mel nudged K under the table and they both exchanged smiles.
Grandpa took them all outside and sat before them, "This is a ceremonial thing that all ninjas go through upon becoming a ninja." He pulled a red and black mask from his bag, "This is the day of names, my father gave this mask to me on my day of names. And now ladies, I shall grant you your masks and your names."
"Cool," Mel said.
"Melissa."
"Sir."
"This mask is for you, and from now until forever you shall be known as Flame. As upon our day of introduction you showed me that you are full of fire and passion. You must be careful though, the flame that burns brightest dies fastest."
Mel accepted the purple and black mask that was offered, "Cool, Flame," She said.
"Kelsey."
"Sir."
"From this day until forever you shall be known as Venus. The plant from which your name comes dictates how you attack perfectly, you are beautiful and kind but upon approach you can bring your opponent down quickly in one ferocious bite."
"Venus? Neat," she took the mask he presented to her. It was a greenish one, which might match the color of a Venus flytrap.
"Jasell."
"Sir."
"And now for my tiny ninja. From this day until forever you shall be known as Enigma. Enigmas are the grand term for intricately designed puzzles, which almost no one can solve. And because you have been the biggest mystery to me, I can't understand you in anyway…I give you the only name that can match that."
Jaz smiled, but said nothing as she took the black and red mask he handed her.
As the summer began to come to a close Grandpa gave all the young ninjas more time to themselves. Many times they still practiced. K insisted that Colt help in practicing her weapons. Mel was even attuned to extra practice, and she was really beginning to enjoy it. Jaz had done her best to avoid moments alone with Tum tum and stuck to K's side as much as possible.
Today K had challenged Tum tum to a duel. They were all circled round the two warriors who fought with bamboo sticks as bows. They were fiercely whipping the long hollow wooded poles at one another when Jaz motioned for them to stop. Tum tum, still trying desperately to attract Jaz's attention once more, halted instantly. K, not noticing her cousin, whacked Tum in the side of the head awfully hard knocking him to the ground.
"Oh, Tum tum! I'm sorry," K said kneeling next to him.
"Thanks Venus!" Tum tum muttered, rubbing the soft sore spot on his head.
Jaz longed to run over next to him, but she stopped herself, the old Jaz wouldn't do that. She just growled viciously, "Shut up you nimrods."
"What? What is it?" Mel asked impatiently.
"Shhh." Jaz warned. She turned away from them, and walked out from the canopy of trees that they were using as shield from the sun. She looked up into the sky, and then looking back to the group she turned her attention to Rocky.
"Are falcons native to this area?" She asked, knowing Rocky was the most knowledgeable of them.
"I don't think so," he said, "I've not seen one here."
"I didn't think so," Jaz said looking back to the sky. Then, quickly, she bent and gathered some smooth round rocks and went to Tum tum as snatched the bamboo stick he was leaning on out from under his arm.
"Hey," he said in protest.
Jaz had to smile at him. He smiled back, she hadn't smiled at him in days.
Jaz dashed back to the opening.
"Jaz, what are you doing?" K asked.
Jaz didn't answer, she simply loaded the bamboo with a stone and aimed it up into the sky.
"No!" Rocky said running to her side, but he was too late she had already let the stone fly.
She looked back to him with a truly disgusted look and shoved the bamboo in his hands, "Here, hold this."
"Why did you do that?" Rocky demanded.
"You said they weren't native."
"Yeah," Rocky said bitterly, "but that doesn't mean it should die."
Jaz rolled her eyes in annoyance, "I didn't want to kill it because it wasn't native, but because it shouldn't be here."
"Jaz that's wrong." Rocky said.
"No Rocky, not just because it shouldn't be here. But because it is here for a reason, a reason that it shouldn't be here."
Rocky looked over to her confused, but she was already walking away. They all followed.
She dodged brush and bramble while Rocky continued, "I don't understand."
"You will," she said.
It didn't take long for her to find the fallen bird.
"Aw," Mel said.
"You won't be thinking that in a minute," Jaz said.
Mel cocked an eyebrow, "You are evil Enigma."
"Not me, the person that sent this bird." Jaz bent down and picked up the bird. "See, I just knocked it out, I didn't kill it. I didn't want to kill it."
Rocky looked even more confused, "I don't understand."
"Of course not, not yet. But I am about to show you. Have you any idea what these birds are best at?"
"Stalking prey?" Tum tum asked.
"Yes, at night…but what could it be used for in the day, and in a place that it would not be native to?" She questioned.
Colt jumped in, "Sending a message?"
"Exactly," Jaz said taking a small silver case from the bird's leg.
All of them looked at her in the realization of what she had done.
"Well, what does the message say?" Mel leapt for the note.
Jaz pulled her hand back, "Wait Flame, patients is a virtue."
"Hurry up, I want to know."
"Yeah, me too," Tum tum said.
As Jaz unfolded the paper and had a moment to comprehend what it said her face contorted in disgust.
"What?" K said, "What does it say?"
Jaz looked up to the group and searched each of their faces. All of them waited patiently, "Well?" Colt said.
"Do you know anyone that is a falconer?" Jaz asked.
All of them sighed in relief, "Oh, is that all?" Rocky asked.
"No," Jaz said, "I was asking you that."
"Oh," Rocky said thinking, "no, I don't think so. Why, do you?"
Jaz nodded, "Plenty of people."
"Damn it Jaz, the note…what does it say?" K demanded.
"It says…" Jaz paused, "I have found them."
"What? What is that supposed to mean?" Colt asked.
Jaz shrugged crumpling the piece of paper and tossing it over her shoulder, "Who knows? None of us know who sent that bird."
K studied Jaz, 'who was she trying to protect now?' K thought. K knew Jaz was horrible at lying, she damn well knew who wrote that note…and exactly what it meant. But somehow everyone else had believed her when she said she had no idea who wrote it and what it meant.
K cocked an eyebrow and grabbed Jaz by the arm a little hard, "Knock that shit off you ungrateful little brat, tell us the truth! It couldn't possibly mean what you say…nothing. You know, and you're hiding it. Why?"
Jaz jerked her arm back, "Well, what's gotten into you?" She said as if she didn't know what K meant.
K ground her teeth together; pride and familihood kept her from beating the piss out of Jaz.
With her back to K, Jaz hissed, "I told you before. You'd be sorry."
K couldn't help it, she leapt for her cousin, "You lying bitch!"
K knocked the breath from Jaz in that one tumble to the ground.
"No!" Tum tum called, trying to dive into the mix. Rocky and Colt, both, grabbed either one of Tum's arms.
"Don't little bro," Colt warned.
"GET OFF ME!" Jaz screamed.
Mel began to cry. She didn't know what to do, she was frantic and instantly pacing, ringing her hands trying to calm her nerves. She had never seen K and Jaz fight, they had always gotten along.
K grabbed Jaz by her hair, "You could be putting us in serious danger by ignoring that letter."
"Or I could not," Jaz said grabbing K's hand.
"And are you the one who should choose when we die or not?"
"When I am the one with the information." Jaz squealed as K pulled tighter.
"You know I can out brawn you," K warned.
"Yes, and I can out brain you…if you do this you know you'll be sorry."
K let go of her cousin and stood up, "Who are you? I thought I knew you…and what are you really doing here?"
Jaz turned to her cousin and narrowed her vision, "You really will be sorry." And with that she turned and dashed off into the woods. Tum tum wiggled and squirmed until he broke free of his brothers' grip.
"Jaz!" He called chasing after her.
"Great!" Mel said sarcastically, "now you've really done it K." She brushed away a stray tear, "We may never know what that note meant."
"I think I know, and so do you Mel," K grabbed Mel's arm. "Come on we've got to get back to the cabin."
When Mel and K turned to head back, they found a pissed off Rocky and Colt.
"What is going on?" Rocky demanded.
Colt stood next to his brother with his arms folded across his chest tapping his foot impatiently.
"Uh…" Mel stuttered looking down to K.
K looked up to Mel, "Um…"
"Well…"they said together, "nothing."
Tum tum caught Jaz who had stopped to catch her breath.
"Jaz?" He said running up to next to her, "can I talk to you?"
Jaz turned and buried her head in his chest. He put both arms around her, holding her gently.
"Are you in trouble?" Tum tum asked pulling her away from him and looking at her.
She said nothing, just nodded.
"What kind of trouble?"
Jaz shook her head, "Not now…just stay here with me Tum?"
Tum tum looked down to her, "You really want me? You want me to stay with you?"
"Yes, Tum. I am sorry, I have been so mean to you lately. I am just afraid of you, afraid of what we may become."
"Why? You don't like me?"
"No, that is the problem Tum tum, I like you too much."
"That's not bad."
"It'll be bad when I leave."
"When you leave?" Tum tum looked sad.
Jaz nodded, "Yeah, when I leave."
"Well, let's not think about that, let's think about us being together now."
Jaz nodded, "Okay Tum."
"Here," he said pulling a bag of skittles from his pocket, "survival kit."
Jaz laughed.
He opened the bag and poured some into her hand, "There. Some for you and some for me."
Jaz smiled. She looked over to him, he was happily eating his skittles; but when she looked over to him he stopped. "What?" he said.
"Nothing," she shook her head, "I was just watching you."
"How come?"
"Because I like to."
"You are so cool," Tum tum said with a grin.
She let the smile fall from her face and she leaned over to him. Tum's manner turned serious too, she embraced her and they fell into the kiss they had missed the night of the sunset.
"Wow," Tum tum said with a sigh.
She smiled shyly.
Then Tum tum froze. "Do you hear something?" He whispered.
She strained to hear, "Yeah, it sounds like footsteps."
Tum tum nodded, "You think it's my brothers?"
Jaz shook her head, "No, I don't think so."
"Then who?"
"I don't know." Jaz stood and peeked around the tree that was behind her.
"Balthisar," she whispered to Tum tum in shock, "he must be the falconer."
"What do you mean?"
"That bastard," she grabbed Tum tum's arm in instant realization, "quick we have to get out of here, before he sees us."
Tum tum nodded and they took off as quickly as their feet could carry them.
"MEL, K!" Jaz screamed as she broke into the opening they had been in only moments before.
All eyes went to her. Rocky and Colt let down their guard while Mel and K turned quickly nearly jumping from their skin.
"What?" Mel asked, "What is going on?"
"We have to run…quick!" Jaz said, "It's Balthisar, he's a traitor."
"What are you talking about?" Rocky asked looking down to Jaz.
There was a bright flash and everyone fell unconscious.
Colt woke to Tum tum crying, "Get off me! Colt you're crushing me!"
Colt leapt to his feet, "I'm sorry Tum."
Rocky rubbed his head, "Where are we?"
Colt shrugged.
"Where is Flame, Venus, and Enigma?"
"I don't know," Colt said, "but thinks are getting really weird."
Rocky nodded in agreement, "I hope she is okay, come on guys…we have got to find them, they are probably scared."
Colt nodded, and them Tum tum became frantic, "Enigma said they were in trouble, we need to find them quick."
Colt looked a bit uneasy, and Rocky took charge saying, "Okay, okay, let's think about this." Rocky looked up to examine their unfamiliar surroundings. They had somehow come to be in a city, the road was cobblestone, and the buildings were crudely made structures of wood, rock, and mortar. People passed them on the streets looking at them strangely. They were still dressed in their white uniforms, and these people seemed to be dressed in peasant closes of the medieval times. Way at the far end of the city, Rocky could see, a castle placed atop a hill.
"Hmmmm," Colt said, "hey Toto I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
"At what's new?" Tum tum suggested, "Every summer something bizarre happens."
Rocky laughed, "Yeah, I guess you're right." As Rocky began to turn he bumped into a large man's chest. Slowly backing away they all were able to get a good glimpse of him, he was a muscular man with no shirt on but leather straps tied around his biceps, that were the size of Rocky's thigh. His head was shaven smooth, and he was missing several teeth as he bared them with a growl.
"MOVE IT, SLAVE!" The man's voice boomed so loud Rocky, Colt, and Tum tum found it hard to hear after he stopped screaming.
"Oh, I think you may be mistaken, we are not slaves," Rocky said.
The man looked pissed, "If you are not slaves than you should be off to the war."
"No you see," Colt broke in, "we are travelers seeking shelter."
The man threw back his head with a laugh, his large barbaric group joined in, "And which direction did you come from? The war is going on all over…and where did you expect to find shelter…the castle perhaps?" The man laughed harder, "You hear that guys they came seeking shelter at the castle." The man's party also found this extremely humors.
"Okay slaves," the man said wiping a tear from his eye after regaining his composure, "who was your master…so that I might return you?"
"I told you," Rocky growled, "we are NOT slaves."
"Oh," the man said, "well you will surely fetch a great price at the auction. You shall be slaves, but don't worry boys there are many lonely ladies out there who buy young boys simply for pleasure. However," his tone turned a shade off from sadness that reeked of fake, "there are plenty of people who buy them for hard labor."
Tum tum looked up to him and spit in his face, "I won't be a slave!"
"Oooo," The man said wiping the liquid from his eye, "A feisty one, perhaps I shall keep you myself."
Then a noble voice broke the crowd, "What is the meaning of this?"
The crowd parted like the Red Sea, and at the end of the mass of people stood a beautiful woman in perhaps her late 30's.
"Your majesty," the man said, bowing with the rest of the herd.
She had long dark hair, tanned skin, a small waist and broad shoulders. She wore a long gown that was something only fit for a queen.
"You still have not answered me, Hodge? What is the meaning of all this?" She walked closer to him.
"I am sorry highness, we were just picking on the midgets," he said, gesturing to the 3 ninjas.
"Oh," she looked over to them, "I have not met you boys…are you traveling from afar? Or are you not of nobility?"
"No, we aren't from here ma'am, and no, I don't suppose we are nobility either," Rocky said.
"Was Hodge giving you a hard time?"
"No, nothing we couldn't handle," Colt said.
The lady smiled, "Wow, very brave. I am the Queen of this land, my name is Starre. I don't suppose you have anywhere to go than…do you?"
Tum tum shook his head, "No ma'am, no where to stay."
She smiled again. Rocky looked at her intently, "Majesty, I mean no disrespect, but have we met?"
"No, I don't think so. I have told you my name, yet you have not told me yours."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Rocky said blushing, "you look very familiar. I'm Rocky, and these are my brothers Colt and Tum tum."
She smiled broadly, she was very beautiful, "Pleased to meet you. Surely you will be my honored guests in my house?"
Colt looked over to Rocky, Rocky at Colt and Tum tum at both of them, "we need somewhere to stay," Tum tum suggested.
Colt nodded.
"We would be honored," Rocky said, not really sure if that was the proper way to approach such an issue.
The Queen bowed to Hodge with a devilish smiled, "Good day Hodge." He manner showed obvious humor, she loved embarrassing him.
"Majesty," He growled.
Them in one smooth motion she snapped her wrist out and grabbed his huge well defined jaw, "Don't show me contempt young man, or I'll have you hanged."
"Yes, your majesty," He said between her tight grasp.
"Now make your self useful, fetch me my horse and 3 others from the royal stable."
"Of course your highness," he said standing.
"And make it quick, we wouldn't want to keep my guests waiting…now would we?"
"No your majesty, of course not," he hissed.
Once they had disappeared she turned back to the boys with a wide smile, "I don't want you to think me unpleasant, however I truly can not stand that man, and I would see him suffer any way I can make him. He gives all my people a hard time, and these are not the times to be bad."
"I'm hungry," Tum tum said quietly.
"Did you say hungry?" The Queen looked concerned, "oh my poor dear, you must be starving with all that travel."
"Starving?" Colt said looking to Tum, "that is an understatement."
"Hey," Tum tum said giving his brother a shove.
The Queen's smile turned sad.
"Your highness," Rocky said looking to her, "If there is anything we have said or done"
The Queen cut him off, "No, it's nothing that you have done, but obviously be yourselves."
"I'm afraid, your majesty, that I don't understand?" Rocky asked.
She smiled again, "It's just that you remind me of my boys when they were your age."
"Oh, where are they now?"
"My oldest are off at the war."
"War? That is the second mention of it today?" Rocky offered.
"Yes, child…we are at war, you didn't know?" She looked surprised. "You really must have been traveling for some time."
Rocky nodded, this was getting worse by the minute. His girlfriend had disappeared and was in danger, he nearly became a slave, and was tossed into a medieval world where there was a war going on. The only thing that made him feel remotely safe, and he wasn't sure why, was this woman who he barely knew.
"Wait," Tum tum suggested, "you aren't looking for recruits are you?"
The Queen laughed, "Certainly not, no."
"Oh, okay," Tum tum said more at ease.
Just then some of the Queen's ladies appeared, they must have been near the boy's ages.
"Your majesty," one bowed but not before letting Rocky catch her eye, "the King insists that you come home at once. He is concerned for your safety, highness."
The other girls giggled and whispered, one smiled at Colt and another winked at Tum tum.
Tum tum and Colt exchanged worried looks.
The Queen rolled her eyes with a sigh and a smile, "Good man," she told the boys, "but far too over protective."
"Oh, and also to tell you Matt and Kand have returned from their journeys, His Majesty was talking the war up to them…hoping they would volunteer. I wasn't supposed to tell you that part," she giggled.
"Oooo," the Queen made her best angry face, "I don't want another one of my children off to war. And I am sure my best friend wouldn't appreciate me sending her son to her while in battle."
"If you still agree to my offer of a safe place to stay, and I must apologize, we will have to start now, on foot."
All of them shrugged, none of them minded walking, besides it would give them the opportunity to see their new surroundings