Well, I'm finally back! I know that it has been about a month or so since I last posted, but oh well! I have had this chapter lying around for a long time and I think it might be a good idea to post it. By the way, I just watched The Princess Bride for about the 5th time today, and I was wondering if anyone else is obsessed with that movie! Wesley is so hot! He he. To bad he's not a redhead…
A week later Kel was back on the practice courts. She noticed herself making rookie mistakes, and hadn't realized how out of shape a person could get over a week. Neal noticed Kel's tiredness and gripped her hand in the middle of the day. Kel saw an emerald green haze envelop their joined hands and she felt a jolt of energy cursing through her body. She wavered a bit, but Neal steadied her and she felt newfound energy, like she had just woken up from a long night of sleep. She thanked him and went on practicing, bur Neal had to repeat the process and hour later.
Kel was grateful to sink into the bath when practice was over. She felt like one big bruise and wanted to skip dinner, but she reminded herself that not eating was not going to help her get better. She reluctantly stepped out of the bath and dressed, walking out of the privy as she combed her hair.
Kel was just about to go out the door to dinner when she saw a note attached to a crystal statuette on her desk. Thinking it was from Neal, she smiled as she picked it up and pulled off the note. The statuette fell to the ground and shattered when Kel realized it was a likeness of her with a dagger in her heart. Kel's real heart thudded as she read the note.
Lady Squire,
It's too bad that you were cured of the illness I sent you. You should have died a slow, painful death. That's all I am going to try for now, but remember, I am always watching you. Goodbye for now.
There was a knock on Kel's door and she jumped, shaken from her shock. "Who's there," she asked, sounding paranoid.
"It's just me, Neal," came his slightly muffled voice, "Is something wrong? Can I come in?" When Kel didn't answer, he pushed the heavy wooden door open and stepped inside. His eyes flickered from the extremely pale Kel to the shattered glass on the floor and that tattered paper in her hand. He saw her shake her head as if to clear it, and she seemed to snap out of a trance. Neal could see her trembling.
"What's going on?" he asked. Kel still seemed to have lost the use of her vocal chords, so Neal pried the paper from her death grip. His eyes scanned the uncultured writing and Kel sank onto her bed, still absorbing what was happening. "Great Mythros," Neal breathed, "We have to go tell Lord Wlydon." Kel only nodded. Just then the dinner bell rang. "We can tell him after we eat." Neal supplied.
Their friends noticed something wrong in the mess hall a few minutes later. Both Kel and Neal were pale and Kel appeared to be shaking. Neither had touched their food, not even their vegetables. Roald Cleared his thought, "Something's wrong."
Neal looked at Kel expectantly. She knew what he was asking her to do. She muttered about hypnotic green eyes and drew the paper out of her pocket. She handed it to Roald and all the boys gathered behind him to read the note. Kel slid her Yamani face on no her friends would not see her fear. None of them had ever considered the fact that Kel's illness was not natural. Roald was insisting that they take the note straight to his father. Cleon was becoming redder than his hair. Some of the other Squires in the large dining hall were starting to notice the large crowd growing in the center of the room. Joren sauntered over and smiled wickedly at Kel. She redoubled her Yamani face when she noticed the broccoli in his teeth, deciding not to mention it to him
"What's this?" he asked, snatching the note from Roald. He read it quickly and Kel saw what looked like concern flicker across his face. In a moment it was gone, and she dismissed it as her imagination playing a trick on her. "Well, well, well. This is quite interesting." He handed the note back to Roald, "Do you know where your father is right now?"
"He should be having dinner. I'm going to take this to him as soon as we are dismissed," Roald replied, surprised at Joren's reaction. The squires sat back down so they wouldn't continue making a scene. Kel was once again surprised when Joren too the seat next to her. He seemed to actually be worried. The group waited in anxious anticipation, none of them touching their food. Lord Wyldon finally stood up to dismiss them and they all jumped out of their seats. Kel was the only one who remained seating and Neal grabbed her arm, willing her to stand. She stood and caught up to Roald, who was protesting that not all of them could come. "Seriously guys. That's too many people. Just Kel and Neal should come," he concluded. The other squires wanted to protest, but one of Roald's royal looks silenced them.
Minutes later, Roald was leading them through a series of passages that's Kel had never seen before. Neal gripped her hand and Roald walked slowly and evenly, his shoulders swaying slightly. He stopped at a large wooden door at the end of a particularly long and winding passage. Roald told them to wait there as he slipped through the door, shutting it behind him.
The King and Queen were finishing their dinner when Roald can through the concealed door. He quickly explained the situation and handed the note to his father, who in turn passed it to Queen Thayet. "Well. I must say this is quite interesting. Does Squire Keladry have a maid?" the King asked.
"Well, no. I mean, she used to, but Lalansa started a dress shop in the city. She told me once that she would gladly come back if Kel needed her." Roald replied.
"Very well. I will have Lord Wyldon see to it that the girl comes back. Thank you for showing this to me."
"Is that all you are going to do? Just get her a maid?"
"What else can I do? We cannot keep Keladry in a glass case. Lalansa can keep watch on her."
Roald nodded curtly and backed out the door to Kel and Neal. He relayed his conversation to them and led them out of the passageways. They ended up back in the Squire's wing and Roald had to once again explain what the King had said, this time to the other squires.
"So Lalansa is coming back?" Cleon asked.
"Yeah, we have to go talk to the Stump about it now," Kel replied.
"Jolly!" Owen interjected.
Roald spoke to Lord Wyldon about Lalansa and he agreed to send a messenger into the city to speak with her. The man returned not long after and told the training master that Lalansa could leave her shop for a while if she were permitted to go to the city while Kel was training and continue to sew in her free time. Lalansa could be there by the next morning, after she gave instructions to her helper. Her shop was growing quite large and her dresses were beginning to be a common sight at banquets.
Kel returned to her room and promptly stepped on a piece of the broken crystal. She hoppled over to her bed, avoiding the other pieces of glass and holding her foot. She sat on her bed and pried the shard out of her heel. That will teach me to forget broken glass.
She was sitting on her bed trying to stop the bleeding when Neal came in to say goodnight. He quickly touched a finger to her heel and the bleeding stopped, instantly healing to seem like the cut was weeks old. When the green haze that has surrounded his finger and her foot faded, she stood and retrieved the small broom that was provided for all the squires from her closet. She swept the shards into the dustpan and dumped it into the wastebasket before retaking her seat on the bed next to Neal.
"You okay? I mean do you really want to stay here alone?" he asked, his eyes boring into hers. She nodded before she realized what she was doing, then shook her head quickly. "No Neal, I'm just not ready for what you are suggesting," she said, trying to convince herself as much as Neal. He nodded and kissed her forehead before stepping out of the room and closing the door behind him.
Lalansa arrives very early that morning and found Kel's name one the slate board to her new room and she was surprised to find it slightly ajar. She pushed the door open further and set her packages down on the floor. After she lit one of the lamps hanging on the wall, she could not see Kel anywhere in the room. Figuring she was in the privy, she checked the small room. Kel was not in there either. Kel was gone. Lalansa quickly stepped into the hall and went to the first person she knew she could trust. She went to Joren.(Naw, I'm just playing wit you, she went to Neal obviously. Lalansa? Trust Joren? Not in a million years. Glad you caught that one!)
Yay! I finally posted a new chapter! I took a typing class and I think it really paid off. Well, expect more soon. I am also working on another chap of Daine and Numair. Do you like the cliffy? I do! * KoM *
A week later Kel was back on the practice courts. She noticed herself making rookie mistakes, and hadn't realized how out of shape a person could get over a week. Neal noticed Kel's tiredness and gripped her hand in the middle of the day. Kel saw an emerald green haze envelop their joined hands and she felt a jolt of energy cursing through her body. She wavered a bit, but Neal steadied her and she felt newfound energy, like she had just woken up from a long night of sleep. She thanked him and went on practicing, bur Neal had to repeat the process and hour later.
Kel was grateful to sink into the bath when practice was over. She felt like one big bruise and wanted to skip dinner, but she reminded herself that not eating was not going to help her get better. She reluctantly stepped out of the bath and dressed, walking out of the privy as she combed her hair.
Kel was just about to go out the door to dinner when she saw a note attached to a crystal statuette on her desk. Thinking it was from Neal, she smiled as she picked it up and pulled off the note. The statuette fell to the ground and shattered when Kel realized it was a likeness of her with a dagger in her heart. Kel's real heart thudded as she read the note.
Lady Squire,
It's too bad that you were cured of the illness I sent you. You should have died a slow, painful death. That's all I am going to try for now, but remember, I am always watching you. Goodbye for now.
There was a knock on Kel's door and she jumped, shaken from her shock. "Who's there," she asked, sounding paranoid.
"It's just me, Neal," came his slightly muffled voice, "Is something wrong? Can I come in?" When Kel didn't answer, he pushed the heavy wooden door open and stepped inside. His eyes flickered from the extremely pale Kel to the shattered glass on the floor and that tattered paper in her hand. He saw her shake her head as if to clear it, and she seemed to snap out of a trance. Neal could see her trembling.
"What's going on?" he asked. Kel still seemed to have lost the use of her vocal chords, so Neal pried the paper from her death grip. His eyes scanned the uncultured writing and Kel sank onto her bed, still absorbing what was happening. "Great Mythros," Neal breathed, "We have to go tell Lord Wlydon." Kel only nodded. Just then the dinner bell rang. "We can tell him after we eat." Neal supplied.
Their friends noticed something wrong in the mess hall a few minutes later. Both Kel and Neal were pale and Kel appeared to be shaking. Neither had touched their food, not even their vegetables. Roald Cleared his thought, "Something's wrong."
Neal looked at Kel expectantly. She knew what he was asking her to do. She muttered about hypnotic green eyes and drew the paper out of her pocket. She handed it to Roald and all the boys gathered behind him to read the note. Kel slid her Yamani face on no her friends would not see her fear. None of them had ever considered the fact that Kel's illness was not natural. Roald was insisting that they take the note straight to his father. Cleon was becoming redder than his hair. Some of the other Squires in the large dining hall were starting to notice the large crowd growing in the center of the room. Joren sauntered over and smiled wickedly at Kel. She redoubled her Yamani face when she noticed the broccoli in his teeth, deciding not to mention it to him
"What's this?" he asked, snatching the note from Roald. He read it quickly and Kel saw what looked like concern flicker across his face. In a moment it was gone, and she dismissed it as her imagination playing a trick on her. "Well, well, well. This is quite interesting." He handed the note back to Roald, "Do you know where your father is right now?"
"He should be having dinner. I'm going to take this to him as soon as we are dismissed," Roald replied, surprised at Joren's reaction. The squires sat back down so they wouldn't continue making a scene. Kel was once again surprised when Joren too the seat next to her. He seemed to actually be worried. The group waited in anxious anticipation, none of them touching their food. Lord Wyldon finally stood up to dismiss them and they all jumped out of their seats. Kel was the only one who remained seating and Neal grabbed her arm, willing her to stand. She stood and caught up to Roald, who was protesting that not all of them could come. "Seriously guys. That's too many people. Just Kel and Neal should come," he concluded. The other squires wanted to protest, but one of Roald's royal looks silenced them.
Minutes later, Roald was leading them through a series of passages that's Kel had never seen before. Neal gripped her hand and Roald walked slowly and evenly, his shoulders swaying slightly. He stopped at a large wooden door at the end of a particularly long and winding passage. Roald told them to wait there as he slipped through the door, shutting it behind him.
The King and Queen were finishing their dinner when Roald can through the concealed door. He quickly explained the situation and handed the note to his father, who in turn passed it to Queen Thayet. "Well. I must say this is quite interesting. Does Squire Keladry have a maid?" the King asked.
"Well, no. I mean, she used to, but Lalansa started a dress shop in the city. She told me once that she would gladly come back if Kel needed her." Roald replied.
"Very well. I will have Lord Wyldon see to it that the girl comes back. Thank you for showing this to me."
"Is that all you are going to do? Just get her a maid?"
"What else can I do? We cannot keep Keladry in a glass case. Lalansa can keep watch on her."
Roald nodded curtly and backed out the door to Kel and Neal. He relayed his conversation to them and led them out of the passageways. They ended up back in the Squire's wing and Roald had to once again explain what the King had said, this time to the other squires.
"So Lalansa is coming back?" Cleon asked.
"Yeah, we have to go talk to the Stump about it now," Kel replied.
"Jolly!" Owen interjected.
Roald spoke to Lord Wyldon about Lalansa and he agreed to send a messenger into the city to speak with her. The man returned not long after and told the training master that Lalansa could leave her shop for a while if she were permitted to go to the city while Kel was training and continue to sew in her free time. Lalansa could be there by the next morning, after she gave instructions to her helper. Her shop was growing quite large and her dresses were beginning to be a common sight at banquets.
Kel returned to her room and promptly stepped on a piece of the broken crystal. She hoppled over to her bed, avoiding the other pieces of glass and holding her foot. She sat on her bed and pried the shard out of her heel. That will teach me to forget broken glass.
She was sitting on her bed trying to stop the bleeding when Neal came in to say goodnight. He quickly touched a finger to her heel and the bleeding stopped, instantly healing to seem like the cut was weeks old. When the green haze that has surrounded his finger and her foot faded, she stood and retrieved the small broom that was provided for all the squires from her closet. She swept the shards into the dustpan and dumped it into the wastebasket before retaking her seat on the bed next to Neal.
"You okay? I mean do you really want to stay here alone?" he asked, his eyes boring into hers. She nodded before she realized what she was doing, then shook her head quickly. "No Neal, I'm just not ready for what you are suggesting," she said, trying to convince herself as much as Neal. He nodded and kissed her forehead before stepping out of the room and closing the door behind him.
Lalansa arrives very early that morning and found Kel's name one the slate board to her new room and she was surprised to find it slightly ajar. She pushed the door open further and set her packages down on the floor. After she lit one of the lamps hanging on the wall, she could not see Kel anywhere in the room. Figuring she was in the privy, she checked the small room. Kel was not in there either. Kel was gone. Lalansa quickly stepped into the hall and went to the first person she knew she could trust. She went to Joren.(Naw, I'm just playing wit you, she went to Neal obviously. Lalansa? Trust Joren? Not in a million years. Glad you caught that one!)
Yay! I finally posted a new chapter! I took a typing class and I think it really paid off. Well, expect more soon. I am also working on another chap of Daine and Numair. Do you like the cliffy? I do! * KoM *