kinipeli- the warrior thing is coming...its a many chaptered idea, and revolution is coming too...just as a forewarning.

sorry the chapter was so long in the making and so short.

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The incident with the two soldiers left Ara more thoughtful and careful. It also opened her eyes to the situation at hand, or so she thought. "Before," she muttered to Isa, "All I had thought about was making a hot meal each night for Cullen, and staying out of the way of the guards. I didn't know how...terrible it truly was."

The woman shook her head sympathetically. "It is, dear," she told Ara. "They've been pillaging for these past years now, goods, valuables, women... And with taxes rising steadily..."

Ara shook her head, black braid bobbing near the floor. "That's terrible, Isa. Someone should do something..."

The woman leaned closer as Cullen walked through the door. "There are some," she whispered, "who talk of revolution, overthrowing he who has killed our men and taxed our work."

"What?" the young man asked, a crease appearing between his eyebrows.

"All this city needs," Isa said firmly, "is a strong and noble leader. Perisen's mercenaries are dispersing, as his treasury runs lower and lower..."

"Do you think," Ara breathed, "it could actually be done?"

Cullen's eyes sparked in the candlelight. "I think it could. Let me speak to Zak, because he knows everyone in the town." Fingers clenching into fists, he pounded the table. "Gods, it will be done."

Isa stared. "You would do it?" she said, both worried and hopeful. "If it fails, you would surely die..." Her voice betrayed the desperation, despite the consequences.

The determination, strong in his gold brown eyes, frightened Ara more than she could ever admit. He would die in the struggle, if he had to, she thought. "It's dangerous," she warned.

Turning to the girl, he snapped, "You should be just as furious! Willing to charge up to the palace, to that tyrant-"

"I am," she retorted, green eyes angry, "Yet I do it in a way that does not throw my life on Perisen's sword!" His features softened, and he gripped her hand gently, but she pulled it away furiously. "I'm afraid for you. And for what we salvaged of life. We could lose it all."

"Wouldn't it be worth it?" His eyes searched hers.

"Well, yes, perhaps," she admitted.

"Then," he told her, eyes glowing, "will we do it? Ara, will you help me?" Her heart ached, for she knew she would do anything for him, though her fingers itched for the overthrow of the tyrant as much as his. She nodded, and was rewarded with his radient grin.

Isa clapped her hands. "We can meet here," she insisted. "Tell Zak."

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A sevenday later, a surprising amount of people had gathered in the inn's small dining room. "If soldiers come in," Isa called quietly, "It's soup day, when everyone comes to get a bowl of 'quality' stew on a cold day."

A man yelled back, "Well, we'd come anyway, fer Isa's soup is the best in ther county!" She flushed red with pleasure but continued to serve the steaming broth into wooden bowls.

Cullen stepped forward. "Does anyone have a plan, or ideas on how we can overthrow this tyrant?" There was some shaking heads, and the room waxed silent. Zak muttered. "No one?"

Ara stood up. "We have to do something! Otherwise, we will be subjected to Perisen forever..."

Some of the people roused themselves at that, and nodded vigorously. "Aye, that's for sure. Something must be done." And soldiers entered for a bowl of hot soup that minute, and all talks of revolution was ended for the day.

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That afternoon, stoking the fire, Ara crouched over the warming flames. "It's freezing," she said, sitting on the straw away from the sparks as she unbraided her long hair. "Why does it have to be so cold during winter?" She curled up like a cat on the straw, the same as she had during the eight years they had lived in the loft.

Cullen paused behind her, blankets in hand. "Isn't it? Awful, that is," he said quickly, feeling his heartbeat increase dramatically. Stooping behind her, he wrapped the soft woolen cloth around her shoulders, and without thinking he bent his head and kissed her cheek. From his position, he could see her eyes widen, and he felt his cheek flush with heat as he realised his mistake.

"I..." he stuttered, before dashing out the loft and into the deep shadows of the large warehouse.
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