A/N and Disclaimer- Hey hey, we are SO BACK! This is an all-new, never before seen chapter authored by yours truly, Cherry Coke! Cheer for us! Now, just a reminder, but Aria, Kalila, Edan and anyone else you don't recognize belong to us (don't take 'em without our permission!) otherwise, they're the property of Tamora Pierce (the goddess).

Oh, and I don't know why some words are censored and others aren't. Just artistic expression, I guess.

This symbol: ~ means thoughts, the #$#@$#@$ program won't let me use anything else... grrrrrrr...

-Adara, of Cherry Coke

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Aria leaned easily against the tree. She watched the younger knights practicing swordwork in the yard in front of her, wishing passionately she was able to join them. She held her rapier loosely in her left hand as her eyes drifted lazily across the boys. Hmm, she thought mockingly, not a very tough looking group, are they? As her eyes passed over the scrawny group, she noted two who stood out- a small red-head, fast and smooth, and a tall raven haired young man. Her eyes lingered on the tall one to the exclusion of all else. She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she literally jumped when someone tapped her on the shoulder. "Holy ------- Mithros!" she exclaimed without thinking. She turned to look behind her and saw a young man, blonde of hair and black of eyes standing behind her. He looked faintly familiar- and faintly sinister. His lips took the form of an ugly smile and his eyes bore a blazing fire of hate. Aria almost wanted to cringe back in fear but then she mentally smacked herself. ~I'm a battle mage warrioress. Cringe from this piece of filth… what am I thinking?~

"You're that girl friend of Kalila's," He almost spat the name out, as if it hurt to say it. "You're exactly like her, not so big with out someone to hide behind."

"I hide from no one Sir Edan, especially pig filth like you. If you want a fight then you came to right place."

"Tall words for such a short woman," he sneered.

Aria raised one eyebrow, carefully masking the rage that rose within her. No one got away with short jokes!

She flipped her rapier into her hand, point up, and slid gracefully into a standing position. She pointed it menacingly at him. "Would you care to make another comment like that?" she asked pleasantly, her eyes issuing the challenge at him.

He backed away from the accusation in her eyes. He blanched, and fled.

Aria smiled and sat back in the shade.

Suddenly, she heard a voice, "Hello, I couldn't help but notice you handle that rapier well."

She looked up. The speaker was the tall young man she had noticed earlier. As she watched him, a thread of thought came at her, she heard a whisper of, ~beautiful blue eyes...~ and then ~...naked...~ Aria gave him a sharp gaze, and he colored sharply. She raised one eyebrow and said, "And you are...?"

"Raoul Goldenlake."

"Hello Raoul. Would you mind keeping your dirty mind to yourself?" Seeing his unbelieving stare, she smiled.
"I can't read minds all the time. Only when I don't want to," she said. As she said it, another thought hit her, ~Damn, she's pretty... vile tongue, though... Shit, can she hear this?~

Aria just smiled.

Raoul paled visibly, so she decided to throw all caution to the wind and flirt. "Raoul," she said archly, "do you always assault young ladies with your thoughts like that, or am I just something special?"

"Well, well, you, you are something, er, special," he stammered, turning red, "But I, er, wouldn't say that I, um—"

Aria laughed. "Don't sweat it, Raoul," she said. As an afterthought, she added, "Do you really think I'm good with the rapier?"

Now, it was Raoul's turn to laugh. "I said, you started out well, I never saw an actual move, milady."

"Well, Sir Raoul, would you like me to show you my… moves?" she inquired.

Thus began the most fun, tiring, interesting afternoon of her life so far.