Nell's husband ran the stables in a rich merchants house. Elijah left to inform his father of the journey, and to try and borrow horses. Once he had left, Nell busied herself packing.

"He never brings the right things," She told Kiyo in a motherly tone. "Always brings one less shirt than he should, or one less cake of soap...here you are dear, put your stuff into this. It won't do for you to wear your arms out lugging that bundle of yours." The woman handed Kiyo a leather sack with two padded ropes connected to it in loops. Kiyo handled it curiously. How was this strange contraption supposed to help her arms?

Nell stifled a giggle. "You put your stuff in here, and you put your arms through the ropes...Just like that." She settled the sack over Kiyos shoulders.

"Oh." Said Kiyo, feeling silly. She transferred the bundle contents carefully, making sure her glaive was strapped on tightly to the bottom of the bag. Nell began rummaging through a pile of clothes, emerging with a pair of long johns. At that point, Elijah walked back through the door.

"Mother!" He yelped in shock. "What are you doing, waving those around!" darting forward, he snatched the long johns away.

"Elijah!" Scolded Nell.

Kiyo looked on, interested. "What are those?" she asked, curiously. Elijah turned a deep red.

"Nothing." He muttered. He thrust the garment into his pack. "Come on. We better leave."

***

Elijah had managed to borrow the two oldest horses in the stable. The two animals plodded along at their own slow pace, oblivious to their riders urgings. Kiyo and Elijah tried everything from spurs to begging. Finally, they gave up.

"We may as well have walked." Elijah glared at his horse. Kiyo nodded in agreement.

"What are they called, anyway?" She asked.

Elijah shrugged. "They haven't really got names. But I'll dub this one Plod, and your one Waddle."

It would take a day and a half to reach Corus from Blue Harbour. As the sun fell, Elijah led them off the road, searching for a clearing.

"This'll do." He said, jumping off Plod. Kiyo Climbed gingerly off the saddle. She hadn't done much riding before, and this was her first long journey. "Are you alright?" Elijah looked at her, concerned. Kiyo nodded, but her limping walk betrayed her smooth face. Elijah began collecting wood for a fire.

"Your muscles will get used to it soon." He promised. Kiyo allowed herself a faint grimace as she helped build the fire. 

"You better be right," she warned. Elijah grinned as he tossed her a bedroll.

"Lie on your stomach on this" He instructed. "It'll help relax your muscles" Kiyo followed his orders and was soon watching sleepily as Elijah began heating up a stew Nell had packed for them.

After they had eaten, Kiyo forced herself up to tie the horses to a branch. Elijah began tying strings around the clearing, climbing trees to attach the string to branches. 

"It's a crude sort of protection." He shrugged when he saw her watching, "But it's better than nothing"

Kiyo hopped into her bedroll, eager for sleep. Elijah, however, had other plans. As he settled himself into his bedroll, he began questioning her about Nobu.

"Are you sure he's at the palace?"

"Yes." Replied Kiyo, grateful that he was on the other side of the fire. Still, she turned so her back was towards him. "I'm sure."

"What are you going to do when you meet up?" Elijah's tone was polite and conversational.

"Study Tortall." Kiyo felt her face flush. She hated lying to people, especially people as nice as Elijah and Nell. 'He never has to know.' She tried comforting herself. 'He'll just drop me at the palace, then he'll go.' Still, she felt terrible. She told Elijah she was sleepy, and closed her eyes.

She was standing alone in an indoor Yamani training room. She thought she was there to practice the glaive, but when she lifted her hand, she saw it was empty. Shrugging, she began practicing the simple moves Hakuin had taught the court ladies when he last visited the Islands. Starting off slow, she threw punches, twists and kicks into the air. As her muscles began to warm up, she increased the speed and power. Soon she settled into a fast rhythm...punch, punch, twist, kick, twist, punch, punch...Her body remembered the moves as her mind drifted away. Suddenly, her foot hit a solid object with a sharp crack. Horrified, she stood still. Her movements had brought her too close to the wall. A deep shudder shook the building. She looked up and saw the ceiling beams falling towards her. Screaming, she raised her hands to cover her head. A beam struck her shoulder, throwing her onto the floor. A second beam fell on her stomach, pinning her down. She began gasping for breath, but the beam was so heavy it refused to let her breathe. She sobbed as she tried to move the heavy wood. Flinging her head from side to side, she gave herself up to hysterics. Her body shook...

"Kiyomuri!" Someone was yelling. She felt strong arms gripping her shoulders as they shook her. "Wake up!" Her eyes flew open. She was covered in sweat.

"I can't breath," she mumbled, her voice breaking into a sob. The hands left her shoulders, and she suddenly felt a slight weight disappear from her stomach. Taking deep breaths, her vision cleared. Elijah came into focus. He was kneeling beside her, his face anxious. Turning her head, Kiyo saw a small tree branch lying next to her.

"It fell on you," Elijah explained. "And then you...went crazy." The words barely registered to Kiyo. She was replaying her dream over and over in her mind; the falling beams, the pressure holding her down, her struggle for air...Shaking herself, she realised Elijah was still talking.

"I must have weakened it when I climbed the tree...I'm sorry." The young man gathered her up, resting her head on his lap. "I don't think anything else will fall," He said "But I'll be here if it does." Still shivering, it took a while for Kiyo to fall asleep. When she finally began to drift off, she was grateful for his arms around her.

***

It was late afternoon when they arrived at Corus. Nothing more had been said about Kiyo's nightmare. When she had woken that morning, Elijah had greeted her with a smile and breakfast. Already, the bad dream seemed to be far, far away.

They rode through the city gates. It took all of Kiyo's training to keep her face impassive to the foreign sights, sounds and smells that rushed to meet her. Kiyo rode silently behind Elijah as he nodded greetings to faces in the crowd. Eventually, she managed to work her way beside him.

"Do you know all these people?" She asked, when he gave another nod to a stallowner.

"Nup!" He replied, cheerfully. The crowd pushed a confused Kiyo back behind Elijah.

***

When they reached the palace, two servants walked out to meet them and take their horses. As Kiyo jumped off Waddle, she saw Elijah open his mouth to speak. Feeling cold, Kiyo realised he meant to ask about Nobu.

"We'll take the horses," Kiyo said quickly. She saw Elijah close his mouth and look at her in confusion. "I...uh...just want to make sure they're taken care of."

The servants shrugged. "You can take 'em to the knights stables" A servant instructed, correctly guessing that neither Kiyo or Elijah were visitors of any importance. The second servant gave them directions, then the pair walked lazily back to the shade.  

Elijah muttered insults as Kiyo followed the directions to the stables. "They should have put us in the visitors stables...the cod swallowing muck diggers...dropped on their heads at birth...couple of no good..." They reached the stable doors, and Kiyo turned to Elijah.

"Thankyou for escorting me here." She began, formally. "I appreciate your help. Tell your mother the same." Elijah laughed.

"Hold on" He said. "I have to take you to this Nobu person. I don't see any Nobu's around here."

Kiyo shifted uncomfortably. "I'll be alright from here." She insisted. Elijah shook his head.

"My mother will have a fit. Come on." He opened the door and walked in. Kiyo followed him, beaten. The pair led their horses to what looked like a couple of empty stalls at the end of the stable - and stopped short.

Pressed against the stable wall, locked in a passionate embrace was a tall light brown haired girl, and an even taller red haired man. Both wore breeches and shirts, but already both shirts were untucked. Elijah coughed, and the couple sprang apart as if they had been stung. Seeing their audience, both their faces flushed a deep red.

"I...uh...we..." The red haired man stammered. The girl appeared to have gotten back her control.

"We were just leaving." She said, walking out of the stall. She caught Kiyo's eyes, and stopped. Her calm face betrayed a hint of confusion.

"What's up, Kel?" Asked the man, pausing behind her.

The girl shook her head. "Nothing" She said, and continued walking. Kiyo felt unsteady. The man had called the girl 'Kel'. She began making connections. Turning, she called out in Yamani:

"Is my Highness Princess Shinkokami here?"

Kel whirled around. Steadying herself, she commented: "I thought you were a Yamani. What are you doing here? What do you want with the Princess?"

Kiyo took a deep breath. "I've come to ask for her aid. I'm a friend of hers from the Island." Kel nodded slowly, her gaze doubtful.

"What's happening?" Elijah asked. The dialogue between the girls had taken place in Yaman. "Did you ask her about Nobu?"

Kel's eyes flicked over Elijah. "Nob-"

"Please." Kiyo interrupted in Yaman.

Kel frowned. "Cleon, could you take their horses?" She addressed the red haired young man, who had stood by silently. Kel faced Kiyo and Elijah. "I'll take you to the Princess." She said. "Follow me." Turning, she led the way back out the stables.

*** A/N Disclaimer: I only own Kiyomuri and Elijah, everything else is T.P.
Thanks for reading...I look forward to hearing your views and suggestions. --Edith