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A/N Okay, sorry I haven't updated in a while.  You all know how it is.  Oh, and for those of you who read Journeys and Horses?  Well things have kinda settled out.  I'm not moving until mid-July (school holidays) and it will only be about three months (max.) until I get my computer back again.  Yay!  I thought it might be longer… but that's not the point.  So… yeah.  I own nothing, except the plot, which has been done loads of times before, but that's the way it is.  Please R/R/R!!!  (You read, you review, and I'll write!  Corny, I know, but it fits.)

~Stef

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Kel woke up in an… interesting manner.  Cleon was kissing her.  She nearly punched him in the stomach on reflexes, but when she saw who it was she drew her fist back immediately.  He finally drew back, as much to breathe as for anything else.  Kel grinned cheekily. 

"A new way to wake me up?" She asked. 

"I think so," Cleon replied, mischief in his eyes.  "You'd just better hope Roald doesn't try it!"

"Ha ha." Kel said dryly. "D'you think you could let me up?  Only, I'll be fighting unicorns in… oh, three hours." Her voice was sarcastic, but Cleon just grinned at her. 

"Oh, I don't know." His smile widened.  "Maybe we should just stay here all day?"

Kel rolled her eyes, but grinned at the big idiot in front of her despite herself.  Cleon did let her up eventually, and she rose to change and get ready.  Soon, they had their tent all packed up and they were ready to go.  Most of the other men were pulling down their tents.  Kel reported to Raoul.

"Is there anything you need me for, my l… si… sorry."  Kel's face flushed slightly, but she reined it in.  "Raoul?"  Raoul's mouth twitched. 

"No, I don't need help with anything.  Have you packed everything?"

"Yes, I have.  Um, about the unicorns?"

"Yes Kel?"  Raoul's eyes were kind. 

"Do you want me to try and… help them?"

Raoul looked at her seriously, weighing her up.  Then he said, "Kel, I can't make that decision for you.  Ideally, we would call in the Lioness, but…"

"She has children," Kel supplied.  Raoul grinned. 

"Yes, she does.  And I must admit, not having to slaughter the unicorns would be a much better alternative.  It's up to you, really.  I won't force you into anything.  Doing this will be very dangerous."  Raoul's eyes were still kind, but troubled.  He seemed to be trying to talk her into it and convince her at the same time.  This was interesting… her knight-master and the Commander of the King's Own were two different people, it seemed.  Neither wanted her to get hurt, but one recognised the necessity.  Kel made up her decision.  To be honest, she had already made it up.

"Can I take my glaive?"

"Of course!  It's the most useful weapon for this kind of job.  But I'll go through all of the details with you later."  Raoul nodded in approval.  She had thought out her options, decided what was best, and then thought of how to deal with it.  Although Kel didn't know it, Raoul admired her.  For a fifteen year-old, she was pretty old. 

"Thank-you," Kel's voice was grateful.  She changed the subject, "I didn't wake up until late this morning," Raoul snorted at that, seeing as it was just past sunrise, but Kel continued, "so I didn't get to practice my glaive.  Can I do that now, if we're not yet ready to go?" 

"Sure.  I'll give you a shout when we're going." 

"Thank-you… Raoul."  Raoul smiled at her, and Kel felt herself smiling back.  It was nice to know that someone outside her family and age group liked her for what she was.  She bowed, and then left to work on her glaive.  It would help her confidence, not to mention calm her nerves.  Maybe she wasn't nervous for exams and such, but fighting against two killer unicorns?  Alone?  That was scary.  But the glaive exercises did their job, and Kel felt herself relaxing.  If there was one weapon she knew better than any, it was the glaive.  Not even a Yamani could beat her with one!  Men didn't use them, and women didn't have the muscles that she did.  Kel was just finishing off and cooling down when Cleon came back to her.  He had been talking to Roald, and had evidently decided to wait and start his glaive lessons until after Kel dealt with the unicorns. 

"Hey Kel, time to go.  Ready?"

"As ready as I'm going to be," she looked around, and no-one was in sight.  She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.  "Let's go."  Her look was determined, and Cleon nodded.  He gripped her hand tightly as they walked, only letting go when they came in sight of the men and the horses.  It was time to go. 

The three squires rode once again up front, except this time Joren was with them.  He was looking sulky, and Kel suspected that Paxton had made him ride up front so he couldn't do anything else stupid.  The reason she was riding up front was to get more information out of Raoul. 

"Um, sir?  What exactly will you want me to do when we get there?"

"We'll arrive there in about an hour, now.  Would you like to know now, or wait until we get there?"

"Now, if you don't mind, sir." Kel told him.  Her stomach was rolling; she felt like she was going to be sick, but at the same time she was excited.  If she beat two killer unicorns, no-one could say she hadn't earned her shield! 

"Very well, then.  We'll be arriving in the village in an hour, and I will meet with the village head straight away.  It is possible that more people have been killed.  Now, the head of the village.  He will be a man, and reluctant to either let you search out the unicorns, or to allow them to live.  I will influence that… using Jon's name if need be."  He looked at Kel's face and added, "the king."

"Oh.  Right." Kel didn't say anything, and kept her mask on.  Jonathan of Conté was a good king, but she didn't like him.  He was a hypocrite… but Kel reminded herself that she had more important things on her mind right now.  Like upcoming death. 

"So, where was I?  Ah, yes.  I will talk the head around, and we'll find out in which vicinity the unicorns are.  We will set up an ambush, and if you don't object we'll send you into the woods.  The unicorns will find you soon enough, they'll be orienting on lone human targets.  Got it so far?" 

"I think so." Kel nodded her head.  So far, it seemed straight-forward enough.  "What then, sir?"

"Well, I suspect that the unicorns will come for you.  I suggest that once you get a way into the forest, you stand with your back against a tree.  Otherwise, one will come at your back while the other charges your front.  That is important, never leave your back unguarded."

"I won't.  Once they come… do I fight, or what?"

"This will be more tricky.  They will certainly fight you.  You will have to ward them off without harming them, at the same time talking calmly and soothingly.  Whatever you do, don't be patronising.  Unicorns have minds, and they use them.  Speak rationally, and tell them why you think it would be for the best if they stop attacking villagers." 

"What should I say, sir?" Kel's voice was calm, a contrast to her inner thoughts. 

"You have that to decided for yourself.  Unicorns are the symbol of purity, as I'm sure I've said before.  They can heal, and they can sense emotion.  You have to be honest, speak truly, and believe in what you say.  If you think the unicorns should be killed for what they have done, tell me now.  It would be pointless otherwise to send you in." 

"Of course not!" Kel said, surprised that he could think that.  "Of course they shouldn't be killed if they can be saved!" 

"Good.  I thought you would think like that." He smiled at her approvingly. "Is there anything else you want to know?"

"What if I can't talk the unicorns around?  And how will I know if they have?" 

"If you can't… defend yourself as best as you can without hurting them, and shout.  We will be only a short distance away, within hearing distance.  If you call out, we will come and… dispose of them.  If they listen and agree to you, they will let you go.  Don't worry, the unicorns will make it perfectly clear if they come around.  Even a killer unicorn won't deceive."  Kel nodded and swallowed.

"I think that's all I need to know, sir."

"If you think of anything else, just ask.  We should be there soon, but we won't rush you." 

They arrived at the village fifteen minutes later.  Everything went much as Raoul had said.  The head of the village was an old man, and he did want the unicorns dead. Raoul talked him smoothly around, firstly saying why he thought they should be saved, and then going onto the law and the king's opinion before smoothly making the man believe that he had always wanted to save the lives of the unicorns.  Kel was amazed and impressed.  But, all too soon for her, Raoul was giving her last minute instructions, Roald and Cleon hugged her, and then she was in the forest, alone.  She walked, her muscles taught, holding her glaive tightly.  Adrenaline was coursing through her body, and her ears were listening out for anything that would tell her of the approach of the unicorns. 

Suddenly, Kel heard something.  She spun, but could see nothing.  Remembering Raoul's advice, she immediately went to a tree, and put her back against it.  She held up her glaive in the ready position, and waited.  She didn't have to wait long.  Within a minute, the unicorns came into view.  They were beautiful.  Their white hide was glossy, and their manes were tangle free.  In the middle of their foreheads, they had each a horn, shining with a strange silvery blue-purple light.  It was beautiful, but the murder in their eyes contrasted with their appearance.  They wanted to kill her.  

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A/N  Aren't I evil?  Oh yes, I think so.   :D  I'm getting better at the cliff-hanger thing, aren't I?  As I've said, R/R/R!!!  If you like it, tell me!  Sorry it's short!  I'll do a longer chapter next time.  'til then, bye!

~Stef

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