No more than two minutes later, there was a knock on the door. A bird at the window peeped. It was Neal. Getting up from the bed, where she had sat, collecting her scattered thoughts, she opened the door. It was indeed Neal, leaning against the frame. She looked at him, sighed, and smiled. br "Come in." br He looked at her, worried, but came in all the same. He sat down on a chair, she on her bed again. Though it was winter, she kept the window open, simply because she liked the fresh air. Now, the wind was chilling her, and she got up and closed them, then lay down. Neal looked extremly nervous now, he had no idea what the king had told her, but obviously it had not been good. br "Xlelon, what's wrong, you have that look about you." br She put a hand to her forehead. br "Do I?" she replied absently, "Which one? The one where I've surprised myself, someone else, or the one where the king has just told me that I'm to be off to Scanra in a year?" br Neal nearly fell out of his chair he was so surprised. br "WHAT?" br

She sighed again and sat up. br "Sorry." She muttered, "I'm just a bit in shock myself. Apparently, the present scanran king has decided that he and Tortall can try for an agreement again." She held up a hand, "You really don't want to hear about last time." He shut his mouth as she stood up. "I dunno Neal, its only a year to prepare. They said I'm their first choice! Me! What did I do?" br Neal chuckled. br "Beating a flock of stormwings off of the palace comes to mind." br "They weren't there though!" br "Yes, but the prince and princess were. They never told you did they?" br She shook her head. How do these little coincedences come up, she thought. She sighed as Neal got up and hugged her. Unfourtanatly, he sighed too, and Xlelon hit herself mentally for not realizing it in a moment. br "Neal, what'd you come for?" br He smiled into her hair. br "You mean I have to have an excuse?" he teased. br She giggled. "Well, It'd take my mind off of this mess I'm in." br He sighed again. br "Yes, well, news has come from the south, and apparently the passes are open. Imrah and I are going to go to the Kennan estate to see what we can sort out." He sighed heavily again. Xlelon shook her head. br "Well. I suppose I'm not surprised, though it really sucks that I can't come with you." br He shook his head. br "No, number one, they need you here, number two, I am not going to stick you in spindren territory." he covered her mouth when she started to protest that she could hold her own. "these aren't regular spindrens, someone poisoned them, they were crazy." br Xlelon's jaw dropped. "You mean someone set them on the party?" br He shook her head, sighing again. br "No, someone apparently left the poisoned meat for them, but didn't put enough in. The pain drove them mad, the rest on them were found dead two miles away, foaming at the mouth." He looked away, trying not to think about it. Only Xlelon's hand on his cheek brought him around again. She smiled, trying not to cry, not only for him, but for the spindrens, the least that this random person could have done was give them a proper death. br "Neal, it's ok, I understand." She leaned up and kissed him softly, wiping his tears as she did. He sighed yet again and smiled forcefully. brv "I know, thankyou. I really feel worse for Cleon, he barely knew his father." He paused, gaining composure again. Xlelon froze at the name. She had wholly forgotten, Cleon of Kennan, he would be.eight years old. Imagine that, she thought, losing your father at eight. A small voice in the back of her head told her that it happened to many people here. br "Yes, it'll haunt him later." br Neal raised an eyebrow. br "I suppose I'll take your word for it." br She nodded. br "When are you leaving?" br He closed his eyes. br "Day after tomarrow." br She sighed and buried her head in his shoulder willing the world away. Neal rested his fore head on her shoulder and sighed again, thanking any gods or goddesses that he thought of for her. br As it happened, there were two goddesses that were quite proud of this. Thaliah and Shakith smiled, both looking in the same window pane. br "It was not an accident then, you were right Shakith." br The goddess smiled. br "Indeed I was." And she began to murmur words, soon joined by Thaliah. br ~^~br SQUEE! You thought I forgot about the goddesses, didn't ya? Well, NOPE! They play a rather large part later. ::shuts up:: you'll see soon enough. br