A/N: So, the quote wasn't very obvious, but it was: "Pain. Lots of pain." Spoken by Khari after Neal staggered back. It's my favorite quote (no, I am not a sadist.). It's spoken by that red haired dude, what's-his-face? I forgot. Tell me. There's a new quote (actually, two), a lot easier to find, hopefully. Same challenge, some prize. But, if you find two, I give you two chapters! Howz dat? Iggly Wiggly: stop threatening me. I'll hafta file a restraining order on you...^.^ or maybe...fifth sense? Heh heh heh. Oh, I sent you a howler. Check your e-mail. To person who does not wish to sign: read this chapter, it'll make you happy...hopefully. Oh, one thing: Skip the first part, it's just me working my way out of writers block. A plot will come around (involving the bird thingies) in the next few chapters. And by the start of the next year (after spring) , the Yamani princess will arrive.

Section: Winter

Chapter 13: Opposition

"Kel what?" Neal exclaimed, coming out of his stupor. "She lost to the stump?"

"Neal! If you paid more attention, you would know!" Khari scolded.

"If you were jousting you would be nursing your wounds." Neal replied sulkily.

"What's so hard about jousting?" Khari asked flippantly. "It's a ridiculous way of masochism."

"Jousting, my lady," Neal said, easing into a haughty attitude. "Is a sport that is highly looked upon by every single nation in the world."

"Jousting, Dear Sir," Khari replied sarcastically, "Is nothing more than a boy on a pony with a stick."

Neal snapped out of philosophy mode, "Better a boy with a stick and pony than a girl with a flower!"

"Hmph." Khari snorted, ignoring his comment. "Besides, not everyone is as weak as you are. Look at Faleron, he seems fine."

"W-Weak-?" Neal choked out, lost for words. Faleron turned red and looked away. (Hmm, seems to be doing that an awful lot lately, ne?)

"Neal, Khari!" Owen yelled. "Did you hear that?"

"What?" the two said simultaneously.

"Kel didn't lose!" Owen crowed. "She's back in, she didn't lose-Ow!" Owen was jostled aside by four tornadoes, as the other occupants of the box pushed him a bit...roughly out of the way.

"The Stump called technical difficulty!" Khari screamed in delight. "Kel can still win!'

"I was hoping she'd lost" Cleon said, "Now we'll still have to prepare for the funeral." Looking at the shocked faces around him, he quickly added, "A joke! A joke! Can't you guys take a joke?'

Kel shifted restlessly in her saddle, half confused, half delighted that she would be given another chance. Facing Lord Wyldon once more, Kel decided that he wasn't so large any more, and that she could beat him, if she was lucky.

She heard her friends cheering her from their position in the box behind her. Once more, she urged Peachblossom into a gallop, once more she brought up her lance. This time was different. Kel felt something she had not felt the first time: confidence. She held her lance at ready and waited for the impact. It came once again, yet this time, it was not accompanied by Peachblossom's rearing, but by the amazing feeling of her lance shattering. Lord Wyldon wheeled back in his saddle, but kept his seat. Kel half tumbled out of her saddle, but somehow managed to keep herself on Peachblossom's broad back.

"I scared you the first time didn't I?" Kel asked Peachblossom softly. "It wasn't that you weren't trained, but that you got nervous when I did. Right?" Peachbloosom flicked his ears, sullenly listening to his mistress' words.

"Kel! Kel!" Owen crowed. "You tied!"

"You didn't die after all!" Cleon joked, climbing quickly out of the box. Owen attempted to climb out of the box, but was beaten by Khari, who vaulted out with Cleon. Neal, Seaver, and Merric followed by way of the door.

"Kel! That was amazing!" Seaver shouted.

"You broke your lance!" Owen added happily. "You jolly well broke your lance!"

"You make it sound as if I've never shattered a lance before." Kel joked

"You haven't" Neal said

"You tied! You tied!" Khari cried, wrapping Kel in a tight hug. Then, "You're alright, right? You aren't hurt or anything, right?"

"I...I'm fine." Kel managed to choke out feebly, from the depths of her hug. "Just a bit battered, that's all."

"Good." Cleon said, eyes softening. "I was worried you know."

"We all were." Neal said, wrenching Khari off of Kel, and hugging her. Kels' breath quickened momentarily. Good thing I'm already breathing hard, or else everyone will know. Kel thought. Good thing too, she added dazedly, that I only had to really run once. Else I'd really be hurt.

I seem to write shorter and shorter chapters...hmmm. Oh well. The next chapter has Kel and Alannas' first meeting. By the way, yes iggly wiggly, I am still determined to murder Crown, though I would rather say that I am putting her humanely out of her misery as the oldest crone of sparrowdom history. Also, I have long since given up on following the real Squire, so don't expect anything like the book. So, if you peoples have any great ideas I should use, then plz, review. Actually, review whether you have any or not...kay? REVIEW!!!!!!