Disclaimer: I do not own most of the characters and settings. I do
own Nelyra.
Author's Note: My deepest apologies for those people who have been conspiring to murder me because of the long wait for this chapter. Have fun! Read and Review!
The Baron's eyes opened wide and he practically fell into the chair.
The Lioness fixed her glance at Robbie. "We are all ears, young man. Why did you leave us?" The Lioness asked, pain clearly written on her face.
"I was waiting for that particular question. Mum, I hated the life of a noble. I felt suffocated, caged, and even lost," Robbie began.
"You could have told us!" the Baron exclaimed.
"Would you have listened?! You wanted me to take care of the 'Swoop. Mum wanted me to become a knight. No one cared about what I wanted!"
"So you run away?!" Alanna pried.
"I beg your noble pardon?" Nelyra squeaked.
George's eyes suddenly locked on her. A questioning look appeared on his face. "Who's she?"
"George," Alanna began. "This is Nel. This is Nelyra of Pirate's Swoop."
For a moment time froze, and then, like snow in the sun, it slowly began to run again.
"What do you mean?" he asked in a choked whisper.
"This is our daughter, George."
"She had been missing for over a decade! This can't be her!"
"Dad, please. I.er. kidnapped her a year after I fled to the city. I couldn't leave my sister in the clutches of noble life. I'm sorry, I didn't wish to put you through so much pain," Robert replied.
"I certainly hope not," the baron said gruffly. He gave Nelyra a long look, examining her. His eyes stopped on the dagger strapped around her waist. His face twisted with displeasure.
"Obviously some things other than physical features are passed through blood. You in the Rogue, No questions 'bout it," George commented. "I will ask Jonathan for a couple of rooms where you can stay, unless you wish to remain in the city. Speaking of living, how did you support your selves? Exactly how much did this lass steal?" George queried. Nelyra's face blazed with anger, but a look from Robert silenced her.
"She only stole for her own pleasures," Robbie said. "I was teaching under the false name: Robert."
And Nelyra's silence was gone.
"You lied to me?!" she exclaimed. "First you don't tell me that I ain't an orphan, the you tell me that I'm a noble and the daughter of the Lioness, now you are telling me that you didn't even tall me your real name?! What next?! Perhaps I am a dancing bear as well?!"
A worried look crossed the Baron's face as Nelyra bolted from her seat, her eyes a warning yellow.
"Nel, Shush!" Nelyra's brother yelled.
"No! I was lied to my whole life. So what is your name, dear brother?" She spat out. Her lips thin as they were compressed with anger.
"You want to know my name? Fine! My name is Thom of Pirate's Swoop. Now will you please sit down?!"
"I will do no such thing!" Nelyra leaped from her standing position and darted towards the door, which sprang open without her touching it. A bewildered face on the other side watched her run down the hall and out of the palace.
"My apologies, Jonathan, for the scare that wild lass must have given you."
"No need, George," the King of Tortall replied. "I take it you had quite a family reunion here."
Author's Note: My deepest apologies for those people who have been conspiring to murder me because of the long wait for this chapter. Have fun! Read and Review!
The Baron's eyes opened wide and he practically fell into the chair.
The Lioness fixed her glance at Robbie. "We are all ears, young man. Why did you leave us?" The Lioness asked, pain clearly written on her face.
"I was waiting for that particular question. Mum, I hated the life of a noble. I felt suffocated, caged, and even lost," Robbie began.
"You could have told us!" the Baron exclaimed.
"Would you have listened?! You wanted me to take care of the 'Swoop. Mum wanted me to become a knight. No one cared about what I wanted!"
"So you run away?!" Alanna pried.
"I beg your noble pardon?" Nelyra squeaked.
George's eyes suddenly locked on her. A questioning look appeared on his face. "Who's she?"
"George," Alanna began. "This is Nel. This is Nelyra of Pirate's Swoop."
For a moment time froze, and then, like snow in the sun, it slowly began to run again.
"What do you mean?" he asked in a choked whisper.
"This is our daughter, George."
"She had been missing for over a decade! This can't be her!"
"Dad, please. I.er. kidnapped her a year after I fled to the city. I couldn't leave my sister in the clutches of noble life. I'm sorry, I didn't wish to put you through so much pain," Robert replied.
"I certainly hope not," the baron said gruffly. He gave Nelyra a long look, examining her. His eyes stopped on the dagger strapped around her waist. His face twisted with displeasure.
"Obviously some things other than physical features are passed through blood. You in the Rogue, No questions 'bout it," George commented. "I will ask Jonathan for a couple of rooms where you can stay, unless you wish to remain in the city. Speaking of living, how did you support your selves? Exactly how much did this lass steal?" George queried. Nelyra's face blazed with anger, but a look from Robert silenced her.
"She only stole for her own pleasures," Robbie said. "I was teaching under the false name: Robert."
And Nelyra's silence was gone.
"You lied to me?!" she exclaimed. "First you don't tell me that I ain't an orphan, the you tell me that I'm a noble and the daughter of the Lioness, now you are telling me that you didn't even tall me your real name?! What next?! Perhaps I am a dancing bear as well?!"
A worried look crossed the Baron's face as Nelyra bolted from her seat, her eyes a warning yellow.
"Nel, Shush!" Nelyra's brother yelled.
"No! I was lied to my whole life. So what is your name, dear brother?" She spat out. Her lips thin as they were compressed with anger.
"You want to know my name? Fine! My name is Thom of Pirate's Swoop. Now will you please sit down?!"
"I will do no such thing!" Nelyra leaped from her standing position and darted towards the door, which sprang open without her touching it. A bewildered face on the other side watched her run down the hall and out of the palace.
"My apologies, Jonathan, for the scare that wild lass must have given you."
"No need, George," the King of Tortall replied. "I take it you had quite a family reunion here."