Stranger in the Night
Thank you sooooooooo much for all the nice reviews!!! This chapter is a little confusing
but I'll try to explain more in the next chapter.
To Drnrn18 Dude: I don't really know what Dom did, exactly… I know that sounds
strange but I left it blank to leave it up to your imagination. My version of it was that he
threw the covers off of Raoul and Buri.
*Disclaimer: * I'll explain something. The 'dis' in 'disclaimer' is negative right? And the
'claimer' in 'disclaimer' is like 'claim.' So put them together and what have you got? I
don't own anything. The wonderful T. Pierce owns all these characters except my OC.
Got it? Good.
****
The weather had cleared up since the expedition had first started, and now the sun was
shining in the sky. Kel had given Seto Hoshi to ride, since she was gentle and had a nice,
easy gait.
"Star," Seto had said happily when Kel first introduced him to her horse. "Hoshi." Kel
was glad to see his happy face; she figured it was the touch from home.
Neal rode with the two, but from time to time he would give disapproving glances from
Kel to Seto. He wasn't happy that Kel let Seto ride, so soon after such an injury. But in
fact Seto seemed to be doing just fine. He rode easily in the saddle, and Kel suspected he
had spent some time riding horses.
Seto had proven himself useful; he was willing to care for the horses and he wasn't a bad
hand at cooking. He was also cheerful and correct when talking, whether to Kel and Neal
and Dom or to Lord Raoul. But something was not right. His amber eyes were still
guarded, and could never completely warm up. Kel noticed this also.
[He's hiding something], thought Kel, watching Seto and Neal argue good- naturedly.
[His eyes: they're so cold, somehow, as if he has a shield up.]
That night after making camp, sleeping arrangements presented a slight problem. The
tents of the majority of knights and members of the Own were small and crowded as it
was; there wasn't any room for Seto. Then again, he could hardly be left out in the cold.
On the other hand, he also couldn't sleep in Kel's tent, as that would be most improper.
In the end, after much laughing and joking, Kel, Neal, Dom and a few other young
knights had managed to set up a makeshift tent. It consisted of large branches found in a
nearby forest and a number of blankets donated from each member of the expedition.
Seto himself helped also, but when he stepped inside and walked around, the tent
collapsed on top of him. So the others set the tent up again: without Seto's tent.
Kel paused at Seto's tent's doorway. "Are you all right in there?" she asked with a grin.
"Yes," he replied, with an answering grin. "If the tent collapses, I'll be sure to yell."
"And what if I don't wake up?" Kel asked playfully.
Seto laughed and said, "Kel, go to sleep."
***
The next morning was even brighter and sunnier than the previous day. They made good
progress on the straight path, and met no other bands of bandits.
When they stopped for luncheon break, it was in a charming little field, a clear stream
and a small forest at one end.
"Come on," Seto said to Kel. "Let's explore!"
Kel left her friends and she and Seto, alone, followed the stream into the forest. They sat
on some rocks that bordered the small water. Golden shafts of sunlight filtered in, giving
the forest a magical glow.
"It's beautiful," Kel said. Sparrows twittered overhead and squirrels ran to and fro.
"That it is," Seto agreed.
"Seto, is there anything you wanted to say to me?" Kel asked, a little confused. "And if I
can ask you something: what happened? Why are you here, in Tortall? Normally
Yamanis stay in Yaman…"
Seto sighed. "It's like this Kel. Here's my story.
"I used to live in the Yamani nobility. In fact, I think we might have even been friends,
way back, when we were both too young to remember. Anyway, I was living happily
before an evil force killed my parents. I don't know who did it or why. All I remember is
this: a voice whispering that they wanted me. The voice said I had some… power, a great
power. I didn't think so, and fought, with childish persistency, against the Voice. I won.
"I was broken then, and I joined the Yamani order of knights. I excelled in all classes and
was youngest to graduate. I was so good because I was so angry. I swore revenge; I
vowed to seek out the force that had killed my parents.
"After I completed training, I… left. I studied and asked around, and found that there was
a person- a Key- that could unlock the secret of this evil force.
"When I saw you, Kel, I knew.
"You are the Key."
****
Okay, I know this chapter was little confusing and abrupt, but first I had writer's block
and then I had too much inspiration. Arrrghh! Anyway, if I ever crank our chapter 4
hopefully that will give more explanation. Stick around please! And most importantly of
all… review review review!
Thank you sooooooooo much for all the nice reviews!!! This chapter is a little confusing
but I'll try to explain more in the next chapter.
To Drnrn18 Dude: I don't really know what Dom did, exactly… I know that sounds
strange but I left it blank to leave it up to your imagination. My version of it was that he
threw the covers off of Raoul and Buri.
*Disclaimer: * I'll explain something. The 'dis' in 'disclaimer' is negative right? And the
'claimer' in 'disclaimer' is like 'claim.' So put them together and what have you got? I
don't own anything. The wonderful T. Pierce owns all these characters except my OC.
Got it? Good.
****
The weather had cleared up since the expedition had first started, and now the sun was
shining in the sky. Kel had given Seto Hoshi to ride, since she was gentle and had a nice,
easy gait.
"Star," Seto had said happily when Kel first introduced him to her horse. "Hoshi." Kel
was glad to see his happy face; she figured it was the touch from home.
Neal rode with the two, but from time to time he would give disapproving glances from
Kel to Seto. He wasn't happy that Kel let Seto ride, so soon after such an injury. But in
fact Seto seemed to be doing just fine. He rode easily in the saddle, and Kel suspected he
had spent some time riding horses.
Seto had proven himself useful; he was willing to care for the horses and he wasn't a bad
hand at cooking. He was also cheerful and correct when talking, whether to Kel and Neal
and Dom or to Lord Raoul. But something was not right. His amber eyes were still
guarded, and could never completely warm up. Kel noticed this also.
[He's hiding something], thought Kel, watching Seto and Neal argue good- naturedly.
[His eyes: they're so cold, somehow, as if he has a shield up.]
That night after making camp, sleeping arrangements presented a slight problem. The
tents of the majority of knights and members of the Own were small and crowded as it
was; there wasn't any room for Seto. Then again, he could hardly be left out in the cold.
On the other hand, he also couldn't sleep in Kel's tent, as that would be most improper.
In the end, after much laughing and joking, Kel, Neal, Dom and a few other young
knights had managed to set up a makeshift tent. It consisted of large branches found in a
nearby forest and a number of blankets donated from each member of the expedition.
Seto himself helped also, but when he stepped inside and walked around, the tent
collapsed on top of him. So the others set the tent up again: without Seto's tent.
Kel paused at Seto's tent's doorway. "Are you all right in there?" she asked with a grin.
"Yes," he replied, with an answering grin. "If the tent collapses, I'll be sure to yell."
"And what if I don't wake up?" Kel asked playfully.
Seto laughed and said, "Kel, go to sleep."
***
The next morning was even brighter and sunnier than the previous day. They made good
progress on the straight path, and met no other bands of bandits.
When they stopped for luncheon break, it was in a charming little field, a clear stream
and a small forest at one end.
"Come on," Seto said to Kel. "Let's explore!"
Kel left her friends and she and Seto, alone, followed the stream into the forest. They sat
on some rocks that bordered the small water. Golden shafts of sunlight filtered in, giving
the forest a magical glow.
"It's beautiful," Kel said. Sparrows twittered overhead and squirrels ran to and fro.
"That it is," Seto agreed.
"Seto, is there anything you wanted to say to me?" Kel asked, a little confused. "And if I
can ask you something: what happened? Why are you here, in Tortall? Normally
Yamanis stay in Yaman…"
Seto sighed. "It's like this Kel. Here's my story.
"I used to live in the Yamani nobility. In fact, I think we might have even been friends,
way back, when we were both too young to remember. Anyway, I was living happily
before an evil force killed my parents. I don't know who did it or why. All I remember is
this: a voice whispering that they wanted me. The voice said I had some… power, a great
power. I didn't think so, and fought, with childish persistency, against the Voice. I won.
"I was broken then, and I joined the Yamani order of knights. I excelled in all classes and
was youngest to graduate. I was so good because I was so angry. I swore revenge; I
vowed to seek out the force that had killed my parents.
"After I completed training, I… left. I studied and asked around, and found that there was
a person- a Key- that could unlock the secret of this evil force.
"When I saw you, Kel, I knew.
"You are the Key."
****
Okay, I know this chapter was little confusing and abrupt, but first I had writer's block
and then I had too much inspiration. Arrrghh! Anyway, if I ever crank our chapter 4
hopefully that will give more explanation. Stick around please! And most importantly of
all… review review review!