A/N: WOOHOO! It turns out that someone is just as confused as I am! To Larzdinn: "I'm torn between Darin/Ribbyn and Hayden/Ribbyn now!" I laughed so hard when I read your review! I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL! I'm the WRITER and I'm torn. Ribyyn will tell me in time I'm sure. Cause right now, she doesn't know Darin's alive...except she may at the end of this chapter...due to Temptress's help (Thank you muchly!).

To Loony - who thought chapter six was fantastic: IT SHOULD BE FANTASTIC! I wrote it enough times. ::laughs:: Stupid computer kept crashing on me. And by your request, an upcoming chapter (perhaps this one) will include a new description of Ribyyn, from Darin's point of view but a description nonetheless. And for extra fun - a description of DARIN from Ribyyn's pov.

DISCLAIMER: I own the characters but Tortall and it's surrounding areas are owned by Tamora Pierce.

Lady Ribyyn of Hadic

Chapter 8 - Familiar Faces and Foreign Kisses (A/N: Wow...that sounds DIRTY! ::pauses:: Sorry, I needed to say that.)

When Ribyyn entered the tavern she saw Slyde and Roank sitting at their usual table in the back. Slyde was leaning back in his chair, tipping it back and leaning it against the wall so that it rested on two legs. His eyes were closed, and if Ribyyn hadn't known better, she'd have thought he was sleeping. Roank stared at his half filled mug. He'd been quiet and thoughtful ever since he'd received the letter from the Rogue. Ribyyn didn't quite understand why. The Rogue was just a man after all. A man with power, but a man nonetheless.

She weaved slowly through the tables and sat down in the chair across from Slyde. Roank didn't even blink. Slyde opened one eye and smirked at her. "Hey there, Dollface." He closed his eyes again.

Ribyyn smiled softly and reached for Roank's mug. The older man slapped her hand away. "Don't even think about it," he growled at her. He still hadn't blinked.

The young woman just stared at him. "Is somethin' wrong?"

"I'm waitin'," he replied, his voice lacking emotion.

"Wait no more," said a deep voice from behind him. Ribyyn looked up to see a tall man wearing a black cloak and hat. The hat was floppy and covered most of his face, though in the light of the tavern it would have been hard to see his face in the first place. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He placed it on the table. Roank stared at it for a moment and then picked it up, unfolded it, and read it quickly. He pocketed it and looked up at the man.

"Join me." Roank motioned to the empty chair as Slyde put his seat back down on all four legs. Together the two men turned and glared at Ribyyn.

"What?" she asked, confused as to why she was being singled out. Roank cleared his throat and rolled his eyes over towards the door that she had come in through only minutes before. She groaned, pushed her chair back, and stood up. "It's not fair. Why can't I just sit here and listen? I won't say a word. I promise!"

"Child, I've known ye fer four years. Ye always say ye'll shut yer yap, but ye never do."

"I'm not a child anymore! I'm seventeen!"

"Dollface," Slyde interrupted calmly. "Please, just go."

Ribyyn sighed and turned, stomping over to the door.

"Darlin' girl," Roank told the man in black. "A bit mulish sometimes though."

"Is it stubbornness?" Slyde asked of his partner. "I always thought she was a bit thick."

"I heard that!" she cried. And for effect, she slammed the door on her way out.

The man in black sighed, "Women."

~*~

Darin watched as the two thieves discussed something. Roank and Slyde were still recognizable. He couldn't recognize their faces, but their voices were familiar. He knew these were his almost murderers. Except they didn't want to kill me. He shook his head realizing that Slyde had spoken to him.

"Ye aren't just a messenger, are ye?" Slyde asked, glancing at the man warily. "Yer the Rogue himself, ain't ye?"

Darin nodded slowly. "Yer a smart man."

"I thank ye kindly. So yer here t' help us out with our gang problem?"

Darin sighed and looked thoughtful. He pulled at the brim of his hat and smirked. "Somethin' like that."

A barmaid came over and refilled Roank and Slyde's mugs. "Would ye like somethin', sir?" she asked the Rogue, leaning over, in an attempt to show Darin how chesty she was.

"No, thank you," he said politely. "I'm fine." He turned away from her and focused his attention on Roank. "So," he said to the older man, "Tell me exactly what yer problem is."

"Well, we've had this gang around fer quite awhile. Before though, they was just a nuisance, attackin' us at inopportune times an' all. Never going so far as t' hurt anybody an' all." Roank explained to him. "But now they've gotten more violent. Th' ringleader, Dasher, tried t' make a forceful move on th' lass that was just in here."

"She's smart though," Slyde added. "M' younger brother tells me she bit Dasher right through his lip! Bloody mess it was, and then she hurled for fifteen minutes straight. Though that last bit may be a tad exaggerated. Hayden's got a way of doin' that."

"How many in the gang?" Darin asked thoughtfully.

"He wanders 'round with 'bout twenty of 'em, but there's likely triple that number," answered Slyde

"This could take some time," he mused.

"But ye'll help?" Roank asked. He winced when he realized how desperate he sounded.

The Rogue reached up and removed his hat. He grinned at the two men, "Darin Smith at yer service."

***

The men stayed at the inn a while longer before deciding to retire for the night. Roank, who had permanent rooms on the top story of the inn, didn't have very far too go. However, it was decided that Darin would stay at the Alexzander's home, as Slyde's mother loved having visitors. It wasn't until they reached the house that they realized there was no room for the King of Thieves to sleep.

Slyde sighed heavily. "Ye can take my room. Th' kids 'r a bit overprotective of their rooms and m' mother wont' like it if I loan her's out. I'll sleep on th' floor of m' brother's room. Upstairs, first door on th' right."

Darin nodded his thanks and walked slowly up the stairs. He entered the room, closed the door, undressed himself, and fell into bed.

~*~

Ribyyn wandered the streets aimlessly. It was too early to go home, Hayden wouldn't be there. He'd gone out with some friends, and though she had begged to come along he'd insisted that she wouldn't enjoy herself where they were going. Which meant that they were either going to get completely smashed and he didn't want her to rat him out to his mother, or they were going to rob some noble household, and he didn't want to be caught twice in the same week. Either way, it left her alone and with too much free time.

So rather than go home and read a book, Ribyyn had decided to spend the night out and reacquaint herself with Port Caynn. Not to mention make a stop at the Goldenlake household. Though she hated to admit it, it had become an obsession. The family was so completely normal, despite Lord Alden's girlfriends. There was Jessalyn, who at least acted like a normal fifteen year old. Or the way Ribyyn thought a fifteen year old should act, since she wasn't quite sure how a normal fifteen year old girl should behave. After Jessalyn came Orlando, who was ten. He was the complete opposite of his sister, his dark hair contrasted entirely with his older sibling's blonde hair. Lastly, there was seven year old Karoline. She was nearly identical to her older sister.

Ribyyn had been watching the family ever since she had been nearly caught that day last week. She wasn't quite sure what compelled her to keep coming back, but it was an obsession that she couldn't cure. All her free time was spent wandering around that street and hiding from the guards that were constantly on watch. However it was dark now, so that would make it easier to spy without anyone seeing.

It was a beautiful night, so she took her time. There was a full moon, and very few clouds in the sky. Typically, one was presently covering the moon. Taking a shortcut down an alley, she paused when she heard scuffling and muffled screams. It came from the alley that was branched off from the one she was currently in. Quietly, she turned towards the noise. There she saw Dasher's familiar outline. He was with someone, attacking her probably. Just then the cloud moved out of the way and Ribyyn saw the recognizable gleam of Jessalyn's hair.

She gasped a bit too loudly, and Dasher whirled around to see her. "Oh, how lovely of ye t' join me, Dollface," he sneered, using Slyde's pet name for her.

"Let her go. She's a noble. Ye'll get in trouble."

"Oh?" he sighed mockingly. "Concerned fer my safety? I'm touched, Dollface."

"Stop calling me that," she growled. "Now let her go, else I'll call the guard."

"And get yerself caught as well?" he scoffed. "I doubt that. Now run along and mind yer own business Dollface." He turned his attention back to Jessa. The young girl squealed in fright and tried to break away, but Dasher was stronger.

Ribyyn heard the distinct sound of ripping cloth and Jessa cried out in fright. Suddenly Ribyyn rushed at Dasher, shoving him away from the girl with her shoulder. The impact was unexpected and he fell to the ground, hitting his head and making him see stars. He recovered quickly however and jumped up, grabbing Ribyyn by the arm. He tried to pull her towards him but Ribyyn grabbed him by his ear and pulled with all her might. He yelped, grabbed his knife and made to slice at her wrist but missed. He screamed.

Ribyyn stood there frozen for a moment. In her hand was Dasher's left ear. He'd cut it off. She looked up at him and saw that his face was getting more and more red with his rising anger.

Whirling around Ribyyn grabbed the fifteen year old and pulled her down the alley. At first Jessa resisted, but Ribyyn ignored her and continued to drag the girl. Coming out of the alley, the thief made a bee-line for the noble girl's home.

When they reached the home, Ribyyn paused at the gate for breath. Jessa just stared at her. "How do you know where I live?" she asked.

Ribyyn looked at the girl and shook her hair out of her face. "That's not important. What are ye doin' out this late? I'll bet yer father's worried."

"I was running away."

"Running away?" Ribyyn was shocked. Was this girl completely mad? Why would anybody want to run away from that life? Ribyyn would give anything to have it back. "Why would you do that?"

"Because my father..."

"Your father loves you."

"He doesn't act like it. Besides, how do you know? You don't understand what it's like!" Jessalyn was practically yelling now.

Ribyyn looked at her feet. "I understand more than you know," she said quietly. "Jessa, please. Go home."

The teenager sighed and slid the gate open. She closed it behind her and began to walk towards the house, but stopped to turn around. "Wait. How do you know my name? Who are-" She stopped, realizing she was asking questions to the empty street. Sighing, she turned back towards her home.

~*~

It was well past midnight by the time Ribyyn finally got home. Knowing that Mrs. Alexzander disliked having people come home so late she decided to play it safe and climb in through her window. Sneaking around the house she climbed up the drainpipe and grabbed hold of her windowsill and tried to open the window. It was locked.

Cursing under her breath she stood there a moment, clinging to the house, trying to think of a new entrance. Glancing to her left she saw that Slyde's window was open.

"Thank Mithros," she whispered to herself. Climbing carefully over to the window she slid it open more. It was a good thing that Slyde had the habit of oiling the hinges of his windows, otherwise the man would wake up for sure.

She climbed into the room, and silently closed the window. Turning around to walk towards the door she ran smack into Slyde's broad chest. Except it wasn't Slyde.

Ribyyn made a dash for the door but the man grabbed her and pulled her to him. "Who are ye and what are ye doing here?" he hissed in her ear.

"I should ask you the same thing," she hissed back, struggling against his grip.

"Stop squirming an' ye won't get hurt."

Ribyyn's temper flared. "Why are you threatening me? At least I live here!"

"Live here?" the man asked and let her go. He turned her around, though it was still too dark in the room to see anything. "Yer Slyde's sister?"

"Unofficially, yes."

The young woman moved over towards the nightstand where she could see a candle in the faint moonlight that shown through the window. "What's your name?" the man asked as he watched her. Grabbing the matches beside it she lit it and a dim light filled the room.

"Ribyyn Hadic," she answered.

She turned around and saw the man's face go completely white. And not just his face. His neck. His shoulders. Everything down to his toes. He was completely naked. "Ribyyn?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes. Is something wrong?"

The man blinked and looked down. Suddenly he dove for his breeches and pulled them on quickly. He turned back towards her and kneeled down in front of her, pulling her down to a sitting position with him. "Ribyyn," he whispered. "It's me. It's Darin."

"Darin?" she asked in disbelief. "But, your dead. Goethe threw you in the river. I heard him say it. Roank and Slyde saw it!"

"So? What does that have to do with anything? I can swim you know." Darin could feel his heart beating in his chest. It was ready to burst. He wanted to cry out in joy. After years of not knowing what had happened, here she was, in front of him, sneaking into his room.

"But," she looked confused. "I don't understand."

"Neither do I," he smiled mischievously. "But why does it matter?" He placed his hand on the back of her head, leaned forward and kissed her lips gently.

At first Ribyyn was dazed, but by the time the shock wore off she was enjoying herself too much to stop him. The kiss deepened and she was almost positive that their actions would move further, but just as she had decided that Darin pulled away.

"You have to tell me everything," he said to her quietly.

She smiled and shook her head. "You tell first."

He grinned and nodded. Silently, Ribyyn snuggled up next to him. Darin had barely begun his story when he realized that his friend had fallen asleep. Chuckling to himself, he lay down next to her on the floor and fell asleep almost instantly.

A/N: YAY! Chapter's done. How sweet. I like my ending. It gives something to begin my next chapter with. I think this is a pretty complete chapter. Talking, Kissing, Adventure. It's great. And she gets someone's ear cut off! Don't forget to review!