Okay! I don't really have anything to say, so I'll shut up and let you read.

On the Shores of Carthak

She found him in the statue grotto.

Kel approached him hesitantly. He sat silently in front of the dragon statue, staring up at it. His silence scared her. She walked up and sat beside him, staring at the magnificently worked marble.

"I thought —" Neal's voice cracked, and he stopped. "I thought she really loved me."

Kel didn't say anything. She could tell this wasn't a thing for her to intrude upon. Cleon had been different — since the beginning, she had assumed something like that would happen to her. But Yuki's betrayal was a different story.

"She said she did," Neal's words stuck in his throat. His voice was thick with held back tears. "I loved her."

Kel couldn't stand it any more. "Neal, she . . . she doesn't understand what love is. We all thought she did, but . . . she doesn't."

"I don't know why this is even different from you and Cleon," Neal said, his voice high with emotion. His attempt at a joke failed miserably, and two tears fell from his eyes. He gave a bitter laugh. "Oh, now I remember. Cleon wasn't bedding another woman!" More tears fell.

Kel wrapped her arms around him as his shoulders shook with silent sobs, and he crumpled against her.

After a while, Neal's sorrow subsided and he stopped. He sat up, shaking off her arms. She looked into his face, and his eyes were hard.

"At least we're leaving tomorrow," he said. "I'll never have to see her again."

He stood up and left the grotto. Without a word, Kel followed him, her heart heavy with pain for Neal, as well as herself.

Augh!! Yes, I know . . . cheezycheezycheezycheezycheezycheezy! But oh well, it's not like I could just cut to them taking off in the morning. Three things I think you should know: 1) Neal was very manly when he cried, 2) Don't go too hard on me for that section. I needed to get rid of Yuki, and 3) The BEST character (because he's mine) comes back! Yay! Now . . . back to the real plot!

They met the next morning in the stables, saddlebags packed and ready to go. Neal eyes were shadowed; he had changed since the day before. But luckily for Kel, he seemed to be mostly back to normal, cracking jokes left and right. They left the Palace at a brisk trot, Kel on Peachblossom and Neal on his own horse. To Kel's surprise, none of her birds left with them.

"Well," Neal drawled, "Maybe they understand that sneaking into countries currently at war with our own is not a good idea." Kel ignored him.

Ten days of riding southward brought them to the Strait of Sijave, the body of water separating Carthak and Tortall. Because of the current situation, all ferries across the Strait had been cut off, leaving Kel and Neal to figure out how to get across by themselves.

After half a day of thinking, they still couldn't decide how to get across. Neal wanted to swim, but Kel wasn't sure the horses could make it that far, and everything they owned would be soaked. They were standing on the banks arguing when a ferry appeared. Standing at the front was Pitken.

Kel froze.

The ferry skimmed across the water, moving across the current. No one was steering. Neal turned around to see what Kel was looking at. His eyes widened, and he hissed, "Who in the name of the gods is that?"

"That would be Pitken." At her reply, Neal's eyes widened even more.

The ferry bumped against the shore. Pitken stepped from the boat to solid ground. He was cleaner than the last time she had seen him. His beard, still long, was cleanly trimmed and freshly washed. His clothes were cleaner, but they were still extremely outdated. He stood well over six feet tall, and his dark eyes burned in his craggy face. He still wore the hat, and it was clean as well.

Pitken bowed to the two knights. Startled out of their awe, Kel and Neal bowed back. Peachblossom blew air bad-temperedly at the man. Neal's horse, better behaved, cropped grass quietly behind them. Pitken turned and glared at Peachblossom, then returned his steady gaze to the two knights.

"So, thee have found Two," said Pitken. His deep voice rumbled.

"We have," answered Kel confidently.

"I am proud of thee." He paused and looked at them both, his eyes kind for a moment before returning to their blazing normalcy. "I did know that thee are correct for thy quest. I tell thee now, I have come to help thee against thy first obstacle," Pitken announced. "Step on, and thee shall be delivered safely to the other side, though I cannot guard thee from mortal dangers encountered there."

The young knights stepped onto the ferry, leading their horses behind them. At a motion from Pitken, the boat began its cruise to the opposite shore. There was now no doubt in either Kel or Neal's minds: this was an immortal, perhaps even a god.

Neal's horse shook her forelock anxiously when the boat began to move, but Kel had to restrain Peachblossom; he was trying to bite the mysterious man.

"Stop it!" she hissed in his ear. "We don't know even know who he is! He could turn you into a toad! How would you like that, huh?" Peachblossom eyed Kel, shifted position and stopped trying to bite Pitken.

Silence reigned on the small ferry as it glided over the water to the shore of Carthak. With a grinding jolt, the ferry struck Carthaki soil. Kel and Neal led their horses to solid ground, and turned to thank Pitken, who had followed them onto the shore. They bowed again, receiving a bow from the man in return. Pitken straightened with a smile.

"I know we shall meet again, mine Lady Knight . . . and thy companion," he added, glancing at Neal. Neal raised his eyebrows as Kel stifled a giggle: even immortals put their feet in their mouth! Pitken cleared his throat, and Kel returned his gaze. "Fare thee well on thy quest," he said simply.

He turned and walked into the water. His clothes did not billow with the water, as a mortal's would. He did not float, as a mortal would. He walked down the bank as if it were a hill on land. When he sank beneath the wavelets, not a ripple marked his passing. Kel and Neal stared.

"You know," Kel remarked angrily. "I find myself staring a lot more than I'm used to. I wish things like this would stop happening."

Neal didn't answer. She looked at him and saw he was staring downriver. Coming towards them on the shore was a troop of Carthaki foot soldiers.

They were wearing Tortallan livery.

"Uh-oh," muttered Neal.

Ooooh! Cliffhanger!!!! Sorry, I couldn't resist! How about Pitken, huh? I think he's awesome! Okay, more to come soon! But first, a few shoutouts to my loyal reviewers! Thank you! and hey, if you review, I'll shoutout to you! and you know that makes you feel special. So review! Uh oh, I'm not even sure if the same people will even re-read my story, but oh well! I like shoutouts, so here they are!

Shang Unicorn: ugh, me neither! That's why I got rid of her. And the adventure is starting!

Mnitr: I was thinking about doing that, and I've decided I will -- in a later chapter :) too many things going on right now! and also . . . yay! Another NTPBWS victim! We should start a club!

Princess Sanidaylene: I know! He needed to be taken down a notch.

Sophie: wow, you reviewed a lot. *sobs* THANK YOU!!! it makes me feel bee-yoo-tee-ful when people review! And of course I'm still reading them! I'm still writing, aren't I?

Lady Gabriella: you will just have to wait and find out *laughs evilly* I have the power to control them! *coughs* um, well, just keep reading.

Lady Alison: YAY! HELP FOR THE STORY! I will use it, have no fear! Keep reading!

Merritt: Thank you! I like puzzles too, but I'm not very good at writing them . . .

Piper Cheyenne: I did!

Katie Carr: AUGH! WHY CAN'T I LIVE IN ANCHORAGE??? (did I spell that right?)