Reviewers, rejoice! If you review, you get personal replies! Yay! Sorry, I've been slacking off on these things, so they go back for a while.

Kalika - Sadly, most likely they will be this lucky all the time. I'm too lazy to think up too many plot twists, and they aren't that lucky . . . right?

Nessa'fur - Why thank you! And hey! here's the next chapter!

Banana - Yay! Praise! And here you go . . .

Kaye - I can't believe you keep coming back! It's wonderful! *sniffs teary eyed just-won-miss-america- crown style* It makes a person feel so loved! And please don't die, because here's more!

Shelli - thank you thank you! I will I will!

Redmountain - Yay! I love phoenixes as well! But then, that's why I put them in my story . . . do you think it was realisticly described? (Well, as realistic as a phoenix can be, lol)

Princess Sanidaylene - I will! And you've reviewed a lot also! THANK YOU!

QueenoftheRogue - I love your name! And I love Mary Poppins! We should start a club . . .

Well, I liked writing this chapter even more than the last one, even though it's sad!! And don't get too mad with my indulging myself . . . I can get rid of it if you think it's out of place . . . well, you're probably now thoroughly confused, so I'll let ya read!

Averting Suspicions

Kel woke up in the afternoon, feeling incredibly refreshed. Remembering the previous night's events, she blushed. How stupid could I possibly be? she wondered, falling off my own horse! She sat up, yawning, and saw that Neal wasn't in the room. He must already be downstairs, she thought, and set about getting dressed. Byrn woke up from her perch on the bedframe and fluffed her wings.

"Okay," Kel said, pointing the phoenix. "I'm going to leave the window open, because I don't know what you eat, so go find breakfast. But don't get caught, okay? I don't know what they'd do to you if they found you, so don't take any chances." Byrn chirped and began to preen herself.

Fifteen minutes later she walked down the stairs into the common room, at full swing during the lunch hours. The Three were safe in a purse at her belt. She caught sight of Neal sitting at a table in the corner of the room, nursing a cup of what looked to be strong Carthak tea.

She walked over and sat down across from him. "So," she said. "Next stop, Scanra."

"Yeah," said Neal. "About that —"

Before he could say anything, Ahim rushed into the room, almost delrious with joy. "It has happened!" he cried happily. "It is a wonderful thing! We have taken Pirate's Swoop!"

The common room erupted in cheers. People exchanged handshakes and clapped each other on the back. Kel sat, stunned by the innkeeper's words. Neal sat bleakly, staring at his hands.

"How . . . how can . . ." Kel stuttered, tears in her eyes.

"He told everyone earlier this afternoon, just a couple minutes after I came down. What a wonderful wake-up present!" He laughed bitterly. "There's a poster on the wall over there that he just put up. As you can see, Pirate's Swoop isn't the only place that's changed since we left."

Kel stood numbly and walked to the poster. The poster was a map of Tortall, with small round pins to show how the forces against them had advanced. Kel looked at the map, disbelieving. She walked back to their table.

"Groten, Disart, Runnerspring, Haryse, Nenan, and Nond, all taken! And the ferries re-opened to bring in new soldiers!" she wailed softly, wrung in misery.

Neal nodded. "I know," he said, voice cracking with emotion. "It's the six outside cities. They're slowly working their way toward Tortall."

"We have to go now. We can't just sit around and let them take over. Whatever the Six do, it has to be better than wasting time and watching our country fall," said Kel grimly.

"What was that?" asked Ahim, dangerously close.

"Ahim!" Kel forced a smile. "We didn't see you."

"Yes, yes. Ahim is always around." He smiled warmly. "How was the young lovers night? Very good?" Kel nodded, Kel thanked the gods that the inn-keeper, nice though he was, did not have a very long attention span.

"Ahim, we must tell you," Neal began. "We are leaving today, so could you please have your servants pack up our stuff?"

"Of course," said Ahim, bowing elaborately. "But wait! The young lovers must not simply disappear! No, no! You cannot tell me that you have roomed three days in my inn and I have not seen you show any affection!" Neal lifted his eyebrows. "You are lovers, on your honeymoon! You should be happy, and loving in each other's presence! But I have seen no sign of that! Why is that?"

"I don't know," stuttered Kel, her brain working frantically to think of some way to get her out of this situation. "I guess you haven't been around when we've been like that."

"Or is it because you aren't married?" Ahim leaned in, eyes bright and suspicious. "Are you just playing with poor old Ahim to get your own way?"

Oh, gods, thought Kel frantically. I guess he wasn't as stupid as we thought he was! How are we going to get out of this? But before she could say anything at all, Neal spoke up.

"What are you talking about, Ahim? Of course I love my wife!" His voice was angry, and Kel looked at him in surprise. Wow, she thought. He's a really good actor!

Neal pushed away from the table. "How dare you suggest such a thing?" Ahim backed up, startled by Neal's reaction.

"Of course, of course, dear sir," he said hastily. "I apologize. It's just, in a time of war one must always be alert, you know? I am sorry to hear you will be leaving. I will tell my men to pack your bags. Good bye now!" He scurried away.

Neal sat down again. "Well," he said. "That got him out of the way."

"I'll say!" replied Kel. "But where did you ever learn to act like that?"

"Oh, you know." He grinned. "Just one of those things you learn."

"Riiiiight," replied Kel sarcastically.

Three hours later, their bags were packed and they were ready to go. The two knights had just enough time to eat dinner before they left. Sitting down at a table in a corner, they ate heartily, quietly discussing the riddle, the Six, and their plans.

Kel noticed that Neal's eyes kept flicking off over her left shoulder. Suddenly, he smiled warmly at her (an odd thing, since they were discussing what they thought happened to those in the taken cities,) said, "I know exactly what you mean," and leaned forward and kissed her.

Kel's eyes widened. She felt Neal's hand move up to her neck. After a few seconds, he released her, looking deep into her eyes and smiling.

"What in the Hell?" she hissed, dumbfounded.

He kept smiling, but what he said was entirely the opposite. "Ahim was watching us extremely suspiciously. He's been watching us ever since this morning. Now he's not." He leaned back and grinned, a true grin this time. "Kel, you should have seen your face!"

"I don't believe you!" Kel exploded. "You are so going to pay for this!"

"Pay for what, your embarrassment?" He leaned forward again, seriously. "I just got him off our tails. He didn't know I knew he was watching, so he thinks that was a true kiss! He thinks we are who we say we are! We don't have to worry about it any more! Be happy!"

He does have a point, she thought. Ahim will believe us now, and he won't worry about us once we're gone from his sight.

"Alright," she said reluctantly. "I guess I won't make you pay. But you could have warned me first!"

"And miss seeing your reaction? Not a chance in the world. Plus, you know you liked it," Neal said wickedly.

Kel gasped at his conceitedness. Her indignation faded into fury. "No way! It was awful! I hated it! It made no sense whatsoever, I didn't even know what was going on, and besides," She sat back triumphantly, crossing her arms. "You're a bad kisser anyway."

"Now I know that's not true," said Neal with a smug smirk. "But I'll let it slide for now. We have to get going if we want to make it to the Strait of Sijave by nightfall. At least then we'll be back in our country, even if we will be on Carthaki soil." He swallowed and looked at the table. "I can't believe we're losing this war," he said dejectedly.

"Neither can I," replied Kel miserably. They sat in silence for a while, alone inside themselves with their own wishes and hopes.

"Well," said Kel, pushing off from the table. "Let's get going. We have a long way to ride."

Hehehe! Evil and unrealistic, I know, (of course, I'm talking about the kiss) but oh well! Live with it! Plus, if you're reading this story you're most likely a K/N fan anyway, so you probably enjoyed it. So anyways, I've got this brain itch and I really need to finish this thing so look for the next chapter soon! And don't forget . . . aww, forget it. If you've been reading this far, you know what I'm gonna say, and you know what you're gonna do, so just go on and do it. hehe! Actually, I have a question for you, my readers. Should I make it into a romance? And I want serious opinions, not personal whims. Do you think it would screw up the story if I did that, or not? Because I'm considering it . . .