{{pah! I've finally found time to continue after I sprained my
ankle...well, now I have lots of extra time ^_^. Did you guys curse it to
sprain or something? =P Well, I hope you guys enjoy this
continuation...see you soon, and hopefully not after another injury to me.
I hope this looooong chapter makes up for my absence (}}
~**special thanks to: Snow*flake**~
((thank you's: Lady Sandrilene~ Wow.that was a very high compliment, indeed! Thank you! Purple_eyez, Lexi~ Thank you, for the reviews, love them!!!! Iloate~ Thank you for clearing it up!! I was getting VERY confused :P Mistress Sock~ I love your pen name ^_^ Kenta Divina~ LOL StarFire~ trust me, it'll get EXTREMELY fluffly.it just isn't at the moment..yet Elfin Warrior Maiden: 0_0 Cami of Queenscove~ whoa.I should've known you were his one true love =D Keita~ well, nobody's perfect (though I wish to be :P) Thekeeperofwords~ {{confuzed}} Lady Arabian Knight~ Thankiez!!!!)) ~~if I missed anyone...desperately sorry..I got my reviews messed up.~~
~
Kel felt herself being thrown forward and caught herself just before she hit the stone floor. She twisted her head tot he side and looked up to see the infamous King of Magnar. Her captors stood to the sides, as she watched, a staff appeared by one of the captors. It was topped with a griffin's paw in which held a black opal that could've made Numair cry with joy. The gold-capped bottom made a clink upon the floor as it was set down. The man had to be a mage.
"You brought me a girl (Kel scowled) when I asked for a commander?" The King snapped as the men shrank back.
"She was the commander of Haven."
Kel was surprised at the mention of her fallen sanctuary and listened on with interest. King Magnar himself seemed to be in deep thought, rubbing his chin every now and then. He looked her up and down.
"Clean her and make her presentable."
The two men bowed, hidden weapons chinked as they moved. Gruffily, they held each of her arms as she was lead into the chambers. They turned in so many passages that Kel almost gave up memorizing the route when the men stopped in front of a closed wooden door. Not making eye contact, they told her to enter. Kel, being ever cautious, held a slight fighting stance as she entered the surprisingly steamy room.
When the next few moments passed, Kel felt as if she was in a blur. She was thrown, again, into the humongous room on the inner part of the closed door. Soft hands used to daily wash grabbed her strongly as they held her in place and scrubbed Kel pink. She was dried up in 5 seconds and pushed into, yet, another room. Goddess, how many rooms are in this place, thought Kel as she was spun dizzily. She fell a second time and looked up, her eyes widening in horror. Dresses! She just stood there, eyes wide and frozen. There were endless rows, hung neatly next to each other. A plump, old woman appeared before her, smiling motherly.
"Hello, dear, the King's told me to dress you up. Stand still while I take measures."
In just a few seconds, Kel blinked as she looked in the mirror at the emerald dress. If her shoulders weren't so muscular and her stomach not so thick, she would've looked astonishingly beautiful.
The black mage had been watching her from the shadows and as he drew her out of the room; her body tensed. Sensing her uneasiness, he released her, frowning.
"Drink this."
He held up a velvety pink-colored bottle and placed it in her palm. Kel frowned.
"What is this?"
The mage smiled mysteriously and just motioned for her to down the liquid. She looked at him suspiciously, but sipped the drink. A sudden black wave overcame her and she slumped down upon the floor. (A/n: that is why you should never trust mages.)
~
Dom paced the room while Raoul looked at the sergeant worriedly, black circles had appeared under his eyes and he hadn't eaten properly for quite a few days. Sighing heavily, Goldenlake shifted through the newly-arrived mail and suddenly, grabbed one of the parchments. He unrolled the heavy substance and scowled as he scanned it.
The sergeant turned at the sound of a low growl emitting from Rauol and raised an eyebrow. Even with his droopy eyes, he managed to read the writing.
"For Mithro's sake, do they EVER give up?!"
"Dom, you know you have to go, the spies." He stopped as the last sentence of the paragraph caught his eye. "Come over here and read this."
He shuffled over, and his eyes slowly widened with each word passing.
"They're.they're using a female commander?"
~
Her eyes opened suddenly when she noticed someone brushing her hair. Jerking around, the maid's face came into view and the girl stumbled back.
"Who are you?"
The maid looked up as a black-robed man entered and smiled thinly down at the girl.
"Stand up."
Against her will, she felt an invisible force pulling her up and straightening her back. The man leaned back against the bedroom wall and examined her. Golden-brown hair tumbled past her shoulders, down to her thin waist. Her eyes sparkled with innocence and skinny, but not unattractive, pale arms could be seen wrinkling her dress in nervousness. All in all, she looked like a noble lady, with a beauty that could rival Queen Thayet's.
"Reini, remember me?"
"What?"
"You were practicing horseback-riding, my lady. Insisting that you could ride bareback, I would've never guessed you'd fallen off. Are you truly sure you're all right?"
Confused, but convinced by the strange man, she nodded her head slightly.
"Good, the king wants to see you soon."
"I'll be dressed by then."
The mage exited.
~
She glided through the door with astounding manners, even for a noble lady. Reini's (A/n: I'm going to start calling her by a new name now.so that it won't get confusing. {{she WAS Keladry **hint hint**}}) light brown hair was pinned up in an exquisite fashion with several bangs falling freely past her shoulders. Her vanilla gown swept the floor as she turned to face the throne on which sat the "barbarian" king.
His eyes were opened slightly, as if to show no interest, but, in truth, they were as focused as a Stormwing's were upon the dead. Reini smiled lightly and curtsied.
"You may sit."
She gracefully sat on the king's right side and turned her head, to focus on what he had to say.
"Dear, with your wits and strategies, you will help us win the war against Tortall. In case you didn't remember, Reini, you were an excellent commander, one many would die for. Just help us win this battle, and you'll be forever remembered in the hearts of Scanran's."
The rush of memory hints were trying to organize themselves within her head when she replied.
"A commander.?"
The king looked at her questionably.
"So, you don't remember.after breakfast, I expect you to go train with Tsair, let's see if you still have the combat skills you once possessed."
"Who?"
"The black mage."
~
Reini paced across the shelves of weapons. There was an immense assortment of all kinds. But only one attracted her extreme attention. It had a wavy blade at the end, sharpened to a sword point and yet thinned on one side to do sideway cuts as well. The pole, which it was connected upon, was made of a pale strong wood that could balance easily on one's finger.
Thus, making her choice, she picked up the mysterious weapon.
"Ah.you've chosen the glaive."
The girl whirled around to see Tsair smiling slightly. In his hand were two fighting knives. All of a sudden, he flicked one upwards, making it fly toward Reini with amazing accuracy. She lifted the pole, catching the blade in the wood. Plucking the knife off, she was surprised to see that the wood was unmarked.
"Ah.you still have some skills, after all."
"We shall see, won't we?"
She tossed her hair back, teasingly, and bent into a fighting position. Using knives were tricky, one would never know if the attacker would throw them or leapt forward to stab. Of course, the mage would pick those weapons.
Her glaive caught the blade, trying to dig it from his palm. It flew upward, burying itself in the roof. Tsair held his one knife carelessly and drew another from his cloak. Dear Goddess, how many does this man have? Reini wondered, turning cautious. Yet, another advantage to the man using knives.
It was after three hours had Reini managed to disarm the man of all his weapons. Turned out he had 15 knives hidden under his cloak. Not to mention the sword.
She swept the sweat off her brow as Tsair raised his hands in surrender.
"Nice work, commander, you've still got it in you."
He winked and left.
~
She took a long, hot bath after that, besides, didn't she deserve it? Reini dried her hair as she wondered if her past was truly like that. Indeed, it would be wonderful if she was a "loving" commander who succeeded in every battle she met. But was it the truth? Reini shook her head. Of course it was.
~
The king smiled down at her, his eyes focused and determined.
"The Tortallan army will be here soon."
His index finger pointed to the border between the Tortallans and Scanrans, near the inner part.
"We'll have to prepare. Rei, have you gotten all the supplies for the men and animals?"
She looked up and nodded.
"Good, it'll take us a good seven day's walk to get there. I hope we do not weary ourselves before the battle."
"We will win." Reini said, a new spark lighting up her dark emerald eyes.
~**special thanks to: Snow*flake**~
((thank you's: Lady Sandrilene~ Wow.that was a very high compliment, indeed! Thank you! Purple_eyez, Lexi~ Thank you, for the reviews, love them!!!! Iloate~ Thank you for clearing it up!! I was getting VERY confused :P Mistress Sock~ I love your pen name ^_^ Kenta Divina~ LOL StarFire~ trust me, it'll get EXTREMELY fluffly.it just isn't at the moment..yet Elfin Warrior Maiden: 0_0 Cami of Queenscove~ whoa.I should've known you were his one true love =D Keita~ well, nobody's perfect (though I wish to be :P) Thekeeperofwords~ {{confuzed}} Lady Arabian Knight~ Thankiez!!!!)) ~~if I missed anyone...desperately sorry..I got my reviews messed up.~~
~
Kel felt herself being thrown forward and caught herself just before she hit the stone floor. She twisted her head tot he side and looked up to see the infamous King of Magnar. Her captors stood to the sides, as she watched, a staff appeared by one of the captors. It was topped with a griffin's paw in which held a black opal that could've made Numair cry with joy. The gold-capped bottom made a clink upon the floor as it was set down. The man had to be a mage.
"You brought me a girl (Kel scowled) when I asked for a commander?" The King snapped as the men shrank back.
"She was the commander of Haven."
Kel was surprised at the mention of her fallen sanctuary and listened on with interest. King Magnar himself seemed to be in deep thought, rubbing his chin every now and then. He looked her up and down.
"Clean her and make her presentable."
The two men bowed, hidden weapons chinked as they moved. Gruffily, they held each of her arms as she was lead into the chambers. They turned in so many passages that Kel almost gave up memorizing the route when the men stopped in front of a closed wooden door. Not making eye contact, they told her to enter. Kel, being ever cautious, held a slight fighting stance as she entered the surprisingly steamy room.
When the next few moments passed, Kel felt as if she was in a blur. She was thrown, again, into the humongous room on the inner part of the closed door. Soft hands used to daily wash grabbed her strongly as they held her in place and scrubbed Kel pink. She was dried up in 5 seconds and pushed into, yet, another room. Goddess, how many rooms are in this place, thought Kel as she was spun dizzily. She fell a second time and looked up, her eyes widening in horror. Dresses! She just stood there, eyes wide and frozen. There were endless rows, hung neatly next to each other. A plump, old woman appeared before her, smiling motherly.
"Hello, dear, the King's told me to dress you up. Stand still while I take measures."
In just a few seconds, Kel blinked as she looked in the mirror at the emerald dress. If her shoulders weren't so muscular and her stomach not so thick, she would've looked astonishingly beautiful.
The black mage had been watching her from the shadows and as he drew her out of the room; her body tensed. Sensing her uneasiness, he released her, frowning.
"Drink this."
He held up a velvety pink-colored bottle and placed it in her palm. Kel frowned.
"What is this?"
The mage smiled mysteriously and just motioned for her to down the liquid. She looked at him suspiciously, but sipped the drink. A sudden black wave overcame her and she slumped down upon the floor. (A/n: that is why you should never trust mages.)
~
Dom paced the room while Raoul looked at the sergeant worriedly, black circles had appeared under his eyes and he hadn't eaten properly for quite a few days. Sighing heavily, Goldenlake shifted through the newly-arrived mail and suddenly, grabbed one of the parchments. He unrolled the heavy substance and scowled as he scanned it.
The sergeant turned at the sound of a low growl emitting from Rauol and raised an eyebrow. Even with his droopy eyes, he managed to read the writing.
"For Mithro's sake, do they EVER give up?!"
"Dom, you know you have to go, the spies." He stopped as the last sentence of the paragraph caught his eye. "Come over here and read this."
He shuffled over, and his eyes slowly widened with each word passing.
"They're.they're using a female commander?"
~
Her eyes opened suddenly when she noticed someone brushing her hair. Jerking around, the maid's face came into view and the girl stumbled back.
"Who are you?"
The maid looked up as a black-robed man entered and smiled thinly down at the girl.
"Stand up."
Against her will, she felt an invisible force pulling her up and straightening her back. The man leaned back against the bedroom wall and examined her. Golden-brown hair tumbled past her shoulders, down to her thin waist. Her eyes sparkled with innocence and skinny, but not unattractive, pale arms could be seen wrinkling her dress in nervousness. All in all, she looked like a noble lady, with a beauty that could rival Queen Thayet's.
"Reini, remember me?"
"What?"
"You were practicing horseback-riding, my lady. Insisting that you could ride bareback, I would've never guessed you'd fallen off. Are you truly sure you're all right?"
Confused, but convinced by the strange man, she nodded her head slightly.
"Good, the king wants to see you soon."
"I'll be dressed by then."
The mage exited.
~
She glided through the door with astounding manners, even for a noble lady. Reini's (A/n: I'm going to start calling her by a new name now.so that it won't get confusing. {{she WAS Keladry **hint hint**}}) light brown hair was pinned up in an exquisite fashion with several bangs falling freely past her shoulders. Her vanilla gown swept the floor as she turned to face the throne on which sat the "barbarian" king.
His eyes were opened slightly, as if to show no interest, but, in truth, they were as focused as a Stormwing's were upon the dead. Reini smiled lightly and curtsied.
"You may sit."
She gracefully sat on the king's right side and turned her head, to focus on what he had to say.
"Dear, with your wits and strategies, you will help us win the war against Tortall. In case you didn't remember, Reini, you were an excellent commander, one many would die for. Just help us win this battle, and you'll be forever remembered in the hearts of Scanran's."
The rush of memory hints were trying to organize themselves within her head when she replied.
"A commander.?"
The king looked at her questionably.
"So, you don't remember.after breakfast, I expect you to go train with Tsair, let's see if you still have the combat skills you once possessed."
"Who?"
"The black mage."
~
Reini paced across the shelves of weapons. There was an immense assortment of all kinds. But only one attracted her extreme attention. It had a wavy blade at the end, sharpened to a sword point and yet thinned on one side to do sideway cuts as well. The pole, which it was connected upon, was made of a pale strong wood that could balance easily on one's finger.
Thus, making her choice, she picked up the mysterious weapon.
"Ah.you've chosen the glaive."
The girl whirled around to see Tsair smiling slightly. In his hand were two fighting knives. All of a sudden, he flicked one upwards, making it fly toward Reini with amazing accuracy. She lifted the pole, catching the blade in the wood. Plucking the knife off, she was surprised to see that the wood was unmarked.
"Ah.you still have some skills, after all."
"We shall see, won't we?"
She tossed her hair back, teasingly, and bent into a fighting position. Using knives were tricky, one would never know if the attacker would throw them or leapt forward to stab. Of course, the mage would pick those weapons.
Her glaive caught the blade, trying to dig it from his palm. It flew upward, burying itself in the roof. Tsair held his one knife carelessly and drew another from his cloak. Dear Goddess, how many does this man have? Reini wondered, turning cautious. Yet, another advantage to the man using knives.
It was after three hours had Reini managed to disarm the man of all his weapons. Turned out he had 15 knives hidden under his cloak. Not to mention the sword.
She swept the sweat off her brow as Tsair raised his hands in surrender.
"Nice work, commander, you've still got it in you."
He winked and left.
~
She took a long, hot bath after that, besides, didn't she deserve it? Reini dried her hair as she wondered if her past was truly like that. Indeed, it would be wonderful if she was a "loving" commander who succeeded in every battle she met. But was it the truth? Reini shook her head. Of course it was.
~
The king smiled down at her, his eyes focused and determined.
"The Tortallan army will be here soon."
His index finger pointed to the border between the Tortallans and Scanrans, near the inner part.
"We'll have to prepare. Rei, have you gotten all the supplies for the men and animals?"
She looked up and nodded.
"Good, it'll take us a good seven day's walk to get there. I hope we do not weary ourselves before the battle."
"We will win." Reini said, a new spark lighting up her dark emerald eyes.