So then, what did you think of the ending. Did it leave you hanging,
wanting to read more. If it did this is for you. If it didn't, WHY. I
thought it was quite good myself, not that I'm biased or anything. Anyway,
back to the plot. I'll add a note at the bottom.
Just a little point. I know that Lady Knight is out and I've got it but I'm kind of pretending that the whole Wyldon is nice and Kel is commanding New Hope etc. didn't happen because I started writing this before. Some thing that link to Lady Knight will fit in, but to all you ppl who haven't read it, don't worry. They will hardly be spoilers.
Chapter 7- Dares
It took a while for Liz to absorb what had just been said. When she did, she rounded on her mother, who was grinning ear to ear.
"That was all your idea, wasn't it?" She frowned at the muffled laughter she got for the reply. Alanna was trying to keep a straight face but she was fighting a losing battle. "You know, that isn't so funny. You seemed to enjoy kissing royalty when you were younger!" That shut her up.
She turned on Thom. "What kind of a proposition is that? He's royalty and you know I can't stand normal people, let alone royalty. Especially MALE royalty."
Thom glared back at his sister. "It's not my fault. You dared me to kiss the Princess. As good a friend she is, you know how much a hate all members of the female race, except you and Mama," retorted the indignant youngster.
Liz considered the remark and, knowing the truth behind it, could not think of a suitable argument for the statement.
"Well then. I don't mind if we both take back our dares," she concluded.
"You have got to be kidding. I don't care if I have to kiss every girl in court, as long as I get to see you squirm." He smiled at his fuming sister. She had been faced with a very difficult situation. She either had to swallow her pride and refuse or kiss a boy, and not just any boy.
Luckily for her, her brain worked well in difficult situations and she was struck with sudden inspiration.
"Fine then. Tomorrow, at the ball, I will kiss Prince Jonathan." She gave her mother and brother a triumphant smile. They both gaped at her, their mouths hanging wide, and watched as she disappeared, leaving behind only a faint sliver mist.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I didn't think she would agree to it so happily," said Thom, purely confused at her sister's reaction to his dare. He had expected a more frosty answer. His page friends had dispersed, probably to spread the news of the dares. His mother and Kel still remained, though. His mother seemed to be doing so thinking.
"She has something up her sleeves." Alanna murmured.
"What?" asked Thom, confused with the meaning of the saying.
Alanna explained, "It's thieves cant for she's planning something. She would never be so happy otherwise."
"I guess we'll find out soon enough what she's planning, then," Thom said with a sigh, "She better not cheat us out."
Alanna smiled at her son. "Well. We can see what the King Spymaster can find out about her plans. I haven't paid a visit to my father in ages."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
By the time the dinner bell had tolled, the whole palace had heard about the dares.
"Damn gossips," muttered Liz under he breath as she walked to the stables. Tired of the stares that she was getting, she had put an invisibility spell on herself. The palace stables were near to the Kings Own barracks and as she passed the Owns stable doors she heard a call. Surprised, she spun round to see Kel, dressed for riding.
"What on-. How can you see me?" She glanced up at Kel's forehead. She was sporting her Griffin feather band.
"Never mind. I can see." She smiled at her fellow lady knight.
"Do you wear that all the time?" Liz asked, pointing to the band.
"Well, I am planning to go out for a ride and considering we are prone to attack at all time, I like to have something to warn me about invisible enemies." She smiled. "I guess you don't need the feathers."
"You guessed right. When something is hiding, my senses warn me and I can use my gift to see the invisible. I can also make myself invisible, but it doesn't seem to work against you."
"What can I say?" Kel said with a grin, "When people heard I had adopted a griffin, they thought I was mad. But it seems to have given me quite an insurance against the enemy."
"Is that where you're going? To see Knight?" she asked.
"Nah. Just want a ride. Knight's gone off. I don't think he liked his reception."
Liz stood still for a moment, exploring her senses.
"You're right. He isn't within a tem-mile radius if the palace of I would be able to sense him. Griffins are wonderful creatures. They can fly fast. You are very lucky to have been able to meet one."
"Yeah. I know what you mean. But back when I was a squire, I don't think I felt quite the same way." (A.N- I don't quite know why I'm nattering on about this. It's just them making small talk, I guess.)
They both walked down to the palace stables, with Hoshi quietly following Kel. As Liz started to saddle Flame Tail, she glanced up once more at Kel's feather band.
"Don't you want to make that a little more. co-ordinating?" she ventured. "No offence, but walking around like that and some people will think you are some kind of fool. Of course, when they see who you are and how good you are with your weapons, they would probably change their minds." Kel bowed her head at the compliment, for it was the only response she could give for praise from what seemed to be the most powerful person in Tortall.
"I would like to do something, if I could, but I don't want to cut up the feathers so that they could look more appropriate." Liz, who had like her response to the praise given to her, decided to give the lady knight a present of her own. She knew of what her mother had done and thought, though Kel was way past her Ordeal, she could still do with some gifts.
"Come here," she said, beckoning. Kel walked forward and, standing right in front of Liz, was surprised to find thy were both the exact same height. Liz just grinned when she noticed this and, muttering a word under her breath, she waved her hand first over the band and then over Kel's eyes.
Knowing that some type of magic had occurred Kel automatically reached up and felt her fingers brush against the soft feathers. She blinked but her eyes saw no different.
"What did you do?" she asked, confused for nothing felt any different.
"I made the feather band invisible to anyone but yourself. The eye thing was just so you would be able to see through the magic."
"Oh." She said. Liz had explained it as if it was obvious and she felt kind of dumb for asking.
"I thought you couldn't do small magics."
"Who told you that?" Liz questioned.
"Well. When I was commanding Haven," she paused and looked up at Liz but she nodded, showing she knew what Kel was talking about. "Neal was complaining about a spell, the Sorcerer's something, it was called."
"The Sorcerer's Dance. With the flute."
"Yeah. That's the one. Anyway, Duke Baird said that Neal was lucky because, though they couldn't do the big spells with the large boulders, Numair couldn't do small magics like blow out a candle because of the way that their power was shaped. Numair had to do big magics or nothing, unless he was particularly drained."
Liz smiled at the younger knight. "Well. I can tell you that I am nowhere near drained. I can see why you ask, though. I can do small magics because I have trained my Gift and myself so that I can use threads of magic and ropes of it. I know if Numair had the time, he would do the same. It takes quite a lot of time and concentration, though, to teach your Gift to do something that it is unaccustomed to doing, especially when it concerns your control."
Kel considered the explanation as they walked their horses out of the stales and mounted up. She clicked her tongue for Hoshi to start trotting toward the gates leading towards the Royal Forest. Liz didn't need words. A short mind-to-mind conversation set Flame Tail of in the right direction.
"Well, considering what you just said, it means that you must have or have had a lot of time to yourself.
"Well, you must have heard my story now. After I passed my ordeal, there was nothing keeping me in Court or elsewhere, for that matter, so I took up a life wandering. I mean to take that life up once more, once the Riders have found themselves a permanent archery teacher. You might want to try," she said with a grin.
"Me. A teacher!" Kel raised her eyebrows up at the older girl.
"Well. You did it enough during your page and the first years of your knighthood." Replied Liz.
"How'd you find out about that?"
"Oh. Have my ways. Unlike my foster father, I don't need to rely on your servants to find out information. There's a lot less you can hide from your pets." She grinned once more.
Kel understood. "You're really are lucky, to be blessed with so much," she said, with a small wistful sigh.
"And so are you. People say that I don't use all my gifts to their full potential. It just shows how little people know about me." It was her turn to sigh. "That doesn't matter now, anyway. I came for a ride. If you don't mind, I've got a lot of thinking to do and I do that best on horseback. I may as well use my time wisely if I am to be cooped up all night tomorrow." There was a mischievous twinkle in her eye, leading Kel to also think that Liz had something 'up her sleeves', so to say. Kel decided not to bother pressing the matter and nodded to tell Liz she could go on her own way. Without so much as a click, Flame Tail set off at a gallop and within seconds Liz had disappeared from sight.
~*~*~*~
Well, what do you think? I know it's been ages but considering how long that chapter was, I hope you're satisfied. I was reading though my whole story the other day and noticed that this day has been going on for 3 chapters. Well, you may be pleased to hear, the day has come to an end. Now you just need to wait and find out what Liz is planning for her little problem with having to kiss the Crown Prince. You may have your own ideas. I am sorry I seem to be nattering on about nothing, but I really want to build up a strong friendship between Liz and Kel. Just wait and you'll soon see what this is going to lead to.
A couple more chapters and I might wrap this one off and get stared on a sequel, if you feel you want one. But, having said that, I got set a English homework of having to write a short story and that went on for 8 pages and two lines. So you don't' have to worry. There will probably be around 10 chapters coz I always find something I want to write about.
Most importantly though, is you have to REVIEW. If you don't, you'll have to wait for months before the next chapter. I'll stop ranting on now.
StarFire. (REVIEW)
Just a little point. I know that Lady Knight is out and I've got it but I'm kind of pretending that the whole Wyldon is nice and Kel is commanding New Hope etc. didn't happen because I started writing this before. Some thing that link to Lady Knight will fit in, but to all you ppl who haven't read it, don't worry. They will hardly be spoilers.
Chapter 7- Dares
It took a while for Liz to absorb what had just been said. When she did, she rounded on her mother, who was grinning ear to ear.
"That was all your idea, wasn't it?" She frowned at the muffled laughter she got for the reply. Alanna was trying to keep a straight face but she was fighting a losing battle. "You know, that isn't so funny. You seemed to enjoy kissing royalty when you were younger!" That shut her up.
She turned on Thom. "What kind of a proposition is that? He's royalty and you know I can't stand normal people, let alone royalty. Especially MALE royalty."
Thom glared back at his sister. "It's not my fault. You dared me to kiss the Princess. As good a friend she is, you know how much a hate all members of the female race, except you and Mama," retorted the indignant youngster.
Liz considered the remark and, knowing the truth behind it, could not think of a suitable argument for the statement.
"Well then. I don't mind if we both take back our dares," she concluded.
"You have got to be kidding. I don't care if I have to kiss every girl in court, as long as I get to see you squirm." He smiled at his fuming sister. She had been faced with a very difficult situation. She either had to swallow her pride and refuse or kiss a boy, and not just any boy.
Luckily for her, her brain worked well in difficult situations and she was struck with sudden inspiration.
"Fine then. Tomorrow, at the ball, I will kiss Prince Jonathan." She gave her mother and brother a triumphant smile. They both gaped at her, their mouths hanging wide, and watched as she disappeared, leaving behind only a faint sliver mist.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I didn't think she would agree to it so happily," said Thom, purely confused at her sister's reaction to his dare. He had expected a more frosty answer. His page friends had dispersed, probably to spread the news of the dares. His mother and Kel still remained, though. His mother seemed to be doing so thinking.
"She has something up her sleeves." Alanna murmured.
"What?" asked Thom, confused with the meaning of the saying.
Alanna explained, "It's thieves cant for she's planning something. She would never be so happy otherwise."
"I guess we'll find out soon enough what she's planning, then," Thom said with a sigh, "She better not cheat us out."
Alanna smiled at her son. "Well. We can see what the King Spymaster can find out about her plans. I haven't paid a visit to my father in ages."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
By the time the dinner bell had tolled, the whole palace had heard about the dares.
"Damn gossips," muttered Liz under he breath as she walked to the stables. Tired of the stares that she was getting, she had put an invisibility spell on herself. The palace stables were near to the Kings Own barracks and as she passed the Owns stable doors she heard a call. Surprised, she spun round to see Kel, dressed for riding.
"What on-. How can you see me?" She glanced up at Kel's forehead. She was sporting her Griffin feather band.
"Never mind. I can see." She smiled at her fellow lady knight.
"Do you wear that all the time?" Liz asked, pointing to the band.
"Well, I am planning to go out for a ride and considering we are prone to attack at all time, I like to have something to warn me about invisible enemies." She smiled. "I guess you don't need the feathers."
"You guessed right. When something is hiding, my senses warn me and I can use my gift to see the invisible. I can also make myself invisible, but it doesn't seem to work against you."
"What can I say?" Kel said with a grin, "When people heard I had adopted a griffin, they thought I was mad. But it seems to have given me quite an insurance against the enemy."
"Is that where you're going? To see Knight?" she asked.
"Nah. Just want a ride. Knight's gone off. I don't think he liked his reception."
Liz stood still for a moment, exploring her senses.
"You're right. He isn't within a tem-mile radius if the palace of I would be able to sense him. Griffins are wonderful creatures. They can fly fast. You are very lucky to have been able to meet one."
"Yeah. I know what you mean. But back when I was a squire, I don't think I felt quite the same way." (A.N- I don't quite know why I'm nattering on about this. It's just them making small talk, I guess.)
They both walked down to the palace stables, with Hoshi quietly following Kel. As Liz started to saddle Flame Tail, she glanced up once more at Kel's feather band.
"Don't you want to make that a little more. co-ordinating?" she ventured. "No offence, but walking around like that and some people will think you are some kind of fool. Of course, when they see who you are and how good you are with your weapons, they would probably change their minds." Kel bowed her head at the compliment, for it was the only response she could give for praise from what seemed to be the most powerful person in Tortall.
"I would like to do something, if I could, but I don't want to cut up the feathers so that they could look more appropriate." Liz, who had like her response to the praise given to her, decided to give the lady knight a present of her own. She knew of what her mother had done and thought, though Kel was way past her Ordeal, she could still do with some gifts.
"Come here," she said, beckoning. Kel walked forward and, standing right in front of Liz, was surprised to find thy were both the exact same height. Liz just grinned when she noticed this and, muttering a word under her breath, she waved her hand first over the band and then over Kel's eyes.
Knowing that some type of magic had occurred Kel automatically reached up and felt her fingers brush against the soft feathers. She blinked but her eyes saw no different.
"What did you do?" she asked, confused for nothing felt any different.
"I made the feather band invisible to anyone but yourself. The eye thing was just so you would be able to see through the magic."
"Oh." She said. Liz had explained it as if it was obvious and she felt kind of dumb for asking.
"I thought you couldn't do small magics."
"Who told you that?" Liz questioned.
"Well. When I was commanding Haven," she paused and looked up at Liz but she nodded, showing she knew what Kel was talking about. "Neal was complaining about a spell, the Sorcerer's something, it was called."
"The Sorcerer's Dance. With the flute."
"Yeah. That's the one. Anyway, Duke Baird said that Neal was lucky because, though they couldn't do the big spells with the large boulders, Numair couldn't do small magics like blow out a candle because of the way that their power was shaped. Numair had to do big magics or nothing, unless he was particularly drained."
Liz smiled at the younger knight. "Well. I can tell you that I am nowhere near drained. I can see why you ask, though. I can do small magics because I have trained my Gift and myself so that I can use threads of magic and ropes of it. I know if Numair had the time, he would do the same. It takes quite a lot of time and concentration, though, to teach your Gift to do something that it is unaccustomed to doing, especially when it concerns your control."
Kel considered the explanation as they walked their horses out of the stales and mounted up. She clicked her tongue for Hoshi to start trotting toward the gates leading towards the Royal Forest. Liz didn't need words. A short mind-to-mind conversation set Flame Tail of in the right direction.
"Well, considering what you just said, it means that you must have or have had a lot of time to yourself.
"Well, you must have heard my story now. After I passed my ordeal, there was nothing keeping me in Court or elsewhere, for that matter, so I took up a life wandering. I mean to take that life up once more, once the Riders have found themselves a permanent archery teacher. You might want to try," she said with a grin.
"Me. A teacher!" Kel raised her eyebrows up at the older girl.
"Well. You did it enough during your page and the first years of your knighthood." Replied Liz.
"How'd you find out about that?"
"Oh. Have my ways. Unlike my foster father, I don't need to rely on your servants to find out information. There's a lot less you can hide from your pets." She grinned once more.
Kel understood. "You're really are lucky, to be blessed with so much," she said, with a small wistful sigh.
"And so are you. People say that I don't use all my gifts to their full potential. It just shows how little people know about me." It was her turn to sigh. "That doesn't matter now, anyway. I came for a ride. If you don't mind, I've got a lot of thinking to do and I do that best on horseback. I may as well use my time wisely if I am to be cooped up all night tomorrow." There was a mischievous twinkle in her eye, leading Kel to also think that Liz had something 'up her sleeves', so to say. Kel decided not to bother pressing the matter and nodded to tell Liz she could go on her own way. Without so much as a click, Flame Tail set off at a gallop and within seconds Liz had disappeared from sight.
~*~*~*~
Well, what do you think? I know it's been ages but considering how long that chapter was, I hope you're satisfied. I was reading though my whole story the other day and noticed that this day has been going on for 3 chapters. Well, you may be pleased to hear, the day has come to an end. Now you just need to wait and find out what Liz is planning for her little problem with having to kiss the Crown Prince. You may have your own ideas. I am sorry I seem to be nattering on about nothing, but I really want to build up a strong friendship between Liz and Kel. Just wait and you'll soon see what this is going to lead to.
A couple more chapters and I might wrap this one off and get stared on a sequel, if you feel you want one. But, having said that, I got set a English homework of having to write a short story and that went on for 8 pages and two lines. So you don't' have to worry. There will probably be around 10 chapters coz I always find something I want to write about.
Most importantly though, is you have to REVIEW. If you don't, you'll have to wait for months before the next chapter. I'll stop ranting on now.
StarFire. (REVIEW)