Here it is, the next part! And I know it's Tortallan, I just like Tortallian better so deal with it! Are you the one who spends her time writing this? Anyways, on with the show!
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Alyse sat drinking the Yamanis tea quietly, watching as the Princess whispered something to Yuki and send her away on an errand.
"What's she going to do?" asked Alyse, nodding towards where Yuki had disappeared.
"To go greet an old friend," replied the Princess, smiling slightly. "Her name is Keladry of Mindelan, and she and I knew each other many years ago, and she knows Yuki as well."
"Then I'll get to meet her?" asked Alyse excitedly, remembering Keladry from the books as one of her favorite characters.
"Yes, Yuki is going to ask if she'll come by later."
"That should be interesting..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~* "(&%^%$(&$_(*&*^&^$%$#%&*^)*&^()*%!!!!!!!!!!!!!" cursed the Lady Mage, her face turning as red as ever. "You'd think at least one of them could go without connecting with people who know others from their world!"
She moved to get more scrying bowls, being glad, neither for the first nor the last time, for her inexhaustible reserves of magic.
"At least some of them are kind enough to be entertaining," she muttered, thinking back to Lady Amanda's torture. That had been rather cruel and she would hate to have been in that girl's shoes. Still, it had provided three hours of laughing for the mage, and she rarely had the anymore. "I'll have to put a scrying bowl on Kel and the three Yamanis ladies, plus any of the other nobles they both run into, this is going to suck..." *~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda lay sprawled out on a chair, feeling completely drained of any energy she might have had earlier. "I think I'm going to die..." she muttered, eyes half closed as Elizabeth watched her amusedly.
"Really, Amanda, getting fitted for dresses was not that bad," teased Elizabeth, getting up and coming to sit by her.
"Oh hush, Liz," groaned Amanda. "Let me be pathetic while I can, tonight I have to go to dance lessons with you so I won't step all over the feet of my partner for the next ball. I hate dancing, I hate dressing up even more. This has got to be the worst torture a body could endure."
A knock sounded at the door. "Come in," said Elizabeth, getting up to greet who ever it was. The door opened to reveal Lady Cythera and Lady Ruth.
"I was wrong," sighed Amanda to herself, getting up and bowing to the Ladies. "How can we help you?" she asked cordially when all the formalities were done.
"We wanted to make sure you were still in one piece
after that little ordeal in the warehouse," said Lady Cythera kindly.
"I'm still in one piece,"
replied Amanda, glaring at Elizabeth for her mocking grin. "But
please don't ever do that to anyone ever again." She thought about it for a
moment and added, "Except maybe to Elizabeth here..."
"Hey!" cried Elizabeth, punching her in the shoulder.
"I see," said Lady Ruth, deciding to let their behavior slide since they were in their private quarters. "We normally wouldn't do that if it weren't for the fact that we agree with the King and were under orders from him..."
"You agree that I should worry more about my appearance and what others think than how my fief is doing?" asked Amanda cynically.
"No, Lady Amanda, I agree that it is improper for a Lady of any status unless she is a knight to fight with other nobles physically and that you should be searching for a husband to secure the land," replied Lady Ruth sternly.
"I do not need any males to help secure my land," replied Amanda frostily, rising to her feet. "I plan on living a long and healthy life, thank you, and any who think I will bow to the wishes of any male, even if it is the King himself, they are sadly mistaken." She reached for her cloak and stalked out the door, Elizabeth watching her calmly.
"I'm sorry to have to send you away so soon," said Elizabeth neutrally, eyes flashing with fire, "But I have other matters to attend to."
"Of course," said Lady Cythera, rising to her feet. "Good day, Lady Elizabeth."
"Good day Lady Cythera, Lady Ruth."
Elizabeth waited until they were gone before she got her own cloak and locked up their rooms, following the path Amanda had taken, intent upon finding her...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse sat back in one of the inner rooms, practicing with her shukusen since she had not been able to this morning. Whirling them in a complicated pattern, she concentrated on making them glow slightly, the same dark green that had appeared before in the fight. They did, etching out patterning in the air that Alyse had never seen before but were beautiful none the less, deadly, but beautiful...
"Impressive," said Lady Haname in Yamanis from the door, suddenly finding one of the fans stuck into the door frame beside her head. Her face remained unfazed and impassive as she pulled it free and gave it back to Alyse. "I hope I'm not interrupting you..."
"No," said Alyse sheepishly, taking the metal fan from the older woman. "What is it you need?"
"Lady Keladry is here and Princess Shinkokami would like you to meet her."
Alyse nodded, hiding her excitement as she thrust her fans in her obi and quickly ran a comb through her hair to make sure she was presentable. She then hurried out of the room after Lady Haname, bowing to their guest before seating herself behind the Princess.
"Come sit up here, Alyse," said the Princess lightly, motioning to the spot next to her. "We don't have to be formal around Kel." Turning to the tall, broad shouldered red-head at the opposite end of the table she said, "Kel, this is Lady Alyse."
"What house are you from?" asked Kel instinctively.
"I don't have a house," replied Alyse in Common, bowing again as she moved to the seat to the right of Princess Shinko.
"Oh?" Kel raised an eyebrow, asking the unasked question silently.
"She has no memory of her past. Because she spoke Common so well and the fact that she saved the Opal of Light from pirates that raided the temple the Emperor decided to send her with us so she'll have a place to go," explained Yuki, sipping her tea lightly.
"Then you'll be staying in Tortal after the wedding?" Kel asked Alyse politely.
"Yeah, I don't have anything else to do," replied Alyse with a shrug, accepting a cup of tea from Lady Haname.
"So, Keladry, have you forgotten all you know of naginata?" Yuki inquired. "Or do you practice still?"
Kel smiled at her old friend. "From time to time," she replied.
They were seated on a dais, Shinkokami at one end and Kel at the other facing her. Alyse was on Shinko's right and Lady Haname and Yuki were to her left. The low wood table in front of them was set for tea and had little rice cakes on platters as well.
"Would you join us for dawn practice?" Shinko wanted to know. "We number five. With one more we could pair off."
Kel bowed. "I'd be honored, your highness."
They were explaining which practice court they used when the talk was interrupted by scratching at the door. Alyse watched the guard unsheathe his sword and open the door quickly to surprise anyone who maybe out there. He looked up and down the hall, surprised when a scrape grace dog trotted over his foot and into the room.
"This is my dog, Jump," Kel explained when the rather ugly canine came over and sat on her lap, begging to be scratched. "He may not look like much, but he's worth his weight in gold."
Alyse took a rice cake and flung it in the air, grinning as Jump caught it and gobbled it up greedily. "Smart dog you got there," she commented in Common, scratching him behind the ear.
"He's certainly one of a kind," admitted Kel, laughing lightly. Jump stole the Yamanis Lady's hearts as he begged and did tricks for the them, earning more rice cakes and scratches behind the ear in return.
"I wish I had a dog," sighed Alyse, thinking of her Labrador, called Holly, back home.
"Well, Alyse, that may be arranged..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Vixen sat glumly on her bed, polishing a dagger slowly. Mouse and Allie sat at the table with Joe and Ratina, none of them talking at all. "So what are we going to do?" asked Joe, looking around the table slowly.
"There's only one thing we can do, have someone who's an excellent fighter beat the crap out of him and become the next King or Queen," replied Mouse, idly toying with her boob dagger on the table.
"Do we know for a fact that all the money has gone for the Griffin's bane?" asked Vixen wearily.
"Yes. I looked in his room and found three more pouches this morning," replied Ratina angrily. "The amount he bought cost a fortune as great as a month's stealing. The assassin was definitely not paid, if you noticed Alleycat lost a finger because he wasn't paid yet and many are fearing for their lives."
"Who in our ranks has enough prestige and power to take over?" asked Mouse, slamming her dagger into the table. "If we let some idiot we don't know take over this place could go to the dogs..."
"Let Vixen do it," said Allie, getting up from her seat to go make sure no one was listening at the door.
"What?" asked Vixen, putting her dagger back in it's sheath.
"I agree," said Ratina. "The court respects you, you've lifted off of every thief, including myself, successfully and you've become well know with your use of daggers." Ratina stopped here, grinning wickedly at Joe. Vixen had gotten mad at him one night and had thrown a dagger at his head that had missed by mere tenths of a centimeter.
"It's our only choice?" asked Vixen sadly.
"That's what it looks like," said Allie cynically.
"Then I'll do it."
"No," said Joe firmly, getting up to stand before her. "I care too much about you- all of you that is, to let you try this." His face was strangely flushed as he stood there with his arms crossed.
"Joe, you can't stop me," said Vixen firmly, ignoring the odd looks she was getting from the other four. "I will do this for the good of the Rouge."
"There are others..."
"None who are respected enough or can fight well enough," cut in Vixen, looking him in the eye.
"It's too dangerous..."
"For a girl?" finished Vixen for him, eyes flashing. "Listen, Joe, in case you haven't noticed, I'm a big girl now. I can take care of myself. Butt out of my business and don't try to stop me from doing anything, understand?"
"But I worry about you!" burst out Joe, face as red as Vixen's. "What if he killed you in the fight? What if you don't hold as much power as you think? What if..."
"Good gracious, Joe. If I worried about every little thing I wouldn't be a thief, now would I? You're being impractically cautious," retorted Vixen, glaring at him angrily.
"I think it's sweet," said Mouse out of nowhere, looking at Vixen oddly.
"It may be sweet, but it's still impractical," objected Vixen, deciding to be stubborn. "You son of a bastard, look what you've done now!"
"What I've done?!" cried Joe in disbelief.
"Yes, what you've done! My friends are getting soft on me and I need them to back me up here, not 'what if' their way through life like you!" Vixen quickly grabbed the rest of her daggers and put them in their sheaths before she stormed out the door and ran outside to the back.
Joe frowned, sighing slightly as he got his things and left too, going the opposite way down the hall to his rooms.
"You know, ladies," mumbled Ratina to Mouse and Allie. "Call me crazy, but I think someone has a crush on Vixen..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer walked along the street, two little girls holding her hands as they walked along. "Come on, girls, let's get moving," she said to her two charges as the sun began to set on the empty streets. "I don't like being out when it's dark." She had been picking them up from one of their friend's houses and was now heading back home at a rapid pace.
A fist swung out of nowhere, connecting with Jennifer's head solidly, as she passed an alleyway, and sent her crashing to the ground. "Help, Jenny!" cried the youngest girl as another man came out the shadows and picked and her sister up and started running.
"I'm coming, girls!" cried Jennifer, fighting her dizziness and pulling a frying pan out of her bag. She smashed it into the first man's head who was still beside her, putting him out cold.
She ran after the other man with the girls, gaining on him quickly as she lifted the frying pan high over her head and brought it down hard on the man's back, causing him to trip and fall to the ground with the girls still in his arms. Jennifer bashed him in the head once more before grabbing the girls and running back towards the house, grabbing her bag as she passed it on the road.
Maria, the youngest one, cried as Jennifer picked her up and sped on faster, dragging Carla along behind her. She jerked the door open and slammed it behind her, leaning against it as she gasped for breath and slid to the floor.
"Jennifer? What's wrong? What happened?" cried Chelsea as she ran forward and hugged her girls before turning to the young lady. "Jennifer?"
"Men...tried...to...girls..." was all she could manage before her world went black...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Libby walked into the band locker room, smiling sweetly. "Brenna?" she called as she rounded the corner. "Mouse? Allie?" She spotted the leather bound book under her locker and forgot about her friend's odd absence for the moment. "This is pretty cool," she said to herself, looking up as Artman walked in the door.
"Have you seen Amanda or Elizabeth?" he asked, rushing past her to check their lockers. Amanda's was still unlocked from last night and Elizabeth's was locked tight. "Mr. Payne's going to kill them if they don't come up with a good reason for skipping practice..."
"You mean they didn't show?" mumbled Libby, skipping over the front pages and opening the book to the middle. "Wonder where they could be?"
"I don't know but he wants to see you to so put the book down and let's go," he said, getting a hold of her arm and pulling her towards the door.
"Wait! I want to see what this book is about," wailed Libby, planting her feet firmly so she wouldn't budge.
"Put the book down, Libby," said Artman, trying to take it from her.
"No, I want to look at it..."
"Ok, but Mr. Payne's waiting and he doesn't like to wait for long so put the book down..."
"No..."
"Libby..."
"Just for a minute!"
"Ok, now put it down and let's go!"
"No!"
"Libby!" He closed the book and the flash appeared, taking them into the land of Tortal.
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The Lady Mage growled slightly as she realized she had to find yet another place for two more from the other world. "Let's take at look at their profiles..." she muttered to herself, pulling some sheets of paper out of the folder that appeared. "A gamer and an artist who loves to read anime, that means they'll take easily to magic, perfect." She quickly sent the spells out and walked out her tent into the night to greet the two who would be appearing very soon outside her village...
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Libby found herself standing outside a small gathering of tents with Artman right beside her, obviously in different clothes plus the moon was out and hundreds of stars glittered brightly over head. "What the freaking heck is going on here?" asked Libby, grabbing onto Artman.
"I have no idea," replied Artman, looking around him at the dunes in awe. He looked at himself, feeling around his pockets and finding packets of powder and some throwing stars in them. From his belt hung a six pronged star, and when he pressed buttons in the middle a blade popped out of each prong. "Sweet..."
Libby searched her bags and pockets as well, finding packets of herbs, bandages and salves. "What in the world?" she said, putting it all back, completely confused.
"Let's go and see if there's anyone in those tents," Artman suggested, walking towards them as he spoke.
"Wait for me!" cried Libby when she realized that Artman was no longer beside her. They walked up to and among the tents, seeing people everywhere, all of them talking a different language than they. None of the people would look at them either.
"Welcome, son and daughter of the sands!" said a lively voice when they reached the last and largest tent, a tall woman standing in front of it. She looked to be in her mid-thirties with waist length brown hair and flashing gray eyes. She was wearing a tan, long sleeve dress with a brown tunic over it that had a hood. Her belt was of braided leather and on her feet were sandals of leather as well.
"You talking to us?" asked Libby, pointing to her and Artman.
"Yes, I have been expecting you."
"Then you can tell us where we are?" asked Artman cautiously, not sure whether or not they could trust this woman.
"Yes, I can answer all you questions, if you'll please come inside."
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Alyse idly juggled her open fans, not noticing the gaping stares of some of the nobles and servants who were out there. The Yamanis Lady's morning practice was about to begin and she was waiting for her partner to arrive to practice shukusen with her.
Lady Ismene came running around the corner, a noble she had met the other day who had learned to fight with the shukusen from a traveling Shang a few summers back and was rather good.
"Good morning," said Alyse quietly, her eyes crinkling in silent laughter as she watched the older girl quickly put down her things and pull out her fans.
"Morning, sorry I'm late," panted Ismene, getting into a fighting stance with her fans unfurled. "Ready to go?"
"Alyse caught her fans and got into position in one movement, eyes laughing as she tried to keep a straight face. That was extremely hard watching the noble's faces on the sidelines. "Ready."
The practice with the glaives hadn't started yet, and the five of the six who were there gathered around Alyse and Ismene's area in anticipation.
Ismene struck out with her fan, her arm jarring slightly as Alyse blocked her and sliced her own fan over her opponent's guard. "I see you're getting better," commented Alyse as Ismene skipped back out of harm's way.
"I see you haven't gotten any worse," replied Ismene as she circled the girl, looking for an opening.
"Why would've I?" asked Alyse as she easily blocked the girl's next attack.
"I don't know," shrugged Ismene, throwing her fan at Alyse's legs. Alyse jumped over it and caught it as it whirled back to Ismene.
"Looks like your one fan short," said Alyse as she put the fan in her obi, leaving the Ismene with one.
"Not really," she replied, pulling an extra from the back of obi.
"Cheater," teased Alyse in Yamani.
"Not really, I knew you'd catch it so I came prepared," she explained in Yamani, getting back into her stance. Alyse just shrugged and kept her face straight and somber, boring into her opponents eyes with her own.
Ismene slashed at Alyse's mid-riff with the sharp end of her fan, grazing the material of her kimono as she leapt backward. Alyse let the fan fly at the same time, forcing Ismene to jump or have her legs cut off. She then did a flying kick and ended up with her fan at Ismene's throat.
"Not bad," said Lady Haname as Alyse retracted her fan and shut it with a 'snap!' She helped Ismene to her feet and walked to the sidelines, going to sit against the wall to watch the glaive practice.
"Good job," said Ismene, shaking hands with Alyse as they walked.
"You too, you lasted longer than before that time," replied Alyse, unconsciously flipping a fan in one of her hands.
"Will you teach me to juggle them like that?" asked Ismene, pointing at Alyse's hand.
"I have no idea how I do it," admitted Alyse, "So I probably couldn't teach you how."
She watched as Kel ran up, late to practice so it was a good thing she and Ismene had occupied the others while she was gone. The groups paired up and began to face off, Kel matched up with Queen Thayet for starters.
"She's going to get thrown," predicted Alyse, watching the two fight.
"Who? Squire Keladry or the Queen?" asked Ismene.
"Kel, she's not conducting a proper defense, probably because she's against the Queen." True to her word, Kel was dumped on her behind by the Queen and sheepishly rose to her feet.
"Watch, she won't let the Queen dump her again, she just needed to forget about who she was facing," said Alyse, remembering this part from the book. Once again she predicted correctly, and Kel wasn't thrown by the Queen anymore that morning. Going against Princess Shinko, however, was a different story...
Daine the Wildmage came up beside the two, a basket in her hands and she knelt beside them. "I heard you were looking for a dog, Lady Alyse," she said politely, taking a small golden puppy with large, brown eyes from her basket. "These were found outside the gate a few days ago and I'm looking for a good home for them."
"Aren't you just adorable," Alyse whispered, picking up the puppy and stroking him gently. "Does he have a name?"
"His mother called him Runt because he was the smallest, he says," replied Daine after a moment, "But he's open to suggestions if you'd like to rename him."
"How about Ronnie?" asked Alyse.
"He says he likes it," laughed Daine, getting up and dusting her pants off. "Thank you for taking one of the Lady Alyse-"
"Just call me Alyse," she cut in.
"Alyse. I'll come by and check on him in a few weeks, ok?"
"Sure thing, do you know where I'm staying?"
"With Princess Shinkokami, right?"
"Yeah, just come by there."
"Ok then." Daine left quickly, taking the basket with her as another puppy's head appeared out of the top and it began to bark loudly.
"That's quite a pup you got there," commented Ismene as she scratched Ronnie behind the ear.
"Yeah, well he's named after quite a person," replied Alyse, thinking about her old band director. "What say we go wash up and then get something to eat?"
The pup barked in agreement, clambering up onto Alyse's shoulder.
"You know, I think you and I are going to get along
just fine," Alyse told the pup. He barked in reply, seeming to say that he
couldn't agree more.
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Elizabeth woke up early, not having been able to sleep much the night before. She hadn't been able to find Amanda before sundown, and as far as she knew she hadn't returned the night before. Walking into the outer room she was greeted by breakfast already laid out on the tables and a rather disturbed Amanda.
"Where have you been?!!" she cried, wanting to wring the older girl's neck. "I've been worried sick about you!!"
"Sorry," replied Amanda coldly. "I went into the Royal Forest and fell asleep in a tree watching the sun set. I woke up at the eighth bell and the King saw me walking back inside the gates. He sent me a message through a page with this letter." She tossed it to Elizabeth carelessly. "I've been thinking of ways to rudely reply to this since then."
"You mean you haven't slept at all?" asked Elizabeth. "You idiot, go get some rest before you kill yourself."
"Just read the letter, Elizabeth."
"Dearest Lady Amanda of Lynx Mountain Fief, eldest sister and ruling noble of Lynx mountain. More formality crap...here we go. I, Lord Burchard of Stone Mountain wish to forge an alliance with you by offering my son, Squire Joren, in marriage for your radiant sister Elizabeth...THEY WANT TO WHAT???!!!"
"You read it right. The first born will rule our fief and he wants you to marry his son so his grandson can rule both ours and his. Of all the things...." Amanda looked up at Elizabeth who was saying some very colorful language at the moment, turning red with anger. "I take it you don't like it either."
"That freaking idiot's son is the one who insulted us and you beat to the dust, what is he thinking?!" cried Elizabeth, tearing the letter to shreds and throwing it the fire. "I wouldn't marry that guy if it meant all the gold in the world."
"Good, because he's not going to live very much longer anyhow."
"Why not?"
"His ordeal is going to kill him."
"His what?"
"His ordeal to become a knight. In the book it kills him because he's not fit to be a knight."
"I don't blame it because I wouldn't want him to be my knight either the way he acts!"
"Then you'll let me write a rather rude reply to his Lordship?"
"Be my guest. And add a few extra nasty comments just for me."
"With pleasure, sister dearest, with pleasure."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa stood before the men calmly, watching as they struggled to do as she had ordered. "Come on you sissies, is that just a bit too much for you?" She had them at attention and every time one of them moved, they had to do thirty pushups. "Drop and give me thirty!" she roared, glaring at the few who dared to groan. "Your dear friend Caleb decided to scratch his nose and now you all get to pay for it. Ready? One. Two Three. Four..." She went all the way to thirty, then put them back at attention.
"If you don't act as one now, you'll be nothing later on," she yelled. "Every person counts, every one has to do his job, and if they don't it hurts every one, not just them! She watched the sun, waiting for the thirty minutes to pass before she released them, checking every now and then to make sure they were being still. "Relax," she said at last, the men sighing with exhaustion as they shook out their cramped muscles. "Be back out on the drill grounds in 10 minutes, any who are late are running farther than you have before in your life afterwards."
"Impressive," murmured a voice behind her. She whirled around and found herself looking into Coram's dark eyes.
"Hello, sir," she said, bowing politely. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Just keep up the good work, kid," he replied, "The Procession is going to come through here in a few months, and I want to give a demonstration of the drill you're going to teach them."
"The Procession?" asked Lyssa, having never read the book.
"The huge tour of the country they do to introduce the Princess Shinkokami to Tortal and to renew the link between us and their Royal Highnesses," explained Coram, eyeing her curiously. "You really are new to this area, aren't you?"
"Yes, I certainly am..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Libby and Artman sat by the fire inside the lady's hut, mouth's gaping with what they had just heard. "You mean that we're here because of that book back in the band room? It was cursed?" asked Libby, looking rather confused.
"And it's up to us to go and find our friends?" asked Artman.
"That's right. Except for I'm not allowed to tell you more than how many there are out there..."
"WHAT?!" cried Artman, rising to his feet. "That's impossible. There is no way in a thousand years I could find a group of people from my world here in this world without at least knowing who they are."
"I can tell you that there are 11 of you here now including you two, and that another one is coming soon. He shall be the last of all of you, and after that the book will disappear until all of you return to your world."
"How will we do that?" asked Libby, being very confused at this point.
"When you are all together I will appear and give you your next set of directions," she replied, watching Artman pace calmly.
"Will you at least tell us where in the general vicinity our friends are?" asked Artman exasperatedly. She thought about it for a minute, then nodded and pulled out a map, spreading it out on the table and weighting the edges with balls of glass. It showed Tortal, Tyra, Tusaine, Galla, Scanra, and the Carthaki Empire.
"Your friend's homes are within this vicinity," she said curtly, drawing a circle around the northern 2/3 of Tortal. "And did I mention that you can't enlist the help of any who live in this world or you'll be sucked back into your own with no memory of this what so ever and your friends will remain here forever?"
"You mean we can't even ask someone if our friends have been some place recently?" asked Libby in disbelief.
"That's right. The Third Company of the King's Own is going to be visiting here in a few months, and you have to be ready to go with them."
"Why?" asked Libby.
"Because they'll give you safe passage back to Tortal, and from there you can begin your search for your friends. In the mean time you must prepare so you'll be able to use your gifts."
"What gifts?" asked Artman, getting very annoyed.
"Oh, did I forget to mention it? You have what your people call magic, known as a 'gift' here."
"WE HAVE MAGIC????" cried Libby, sitting up very straight suddenly.
"Yes."
"That's impossible," said Artman sarcastically. "Magic doesn't exist"
"Not where you're from, but here it does," the lady replied, grinning with pleasure. "Hold out your hands and try to make a flame appear."
Both obeyed and were very surprised to find a small flame in their palms. Artman's was a bright orange and Libby's was a pale green, flickering there silently as they watched in fascination.
"How did I do that?" asked Libby, completely enthralled with it.
"I'll show you that and more," said the lady, creating a flame in her own palm that glowed slivery-gray. "I am Trystan Pierce, High Shaman for the Brazir and Lady Mage for the gods."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer woke up about noon the next day, in her own bed in the loft above the kitchen. She could hear voices below her, two people were in the kitchen and were talking rather loudly.
"Roberto? Chelsea?" she called as she got up, finding she was still dressed from yesterday and making her way to the ladder. "Is that you down there?"
"Jenny? You're awake?" Chelsea called back, the relief obvious in her voice. "How are you feeling?"
"Kind of shaky, but alright," replied Jennifer, seeing the two of them at the bottom of the ladder. "Why aren't you at the restaurant, Roberto?"
"How can I run a restaurant without the cook?" he asked, grinning slightly.
"Oh, I'm sorry," said Jennifer, hurrying to the bottom. "Do you want to go now so it can at least be open for part of the day?"
"Easy there, lass," said Roberto, steadying her as she lost her balance. "Let's just rest for today and you tell me what happened last night. All I could get out of the girls was something about bad men attacking you and trying to take them."
They sat around the table and listened as Jennifer gave a full account of what had happened. When she was done, Chelsea looked very pale, and Roberto's mouth was in a thin line. "We'll have to go talk to the King of the Rouge," he growled, face flushed with anger. "He'd better have a good explanation for this one..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
(Lady Amanda's letter to Lord Burchard in response to his)
To Lord Burchard, head noble of Stone Mountain and father of Squire Joren, greetings.
In response to your proposal of Squire Joren's hand in marriage for my dear sister Lady Elizabeth's, I'm afraid we must decline. She would never marry one so pig-headed as your son, and I don't regret saying that in the least. Maybe you weren't informed of a certain incident occurring in the last few months, so I shall tell you. Your son decided to insult our fief without ever meeting my sister or I the day we were ennobled, so I beat your son into the dust in a fair fight witnessed by many other nobles and castle servants. He deserved it, and I am not sorry to say that I rather enjoyed it. Until your son can learn to control his attitude and temper, he is not worth the time of any lady within Tortal or the surrounding areas. I would not give a dog I liked to him, because I dislike him so much. Your proposal was an insult to our family, and I expect it shall not happen again. If your son so much as decides to open his mouth in regard to my dear sister, or me I will not hesitate to challenge him again and he will get a rather rough beating for it.
Sincerely,
Lady Amanda of Lynx Mountain, head noble and governess of Lady Elizabeth
(Go back to Amanda in her room)
Amanda sealed the envelope with melted wax and her crest with zeal, being quite satisfied with her work Though it was not as nearly nasty as she could've been, she had decided to hold back least she get a royal reprimand for it. Summoning a page in the hall, she had posted and sent it as quickly as possible, hoping it would reach him before the procession, and she could see the look on his face the next time she saw him during the procession.
"Did you write Lord Burchard back?" asked Elizabeth when she came in Amanda's room a short while later.
"Yep."
"I take it from that sly grin that it was rather fun to write?"
"Absolutely."
"Hehehehehe...." (Elizabeth's evil laughter)
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Vixen stood in the back court yard of the Dancing Dove, her face grim as she practiced throwing her knives at post. She was getting better, and rarely missed. When she did miss it was only by a few 1/10's of an inch, so it didn't matter that incredibly much.
"Can we talk, Vixen?" asked a voice behind her.
"Go away, Joe," she replied turning around quickly. Her long braid flopped over her shoulder as she turned, revealing the dagger she had hidden in it.
"Vixen, we need to talk."
"No."
"Why?" Vixen turned to face him, eyes flashing.
"Because I need to concentrate, and you're distracting me."
"You can't do this."
"Joe, we already went over this."
"Let me fight him, then."
"You can barely defend yourself against me when I'm not even trying to hurt you. What makes you think you can take on the King of Thieves? Griffin's bane or not, he is still and excellent fighter, and will rip you to shreds." She kept her voice low, hoping no one was around and could hear what she was saying.
"Hullo there, Vixen, Joe," said someone from behind them. They turned and saw George, the former King of Thieves standing there. "How's it going?"
"Hey George," replied Vixen, having gotten to know him pretty well. "I'm alright, and you?"
"Fine, fine. But it appears to me that the King of the Rouge is not..."
"Then you noticed?" asked Joe slowly.
"Yep, who's going to try for his spot?"
"Me," replied Vixen, silencing Joe's protests with a glance that was more of a glare.
"You, lass?" asked George with concern.
"Yes me. Have a problem with that?" snapped Vixen, eyes flashing with anger.
"No, Vixen. I just wasn't sure if you had it in you," he replied, grinning, "I think you'd make a fine Queen for the Rouge. Who's going to be the King?"
"I don't know yet."
"That doesn't matter at the moment, you can always figure that out later," he added, glancing at Joe quickly. "When are you going to do it?"
"Tonight, after supper."
"Vixen, I don't think you should do this..."
"Shut up, Joe. You can't stop me, what don't you understand about those words?"
"I understand them, I just don't agree with them."
"You'd better find a way to real fast, then."
"And what if I don't want to."
"I take it you two are having a disagreement about this?" broke in George with an odd sparkle in his eye.
"No, I know what I need to do, he's the one with the problem," objected Vixen, gathering her knives back up and heading inside.
"Tread carefully with that one, Joe," murmured George as he watched her go. "She's a touchy one about feelings."
"Sir?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Joe. I know you like her, deny it if you wish. Just be careful, she lives up to the name you gave her."
"That's for sure..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
John walked into the barn, his right hand wrapped in a rag as he greeted Sarah tersely. "What's with the rag?" asked Sarah when she noticed it, "And why are you home so early?"
"There was some trouble at work, nothing too serious."
"Right. What's wrong with your hand, though?"
"Nothing. I'm fine."
"No, you're not. Let me see your hand."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because."
"Because why?"
"Just because, can't you let it drop?"
"No, let me see it now." John relented, seeing Sarah was getting upset. He held out his hand and she unwrapped the rag, bursting out laughing when she saw a large fish hook stuck through the web of skin between his thumb and finger.
"Don't laugh, it hurts!" he protested, trying to act hurt.
"How did this happen?" asked Sarah, walking to the toolbox to get a file.
"Don't ask."
"I will anyways."
"Then I just won't tell you."
"You will when I'm done getting it out."
"Wanna bet..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa went through the mess line and got herself some meat and potato stew with a roll and a glass of milk. She had gotten to know the serving ladies in the past few days and they gave her the right amount without even having to ask. They took care of those they liked, and they certainly liked her.
Looking around the noisy room, she chose a seat to herself tucked away in a corner and ate quietly by herself as she watched what was going on around her. A few tables away the men were playing a card game and she could see that the one with his back to her was cheating. She had half a mind to tell those who were losing money to him that he was hiding aces up his sleeve, but thought better of it.
"Is this seat saved?" asked an unfamiliar voice to her right. She turned to meet a familiar pair of gray eyes.
"It's yours if you want it," she replied, trying to figure out where she had seen him before. He wasn't one of the men she trained, and she was sure that he wasn't a part of the staff.
"My pa said you weren't making many friends, so I thought I'd come and see if you wanted someone to talk to," said the boy shyly, not talking very loudly.
"Really? And who's your pa?" asked Lyssa, thinking maybe he was the son of one of her men.
"Niles, the head serving man who always answers the door," he replied, biting into his roll.
"Oh, that's why you look so familiar," commented Lyssa, seeing his father in him quite easily.
"Yeah, everyone says I look a lot like my pa."
"Well, they're right."
"I'll say." Both teenagers jumped slightly, looking up to see Richard towering over them. "Hello Commander Lyssa, Eric."
"It's Lyssa, you can drop the title unless Coram's around. He thinks you all need to use it," she replied, beckoning for him to take a seat a cross from her. "What can I do for you, Richard?" He sat down, folding up his huge form so he could fit on the bench.
"Just wanted to ask about tomorrow. Are we going to have to stand at attention tomorrow for half the day?"
"No, I've got something else in mind."
"What?"
"You'll see..."
Richard laughed. "You're as aggravating as the last one was sometimes," he sighed, the twinkle in his eye betraying otherwise.
"I could make it a lot harder if that's what you want..." said Lyssa, her face completely serious.
"No, ma'am. It's hard enough as it is. I thought I was going to die during the drill you taught today, though."
"I think many agree with you there," she joked, listening to a few of the men groan as they got up to take away their trays.
"Why aren't you out there drilling with us, Eric?"
asked Richard, looking at the young man oddly.
Eric turned red, fiddling with
his spoon nervously. "Pa said he didn't want me to fight any more," he said
weakly, not really convincing either person.
"But I thought he's the one who forced you to do it," puzzled Richard, looking at Lyssa thoughtfully.
"Yeah, well, he changed his mind..." trailed off Eric, still fiddling with his spoon. He wouldn't look either person in the eye and just stared at his soup for a while.
"That doesn't sound like your pa," commented Richard, "He usually sticks to the decisions he made. Must've been something real big that made him change his mind." He glanced at Lyssa and left the table, going back to playing cards with his friends.
"You're dad won't let you drill because of me, will he?" asked Lyssa when Richard was out of hearing range.
Eric didn't answer, he just nodded and looked glumly into his soup.
"I'm sorry, but that's extremely stupid of him," growled Lyssa, getting up and taking her tray with her.
"Where are you going?" asked Eric in alarm when he noticed the fire in her eyes.
"To speak with Sir Coram."
"No, please, don't!" begged Eric, grabbing her shirtsleeve so she couldn't go any further. "Pa'll get mad if he knows that you know..."
"But it's being unfair to you. I need every able-bodied man out there who can be spared to drill incase of an attack. We're right on the border, and any attack from our neighbors means we're on the front line of defense." Lyssa felt like exploding in Nile's face right then, but didn't go anywhere as Eric continued to hang onto her sleeve.
"So? I can still be friends with you, and that's almost as good," reasoned Eric, "I don't have to be one of the men to be happy. Please, you don't know what pa's like when he's mad..."
"Alright, I won't," agreed Lyssa, sitting back down. "But if I need you to fight and he doesn't let you I will take it to Coram, understand?"
"Yeah, whatever, just don't go tell him now."
"Are you any good with weapons?" asked Lyssa, deciding to change the subject.
"Yeah, I can use a staff and a bow and arrow, but that's about it. That's what the last guy taught me before he was fired."
"Why was he fired?"
"He let thieves come and completely clean this place out. Coram was so mad, you should've seen it. I thought he was going to implode he was so red." Eric laughed, and it was so infectious Lyssa couldn't help but laugh with him. "Say, do you know how to play dice?"
"Nope, never learned."
"How would you like to?"
"Sounds good to me." Erin reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of dice, small blocks of lead with small marks made in the sides.
He proceeded to teach her the rules and regulations of the game, starting with the most basic ones to the most picky rules that only the professional players used when betting. Lyssa began to play that evening, losing all her coppers to the men that trained under her, but not caring because of the fun she was having.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer stood nervously before the inn before them. "Dancing Dove," she read aloud, looking at the door way in skeptically. "The King of Thieves is in there?"
"Yep. Promise me you'll never come here alone, though. They won't lay a finger on me, but wouldn't think twice of hurting a small thing like you," replied Roberto, the fury in his voice showing just underneath his calm outlook.
"Trust me, I won't," replied Jennifer, shivering in fear. "Why do I have to come along again?"
"To show him I'm not lying. If any truth mage were to test you, they'd have to say that you're telling the truth. He usually has one or two around just incase." Roberto walked in the door, Jennifer right behind him as he made him way through the crowd.
"Who are you, young lady?" asked a rather drunk thief at the bar.
"Leave her alone, Alleycat, she's with me," growled Roberto, grabbing onto Jennifer's wrist and pulling her after him. He brought her to a table with a few men and a young woman sitting at it, slamming a fist on the edge of the table to get their attention. The entire bar went silent, and Jennifer could feel all of them looking at them curiously.
"What is it, Robby?" asked the man sitting in a throne-like chair. "You'd better have a good excuse for barging in like this."
"You'd better have a good excuse as to why someone
tried to kidnap my girls," snarled Roberto in turn. "They attacked this young
lady who's my new cook and tried to take them away. She was luckily able to
stop them, but I had to close my shop down while she was in bed because of the
injuries acquired from the experience."
"She looks fine to me," said
one of the men sitting there, looking at Jennifer critically.
"Take of the hood, Jenny," ordered Roberto, stepping back so they could see. She obeyed and revealed a swollen right ear with the flesh around it heavily bruised and swelling as well. She pulled the hood back on as soon as Jeremy gave her the signal and wished the ground would just swallow her whole.
The woman whistled slightly. "That's a nasty looking bruise, cousin," she said softly. "He deserves some sort of compensation..."
"He deserves nothing," interrupted the King, looking rather cruel. "The agreement included only those who are related to you, not those associated with your family. Problems with your cook do not involve me." The woman slipped away, leaving while the focus was off of her before anyone could say anything.
"It was your men who hurt her! That or it had something to do with you, men do not just hurt others for fun! They always have a reason!" yelled Roberto, pointing a finger at Jeremy accusingly.
"Watch your tongue, Robby boy," growled Jeremy angrily, rising from his seat. "You're in my domain now, and many here won't think twice of slitting your throat."
"Don't be expecting to get any more free meals, Jeremy," shouted Roberto as he left, Jennifer right with him. "I'll never have an allegiance to those who go back on their word!"
Roberto almost ran into the woman right outside the door, obviously waiting for him. "What is it, Ratina?" he growled, directing his anger towards her now.
"Chill, Robby. He won't be king much longer. We've got it on good authority that he's back on Griffin's bane and one of my pals is going to challenge his rule," she said shortly, the bags under her eyes betraying her lack of sleep lately. Probably from this every issue.
"Will he or she be open to restarting the agreement between us from before, or is that out of the question?" asked Roberto, his tone softening greatly.
"They should be open to it, come back in three weeks and ask for me by name and I'll get you in," replied Ratina slowly. "Keep your eyes open, though. All the old contracts are going to the dogs, and there's little any can do about it."
"I'll be sure to. Come by anytime for a free meal, you're always welcome in my home and business," Roberto told her, walking away with the silent Jennifer beside him.
"As you say, Robby. Take care."
"You too, Ratina, you too."
Jennifer walked beside him quietly for a few moments before saying, "Then it wasn't his guys who attacked me?"
"No, probably someone who wanted to hold my girls ransom to him because he hasn't paid them yet. Stupid moron, he let himself go to the dogs and now he has to die for it."
"Die?"
"Yes, any who challenge the King are killed or kill him, it is the way things are in their court."
"A Duel to the Death?!" Jenny gulped, shirking closer to his side. "Isn't that a little harsh?"
"Yes, but it is the harshness that keeps them in line. There's little that can be done to change them, Jenny. They're just thieves you know, doing what they do best to stay alive.."
"Stealing what doesn't belong to them?"
"Aye, stealing..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Vixen strode into the main room in time to see a man and what looked to be a young woman storm out of the inn, a very angry Jeremy watching them leave. [Come on, girl, you can do this] thought Vixen to herself as she made her way to his table, the pouches of Griffin's bane in her hand. [It's now or never...] Mouse and Allie were right behind her, and she could see Joe watching them nervously at the Jeremy's table.
She took a large mug of ale from a passing tray and downed it in a single gulp, then using it to thump loudly on Jeremy's table as she sat down across from him. "What is it, Vixen?" asked Jeremy as the Inn quieted down again, straining their ears to hear what was going to happen next.
"You've been a very bad King lately, Jeremy," said Vixen clearly, her voice ringing out in the silence. "You have some explaining to do as to why these very expensive pouches of Griffin's bane were found in your room." She threw them on the table, one of them spilling open for all to see.
"Griffin's bane?"
"Aye, that's powerful stuff."
"Not to mention pricey, think of how much all that cost."
"Aye, where'd he get the money for it?"
"That's what I'd like to know..."
"QUIET!!!" yelled Jeremy, his face red with rage. "How dare you accuse me of using such a treacherous drug, Vixen. I would never..."
"Watch what you say, King Jeremy," cut in Allie softly. "You are on very dangerous grounds here."
"What are you going to do about it?" asked Jeremy mockingly. "You can't prove that this is mine..."
"Because I'm so nice, I'll give you a choice," said Vixen off-handedly. "We can get a mage in here and he'll test you for it, or I'll challenge you to fight for the crown."
"Just to show you I'm not afraid I choose the challenge!" cried Jeremy recklessly, rising to his feet and grabbing one of the two staffs that hung behind his wall. At both ends was a crescent-shaped blade that was extremely sharp. "Let's go!" A ring quickly formed around the pair, giving them enough room to fight without getting anyone hurt.
Mouse sat on the bar, taking bets as she comforted the very scared Joe at the same time. "Who'll put money on Vixen? Don't worry Joe, she'll be fine. Anybody for 5/8 odds, Vixen in the favor? Just relax, I promise it'll be ok. 10/16 with Jeremy in favor? You're on."
Allie was prowling the crowd, making sure no one tried to interfere with the fight as the two battled it out. Vixen was doing very well, getting under or over his guard with his knives and slicing him in several places. She suddenly threw one of her knives and pinned his sleeve to the wall. He threw his weapon at her, giving him time to cut his sleeve free with his knife and grabbing an ax from a near-by thief.
Vixen leapt over the spinning staff and grabbed it as it was under her. A nifty trick she learned as she went, using it to block his swings of the ax as he tried to hack her in two. She was backing up closer to the crowd and didn't notice someone was slowly drawing a dagger behind her.
Allie did, though, and using a thread of her gift she distracted the man long enough for her to take out one of her daggers and planted in firmly in his back with a flick of her wrist. She then disappeared with the dagger as his friends dragged him away and wondered how he had gotten hurt. She loved her gift.
Vixen blocked a swing at her middle, eyes widening in surprise as the ax cut right through it. She leapt back from the next swing and jumped again as the ax came flying at her. She threw one, then the other half of her weapon as Jeremy, watching as the first one missed and the second went through his neck.
"Long live Queen Vixen!" cried someone as it started to sink in to everyone. Jeremy was dead, beaten by Vixen, and now she was Queen.
"What about Ratina?" cried someone else from another corner as the ex-Queen of Thieves came inside to see what the commotion was, though she had a good idea already.
"I spare her because she was not in his plot," decreed Vixen, standing there wearily. Someone took the ring that had been on Jeremy's dead hand and gave it to Vixen, officially declaring her Queen. "Free drinks for all! If you wish to show me your allegiance, come by my table and pledge it with your honest word."
"Thieves can be honest?" asked a voice in the crowd laughter rippling through like a wave as Vixen sat in her new throne.
"As honest as they wish to be," Vixen replied, accepting a mug of ale from old Bart. "If any of you had a problem that Jeremy wouldn't solve, come and see me and we'll see what we can do about it."
Bart was paid for the next month's rent, the past few being dropped because of Vixen's new 'promotion'. The assassin came in and she paid him as well, saying if he came by again to hurt one of her own she'd let her sisters deal with him as they wished. By now the trio's reputation had spread through the lower city, and he wisely avoided that Inn from then on.
"You're not doing a half bad job," commented Joe one evening as they ate dinner at her table, Ratina, Mouse and Allie sitting with them.
"What can I say?" sighed Vixen contentedly. "I was born to rule..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Sarah and John sat in their kitchen eating dinner a few nights after the hook incident, and John's hand was still wrapped in a bandage as they ate their dinner quietly.
"I still want to know how you got that hook stuck in your hand," said Sarah out of the blue.
"I'm not going to tell you."
"Yes you will."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I won't cook for you and you certainly can't cook for yourself so I suggest you spill."
"Darn you."
"I know, now speak."
"Alright, we were on two different ends of the boat and his line went the wrong way, I saw it coming and tried to grab it before it caught on mine. He jerked it back at the same time and it went right through my hand. Happy now?"
"You got it through your hand because you were reaching for a flying hook?"
"Yeah."
"That was really dumb." Sarah sat back in her chair and tried to hide her laughter, shaking as she did.
"Gees, thanks for the sympathy."
"You don't need any."
"Shut up."
"Be nice."
"Why? You aren't."
"So, that's a rarity."
"True, but you're still not being nice."
"Fine. I'm sorry you got a hook through your hand because you were being dumb."
"Hey!"
"Oops..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda sat in the outer room with a ton of papers spread out around her as she hurriedly tried to sort them. There was a knock at the door and she looked up distractedly. "Come in!" she yelled quickly, still trying to sort them all out.
"Lady Amanda?" said Lady Rachelle as she opened the door, her daughters and son right behind her. "Can you watch these three for me for a minute? Thanks." She was gone before Amanda could refused and she looked at the three for a moment before she sighed and told them to come in and close the door.
"Are we going to go see the horsies?" asked the youngest daughter, Ester, who was only six.
"No, honey, I have to go see the King at the fourth bell and I'll have to see if Elizabeth can watch you," replied Amanda, finally getting all her papers in order. "Liz?"
"Yeah Amanda?" Elizabeth's voice was muffled through her door.
"Come out here, will you?"
"Sure." She was all dressed up and was just putting on her makeup when she came out. "What do you want?"
"I need you to watch these three until their mom comes back, ok?" said Amanda hurriedly as she rushed out the door, closing it quickly behind her.
"Thanks for the warning," muttered Elizabeth as she looked at the three angelic faces before her. Unlike Amanda, who had made many friends among the younger folk in the palace and was often called to watch them for short periods of time, she disliked little kids and avoided them at all costs.
"What to do with you little rats," she mumbled, chewing her lip as she thought about it. They chose for her, with a shout the boy, Tommy, grabbed a pillow and threw it at his older sister, Camilla, who was 10.
"Hey! I'll get you for that!" Camilla grabbed another pillow and chased him around the room in circles as Elizabeth tried to catch them both. 'Crash!' She looked up to see Ester sitting on the table and a broken pot below her.
"Oops," said Ester sadly. Her face brightened suddenly. "Oh well, don't matter cause it wasn't mama's!"
Elizabeth felt like ripping her hair out. Lifting up her hands, she used her gift to stop them all and freeze them in place. "You will cooperate, or I'll keep you like this until your mom returns, understand," she growled irritatedly. Three blond heads nodded solemnly and she released them, making them pick up the mess they made and sit in a corner by themselves.
"You're no fun," pouted Ester as her lower lip trembled.
"That's because I don't like little kids," replied Elizabeth as she left the room, going back to hers huffily.
'Knock! Knock! Knock!' "Come in!" yelled Elizabeth, coming back out into the outer room.
"I'm back!" said Lady Rachelle, "Thanks for watching them Lady-oh, Amanda must've had to leave. Thank you for taking over for her, Lady Elizabeth. How were they?"
"They were-"
"Perfect angels, right?" said Amanda as she walked in, giving Elizabeth a look that told her to agree.
"Yes, perfect angels," replied Elizabeth through clenched teeth.
"Wonderful! Let's go, my little darlings." When the trio was gone Amanda flopped onto the couch and lay there motionless.
"The meeting was that bad?" asked Elizabeth, knowing by now how Amanda usually acted. "What was it about?"
"You don't want to know..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
There you go, part 7 that was 20 pages long on my computer. I know they aren't very short and easy to read all the time, and for that you have my apologizes. Any characters that read this are REQUIRED to review, and I'll know if you don't. For those of you who aren't, it's not required since I can't hunt you down and such, but it would be greatly appreciated if you did anyways. Thanks!
~crosseyedbutterfly~