Part 8 all ready! This'll be the last chapter someone gets sucked in, and
time is going to start passing a bit faster now that everyone is in their
place. Having already read Squire will help you a great deal with what's
going on, it fits exactly in place with it....I hope. Anyways, I will warn
you that each chapter will get increasingly longer, so if you want me to
break them into parts, let me know in your review, thanks!
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa leaned on the rail of her balcony, facing the west as she watched the sun set lazily amid it's hues of red and orange. "Beautiful, isn't it?" said a voice behind her, causing Lyssa to jump slightly. She turned and saw Ripshka standing in her door way, smiling dreamily. It had been three weeks since she had started working here, and already she had made close friends with the older lady.
"Hello, Ripshka," greeted Lyssa as she came back inside, closing the glass doors behind her.
"Hello, Lyssa. I didn't mean to barge in, dear. But you left the door open and I couldn't see you outside on the balcony..."
"That's alright," she replied, flopping into a chair and motioning one for Ripshka to have. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, since it's obvious you will be staying and working with us for quite some time..."
"Hopefully forever," cut in Lyssa. "I love it here."
"That's great, but you need to know that it's tradition to hold a small ball of sorts for any new high-status workers we get. I'm afraid you'll have to wear a gown, we need you to make a good impression on the fiefs that are near here that we are going to invite..."
"You mean one of those really pretty evening gowns with the full skirts and such?" asked Lyssa, sitting up on her elbows.
"Yes, is that alright?"
"Sweet!" Unlike her rather boyish friend Amanda, she liked getting dressed up when the occasion called for and was a stage make up expert as well. She literally had a huge fishing tackle box full off make up and used it quite often back home,
"Great! Shall we go get you fitted for a dress right now?"
"Sure! What did you have in mind?"
"Well, I was thinking of a purple velvet gown with a low front and no sleeves...." The two ladies walked down the hall side by side as they talked about the different styles of dresses and what would look best on Lyssa for the ball.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda was in her room sorting papers again, growling to herself as she tried to get everything in order for the next morning's mail. This had to go by tomorrow or it would be late, and then she'd be in real trouble.
'Knock! Knock! Knock!'
"Come in!" called Amanda, not even bothering to rise to open the door. A page stuck his head in the door, looking rather hurried.
"The King wants to see you in his office, Lady Amanda," he said nervously.
"Tell him I'll be there as soon as I can manage it," replied Amanda, flicking a silver coin at the page quickly.
"But his Majesty said it was urgent!" protested the page, pocketing the coin before she could change her mind.
"Good gravy...alright I'm coming!" cried Amanda, throwing up her arms in exasperation as she left the papers behind and hurried to the King's study, wondering what he could want to see her about.
King Jonathan was pacing in his study when she arrived, closing the doors behind her and telling the servant to leave. "Sit down, Lady Amanda," he said shortly, going around to his side of the desk.
"I can't stay long, your Highness..."
"I said sit," cut in the King, his face a mask of fury. "I have been more than patient with you, Lady Amanda, but this was really over stepping the line."
"What did I do this time!" cried Amanda, looking rather hurt by the accusation. "I wore I dress to that dinner party you invited me to, I've stayed out of trouble and Elizabeth hasn't been torturing the guys again..."
"What about this?" asked the King, throwing a letter at her over his desk.
"Oh, you mean the response I wrote to Lord Burchard?" replied Amanda, her mood lightening considerably as she recognized her hand writing. "What did he think of it? I wrote it specially for him."
"What in the devil were you thinking?!" yelled the King, turning a few shades of red in the process. "He's a very wealthy noble who could raise up a resistance in no time and destroy the Kingdom!"
"This is none of your concern, King Jonathan..."
"This is all my concern when another noble writes to me that he has been rudely insulted by another noble that I just ennobled for no reason at all!" he yelled in reply.
Amanda rose from her chair, leaning over his desk towards him. "You are a pompous windbag!" snarled Amanda, trying to control the raging temper inside of her. "That idiot had the nerve to ask for my sister's had in marriage to the same son who purposely insulted me and Elizabeth in front of her. The boy deserves every bruise and bump I gave him that day, and I don't regret writing that letter a single bit. I still do not see where that includes you, though. You're a control freak, and all I have to say to you is stop trying to control our life." She turned on her heal and walked to the door, opening it quickly to find Alanna on the other side about to come in with Queen Thayet beside her.
"Don't you dare turn your back on me young lady!" roared the King behind her, turning redder than ever. "No body speaks that way to the King!"
"Well it looks like I just did," retorted Amanda, walking quickly down the hall to her rooms. Elizabeth was waiting for her there and didn't ask any questions as she handed her a cloak and lead the way out the door.
"So what did the King want?" asked Elizabeth, having been in her room when the page had come and asked for Amanda.
"Let's just say he had a bit of an opinion on that letter I wrote to our dear Lord Burchard..."
"Oh, that little thing?" asked Elizabeth, grinning evilly. "I did enjoy reading that copy you left on my desk, what'd he think of it?"
"Don't ask," growled Amanda, trying to calm down before they reached Lalasa's shop. "The meecrob just got on my nerves, that's all."
"Right, and I'm the Queen of England," replied Elizabeth sarcastically. "I don't believe you, but I won't bug you about it either. What ever he did I'm sure you'll make him pay."
They had reached the shop already and before Amanda could reply Lady Rachelle burst of the door, a servant following her laden with packages. "Hello dears!" she cried, sweeping them into a hug. She pulled back before they could react and raced down the street. "I'll see you tonight!" she called over her shoulder, the servant scuttling to keep up with her.
"Ok, that was weird," muttered Amanda, forgetting about the King completely. "Come on, let's go get this over with." She walked in and waited for Lalasa to notice her and Elizabeth.
"Coming to pick up your gowns?" she asked briskly, whisking away to the back before either of them could reply.
"Is every body on super speed mode today or something?" sighed Amanda, leaning against the counter tiredly. Blowing up like that really took it out of her for some reason.
"Here you go!" said Lalasa cheerily as she returned to the front, two small packages in her hands. "These are the two very beautiful gowns you ordered."
"I'm sure they're lovely, Lalasa. How they look on me is another matter entirely..." replied Amanda wryly, picking both up and tucking them under her arm.
"Oh, they'll look great on you," replied Lalasa sincerely.
"I'm glad somebody thinks so," replied Amanda, giving her a bag of coins. "Here's what you said it would cost."
"There's four gold nobles more in there than what I told you," objected Lalasa after she had counted it out, looking at the two ladies shrewdly.
"Oh, so there is," remarked Amanda offhandedly as she made her way to the door. "Consider it a Mid-Winter gift, than, because it was my mistake."
"But four gold nobles!"
"Just take it, Lalasa," insisted Elizabeth, "You do the best sewing there is in these parts, and we appreciated the work you do for us."
"But my lady!"
"Lalasa, just take it." The sisters left, walking the long path back to the palace and a rather angry king who would probably want to be seeing them very soon.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Libby sat quietly in a corner, watching as Artman trying to make a ball of fire levitate in the air. Trystan wasn't present at the moment and he was trying to prove that he was better than he really was. "Artman, are you sure you know what you're doing?" asked Libby nervously, not wanting him to get hurt.
A stream of curses erupted from Trystan's tent. "You two better be working on your meditating!" she called when she was done.
"We are!" replied Artman as he continued to try work the spell. The ball began to glow strangely and Libby backed up even farther into the corner.
"Stop it, Artman!" she cried, getting Trystan's attention. "Stop the spell!"
"I can handle it!"
'BOOM!!!'
Needless to say, the ball exploded and sent everyone flying heads over heals into the dirt outside. Trystan was definitely less than pleased.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
"!#$@%$#^&%$&@&%%*&^%*$&&%#%@$^#!#%(*&&$^#%@$#!$#!%$*&%(^$%^%$@%$#$&%&....(e tc, etc, etc)" The Lady Mage finally stopped just long enough to catch her breath. "You two better be working on your meditating!" she called, trying to calm herself down.
"We are!" called back the boy. She looked back into the scrying bowl and sighed, this was definitely not her day. The King was raging mad at her two palace brats, and they were equally miffed at him for his scolding from their letter. That moronic idiot Lord Burchard deserved every word said in that letter, and the eldest 'sister' aught to be given a medal for writing it.
"Stop it Artman!" she heard someone cry. "Stop the spell!"
The Lady Mage went and opened the door of the tent quickly. "What the..."
'BOOM!!!'
(For those of you who are a little slow, the Lady Mage and Trystan are the same person, ok? Correction, you'd have to be super slow not to get it by now.)
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Onua, Daine, Numair, Sarah, and John sat in the cramped little kitchen, enjoying the Mid-Winter feast the first three had brought for the ranch workers. Onua had bagged a doe a few days back half of it was now set before them with a dish of mashed potatoes and gravy. There were some canned peaches and a pie, not to mention the chocolate fudge Numair had brought as a gift. It wasn't a nice as many had, and the palace dinner surpassed it easily. But is was shared with friends who cared, and that's all that really mattered.
"How's the search for that griffin's parents going?" asked Onua when the food had been passed and everyone's plates were filled.
"As good as can be expected. I can't get around all that much, and finding them is even harder with the snow. Hopefully we'll have better luck when the weather turns," replied Daine, sipping some hot cider thoughtfully. "Kel's being great though, the way she takes care of it. The little terror's completely savaged her hands, they're scarred worse than Alanna's, and she still keeps trooping along with him."
"She's certainly more polite than several of the pages," commented Numair. "I've watched her and her pals during balls and other parties where they have to serve, and she's the one who keeps them in line."
"Sounds like someone I know," muttered John into his cup.
"Hey!" protested Sarah, putting down her fork to look at him.
"What?" he asked when he noticed her odd look. "I didn't mean you, if that's what you're staring at me for."
"Oh, then who?"
"Think about who was always keeping everyone from killing each other in the band room."
"Oh, I get it."
"What are you two talking about?" asked Onua.
"Just a friend from our other world or whatever it is," replied Sarah.
"How long have you two known each other?" asked Numair out of the blue.
"About a year, why?" replied John.
"You seem pretty close for having only known each other for a year," he remarked.
"Maybe it's just easier for people to get close when they're closer in age," retorted John, watching as Daine went pink in embarrassment, and Numair red with anger.
"John, be nice!" cried Sarah, nudging his lightly.
"What! He started it."
"John..."
"No, it's alright," cut in Numair with an evil glint in his eye. "He is young and hot tempered, he doesn't realize that time is the best tester of all."
"Only if you're slow minded and an idiot," murmured John, leaning back in his chair.
Sarah and Daine were both looking rather shocked. "Do you have any idea what you're saying?" Sarah asked John.
"I'm sorry, he just reminds me of Mike, and we always fought no matter what," apologized John, feeling bad about what he said when he saw Sarah's face.
"Numair?" said Diane softly, looking at him with sad eyes. When he didn't reply she began to get worried. "Numair??"
"Huh?" He looked like he had just woken from a trance and found himself in a place he didn't know existed.
"Why did you act like that?" whispered Daine worriedly.
"I...don't know..." replied Numair dazedly, looking as if he were trying to figure something out. "I really...don't know..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
The Lady Mage sat staring at the scrying bowl tiredly. As much as she enjoyed making those to hot-heads fight, it got old quickly when she did it so often. "You'd think those two would stop making references back to their world by now," she growled softly to herself, and was thankful for certainly not the first nor the last time for her inexhaustible reserves of power.
"We finished mending the holes in the tent, Trystan," came a meek voice from the flap of her tent. It was Libby, one of her apprentices for the moment.
"Good, now you can set it back up," she replied wryly, thinking of how the idiot who was her other apprentice had tired a hard spell this afternoon on his own.
"Mithros, why me," she mumbled as she got back to work. "Why me?"
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Onua had just told the story about how Daine and her had first met to Sarah and John when there was a heavy banging on the door. Sarah hurried to open in, and two figures burst into the room, wrapped up in cloaks and blankets. It was Sarge and his niece Penny!
"Save anything for us?" asked Sarge as he removed his last set of outer garments that were soaked and settled down by the fire.
"Help yourself," said John lightly. "Not even stork man could eat all that."
"That's certainly debatable," countered Onua, getting a glare from Numair and laughs from everyone else.
"True, true," agree John, grinning wickedly as he watched Numair grumble slightly. "What's wrong Numair, can't take a little teasing?"
"Teasing I can take," replied Numair. "It's little leaches that think they're funny that get on my nerves."
"Then how do you stand yourself?" asked John innocently.
Laughter erupted from everyone, including Daine as the most powerful mage in Tortal tried to regain his dignity. "Just don't say anything and let them think you're a fool without proving them right," Onua advised him, her sides aching with laughter.
"One of these days boy..." he growled.
"You'll what? Turn me into a tree?" mocked John.
"That might not be a bad idea," admitted Numair slyly, black magic filling his hands.
"Cool it, you two," said Sarge roughly as he filled his plate. Numair's magic disappeared, and John bowed his head in submission.
"Did you tell them about what happened last winter?" asked Penny as she sat beside Onua with her plate.
"No, I was going to next though," Onua replied. "Last winter Numair and Sarge decided to try ice fishing..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Vixen sat on her throne at her table surrounded by friends and foes alike. Bart shouted something above the usual din of the Inn, and a man was dragged before her and her company through the crowd with Bart beside him.
"This rat tried to slip out without paying his bill," explained Bart before Vixen asked him a thing.
"Why didn't you pay?" asked Vixen evenly, taking in his worn clothes and tousled hair in an instant.
"Someone took me coins, good Queen!" he cried, looking fairly frantic. Allie came and stood behind Vixen.
"If I bail him out, can I have some fun with him?" whispered Allie so only Vixen could hear.
"Hang on," replied Vixen, eyeing the man slightly. "Do you have any family?" she asked quickly so he could hear. "If you lie I'll cut off your finger."
"No, good Queen, I live alone in a shack not far from here!" cried the man, his eyes filled with terror at the prospect of losing a finger.
"Be my guest," murmured Vixen to Allie, who promptly pulled out a pouch and paid Bart silently. "My sister has decided to help you out," she told the man, who sighed gratefully upon hearing this. He then became dazed as if in a dream and spent the rest of the night fawning over Allie and everything she did.
"That poor guys not going to remember anything past you telling him Allie was paying for his debt in the morning," commented Mouse as she came and sat with Vixen, glad to be off her feet for awhile.
Vixen was about to reply when Ratina walked up, a man who looked foreign beside her. "Where've you been, Rati?" asked Vixen lightly. "We haven't seen you around for days."
"Jeremy had a sister in town, I've been with her the past couple of days filling her in on the latest events," replied Ratina, taking Allie's seat quickly, leaving the man to stand behind her.
"Who's he?" asked Mouse, pointing at him suspiciously.
"This is Robby. He and Jeremy had a contract that we wouldn't take anything from him in exchange for am occasional free feast at his shop, and his family would be protected from pickpockets and any attacks," explained Ratina, accepting a mug of ale from Bart with a nod.
"Then he wants to see if I'll renew that contract?" asked Vixen.
"That's the idea," replied Robby, leaning on the table. "I've got the best food you'll find anywhere, Ratina and several others can testify to that."
"He does," agreed Ratina when she saw Vixen raise an eyebrow in surprise.
"I'll be fair, then, and give you and chance," decided Vixen. "If you can wow me and my sisters with your excellent food, you'll get that contract renewed and better for and long as I am Queen. Try anything and I'll add one of your fingers to my collection of many." In truth she gave the fingers to Alleycat as she cut them, and she had only taken three or four so far but he didn't know that.
"Trust me, my Queen of Thieves, you will not be sorry," replied Robby, bowing low to the ground and heading out the door as soon as he could get through the crowd.
"Is he really that trust worthy?" Mouse asked Ratina.
"Yeah, and his new cook's even better than him."
"Will we get to meet this new cook?" asked Vixen.
"Yeah, maybe in a few months or something, she appears to be really fragile so lets give her sometime before I bring her here."
"Good point."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse walked quietly into the Royal Forest, Ronnie right on her heals, and she escaped the finery and fluff of the royal dress fitting for Princess Shinkokami. "Let's go, Ronnie," called Alyse in Yamanis to her little puppy. Ronnie barked in response and ran along even faster, leaping over logs and rocks as he went.
They came to a secluded stream, and Alyse climbed a few branches up into a tree on it's far bank, taking Ronnie with her. "Like it up here boy?" she asked as she scratched behind his ears fondly. They must've been there for over an hour when Alyse heard someone else coming down the path she had followed.
"Quiet, Ronnie!" exclaimed Alyse quietly when the pup began to bark loudly.
"Is anybody back here?" called a voice from the path, causing Alyse to roll her eyes. It was another one of those cursed Squires. Why couldn't they just leave her and the other Yamanis ladies alone.
Ronnie gave her away by barking loudly again and wriggling out of her grasp. A tall, brown haired boy walked around the trees, looking up at her in surprise. He was fairly thin and wiry, his hair falling in his eyes as he shook his head in amusement.
"May I ask what's so funny?" asked Alyse as she heard his chuckles spill through his hand.
"Nothing, my Lady, I just didn't expect to see one of the fine Yamanis ladies up in a tree with a dog, that's all," replied the boy, bowing low. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Squire Faleron."
"I am Lady Alyse," said Alyse politely, bowing her head as she tried to restrain her yapping puppy. "Hush Ronnie!"
"May I be so bold as to ask why you're up in a tree by your self away from the other ladies?" asked Faleron, looking up at her with his head tilted slightly to the side.
"I wanted to escape my ladies presence and the flock of annoying squires and knights who insisted following them around," replied Alyse, getting Ronnie to sit in her lap calmly.
"Oh, you falsely accuse me, fair lady!" cried Faleron, holding his heart as if he were injured. "My friends may have been in that crowd, but my knight master is too intent upon my studies to allow me to do that."
"Then pray tell why you're out here," said Alyse curtly. "If you're knight- master is so intent upon your studies why do you have time to wander around?"
"I was given a free afternoon, and I thought I might try my luck in the forest rather than with all those love-struck fools," replied Faleron smartly. "And look what it got me."
"Yes, what indeed?"
"A lovely Yamanis lady and her fine pup." Ronnie barked in agreement with him, slipping out of Alyse's grasp and leaping off the branch.
"Ronnie!" cried Alyse, trying to grab him. She missed and the small pup went plummeting to the forest floor. Faleron ran and caught him, only to cry out himself when Alyse jumped from the branch and landed safely on the ground.
"Were did you learn to do that?" asked Faleron in amazement as she took the pup from him and cuddled him is her arms.
"That jump wasn't that far off the ground," replied Alyse, checking over the pup to make sure her was ok. "You could've done it easily yourself."
"Yes, but you're a-"
"Weak little lady?" finished Alyse for him. "And here I was beginning to think that you were half-way decent too." She started to walk away and was surprised when he caught the edge of her sleeve and hung on.
"Please don't go, I'm sorry for even suggesting that," apologized Faleron, looking really sorry.
"Alright, I won't," consented Alyse, figuring talking with his was better than going back to the palace and having more of those fools follow her around.
"Really? You won't go?" said Faleron in surprise.
"Isn't that what I just said?"
"Well, yeah, but I just didn't expect you to agree to stay."
"Maybe I don't find you as annoying as the rest of your friends."
"Just maybe?"
"Just maybe..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer stood in the kitchen, stirring some paste in one bowl while keeping an eye on the bread that was in the oven with one eye and a pot of oil that couldn't boil over with the other. "Keeping busy, Jenny?" asked Roberto as he walked in to help.
"You bet," replied Jennifer, her attention completely divided between the three tasks that she was trying to do at the same time.
"Guess what? You get to cook for the King of Tortal and the Queen of Thieves," said Roberto calmly, acting as if he was just talking about the weather.
"The King? I get to cook for the King?" replied Jennifer in wonder.
"Yep, he wants us to cater one of the banquets he holds during the Mid- Winter celebration. That way the Yamanis can taste our cooking as well, and all the guests who will be there."
"And what did you say about the Queen of Thieves?"
"They have a new one if you remember what Ratina said. Well, she got me in earlier than she thought would be possible, so we struck a deal when I spoke to her. If you can cook up some absolutely fabulous food, I'll take it over there and she'll decide whether or not we're worth the deal."
"What happens if we don't do good enough?"
Roberto visibly shuddered. "Let's not think about that, Jenny. We'll make it without any problems." Mentally he added [I hope...]
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle walked into the empty band room, having been hoping to surprise Elizabeth by showing up to say hi without telling her he was coming. He looked at her locker and was surprised to see that the lock was still locked. She rarely closed it, and Amanda's was still open. He spotted a leather bond book below the door and picked it up, looking at it closely.
The pictures on the front cover were familiar, and he flipped to the front pages to see the pictures that were drawn there. [Cool] he thought to himself [Amanda had them all put in a book, I wish I could be in it.] He went on and read through it, getting to the part where Elizabeth and Amanda appear, realizing slightly what was going on. He closed the book and ran for the door, only to be sucked in by the every vigilant flash of light.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
The Lady Mage chose to put him on a road far from Corus, close to the fief of an old man who had no heir and was in his late sixties. Kyle took stock of his surroundings, his jaw open in awe.
"This can't be real, oh this can't be real..." he kept repeating over an over to himself. "There is no way I could be in this book there is just no way..." He began to walk down the road, realizing after a few steps that he was wearing a shirt and loose tunic with some hose and ankle boots. He could be mistaken for any merchant's son other than the fact he had no idea where he was.
He continued to go down the road, figuring that any place was better than in the middle of the wilderness, and the road had to lead some place so he might as well find out where. Up ahead he saw an overturned carriage and heard someone calling from the inside. The horses that should've been there were nowhere in sight, and there was a chest of gold sitting open outside the carriage.
[This is weird] thought Kyle as he got closer to the wreck and gold. [Might as well help whoever it is, though. Maybe they'll help me out and give me a job or something]
"Are you alright in there?" he called, trying to force the door open.
"I'm fine, the door's stuck though," called the voice again. "Please hurry, it's been quite awhile since I've seen anyone at all."
"Do you know if there's any tools on this thing?" asked Kyle as he tried once more to open the door.
"Yes, there should be a box under the wheels." Since the wheels were now up in the air, it was only the work of a moment to find it and get a crowbar out, using it to pry open the door. Inside lay quite a surprise for him.
There sat an old man, perfectly fine seated on many cushions without looking the least bit ruffled. "Hullo, there," he said cheerfully. "You just did a very good deed boy, and now you shall be rewarded for it."
"What's going on here?" asked Kyle, looking very confused. A few men came out of the woods, bearing a litter on their shoulders and a few others carrying with them a fine robe and slippers which they put on Kyle.
"I set up what looked like an accident and the first young man who came along and 'rescued' me was going to become my heir to my fief," explained the old man, looking rather pleased with himself. "Since I have no wife and am childless, it looks like it falls to you, young man. What's your name?"
"Kyle. And what is a fief?"
The forest opened up to show hundreds of acres of farmland being tended to by serfs and servants with a large orchard and a lake. There was a forest beside the lake, and behind all of it was a huge mansion that was a fort all by itself.
"That is, my boy," said the man, sighing in pleasure as he looked over it all.
"Whoa..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Vixen left her throne at the table awhile after lunch, feeling the need to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the tavern. She sat on the sill of her window, letting one leg hang out as she settled herself there and watched the clouds drift lazily across the sky. A playful breeze ruffled her hair slightly, as much as the tight curls would let it, and she sighed in content as she felt free for the first time in days.
"Can I come in?" asked a voice at the door. She turned to see a rather haggard looking Joe standing there, about to fall asleep on his feet.
"Get in here and sit down before you hurt yourself," she scolded him, looking rather worried. "Where have you been for the past week?" He had disappeared a few days after her 'coronation' and hadn't been seen since.
"Around and about, I had to go tell George how it went, and I had to go think about some things for awhile," he replied, taking a seat on her be below the window.
"What about?" she asked. "You can tell me anything, you know that."
"I'm not sure I should," he replied, looking past her at the sky outside. "I do value my life after all."
"I promise not to get mad, what ever it is you did," she sighed, messing his hair up slightly. "What ever it is, you obviously need to tell someone and who better than your Queen?"
"If you're sure..."
"Absolutely."
"Alright...the night that you fought Jeremy, I was a mess. You sacred me sick, and what was worse for me was that I could not help you if I needed to. You and your sisters, you're like family to me. Even if we do fight a lot, I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." He thought about it for a minute and added. "Any of you three."
"You're sweet, Joe," replied Vixen, sitting next to him on the bed. "Soft as bread soaked in water, but sweet. Don't worry, I told you I'd be alright and I am, see?"
"But what if..."
"What did I tell you about the 'what ifs'?" growled Vixen softly, letting him know that she was only teasing.
"Still, I want you to be careful. Being in charge of the Rouge is no piece of cake, and I just don't want you to end of dead because of something that could've been avoided."
"I promise to be careful, ok?"
"Alright."
"That's better." They just sat there for a really long time, not saying anything and just enjoying the others company. Unfortunately, they weren't the only ones in hearing distance.
[Oh boy...] thought Mouse from her seat on the roof outside the window [Vixen's falling for Joe!]
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer was in the palace kitchens; chopping, grinding, mixing, baking, slicing, cutting, whipping, boiling, and creating as fast as she could. As soon as she set down a dish, it was swept away by a page or squire to be served to those seated outside the kitchen doors in the main hall.
Roberto was doing the same thing right across from her, going even faster than she thought was humanly possible. It was a good thing that they were only doing the main dishes, because if they had been doing the bread, vegetables, and drinks as well things would've gotten out of control.
"How are things going, Roberto?" asked a man dressed in fine clothes and crown who stood just inside the door.
"Just fine, you're majesty," replied Roberto, nodding curtly. "I'd like you to meet my helper, Jennifer."
"Hello, your highness," said Jennifer, just taking the time to do a quickly curtsy before she got right back to work.
"Excellent food this time, Roberto," commented the King as he watched them go. "I'm upping your pay another twenty gold nobles, if that's ok with you that is."
"It's just fine, your majesty, it's just fine," replied Roberto, beaming as he chopped some carrots at the speed of light.
"Then go see Sir Gareth after you're done and he'll pay you. Until next time, good man."
"Until next time, your majesty."
Jennifer felt giddy with excitement, she had just met the King of Tortal! "Don't let it get to your head, Jenny," warned Roberto as he stirred some cremes together. "He's just a man and will change his mind about that raise if some food turns out bad so keep your mind on task and forget about him until afterward, understand?"
"Yes sir," replied Jennifer, smiling as she did. "Yes sir..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse sat next to Lady Haname and Yuki for dinner, eating some delicious dishes that the King had ordered specially for that meal. "I saw you coming out of the royal forest with some fellow I hadn't seen before," said Lady Haname quietly as she tasted some meat she had never seen before. "Who was he?"
"Alyse was with a guy this afternoon?" asked Yuki, her eyes crinkling with hidden laughter. "Who was this masked male, Lady Alyse?"
"His name is Faleron," replied Alyse calmly, trying her very best to remain completely undisturbed. "He is a Squire here at the palace."
"Would he happen to be the one who keeps looking at you as he serves over in the other corner?" asked Lady Haname, the interest showing ever so slightly in her voice.
Alyse looked up, eyes widening a fraction of an inch when she saw him staring at her from across the room. "So it is," teased Yuki lightly, noticing her change of face. "What's he like and why were you with him alone in the royal forest."
"I went for a walk with Ronnie and met him at the stream back there," explained Alyse evenly. "If Ronnie had not insisted upon making a racquet, he wouldn't have even known I was there and would've passed on by."
"Stop blaming the dog," admonished Lady Haname gently. "I saw you give him that extra treat when you got back, so you certainly weren't mad at him."
"Since when is my life open for inspection?" asked Alyse, trying to change the subject.
"Since you joined us," replied Yuki, eyes crinkling once more. "Now tell us about him."
"If you insist," sighed Alyse, giving into the two insistent ladies. "He's nice enough for a Squire and certainly not as stupid as some...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa stood on the block of wood impatiently in the dressmaker's shop. "Will you pleas stop moving so I can finish hemming this, dear miss?" asked the seamstress for the third time. "If you don't we'll be here all day."
"Sorry, I just to get this over with," apologized Lyssa, looking at herself in the mirror. Her hair had gotten a lot longer and was now down past her shoulders a bit. The dress was a deep purple velvet with a full skirt and tight bodice. The top was sleeveless, not to mention strapless, and went down a bit lower than she liked. She was to wear a lavender shawl over it with purple-dyed slippers, and some dark amethysts Ripshka had lent her.
"You look lovely, missy," commented the seamstress, finished pinning up the bottom at last.
"I agree," said Ripshka from the door. "You'll knock 'em dead, honey."
"Great, there goes the garrison," muttered Lyssa, rolling her eyes as she did.
"We can always get a new one drawn here because of your great beauty," joked Ripshka, helping her off the block in that dress. "Hurry up and change, the men are waiting for you. Coram's started them off, but you'll need to get out there as fast as you can."
"Yes ma'am," called Lyssa as she rushed behind a curtain to take off the dress as quickly as she could without damaging it. Quickly changing into her clothes, she ran out the door as Ripshka laughter could be heard behind her the whole way...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda and Elizabeth had agreed to exchange gifts early since both might need the other's gift before Mid-Winter, knowing how their gift went.
Elizabeth took the small package from Amanda and ripped it open, taking out a small pendent shaped like a rose with a strange shape engraved in the back. "What is that for?" asked Elizabeth, pointing to it for her to see.
"It's a charm against getting pregnant, curtsy of Lady Cooper. Just in case knowing you..."
"Hey!" cried Elizabeth, punching her in the arm.
"Yeah, I know you could've used it earlier," teased Amanda, earning herself another punch. "Besides, the rose will throw off anyone who questions what it is since it's your symbol on the family crest." She caught the box Elizabeth threw at her and opened it quickly, finding a set of sais on the inside. "Sweet!"
"Knew you'd like them," teased Elizabeth, watching as Amanda took them out of their sheaths and tried them out for a minute.
"You're the best!" exclaimed Amanda, giving her a quick hug before she got up and went to go see how well they matched her sword, and somehow they were a perfect set! "Did you get these made to make my blade?" she asked suspiciously as she checked and saw they were from Raven Armory.
"Yep, aren't I the greatest?"
"Other than myself..."
"What?!"
"Just kidding!"
"Amanda..."
"What?"
"Thanks, a lot."
"No problem, Liz. No problem at all."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Onua shoved Sarah and John out of their hut, giving them a bag of gold nobles as she did. "Are you sure?" asked Sarah as she pulled the cloak around her shoulders.
"Go, you two," shooed Onua, blocking them from getting inside again. "Go have some fun. I haven't given you a holiday since you started, and you certainly deserve it so go before I change my mind!"
"Come on, let's go," urged John, getting into the readied cart for them. "They've got that troop of acrobats who are going to be in town today, and I want to see them."
"Alright, I'm coming!" cried Sarah, climbing up and letting him drive them into town through the snow and the slush. They went through all the shops and bought some stuff they wanted with the 25 gold nobles Onua had given them, then went out for an expensive dinner at a fancy restaurant down the street.
The sunset upon the two as they sat before a fire drinking mulled cider as the last of the performers did their routine.
"I'm really glad we took the day off," commented Sarah as they clapped a threw w few coins in the hat for the acrobats and walked to the cart.
"You know what?" asked John, helping her into her seat. "So am I."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Libby and Artman sat in Trystan's tent, working on the spells she had given each of them with a senior mage watching over their shoulder. "Careful, careful," murmured the one who was working with John. "Put too much power in it and it'll kill you."
"Don't try to force the cut to heal," advised the mage as she let the girl heal a scrape she had. "Just let it flow naturally, you've got plenty of power left."
"Very good," praised Trystan when she peaked her head out at them. "You're learning quickly, and you'll easily be ready at this rate for your trips to Corus."
"Really?" asked Libby, looking very hopeful.
"Really really," replied Trystan, smiling at her before turning around and going back into her tent.
"Hey," said Artman, looking up from his firebomb. "Isn't that from Shrek?"
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa stood at the top of the stair case, dressed in her new gown with the slippers, shawl, and amethyst jewelry. "Presenting Commander Lyssa of the Trebond garrison!" announced the herald, motioning for her to go forward. She swept gracefully down the steps, keeping her eyes on Coram and Ripshka who were waiting for her at the bottom.
"Lovely entrance, dear," said the noble lady, giving her a quick hug before letting Coram escort her over to a group of other nobles and Commanders.
"What about Ripshka?" whispered Lyssa as she watched the lady disappear into the crowd.
"My wife is a grown lady," replied Coram from the side of his mouth. "She's perfectly capable of taking care of herself."
They reached the group before anything else could be said, and introductions had to be made all around. "So you're the new Commander," said the noble from a fief just south of there. "You don't look like much to me."
"Looks can be very deceiving," replied Lyssa, grinning evilly. "Just ask Caleb and see what he says."
"I'll be sure to," murmured the man, moving away as he did.
"Don't mind Markus," said the lady to her right. "He's just a bit old fashioned and thinks us women aught to stay at home and knit. Yeah right."
Lyssa looked at her amusedly, taking in a soft face with spirited gray eyes and light brown hair streaked with blonde. "What's your name again?" asked Lyssa politely, inclining her head slightly. "I don't believe I remember it."
"That's because I didn't give it," replied the lady with a smirk. "I am Danielle of Terrance cliff, the fief that Markus is Commander at."
"Then Sir Trenton is your father?" asked Lyssa, motioning to a man she had had to meet a few days ago.
"Yes, he is," replied Lady Danielle. "I am glad someone finally had the sense to hire a woman to do the job that men can't handle." She raised her voice slightly, watching as Markus's face went from a light pink to a bright red. "Oh, I love doing that," she confessed quietly to Lyssa, watching as the man stomped over to her father and began to speak rather loudly.
"Sir, I would request that we leave before Coram's Commander corrupts your daughter any further," he said loudly, making sure everyone could hear.
"On the contrary," replied Sir Trenton, eyeing him calmly, "She is probably learning more manners from Commander Lyssa than she ever learned from you, and I suggest that you take a few lessons from her yourself. Maybe SHE could actually teach you something where so many others have failed."
Lyssa and Danielle laughed quietly, trying to hide it behind their hands without really succeeding at all. Lyssa had just recovered from the whole thing when Coram waved to her from another part of the room ad motioned for her to come over.
"I must go, Lady Danielle-"
"It's just Danielle, please," interrupted Danielle quickly.
"Danielle," continued Lyssa with a smile. "Come by sometime and we'll talk some more. I think you and I could be good friends."
"Yes," replied Danielle as Lyssa walked away quickly. "Yes indeed."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda shifted through the stack of bad poetry on her desk in search of a certain paper as she got ready for the ball. It was the day after mid- winter, and she and her sister had received loads of candy and cheap jewelry and really bad poems from their suitors.
"That's it!" cried Amanda, taking all the pages of useless paper and throwing them in the fire in her room. "I am sick of these worthless pieces of junk!"
Elizabeth leaned on her door frame, watched a very aggravated Amanda shuffle the rest of the papers around on her desk and finally find the one she'd been looking for, the grant that said her lands were to be doubled in size by the outlying lands that had yet to be granted so she could farm more.
"Having fun?" asked Elizabeth, dressed in a red velvet gown that changed colors as she moved.
"Loads," growled Amanda, trying to pin up her hair and read over the document at the same time. Some how it was not working...
"Want some help?" asked Elizabeth as she made herself float in, one of the new tricks she had learned to do with her gift. She could now make herself levitate in the air and make things levitate to her, which just plain creped some people out.
"Would you?" murmured Amanda, sitting down at her desk and letting Elizabeth finish her hair for her. She wore a dark blue velvet dress similar to Elizabeth's with far less showing.
Just as soon as both tasks were finished they left and went to the main hall, meeting their escorts halfway. Elizabeth's was her latest crush, Richard of Westlake who was a third year to some knight in the palace. Amanda's was Richard's older brother, Nick, who was a knight and who she 'discussed' issues with that surrounded the Kingdom quite often. {Fight would be the better word, though. What may have started as a discussion usually ended up as a fight with Amanda coming out in the lead.}
"You look lovely tonight," complimented Richard as he and his date walked down the stairs to the hall, the herald announcing them out for the rest to hear.
"Thank you," replied Elizabeth warmly, sticking all the closer to his side, much to the disappointment of the many young men who were watching her.
"I swear if you make one comment..." growled Amanda, pasting on a smile as she lightly took Nick's arm.
"I won't, I won't," said Nick knowingly. "But you do look very nice tonight."
"Thanks," replied Amanda lightly, trying to hide her dislike for these social functions. "I'm leaving the moment I can get away, seriously."
"I believe the King ordered you come and see him right before the last song for dancing is played," replied Nick, trying to act calm as they made their entrance. "Looks like you'll have to stay the whole time."
"Grrrrrrr...." Amanda was glad about one thing, with Nick as her escort she didn't have to mess with the rest of the noble boys at least for a little while. "Mention that again and I'll slit your throat personally."
Nick, having gotten used to threats like that, just laughed and replied, "Oh well, everyone's time comes sooner or later, might as well be sooner!"
"You rat," growled Amanda, smiling as she did. "I actually aught to do it some day, just to teach you a lesson."
"Yes, you probably should," replied Nick, nodding his head in agreement. "But in the mean time could you at least try to forget that you hate wearing dresses and dancing with complete strangers long enough to act like you're having a good time?"
"Maybe," replied Amanda, frowning slightly, "But I am going to go have a quick chat with the King, if you'll excuse me."
"Oh, gods..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse walked down the main staircase to the hall where the ball was held, just behind Princess Shinkokami's right with Yuki right beside her. Lady Haname walked behind them and the four of them made quite a marvelous sight. All were dressed in richly decorated Kimonos of bright colors with imprints of dragons, palm trees, fans, or flowers on their outer ones.
"There's lover boy," said Yuki, nodding at Faleron who was watching from a corner with big puppy eyes.
"Will you give that up?" asked Alyse sharply. "He's not my lover boy..."
"Yet," finished Lady Haname for her, ignoring the glare Alyse sent her way.
"He's coming this way," whispered Yuki. "Two coppers says he kisses your hand."
"You're on," replied Alyse, knowing Faleron had tried nothing of the sort since their first meeting. While the other three were swamped by a wave of young suitors, she slipped through and way able to get to Faleron quite easily.
"Good evening, fair lady," he said softly, taking her and kissing it before offering her his arm and leading her to the dance floor.
"You know, I just lost a bet because of you," said Alyse quietly, her face a mask of calmness.
"Really? What about?"
"It doesn't matter," replied Alyse, going slightly pink. "You look really great tonight."
"And you, fair lady, could outshine a hundred stars with your beauty," replied Faleron, sounding very much like Cleon for a moment.
"Have you been taking lessons from that big red headed friend of yours?" asked Alyse tartly. "And I do have a name, which I would appreciate if you used it."
"Of course, Lady Alyse," replied Faleron. Leaning closer, he added, "Can you really tell that I've been around Cleon too long?"
Alyse just nodded, crinkling her eyes in hidden laughter as he whirled her around the dance floor. This, she decided, was very close to absolute happiness.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer sat with the rest of the family in the circle, exchanging gifts and eating fresh bread with jam as they had a late night snack together in their kitchen. She and Roberto had been to busy all day to come and exchange gifts earlier, so they had agreed to wait until the shop was closed up after dinner to do it.
She handed Chelsea a small box, who opened it quickly and smiled with joy. In it was a small brass comb for keeping hair out of the way, edged with small precious stones and a larger one in the middle. The two girls had already opened their gifts, which were a doll for each of them with nice dresses and a small purse to go with it. Roberto opened his and grinned as well, it was a new cooking hat. His last one had gotten badly scorched while working over a grill one day and he hadn't been able to replace it since then.
"You like your presents then?" asked Jennifer, ducking her head slightly.
"You bet!" cried Roberto enthusiastically, placing it firmly on his head as Chelsea secured the comb in her hair. The girls were having a tea party in their own little world with their new dolls and cups from their parents, obviously in childhood heaven.
"Open your gifts," Chelsea urged Jennifer, putting a box in her hands. "It's got your name on it."
"Alright," agreed Alyse, lifting up the lid. Inside was an apron that was in far better shape than hers and double lined to resist the heat. The edges were embroidered to make it look pretty, and the strings to tie it back were made of rope that would hold better. "Oh my goodness, thank you so much," whispered Jennifer as she tried it on and found it to be a perfect fit.
"That's not all!" cried Maria and Carla together, bringing up a package between them. Inside was a lovely cape of thicker material than the one she had right now.
"You guys didn't have to do this," protested Jennifer, giving them all hugs.
"Yes we did," objected Chelsea warmly. "You're a part of this family, and we want you to know it. You help around here and get more involved with helping keep us together than any other worker ever has. You are one of us now."
"I guess so," replied Jennifer as she looked at her fine gifts with happiness. [I think I like being one of them.] She thought to herself as the night went on, eating and drinking with them as they just had fun being together, as a family.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Vixen, Mouse, Allie, Joe, Ratina and several others sat around large tables as they celebrated Mid-Winter at the Dancing Dove. Drinks were free to all that night, and Bart was kept busy with the few others he had recruited to help.
"Isn't this great guys?" asked Vixen loudly, a little too drunk for her own good.
"I must say so," replied Joe, almost having to shout over the din. "This is great."
"What'd you all get from old Bart for Mid-Winter?" asked Mouse, downing her third tankard of ale.
"Three bottles of the best wine there is," replied Vixen, rising from the table. "What say we go back up stairs and drink it gone, eh?"
"I'm up to it," replied Allie, following her up the stairs. Mouse and Joe with one other Allie had under her spell came up as well, downing glass after glass of the fine wine that was sweet to the taste and made your senses buzz pleasantly. To bad it didn't stay that way until morning...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle sat wearily in his chair, trying to stay awake and take in all his etiquette teacher was telling him. Last night his benefactor had thrown a ball for him, but his manners had been very much lacking. In other words he didn't bother to bow to anyone and just nodded or gave an American greeting to them as they came by to meet him.
The older gentleman had been quite shocked at immediately got his lessons started the next day so as to not make that mistake again. He royally embarrassed himself without even knowing it, and that was what made it even worse.
"You seriously don't expect me to remember all this, right?" Kyle asked the guy when he had stopped lecturing long enough to breath a little.
"Of course I do, Master Kyle," replied the man gravely. "Some Kings kill their subjects for not bowing low enough, and we certainly wouldn't want that to happen to you. Now on with the lesson..."
[Gees,] thought Kyle to himself. [I like being rich and all, but maybe this isn't all it's cracked up to be...]
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Vixen sat up the next morning, three bottles that had been full of wine the night before taunting her as her raging headache went on. "Drink this," said a voice through the haze, handing her a cup. She drank it obediently and the change was almost instant. She was able to sit up completely and take a look around her. She had fallen asleep on her bed with Ratina beside her and Joe on the floor below them. Mouse was by herself sprawled out over her covers, and two forms could be seen in Allie's bed in the shadow of the corner.
"That is something I will never do ever again," she groaned, looking up at Bart's weathered, but king face.
"You all drank that faster than it's meant to be," he chastised quietly, leaving a bottle of stuff with her. "Make them all drink that when they wake up, it'll help with the headache and the nausea. Though most of you shouldn't be able to keep down anything solid for a few hours yet..."
"That's comforting," muttered Vixen as she heaved herself off the bed, moaning as she did. The room started to spin for a minute as she steadied herself on the wall, waiting until it stopped to keep going.
"Ohh, my head," murmured Mouse, rolling over as she did. Vixen made her way to her bed, pouring some of the stuff from the bottle down her throat the waiting for it to take effect. "What is that stuff?" asked Mouse when she was fully awake.
"I'm not sure," replied Vixen. "But it sure helps, don't it?"
"Throw that over here," said Joe from his spot on the floor. "I can see the room spinning."
"I'll just bring it to you," replied Vixen stumbling over and helping the poor guy drink it down. He glanced over at Allie and commented. "That guy's going to have no memory of any of last night other than coming over to sit with us."
"I know. We better get him to another room before he wakes up," replied Mouse, rising to her feet. They got a few strong thieves up there and had him moved as the rest woke up and got back to their right frame of mind after a good draught of Bart's drink.
"You know, I feel like an elephant stepped on me," mumbled Ratina as she stared at the ceiling.
"A very LARGE elephant," added Vixen. "I am never ever going to do that again."
"Ever?" asked Joe lazily.
"Ever."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Here it is, the 8th part. I went through many pains to get this posted so quickly so you better like it! Review if you will, I'd like it greatly and it helps me move along faster, those of you who know me know this is true. Thanks.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa leaned on the rail of her balcony, facing the west as she watched the sun set lazily amid it's hues of red and orange. "Beautiful, isn't it?" said a voice behind her, causing Lyssa to jump slightly. She turned and saw Ripshka standing in her door way, smiling dreamily. It had been three weeks since she had started working here, and already she had made close friends with the older lady.
"Hello, Ripshka," greeted Lyssa as she came back inside, closing the glass doors behind her.
"Hello, Lyssa. I didn't mean to barge in, dear. But you left the door open and I couldn't see you outside on the balcony..."
"That's alright," she replied, flopping into a chair and motioning one for Ripshka to have. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, since it's obvious you will be staying and working with us for quite some time..."
"Hopefully forever," cut in Lyssa. "I love it here."
"That's great, but you need to know that it's tradition to hold a small ball of sorts for any new high-status workers we get. I'm afraid you'll have to wear a gown, we need you to make a good impression on the fiefs that are near here that we are going to invite..."
"You mean one of those really pretty evening gowns with the full skirts and such?" asked Lyssa, sitting up on her elbows.
"Yes, is that alright?"
"Sweet!" Unlike her rather boyish friend Amanda, she liked getting dressed up when the occasion called for and was a stage make up expert as well. She literally had a huge fishing tackle box full off make up and used it quite often back home,
"Great! Shall we go get you fitted for a dress right now?"
"Sure! What did you have in mind?"
"Well, I was thinking of a purple velvet gown with a low front and no sleeves...." The two ladies walked down the hall side by side as they talked about the different styles of dresses and what would look best on Lyssa for the ball.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda was in her room sorting papers again, growling to herself as she tried to get everything in order for the next morning's mail. This had to go by tomorrow or it would be late, and then she'd be in real trouble.
'Knock! Knock! Knock!'
"Come in!" called Amanda, not even bothering to rise to open the door. A page stuck his head in the door, looking rather hurried.
"The King wants to see you in his office, Lady Amanda," he said nervously.
"Tell him I'll be there as soon as I can manage it," replied Amanda, flicking a silver coin at the page quickly.
"But his Majesty said it was urgent!" protested the page, pocketing the coin before she could change her mind.
"Good gravy...alright I'm coming!" cried Amanda, throwing up her arms in exasperation as she left the papers behind and hurried to the King's study, wondering what he could want to see her about.
King Jonathan was pacing in his study when she arrived, closing the doors behind her and telling the servant to leave. "Sit down, Lady Amanda," he said shortly, going around to his side of the desk.
"I can't stay long, your Highness..."
"I said sit," cut in the King, his face a mask of fury. "I have been more than patient with you, Lady Amanda, but this was really over stepping the line."
"What did I do this time!" cried Amanda, looking rather hurt by the accusation. "I wore I dress to that dinner party you invited me to, I've stayed out of trouble and Elizabeth hasn't been torturing the guys again..."
"What about this?" asked the King, throwing a letter at her over his desk.
"Oh, you mean the response I wrote to Lord Burchard?" replied Amanda, her mood lightening considerably as she recognized her hand writing. "What did he think of it? I wrote it specially for him."
"What in the devil were you thinking?!" yelled the King, turning a few shades of red in the process. "He's a very wealthy noble who could raise up a resistance in no time and destroy the Kingdom!"
"This is none of your concern, King Jonathan..."
"This is all my concern when another noble writes to me that he has been rudely insulted by another noble that I just ennobled for no reason at all!" he yelled in reply.
Amanda rose from her chair, leaning over his desk towards him. "You are a pompous windbag!" snarled Amanda, trying to control the raging temper inside of her. "That idiot had the nerve to ask for my sister's had in marriage to the same son who purposely insulted me and Elizabeth in front of her. The boy deserves every bruise and bump I gave him that day, and I don't regret writing that letter a single bit. I still do not see where that includes you, though. You're a control freak, and all I have to say to you is stop trying to control our life." She turned on her heal and walked to the door, opening it quickly to find Alanna on the other side about to come in with Queen Thayet beside her.
"Don't you dare turn your back on me young lady!" roared the King behind her, turning redder than ever. "No body speaks that way to the King!"
"Well it looks like I just did," retorted Amanda, walking quickly down the hall to her rooms. Elizabeth was waiting for her there and didn't ask any questions as she handed her a cloak and lead the way out the door.
"So what did the King want?" asked Elizabeth, having been in her room when the page had come and asked for Amanda.
"Let's just say he had a bit of an opinion on that letter I wrote to our dear Lord Burchard..."
"Oh, that little thing?" asked Elizabeth, grinning evilly. "I did enjoy reading that copy you left on my desk, what'd he think of it?"
"Don't ask," growled Amanda, trying to calm down before they reached Lalasa's shop. "The meecrob just got on my nerves, that's all."
"Right, and I'm the Queen of England," replied Elizabeth sarcastically. "I don't believe you, but I won't bug you about it either. What ever he did I'm sure you'll make him pay."
They had reached the shop already and before Amanda could reply Lady Rachelle burst of the door, a servant following her laden with packages. "Hello dears!" she cried, sweeping them into a hug. She pulled back before they could react and raced down the street. "I'll see you tonight!" she called over her shoulder, the servant scuttling to keep up with her.
"Ok, that was weird," muttered Amanda, forgetting about the King completely. "Come on, let's go get this over with." She walked in and waited for Lalasa to notice her and Elizabeth.
"Coming to pick up your gowns?" she asked briskly, whisking away to the back before either of them could reply.
"Is every body on super speed mode today or something?" sighed Amanda, leaning against the counter tiredly. Blowing up like that really took it out of her for some reason.
"Here you go!" said Lalasa cheerily as she returned to the front, two small packages in her hands. "These are the two very beautiful gowns you ordered."
"I'm sure they're lovely, Lalasa. How they look on me is another matter entirely..." replied Amanda wryly, picking both up and tucking them under her arm.
"Oh, they'll look great on you," replied Lalasa sincerely.
"I'm glad somebody thinks so," replied Amanda, giving her a bag of coins. "Here's what you said it would cost."
"There's four gold nobles more in there than what I told you," objected Lalasa after she had counted it out, looking at the two ladies shrewdly.
"Oh, so there is," remarked Amanda offhandedly as she made her way to the door. "Consider it a Mid-Winter gift, than, because it was my mistake."
"But four gold nobles!"
"Just take it, Lalasa," insisted Elizabeth, "You do the best sewing there is in these parts, and we appreciated the work you do for us."
"But my lady!"
"Lalasa, just take it." The sisters left, walking the long path back to the palace and a rather angry king who would probably want to be seeing them very soon.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Libby sat quietly in a corner, watching as Artman trying to make a ball of fire levitate in the air. Trystan wasn't present at the moment and he was trying to prove that he was better than he really was. "Artman, are you sure you know what you're doing?" asked Libby nervously, not wanting him to get hurt.
A stream of curses erupted from Trystan's tent. "You two better be working on your meditating!" she called when she was done.
"We are!" replied Artman as he continued to try work the spell. The ball began to glow strangely and Libby backed up even farther into the corner.
"Stop it, Artman!" she cried, getting Trystan's attention. "Stop the spell!"
"I can handle it!"
'BOOM!!!'
Needless to say, the ball exploded and sent everyone flying heads over heals into the dirt outside. Trystan was definitely less than pleased.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
"!#$@%$#^&%$&@&%%*&^%*$&&%#%@$^#!#%(*&&$^#%@$#!$#!%$*&%(^$%^%$@%$#$&%&....(e tc, etc, etc)" The Lady Mage finally stopped just long enough to catch her breath. "You two better be working on your meditating!" she called, trying to calm herself down.
"We are!" called back the boy. She looked back into the scrying bowl and sighed, this was definitely not her day. The King was raging mad at her two palace brats, and they were equally miffed at him for his scolding from their letter. That moronic idiot Lord Burchard deserved every word said in that letter, and the eldest 'sister' aught to be given a medal for writing it.
"Stop it Artman!" she heard someone cry. "Stop the spell!"
The Lady Mage went and opened the door of the tent quickly. "What the..."
'BOOM!!!'
(For those of you who are a little slow, the Lady Mage and Trystan are the same person, ok? Correction, you'd have to be super slow not to get it by now.)
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Onua, Daine, Numair, Sarah, and John sat in the cramped little kitchen, enjoying the Mid-Winter feast the first three had brought for the ranch workers. Onua had bagged a doe a few days back half of it was now set before them with a dish of mashed potatoes and gravy. There were some canned peaches and a pie, not to mention the chocolate fudge Numair had brought as a gift. It wasn't a nice as many had, and the palace dinner surpassed it easily. But is was shared with friends who cared, and that's all that really mattered.
"How's the search for that griffin's parents going?" asked Onua when the food had been passed and everyone's plates were filled.
"As good as can be expected. I can't get around all that much, and finding them is even harder with the snow. Hopefully we'll have better luck when the weather turns," replied Daine, sipping some hot cider thoughtfully. "Kel's being great though, the way she takes care of it. The little terror's completely savaged her hands, they're scarred worse than Alanna's, and she still keeps trooping along with him."
"She's certainly more polite than several of the pages," commented Numair. "I've watched her and her pals during balls and other parties where they have to serve, and she's the one who keeps them in line."
"Sounds like someone I know," muttered John into his cup.
"Hey!" protested Sarah, putting down her fork to look at him.
"What?" he asked when he noticed her odd look. "I didn't mean you, if that's what you're staring at me for."
"Oh, then who?"
"Think about who was always keeping everyone from killing each other in the band room."
"Oh, I get it."
"What are you two talking about?" asked Onua.
"Just a friend from our other world or whatever it is," replied Sarah.
"How long have you two known each other?" asked Numair out of the blue.
"About a year, why?" replied John.
"You seem pretty close for having only known each other for a year," he remarked.
"Maybe it's just easier for people to get close when they're closer in age," retorted John, watching as Daine went pink in embarrassment, and Numair red with anger.
"John, be nice!" cried Sarah, nudging his lightly.
"What! He started it."
"John..."
"No, it's alright," cut in Numair with an evil glint in his eye. "He is young and hot tempered, he doesn't realize that time is the best tester of all."
"Only if you're slow minded and an idiot," murmured John, leaning back in his chair.
Sarah and Daine were both looking rather shocked. "Do you have any idea what you're saying?" Sarah asked John.
"I'm sorry, he just reminds me of Mike, and we always fought no matter what," apologized John, feeling bad about what he said when he saw Sarah's face.
"Numair?" said Diane softly, looking at him with sad eyes. When he didn't reply she began to get worried. "Numair??"
"Huh?" He looked like he had just woken from a trance and found himself in a place he didn't know existed.
"Why did you act like that?" whispered Daine worriedly.
"I...don't know..." replied Numair dazedly, looking as if he were trying to figure something out. "I really...don't know..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
The Lady Mage sat staring at the scrying bowl tiredly. As much as she enjoyed making those to hot-heads fight, it got old quickly when she did it so often. "You'd think those two would stop making references back to their world by now," she growled softly to herself, and was thankful for certainly not the first nor the last time for her inexhaustible reserves of power.
"We finished mending the holes in the tent, Trystan," came a meek voice from the flap of her tent. It was Libby, one of her apprentices for the moment.
"Good, now you can set it back up," she replied wryly, thinking of how the idiot who was her other apprentice had tired a hard spell this afternoon on his own.
"Mithros, why me," she mumbled as she got back to work. "Why me?"
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Onua had just told the story about how Daine and her had first met to Sarah and John when there was a heavy banging on the door. Sarah hurried to open in, and two figures burst into the room, wrapped up in cloaks and blankets. It was Sarge and his niece Penny!
"Save anything for us?" asked Sarge as he removed his last set of outer garments that were soaked and settled down by the fire.
"Help yourself," said John lightly. "Not even stork man could eat all that."
"That's certainly debatable," countered Onua, getting a glare from Numair and laughs from everyone else.
"True, true," agree John, grinning wickedly as he watched Numair grumble slightly. "What's wrong Numair, can't take a little teasing?"
"Teasing I can take," replied Numair. "It's little leaches that think they're funny that get on my nerves."
"Then how do you stand yourself?" asked John innocently.
Laughter erupted from everyone, including Daine as the most powerful mage in Tortal tried to regain his dignity. "Just don't say anything and let them think you're a fool without proving them right," Onua advised him, her sides aching with laughter.
"One of these days boy..." he growled.
"You'll what? Turn me into a tree?" mocked John.
"That might not be a bad idea," admitted Numair slyly, black magic filling his hands.
"Cool it, you two," said Sarge roughly as he filled his plate. Numair's magic disappeared, and John bowed his head in submission.
"Did you tell them about what happened last winter?" asked Penny as she sat beside Onua with her plate.
"No, I was going to next though," Onua replied. "Last winter Numair and Sarge decided to try ice fishing..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Vixen sat on her throne at her table surrounded by friends and foes alike. Bart shouted something above the usual din of the Inn, and a man was dragged before her and her company through the crowd with Bart beside him.
"This rat tried to slip out without paying his bill," explained Bart before Vixen asked him a thing.
"Why didn't you pay?" asked Vixen evenly, taking in his worn clothes and tousled hair in an instant.
"Someone took me coins, good Queen!" he cried, looking fairly frantic. Allie came and stood behind Vixen.
"If I bail him out, can I have some fun with him?" whispered Allie so only Vixen could hear.
"Hang on," replied Vixen, eyeing the man slightly. "Do you have any family?" she asked quickly so he could hear. "If you lie I'll cut off your finger."
"No, good Queen, I live alone in a shack not far from here!" cried the man, his eyes filled with terror at the prospect of losing a finger.
"Be my guest," murmured Vixen to Allie, who promptly pulled out a pouch and paid Bart silently. "My sister has decided to help you out," she told the man, who sighed gratefully upon hearing this. He then became dazed as if in a dream and spent the rest of the night fawning over Allie and everything she did.
"That poor guys not going to remember anything past you telling him Allie was paying for his debt in the morning," commented Mouse as she came and sat with Vixen, glad to be off her feet for awhile.
Vixen was about to reply when Ratina walked up, a man who looked foreign beside her. "Where've you been, Rati?" asked Vixen lightly. "We haven't seen you around for days."
"Jeremy had a sister in town, I've been with her the past couple of days filling her in on the latest events," replied Ratina, taking Allie's seat quickly, leaving the man to stand behind her.
"Who's he?" asked Mouse, pointing at him suspiciously.
"This is Robby. He and Jeremy had a contract that we wouldn't take anything from him in exchange for am occasional free feast at his shop, and his family would be protected from pickpockets and any attacks," explained Ratina, accepting a mug of ale from Bart with a nod.
"Then he wants to see if I'll renew that contract?" asked Vixen.
"That's the idea," replied Robby, leaning on the table. "I've got the best food you'll find anywhere, Ratina and several others can testify to that."
"He does," agreed Ratina when she saw Vixen raise an eyebrow in surprise.
"I'll be fair, then, and give you and chance," decided Vixen. "If you can wow me and my sisters with your excellent food, you'll get that contract renewed and better for and long as I am Queen. Try anything and I'll add one of your fingers to my collection of many." In truth she gave the fingers to Alleycat as she cut them, and she had only taken three or four so far but he didn't know that.
"Trust me, my Queen of Thieves, you will not be sorry," replied Robby, bowing low to the ground and heading out the door as soon as he could get through the crowd.
"Is he really that trust worthy?" Mouse asked Ratina.
"Yeah, and his new cook's even better than him."
"Will we get to meet this new cook?" asked Vixen.
"Yeah, maybe in a few months or something, she appears to be really fragile so lets give her sometime before I bring her here."
"Good point."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse walked quietly into the Royal Forest, Ronnie right on her heals, and she escaped the finery and fluff of the royal dress fitting for Princess Shinkokami. "Let's go, Ronnie," called Alyse in Yamanis to her little puppy. Ronnie barked in response and ran along even faster, leaping over logs and rocks as he went.
They came to a secluded stream, and Alyse climbed a few branches up into a tree on it's far bank, taking Ronnie with her. "Like it up here boy?" she asked as she scratched behind his ears fondly. They must've been there for over an hour when Alyse heard someone else coming down the path she had followed.
"Quiet, Ronnie!" exclaimed Alyse quietly when the pup began to bark loudly.
"Is anybody back here?" called a voice from the path, causing Alyse to roll her eyes. It was another one of those cursed Squires. Why couldn't they just leave her and the other Yamanis ladies alone.
Ronnie gave her away by barking loudly again and wriggling out of her grasp. A tall, brown haired boy walked around the trees, looking up at her in surprise. He was fairly thin and wiry, his hair falling in his eyes as he shook his head in amusement.
"May I ask what's so funny?" asked Alyse as she heard his chuckles spill through his hand.
"Nothing, my Lady, I just didn't expect to see one of the fine Yamanis ladies up in a tree with a dog, that's all," replied the boy, bowing low. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Squire Faleron."
"I am Lady Alyse," said Alyse politely, bowing her head as she tried to restrain her yapping puppy. "Hush Ronnie!"
"May I be so bold as to ask why you're up in a tree by your self away from the other ladies?" asked Faleron, looking up at her with his head tilted slightly to the side.
"I wanted to escape my ladies presence and the flock of annoying squires and knights who insisted following them around," replied Alyse, getting Ronnie to sit in her lap calmly.
"Oh, you falsely accuse me, fair lady!" cried Faleron, holding his heart as if he were injured. "My friends may have been in that crowd, but my knight master is too intent upon my studies to allow me to do that."
"Then pray tell why you're out here," said Alyse curtly. "If you're knight- master is so intent upon your studies why do you have time to wander around?"
"I was given a free afternoon, and I thought I might try my luck in the forest rather than with all those love-struck fools," replied Faleron smartly. "And look what it got me."
"Yes, what indeed?"
"A lovely Yamanis lady and her fine pup." Ronnie barked in agreement with him, slipping out of Alyse's grasp and leaping off the branch.
"Ronnie!" cried Alyse, trying to grab him. She missed and the small pup went plummeting to the forest floor. Faleron ran and caught him, only to cry out himself when Alyse jumped from the branch and landed safely on the ground.
"Were did you learn to do that?" asked Faleron in amazement as she took the pup from him and cuddled him is her arms.
"That jump wasn't that far off the ground," replied Alyse, checking over the pup to make sure her was ok. "You could've done it easily yourself."
"Yes, but you're a-"
"Weak little lady?" finished Alyse for him. "And here I was beginning to think that you were half-way decent too." She started to walk away and was surprised when he caught the edge of her sleeve and hung on.
"Please don't go, I'm sorry for even suggesting that," apologized Faleron, looking really sorry.
"Alright, I won't," consented Alyse, figuring talking with his was better than going back to the palace and having more of those fools follow her around.
"Really? You won't go?" said Faleron in surprise.
"Isn't that what I just said?"
"Well, yeah, but I just didn't expect you to agree to stay."
"Maybe I don't find you as annoying as the rest of your friends."
"Just maybe?"
"Just maybe..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer stood in the kitchen, stirring some paste in one bowl while keeping an eye on the bread that was in the oven with one eye and a pot of oil that couldn't boil over with the other. "Keeping busy, Jenny?" asked Roberto as he walked in to help.
"You bet," replied Jennifer, her attention completely divided between the three tasks that she was trying to do at the same time.
"Guess what? You get to cook for the King of Tortal and the Queen of Thieves," said Roberto calmly, acting as if he was just talking about the weather.
"The King? I get to cook for the King?" replied Jennifer in wonder.
"Yep, he wants us to cater one of the banquets he holds during the Mid- Winter celebration. That way the Yamanis can taste our cooking as well, and all the guests who will be there."
"And what did you say about the Queen of Thieves?"
"They have a new one if you remember what Ratina said. Well, she got me in earlier than she thought would be possible, so we struck a deal when I spoke to her. If you can cook up some absolutely fabulous food, I'll take it over there and she'll decide whether or not we're worth the deal."
"What happens if we don't do good enough?"
Roberto visibly shuddered. "Let's not think about that, Jenny. We'll make it without any problems." Mentally he added [I hope...]
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle walked into the empty band room, having been hoping to surprise Elizabeth by showing up to say hi without telling her he was coming. He looked at her locker and was surprised to see that the lock was still locked. She rarely closed it, and Amanda's was still open. He spotted a leather bond book below the door and picked it up, looking at it closely.
The pictures on the front cover were familiar, and he flipped to the front pages to see the pictures that were drawn there. [Cool] he thought to himself [Amanda had them all put in a book, I wish I could be in it.] He went on and read through it, getting to the part where Elizabeth and Amanda appear, realizing slightly what was going on. He closed the book and ran for the door, only to be sucked in by the every vigilant flash of light.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
The Lady Mage chose to put him on a road far from Corus, close to the fief of an old man who had no heir and was in his late sixties. Kyle took stock of his surroundings, his jaw open in awe.
"This can't be real, oh this can't be real..." he kept repeating over an over to himself. "There is no way I could be in this book there is just no way..." He began to walk down the road, realizing after a few steps that he was wearing a shirt and loose tunic with some hose and ankle boots. He could be mistaken for any merchant's son other than the fact he had no idea where he was.
He continued to go down the road, figuring that any place was better than in the middle of the wilderness, and the road had to lead some place so he might as well find out where. Up ahead he saw an overturned carriage and heard someone calling from the inside. The horses that should've been there were nowhere in sight, and there was a chest of gold sitting open outside the carriage.
[This is weird] thought Kyle as he got closer to the wreck and gold. [Might as well help whoever it is, though. Maybe they'll help me out and give me a job or something]
"Are you alright in there?" he called, trying to force the door open.
"I'm fine, the door's stuck though," called the voice again. "Please hurry, it's been quite awhile since I've seen anyone at all."
"Do you know if there's any tools on this thing?" asked Kyle as he tried once more to open the door.
"Yes, there should be a box under the wheels." Since the wheels were now up in the air, it was only the work of a moment to find it and get a crowbar out, using it to pry open the door. Inside lay quite a surprise for him.
There sat an old man, perfectly fine seated on many cushions without looking the least bit ruffled. "Hullo, there," he said cheerfully. "You just did a very good deed boy, and now you shall be rewarded for it."
"What's going on here?" asked Kyle, looking very confused. A few men came out of the woods, bearing a litter on their shoulders and a few others carrying with them a fine robe and slippers which they put on Kyle.
"I set up what looked like an accident and the first young man who came along and 'rescued' me was going to become my heir to my fief," explained the old man, looking rather pleased with himself. "Since I have no wife and am childless, it looks like it falls to you, young man. What's your name?"
"Kyle. And what is a fief?"
The forest opened up to show hundreds of acres of farmland being tended to by serfs and servants with a large orchard and a lake. There was a forest beside the lake, and behind all of it was a huge mansion that was a fort all by itself.
"That is, my boy," said the man, sighing in pleasure as he looked over it all.
"Whoa..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Vixen left her throne at the table awhile after lunch, feeling the need to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the tavern. She sat on the sill of her window, letting one leg hang out as she settled herself there and watched the clouds drift lazily across the sky. A playful breeze ruffled her hair slightly, as much as the tight curls would let it, and she sighed in content as she felt free for the first time in days.
"Can I come in?" asked a voice at the door. She turned to see a rather haggard looking Joe standing there, about to fall asleep on his feet.
"Get in here and sit down before you hurt yourself," she scolded him, looking rather worried. "Where have you been for the past week?" He had disappeared a few days after her 'coronation' and hadn't been seen since.
"Around and about, I had to go tell George how it went, and I had to go think about some things for awhile," he replied, taking a seat on her be below the window.
"What about?" she asked. "You can tell me anything, you know that."
"I'm not sure I should," he replied, looking past her at the sky outside. "I do value my life after all."
"I promise not to get mad, what ever it is you did," she sighed, messing his hair up slightly. "What ever it is, you obviously need to tell someone and who better than your Queen?"
"If you're sure..."
"Absolutely."
"Alright...the night that you fought Jeremy, I was a mess. You sacred me sick, and what was worse for me was that I could not help you if I needed to. You and your sisters, you're like family to me. Even if we do fight a lot, I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." He thought about it for a minute and added. "Any of you three."
"You're sweet, Joe," replied Vixen, sitting next to him on the bed. "Soft as bread soaked in water, but sweet. Don't worry, I told you I'd be alright and I am, see?"
"But what if..."
"What did I tell you about the 'what ifs'?" growled Vixen softly, letting him know that she was only teasing.
"Still, I want you to be careful. Being in charge of the Rouge is no piece of cake, and I just don't want you to end of dead because of something that could've been avoided."
"I promise to be careful, ok?"
"Alright."
"That's better." They just sat there for a really long time, not saying anything and just enjoying the others company. Unfortunately, they weren't the only ones in hearing distance.
[Oh boy...] thought Mouse from her seat on the roof outside the window [Vixen's falling for Joe!]
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer was in the palace kitchens; chopping, grinding, mixing, baking, slicing, cutting, whipping, boiling, and creating as fast as she could. As soon as she set down a dish, it was swept away by a page or squire to be served to those seated outside the kitchen doors in the main hall.
Roberto was doing the same thing right across from her, going even faster than she thought was humanly possible. It was a good thing that they were only doing the main dishes, because if they had been doing the bread, vegetables, and drinks as well things would've gotten out of control.
"How are things going, Roberto?" asked a man dressed in fine clothes and crown who stood just inside the door.
"Just fine, you're majesty," replied Roberto, nodding curtly. "I'd like you to meet my helper, Jennifer."
"Hello, your highness," said Jennifer, just taking the time to do a quickly curtsy before she got right back to work.
"Excellent food this time, Roberto," commented the King as he watched them go. "I'm upping your pay another twenty gold nobles, if that's ok with you that is."
"It's just fine, your majesty, it's just fine," replied Roberto, beaming as he chopped some carrots at the speed of light.
"Then go see Sir Gareth after you're done and he'll pay you. Until next time, good man."
"Until next time, your majesty."
Jennifer felt giddy with excitement, she had just met the King of Tortal! "Don't let it get to your head, Jenny," warned Roberto as he stirred some cremes together. "He's just a man and will change his mind about that raise if some food turns out bad so keep your mind on task and forget about him until afterward, understand?"
"Yes sir," replied Jennifer, smiling as she did. "Yes sir..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse sat next to Lady Haname and Yuki for dinner, eating some delicious dishes that the King had ordered specially for that meal. "I saw you coming out of the royal forest with some fellow I hadn't seen before," said Lady Haname quietly as she tasted some meat she had never seen before. "Who was he?"
"Alyse was with a guy this afternoon?" asked Yuki, her eyes crinkling with hidden laughter. "Who was this masked male, Lady Alyse?"
"His name is Faleron," replied Alyse calmly, trying her very best to remain completely undisturbed. "He is a Squire here at the palace."
"Would he happen to be the one who keeps looking at you as he serves over in the other corner?" asked Lady Haname, the interest showing ever so slightly in her voice.
Alyse looked up, eyes widening a fraction of an inch when she saw him staring at her from across the room. "So it is," teased Yuki lightly, noticing her change of face. "What's he like and why were you with him alone in the royal forest."
"I went for a walk with Ronnie and met him at the stream back there," explained Alyse evenly. "If Ronnie had not insisted upon making a racquet, he wouldn't have even known I was there and would've passed on by."
"Stop blaming the dog," admonished Lady Haname gently. "I saw you give him that extra treat when you got back, so you certainly weren't mad at him."
"Since when is my life open for inspection?" asked Alyse, trying to change the subject.
"Since you joined us," replied Yuki, eyes crinkling once more. "Now tell us about him."
"If you insist," sighed Alyse, giving into the two insistent ladies. "He's nice enough for a Squire and certainly not as stupid as some...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa stood on the block of wood impatiently in the dressmaker's shop. "Will you pleas stop moving so I can finish hemming this, dear miss?" asked the seamstress for the third time. "If you don't we'll be here all day."
"Sorry, I just to get this over with," apologized Lyssa, looking at herself in the mirror. Her hair had gotten a lot longer and was now down past her shoulders a bit. The dress was a deep purple velvet with a full skirt and tight bodice. The top was sleeveless, not to mention strapless, and went down a bit lower than she liked. She was to wear a lavender shawl over it with purple-dyed slippers, and some dark amethysts Ripshka had lent her.
"You look lovely, missy," commented the seamstress, finished pinning up the bottom at last.
"I agree," said Ripshka from the door. "You'll knock 'em dead, honey."
"Great, there goes the garrison," muttered Lyssa, rolling her eyes as she did.
"We can always get a new one drawn here because of your great beauty," joked Ripshka, helping her off the block in that dress. "Hurry up and change, the men are waiting for you. Coram's started them off, but you'll need to get out there as fast as you can."
"Yes ma'am," called Lyssa as she rushed behind a curtain to take off the dress as quickly as she could without damaging it. Quickly changing into her clothes, she ran out the door as Ripshka laughter could be heard behind her the whole way...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda and Elizabeth had agreed to exchange gifts early since both might need the other's gift before Mid-Winter, knowing how their gift went.
Elizabeth took the small package from Amanda and ripped it open, taking out a small pendent shaped like a rose with a strange shape engraved in the back. "What is that for?" asked Elizabeth, pointing to it for her to see.
"It's a charm against getting pregnant, curtsy of Lady Cooper. Just in case knowing you..."
"Hey!" cried Elizabeth, punching her in the arm.
"Yeah, I know you could've used it earlier," teased Amanda, earning herself another punch. "Besides, the rose will throw off anyone who questions what it is since it's your symbol on the family crest." She caught the box Elizabeth threw at her and opened it quickly, finding a set of sais on the inside. "Sweet!"
"Knew you'd like them," teased Elizabeth, watching as Amanda took them out of their sheaths and tried them out for a minute.
"You're the best!" exclaimed Amanda, giving her a quick hug before she got up and went to go see how well they matched her sword, and somehow they were a perfect set! "Did you get these made to make my blade?" she asked suspiciously as she checked and saw they were from Raven Armory.
"Yep, aren't I the greatest?"
"Other than myself..."
"What?!"
"Just kidding!"
"Amanda..."
"What?"
"Thanks, a lot."
"No problem, Liz. No problem at all."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Onua shoved Sarah and John out of their hut, giving them a bag of gold nobles as she did. "Are you sure?" asked Sarah as she pulled the cloak around her shoulders.
"Go, you two," shooed Onua, blocking them from getting inside again. "Go have some fun. I haven't given you a holiday since you started, and you certainly deserve it so go before I change my mind!"
"Come on, let's go," urged John, getting into the readied cart for them. "They've got that troop of acrobats who are going to be in town today, and I want to see them."
"Alright, I'm coming!" cried Sarah, climbing up and letting him drive them into town through the snow and the slush. They went through all the shops and bought some stuff they wanted with the 25 gold nobles Onua had given them, then went out for an expensive dinner at a fancy restaurant down the street.
The sunset upon the two as they sat before a fire drinking mulled cider as the last of the performers did their routine.
"I'm really glad we took the day off," commented Sarah as they clapped a threw w few coins in the hat for the acrobats and walked to the cart.
"You know what?" asked John, helping her into her seat. "So am I."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Libby and Artman sat in Trystan's tent, working on the spells she had given each of them with a senior mage watching over their shoulder. "Careful, careful," murmured the one who was working with John. "Put too much power in it and it'll kill you."
"Don't try to force the cut to heal," advised the mage as she let the girl heal a scrape she had. "Just let it flow naturally, you've got plenty of power left."
"Very good," praised Trystan when she peaked her head out at them. "You're learning quickly, and you'll easily be ready at this rate for your trips to Corus."
"Really?" asked Libby, looking very hopeful.
"Really really," replied Trystan, smiling at her before turning around and going back into her tent.
"Hey," said Artman, looking up from his firebomb. "Isn't that from Shrek?"
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa stood at the top of the stair case, dressed in her new gown with the slippers, shawl, and amethyst jewelry. "Presenting Commander Lyssa of the Trebond garrison!" announced the herald, motioning for her to go forward. She swept gracefully down the steps, keeping her eyes on Coram and Ripshka who were waiting for her at the bottom.
"Lovely entrance, dear," said the noble lady, giving her a quick hug before letting Coram escort her over to a group of other nobles and Commanders.
"What about Ripshka?" whispered Lyssa as she watched the lady disappear into the crowd.
"My wife is a grown lady," replied Coram from the side of his mouth. "She's perfectly capable of taking care of herself."
They reached the group before anything else could be said, and introductions had to be made all around. "So you're the new Commander," said the noble from a fief just south of there. "You don't look like much to me."
"Looks can be very deceiving," replied Lyssa, grinning evilly. "Just ask Caleb and see what he says."
"I'll be sure to," murmured the man, moving away as he did.
"Don't mind Markus," said the lady to her right. "He's just a bit old fashioned and thinks us women aught to stay at home and knit. Yeah right."
Lyssa looked at her amusedly, taking in a soft face with spirited gray eyes and light brown hair streaked with blonde. "What's your name again?" asked Lyssa politely, inclining her head slightly. "I don't believe I remember it."
"That's because I didn't give it," replied the lady with a smirk. "I am Danielle of Terrance cliff, the fief that Markus is Commander at."
"Then Sir Trenton is your father?" asked Lyssa, motioning to a man she had had to meet a few days ago.
"Yes, he is," replied Lady Danielle. "I am glad someone finally had the sense to hire a woman to do the job that men can't handle." She raised her voice slightly, watching as Markus's face went from a light pink to a bright red. "Oh, I love doing that," she confessed quietly to Lyssa, watching as the man stomped over to her father and began to speak rather loudly.
"Sir, I would request that we leave before Coram's Commander corrupts your daughter any further," he said loudly, making sure everyone could hear.
"On the contrary," replied Sir Trenton, eyeing him calmly, "She is probably learning more manners from Commander Lyssa than she ever learned from you, and I suggest that you take a few lessons from her yourself. Maybe SHE could actually teach you something where so many others have failed."
Lyssa and Danielle laughed quietly, trying to hide it behind their hands without really succeeding at all. Lyssa had just recovered from the whole thing when Coram waved to her from another part of the room ad motioned for her to come over.
"I must go, Lady Danielle-"
"It's just Danielle, please," interrupted Danielle quickly.
"Danielle," continued Lyssa with a smile. "Come by sometime and we'll talk some more. I think you and I could be good friends."
"Yes," replied Danielle as Lyssa walked away quickly. "Yes indeed."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda shifted through the stack of bad poetry on her desk in search of a certain paper as she got ready for the ball. It was the day after mid- winter, and she and her sister had received loads of candy and cheap jewelry and really bad poems from their suitors.
"That's it!" cried Amanda, taking all the pages of useless paper and throwing them in the fire in her room. "I am sick of these worthless pieces of junk!"
Elizabeth leaned on her door frame, watched a very aggravated Amanda shuffle the rest of the papers around on her desk and finally find the one she'd been looking for, the grant that said her lands were to be doubled in size by the outlying lands that had yet to be granted so she could farm more.
"Having fun?" asked Elizabeth, dressed in a red velvet gown that changed colors as she moved.
"Loads," growled Amanda, trying to pin up her hair and read over the document at the same time. Some how it was not working...
"Want some help?" asked Elizabeth as she made herself float in, one of the new tricks she had learned to do with her gift. She could now make herself levitate in the air and make things levitate to her, which just plain creped some people out.
"Would you?" murmured Amanda, sitting down at her desk and letting Elizabeth finish her hair for her. She wore a dark blue velvet dress similar to Elizabeth's with far less showing.
Just as soon as both tasks were finished they left and went to the main hall, meeting their escorts halfway. Elizabeth's was her latest crush, Richard of Westlake who was a third year to some knight in the palace. Amanda's was Richard's older brother, Nick, who was a knight and who she 'discussed' issues with that surrounded the Kingdom quite often. {Fight would be the better word, though. What may have started as a discussion usually ended up as a fight with Amanda coming out in the lead.}
"You look lovely tonight," complimented Richard as he and his date walked down the stairs to the hall, the herald announcing them out for the rest to hear.
"Thank you," replied Elizabeth warmly, sticking all the closer to his side, much to the disappointment of the many young men who were watching her.
"I swear if you make one comment..." growled Amanda, pasting on a smile as she lightly took Nick's arm.
"I won't, I won't," said Nick knowingly. "But you do look very nice tonight."
"Thanks," replied Amanda lightly, trying to hide her dislike for these social functions. "I'm leaving the moment I can get away, seriously."
"I believe the King ordered you come and see him right before the last song for dancing is played," replied Nick, trying to act calm as they made their entrance. "Looks like you'll have to stay the whole time."
"Grrrrrrr...." Amanda was glad about one thing, with Nick as her escort she didn't have to mess with the rest of the noble boys at least for a little while. "Mention that again and I'll slit your throat personally."
Nick, having gotten used to threats like that, just laughed and replied, "Oh well, everyone's time comes sooner or later, might as well be sooner!"
"You rat," growled Amanda, smiling as she did. "I actually aught to do it some day, just to teach you a lesson."
"Yes, you probably should," replied Nick, nodding his head in agreement. "But in the mean time could you at least try to forget that you hate wearing dresses and dancing with complete strangers long enough to act like you're having a good time?"
"Maybe," replied Amanda, frowning slightly, "But I am going to go have a quick chat with the King, if you'll excuse me."
"Oh, gods..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse walked down the main staircase to the hall where the ball was held, just behind Princess Shinkokami's right with Yuki right beside her. Lady Haname walked behind them and the four of them made quite a marvelous sight. All were dressed in richly decorated Kimonos of bright colors with imprints of dragons, palm trees, fans, or flowers on their outer ones.
"There's lover boy," said Yuki, nodding at Faleron who was watching from a corner with big puppy eyes.
"Will you give that up?" asked Alyse sharply. "He's not my lover boy..."
"Yet," finished Lady Haname for her, ignoring the glare Alyse sent her way.
"He's coming this way," whispered Yuki. "Two coppers says he kisses your hand."
"You're on," replied Alyse, knowing Faleron had tried nothing of the sort since their first meeting. While the other three were swamped by a wave of young suitors, she slipped through and way able to get to Faleron quite easily.
"Good evening, fair lady," he said softly, taking her and kissing it before offering her his arm and leading her to the dance floor.
"You know, I just lost a bet because of you," said Alyse quietly, her face a mask of calmness.
"Really? What about?"
"It doesn't matter," replied Alyse, going slightly pink. "You look really great tonight."
"And you, fair lady, could outshine a hundred stars with your beauty," replied Faleron, sounding very much like Cleon for a moment.
"Have you been taking lessons from that big red headed friend of yours?" asked Alyse tartly. "And I do have a name, which I would appreciate if you used it."
"Of course, Lady Alyse," replied Faleron. Leaning closer, he added, "Can you really tell that I've been around Cleon too long?"
Alyse just nodded, crinkling her eyes in hidden laughter as he whirled her around the dance floor. This, she decided, was very close to absolute happiness.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer sat with the rest of the family in the circle, exchanging gifts and eating fresh bread with jam as they had a late night snack together in their kitchen. She and Roberto had been to busy all day to come and exchange gifts earlier, so they had agreed to wait until the shop was closed up after dinner to do it.
She handed Chelsea a small box, who opened it quickly and smiled with joy. In it was a small brass comb for keeping hair out of the way, edged with small precious stones and a larger one in the middle. The two girls had already opened their gifts, which were a doll for each of them with nice dresses and a small purse to go with it. Roberto opened his and grinned as well, it was a new cooking hat. His last one had gotten badly scorched while working over a grill one day and he hadn't been able to replace it since then.
"You like your presents then?" asked Jennifer, ducking her head slightly.
"You bet!" cried Roberto enthusiastically, placing it firmly on his head as Chelsea secured the comb in her hair. The girls were having a tea party in their own little world with their new dolls and cups from their parents, obviously in childhood heaven.
"Open your gifts," Chelsea urged Jennifer, putting a box in her hands. "It's got your name on it."
"Alright," agreed Alyse, lifting up the lid. Inside was an apron that was in far better shape than hers and double lined to resist the heat. The edges were embroidered to make it look pretty, and the strings to tie it back were made of rope that would hold better. "Oh my goodness, thank you so much," whispered Jennifer as she tried it on and found it to be a perfect fit.
"That's not all!" cried Maria and Carla together, bringing up a package between them. Inside was a lovely cape of thicker material than the one she had right now.
"You guys didn't have to do this," protested Jennifer, giving them all hugs.
"Yes we did," objected Chelsea warmly. "You're a part of this family, and we want you to know it. You help around here and get more involved with helping keep us together than any other worker ever has. You are one of us now."
"I guess so," replied Jennifer as she looked at her fine gifts with happiness. [I think I like being one of them.] She thought to herself as the night went on, eating and drinking with them as they just had fun being together, as a family.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Vixen, Mouse, Allie, Joe, Ratina and several others sat around large tables as they celebrated Mid-Winter at the Dancing Dove. Drinks were free to all that night, and Bart was kept busy with the few others he had recruited to help.
"Isn't this great guys?" asked Vixen loudly, a little too drunk for her own good.
"I must say so," replied Joe, almost having to shout over the din. "This is great."
"What'd you all get from old Bart for Mid-Winter?" asked Mouse, downing her third tankard of ale.
"Three bottles of the best wine there is," replied Vixen, rising from the table. "What say we go back up stairs and drink it gone, eh?"
"I'm up to it," replied Allie, following her up the stairs. Mouse and Joe with one other Allie had under her spell came up as well, downing glass after glass of the fine wine that was sweet to the taste and made your senses buzz pleasantly. To bad it didn't stay that way until morning...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle sat wearily in his chair, trying to stay awake and take in all his etiquette teacher was telling him. Last night his benefactor had thrown a ball for him, but his manners had been very much lacking. In other words he didn't bother to bow to anyone and just nodded or gave an American greeting to them as they came by to meet him.
The older gentleman had been quite shocked at immediately got his lessons started the next day so as to not make that mistake again. He royally embarrassed himself without even knowing it, and that was what made it even worse.
"You seriously don't expect me to remember all this, right?" Kyle asked the guy when he had stopped lecturing long enough to breath a little.
"Of course I do, Master Kyle," replied the man gravely. "Some Kings kill their subjects for not bowing low enough, and we certainly wouldn't want that to happen to you. Now on with the lesson..."
[Gees,] thought Kyle to himself. [I like being rich and all, but maybe this isn't all it's cracked up to be...]
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Vixen sat up the next morning, three bottles that had been full of wine the night before taunting her as her raging headache went on. "Drink this," said a voice through the haze, handing her a cup. She drank it obediently and the change was almost instant. She was able to sit up completely and take a look around her. She had fallen asleep on her bed with Ratina beside her and Joe on the floor below them. Mouse was by herself sprawled out over her covers, and two forms could be seen in Allie's bed in the shadow of the corner.
"That is something I will never do ever again," she groaned, looking up at Bart's weathered, but king face.
"You all drank that faster than it's meant to be," he chastised quietly, leaving a bottle of stuff with her. "Make them all drink that when they wake up, it'll help with the headache and the nausea. Though most of you shouldn't be able to keep down anything solid for a few hours yet..."
"That's comforting," muttered Vixen as she heaved herself off the bed, moaning as she did. The room started to spin for a minute as she steadied herself on the wall, waiting until it stopped to keep going.
"Ohh, my head," murmured Mouse, rolling over as she did. Vixen made her way to her bed, pouring some of the stuff from the bottle down her throat the waiting for it to take effect. "What is that stuff?" asked Mouse when she was fully awake.
"I'm not sure," replied Vixen. "But it sure helps, don't it?"
"Throw that over here," said Joe from his spot on the floor. "I can see the room spinning."
"I'll just bring it to you," replied Vixen stumbling over and helping the poor guy drink it down. He glanced over at Allie and commented. "That guy's going to have no memory of any of last night other than coming over to sit with us."
"I know. We better get him to another room before he wakes up," replied Mouse, rising to her feet. They got a few strong thieves up there and had him moved as the rest woke up and got back to their right frame of mind after a good draught of Bart's drink.
"You know, I feel like an elephant stepped on me," mumbled Ratina as she stared at the ceiling.
"A very LARGE elephant," added Vixen. "I am never ever going to do that again."
"Ever?" asked Joe lazily.
"Ever."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Here it is, the 8th part. I went through many pains to get this posted so quickly so you better like it! Review if you will, I'd like it greatly and it helps me move along faster, those of you who know me know this is true. Thanks.