Hi there again! Thank you so much to those of you said Happy Birthday to
Libby, she loved it and wishes she could thank you all herself! Now on to
the rest of what I need to say.
Yes, I know I'm constantly mixing up Joe, Levi, Sean, and Eric. It's hard to keep 'em straight, all right? I'll do my best not to confuse you all, but as a rule Joe goes with the Rogue, Eric will be around one of the Trebond people or Lyssa, Sean will be with Jennifer or in a Kitchen, and Levi will be with Amanda or Elizabeth, ok??? Thank you! Any more mix-ups you see, just tell me and I'll be sure to clear them up, ok? Ok.
Oh, and just so you know, this %....% signifies a dream, ok?
Now, on with the show.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer woke up early the next morning from habit, surprised to see Sean next to her on a pallet until she remembered what had happened the night before. She had met up with Brenna (now known as Vixen), Allie, and Mouse from her world...and then the telling of the truth to everyone...and then being outside with Sean....
She blushed softly as she thought about that last one and looked around the room slowly. Joe was asleep leaning against Vixen, who had her back to the wall and a blanket around her shoulders. Allie and Mouse were curled up on a pallet together, using the other as a source of warmth, and Ratina was on Vixen's other side using her leg as a pillow.
Sean stirred slightly before rolling over and settling back down, turning her thoughts back to him for the second time. She hadn't been sure he would react when he heard the news, but it certainly wasn't what she had expected...
{Sean had run out into the night, his breath coming out in clouds as he stopped by a wall and leaned on it heavily. Jennifer had followed him, grabbing her shawl as she did to keep off the cold. He was shivering by the time she reached him, but what surprised her most was the single tear running down his face.
He had wiped it away the moment he saw her, but she had still seen it and rushed to his side to wrap an arm around his waist. "I know it's a shock," she had whispered to him softly. "Think of the shock I had when I found myself torn away from my family and friends and having no idea what was to happen next."
"It's not that," sniffed Sean, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You could be from the realm of the gods for all I care...it's just...what if you have to go home eventually...."
"What does it matter?" asked Jennifer gently. "I'm here now, the future can hold what it will, it doesn't matter to me. I'm happy right now, with my job, finding new friends and old ones alike...and having you."
"You're right," replied Sean kissing her gently before leading a stunned Jennifer back to the others to sit and listen to the rest of the tale...}
"Are you there, Jenny?" asked a voice, a hand being waved over her eyes. She went red and snapped back to reality. It was Allie and Vixen, looking rather curious.
"You were just sitting there with this dreamy look on your face," explained Vixen, concern flashing in her eyes for a moment.
"We weren't interrupting anything were we?" asked Allie mischievously, glancing at the still sleeping Sean meaningfully.
"What!"
"Yeah, you never did tell us what happened when you too left last night..." Vixen let her words hang in the air as Allie began to sing softly.
"Jenny's got a boyfriend, Jenny's got a boy friend, Jenny's got a boyfriend..."
"Guys..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda had gotten up early, the sound of pounding feet outside her door waking her up in confusion until she remembered who's ordeal it had. Vinson would have exited the Chamber right now, and an audience would be held any minute. She threw on the nearest clothes that would be acceptable and left a note on the table for Elizabeth, Alyse and Levi before running out the door to trying and make it in time to hear part of it.
She got there out of breath and slipped into a side seat, quickly spotting Kel, Lalasa, Raoul, and several others in the crowd. Vinson made his confessions of hurting and going after three women just as in had said in the book, and was covered in bruises and cuts and appeared, shrunk, and disappeared magically.
Someone sitting beside her caught Amanda's attention for a second, and she turned to see Alyse settle in next to her in a kimono and sandals. She just nodded and turned back to where the guards where now dragging Vinson off for a full confession and a punishment as well.
"I'm going to follow Kel," Amanda whispered to Alyse, getting up quickly before anyone else left.
"Amanda, tomorrow's Joren's Ordeal," Alyse hissed to her, brown eyes meeting blue and green ones. "That means..."
"I'll take care of it," cut in Amanda, seeing Kel slip through the crowd to the door. "I've got to go now. Tell Elizabeth were I am and that I'll be back later, ok?" Without waiting for a reply, she was gone.
Amanda hurried to Kel's quarters, forgetting Joren was going to be waiting there for her until a foot shot out and sent her sprawling. "You and your kind need to stay down there where you belong," said voice dripping with venom. It was Joren, as sarcastic as ever and intent upon taking his anger out on someone.
Kel turned the corner just then, taking in the scene quickly. "Are you happy?" snapped Joren as he turned his back on Amanda (a very dumb thing to do). "You got one of us somehow, you progressives. You can't even fight your own battles-"
Kel stepped forward purposefully. "You'll be a wonderful father someday," she replied. "You're good with bedtime tales."
"Once I'm a knight-"
"You'll never be a knight!" cried Amanda, finally getting to her feet and knocking him over from behind. "Never, Joren of Stone mountain! Do you hear me?"
"Can't even fight fair..."
"Well, I learned from the master of it, Joren." Amanda's voice was dripping with sarcasm as she let out some pent up anger on the young man. "Trust me, boy, when I say that I'm looking forward to seeing the results of your Ordeal. Very much indeed." The sound of a door slamming shut behind them got their attention, and she looked to see that Kel was gone.
Joren cursed and let a few more insults fly before running down the hall away from Kel's room and Amanda's wrath. Amanda sighed and hung her head, she had to stop letting her temper get out of control before she ended up really hurting someone one of these days.
Searching her memory, Amanda knew where Kel would be ending up in the next hour, and went back to her rooms for a bow and some warmer clothes. Hurrying quickly, she went out to the practice fields and strung her recurved bow before taking out an arrow and shooting it skillfully into the center of the target.
She heard steps behind her and turned around, knowing whom it was. Kel looked at her oddly before sighing and saying, "What are you doing here, Amanda?"
"Waiting for you," Amanda replied shortly, turning back to he target to shoot some more.
"But how did you-"
"I know many things," she sighed, trying to figure out what she should say. "This is only one of them."
"I knew you had magic," said Kel evenly as she strung her long bow and aimed at a target. "I just thought it wasn't that kind..."
"It's not," admitted Amanda, letting some more arrows fly and hit the inner ring with a 'thunk!' "But I don't think you'd understand if I told you how I know what I know..."
"Do you know why I'm out here?" asked Kel coolly as she put down her bow and yanked the arrows out of the target. Her quiver was empty.
"I have a pretty good idea..." They fell silent for a long time, just shooting the bows and retrieving the arrows as they needed to until Buri spoke up from behind them.
"When one of my Riders said there were two crazy women out here with a recurve and a stripy bow, I thought he was pulling a fool's gambit on his old commander. I thought only our Yamani lilies shot those things," the commander drawled. Amanda turned and looked like she had been expecting her while Kel jumped slightly.
"I used to," replied Kel, her mask back in place. The rest went as it was in the book, with Amanda just shooting in the background and Buri and Kel talking.
"What are you doing out here, Lady Amanda?" asked Buri at length. "I know you weren't involved in the whole Vinson thing."
"Waiting for you," replied Amanda calmly, starting to pack up her things and getting Kel's as well. "It's cold out here. Let's go inside, ok?"
Buri shrugged and led them into the Rider's mess, sat them at a table, then went to the servers' window. "Kel, I have to go," said Amanda suddenly, getting up and rising from the table. "I'll come by and see you tonight."
"Wait, I wanted to ask you some questions..."objected Kel, wanting to know how she knew all she did.
"No," replied Amanda, seeing Buri come back with some drinks and rolls. "Tell Buri I'm sorry and I'll make it up to her with a round in the practice courts later, ok? Thanks." Once more, without waiting for a reply, she was gone...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
John woke up early, someone pounding on his window outside. It was Sarah, signaling him like they had agreed on. He sighed and rolled out of bed, pulling on some pants as he did. The new foal was on its way. Two of the horses had gotten out of their stalls one night, and this was the result. A mid-winter birth that was certainly not planned in the least bit at all. (Generally as a rule, the Rider's only kept Geldings and Mare, but a Stallion had been born a few years back, and no one had bothered to have him fixed so they were stuck with him now...)
John shrugged on a thick coat and went outside, the warmth instantly taken from him with the howling wind. His teeth were chattering by the time he reached the warm barn, and frozen fingers did not help with the fact that he had to help birth a foal right had that moment.
"Get over here now!" called Sarah from the far stall, kneeling in the straw. She knew from experience back home from working on a horse ranch that the mother would need help, and there was no way she was going to be able to handle it alone.
"I'm coming," he grumbled, taking of his coat and staggering over to her, nights of not sleeping well piling up on him. They did the best they could to make things go smoothly, and even had the umbilical cord cut when the mother shrieked and went limp, her pulse stopped and breathing stilled.
"Go warm up the milk," said John sadly, having expected this reaction. The mare had been sick for months, and only held on really for the birth of her foal. "I'll clean him off and keep him warm." He picked up a towel and gently rubbed the small foal, a mare, down as he check for broken bones and any signs of illness as all.
Sarah came back with a large bottle and handed it to him, going beside the mother's body to drag it out of the way outside into the blizzard. As soon as it was warm enough, they'd bury it out in the field where it belonged. John noticed an odd marking on the foal's flanks as he let her drink the bottle quickly. It looked like a small butterfly, bright cream against the tan hair, and reminded him of someone he had known from before.
"Hey Sarah," said John when she had returned, pointing to the marking. "Who does that remind you of?"
Sarah looked at it and smile. "We'll name it Mandy," she said, "Which means it's a good thing she's not here..." The foal stopped drinking the milk and curled up on John's lap, making no signs of moving at all.
"Ahhh," said Sarah softly, stroking the silky mane gently. "How sweet..."
"Oh, shut up."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle rolled out of bed late that morning, a pounding headache blurring his vision as he struggled to pull on a tunic and a pair of pants. Some how, he kept getting them backwards and inside out until a strong pair of hands sat him down and began to dress him for him.
"I think you had too much punch last night, Master," said Kyle's manservant, Rick, softly. "Your father's not going to be happy about you staying out so late at your friend's party..."
"Like I care," said Kyle loftily. "Got anything to get rid of this handover and get me seeing straight again?"
"Drink this, but I warn you it doesn't taste very good..."
"Will it get me back to normal?"
"Pretty much."
"Then, bottom's up!" Kyle downed the whole glass in one draught before turning a very interesting shade of green and running over to the waist bin to puke up everything he had eaten in the past 10 hours.
"Master is feeling better?" asked Rick as he sat beside Kyle patiently.
"Warn a guy next time you make him up chuck his guts, ok?" replied Kyle sourly, slowly rising to his feet.
"It doesn't always do that," objected Rick quickly. "It depends how much you've had to drink and how long ago it was. You must've had more than I thought to have thrown up that much..."
"About 12 or 14 glasses of the red punch and another 5 glasses of the wine..."
"Good heavens!"
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse turned and tossed in her sleep that night, haunted by something that lay in her dreams...
%She stood in front of a screen of sorts, watching scenes and pictures flash over them, not really sure what they meant....
One was of three sneaky looking young women, all strangely familiar but gone before she could study them. The next was of Lyssa, standing there with a uniform on. But the badge wasn't of Trebond. The next was of a short redheaded girl and some sandy-haired guy. She couldn't see the girl's face, and just as the person turned around the scene changed. This time it was Amanda, looking extremely angry as she rapidly shot arrows towards something in the distance and took one in the shoulder before it went on.
Then it was Elizabeth, dancing with some guys she had seen before, wearing masks as they twirled around and around... It changed to a young man she thought she recognized with brown hair and a stubby goatee, hugging a young horse with a butterfly on its flank and another young woman who looked familiar behind him. Next was her following Levi through the woods on a dark night with weapons in hand as they tirelessly hunted for something or someone...
More pictures and scenes and people showed up in her dreams, some she knew and some she didn't, but then she saw two figures glowing brightly in the distance as a portal opened up between them and was sucked inside...%
Alyse sat up in her bed, panting as she tried to calm herself. "It was only a dream," she said out loud, trying to believe it. "It was only a dream..." Some how, though, she knew it wasn't...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
It was late that evening as Rispah and Lyssa sat in their rooms, talking quietly about Lyssa's options at hand. "They've offered me the job again," said Lyssa softly, the firelight dancing across her face. "And I said I'd think about it."
"You know we won't keep you here if that is what you choose," said Rispah kindly, trying to make things easier for the girl. "It's what ever you want."
"But I don't know what I want," argued Lyssa, frowning. "If I go, I don't get to see you, Coram, or Dani any more...or Eric...and I don't want that to happen...But if I stay and never move up...this could be my only chance...ARRRGGHH!!!"
"I know, dear," sighed the older woman, "The choice is hard to make, but it is your choice alone and only you can make it. I'm not even going to tell you what I would do, it might sway you one way or the other."
"Gee, you're a lot of help..." The door burst open just then, Eric striding into the room proudly as he came up to the two at the table.
"I did it," he said at last, sounding very pompous and regal. "I finally told father what I thought of being a steward and what I want to do with my life!"
"What did he say?" asked Rispah calmly.
"That I'd been hanging around Commander Lyssa too long and if I join the Rider's he'll disown me and has already so it's all good, right?" replied Eric, running a hand through his hair. "I'll borrow the money to start, then pay it back when I get my first pay checks..."
"We'll pay for you," said Rispah, patting him on the back. "Consider it your going away present."
"Then I'm set!" said Eric brightly. "I've already talked to Commander Buri, and she said that because I had learned to fight and ride from Lyssa that I could join right away. Turns out they're putting together a new squad and now need only a few others and a captain for it!"
"So that's the position they want you to fill," said Rispah, turning to Lyssa, "What do you think of the position now?"
"I don't know," growled Lyssa, "Sure it'd be fun being with Eric and all-"
"Great! Then you'll do it?" said Eric expectantly. "It'll be just the same as it is now!"
"Except we'll be in the middle of battles and fights this time," muttered Lyssa under her breathe. "Being in charge of a garrison and an elementary group in an army are two completely different things, Eric."
"I know, I know, but still. Promise me you'll consider it."
"I don't know-"
"Please? Please? Please?????"
"Oh, all right. But I'm not giving any promises."
"You big softy," whispered Rispah to Lyssa.
"Oh, hush your mouth."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda got up before dawn the day after Joren's Ordeal, knowing right about now they would be finding him dead. She went as quickly as she could to Kel's room, hoping to get there in time to warn her before it was too late.
She was just about to knock on the door when a full-grown man went crashing into her back and sent her crashing into the door. Her lip split from impact, and the door gave way as Kel opened it from the inside, probably woken up by the noise they had made.
She had a glaive in her hands, and was opening the blinds with another. The man kicked the still stunned Amanda out of the way and dove at Kel, murder in his eyes as he did. Amanda grabbed his feet and brought him down, rolling over by Kel as she spit blood from her mouth.
Amanda was hauled to her feet by Kel as Jump and the birds attacked the man angrily, giving the pair time to collect their wits. "Trollop, you killed my boy!" shouted the man who fought Jump and the birds. Jump gripped one of the man's wrists in his jaws, drawing blood. The birds continued to strike his face and eyes as he flailed at them with his free hand.
The door to Raoul's chambers sprang open. Raoul was in his loincloth, holding his unsheathed sword. Buri, clad in only a blanket, stood at his elbow, a dagger in her free hand.
"Birds move," ordered Raoul. The sparrows darted to one side. Raoul grabbed the snarling man one-handed and smashed him against the wall, shaking off his human companions. "Jump, let go," ordered Raoul. Jump obeyed.
The man continued to curse as his companions babbled on and on about something to Raoul. "That's Lord Burchard of Stone mountain," Amanda explained to Kel softly as she put herself in front of the younger woman. "The woman's his wife and the man his brother. The Chamber killed Joren, that's probably why they're here."
Kel froze as the man stopped long enough to breath. He went right back at it with his threats and curses until Raoul changed his hold and put a fore arm across his neck to cut off the voice and the air.
"My Lord of Stone mountain, you forget yourself," he said icily. "If you try to carry out your threats, I will break your jaw."
"He is distraught," the woman said, her voice breaking. "My lord, please, Burchard is out of his mind with grief."
"My nephew is dead," the other man cried. "The Chamber of the Ordeal opened on his corpse."
"Joren? Dead?" whispered Kel, glancing at Amanda. How had she known?
"It's exactly what he deserved," growled Amanda, wiping her lip again as fresh blood began to dribble down her chin.
"Who are you?" snarled Lord Burchard, trying to get free of Raoul's grasp. "I never asked a commoner to comment on my son."
"Then why did you ask my sister to marry him?" asked Amanda sarcastically, her eyes blazing with fury. "That's right, Lord Burchard. "I'm Lady Amanda of Lynx mountain, here as your service just in time for you to slam into me for no bloody reason!!!"
Kel put a restraining hand on Amanda's shoulder as Lord Burchard ignored Amanda and turned back to her. "Jumped-up merchant slut," he whispered. "He was never the same after you arrived. Never. You witched him, cursed him-" His voice was cut off as Raoul reapplied the pressure.
"I am tired of you," said Raoul, his voice deadly soft. "Nothing affects the Chamber. Now leave." He let the man go and pushed him towards the door.
"And you," said Burchard, intending on getting in one last shot. He pointed an accusing finger at Amanda. "You and your slut of a sister-" In a flash Amanda had her dagger out and had it at his throat.
"Nobody insults my sister!" yelled Amanda, a crazy glint in her eyes.
"You cast a spell on him! You're both witches," cried Burchard, struggling out of his brother's hold. "I swear it, die you witches! You and you're evil webs and traps for men-" His voice stopped as Amanda applied pressure to the dagger and a single drop of blood ran down the blade.
"I ought to kill you right now," breathed Amanda, rage practically pouring out of her eyes. A firm hand gripped her shoulder; it's size telling her it was Raoul.
"We will make allowance for your grief," he said sternly, slowly drawing her away from Lord Burchard. "Now leave."
"We understand," said Burchard's wife, helping her husband to his feet.
"Yeah," added his brother sarcastically. "We under stand that-"
"HE SAID WE WILL MAKE AN ALLOWANCE FOR YOUR GRIEF!!!" yelled Amanda, tearing out of Raoul's grasp. "NOW GO!" She pushed them out the door and slammed it shut, leaning on it after it was closed.
Kel trembled slightly as Raoul rubbed his face with both hands. "Gods," he whispered, "I need a drink."
"Shall I get you one?" asked Kel, unsure.
"Not the kind I meant, if you don't mind," he replied. "Juice, water- no liquor. It makes me into someone I don't like."
"I'll find something," Kel promised, looking for her clothes. He turned to Amanda, who hadn't moved the door at all. Her lip bled freely, her breath coming in gasps as a knock sounded on the door. She opened it wearily to see an angry Elizabeth and worried Alyse outside the door.
"Where have you been?" demanded Elizabeth. "And you're lip's bleeding! Here, let me take care of that-"
"Elizabeth, I'm fine," cut in Amanda, taking out a handkerchief and using it to mop up the blood.
"But your lip-"
"I said I'm fine."
"Amanda! It's bleeding-" Amanda held up a hand, silencing her sister as Alyse said what sounded like a series of Yamani oaths.
"You get involved, didn't you?" she asked accusingly, "You knew this was going to happen, so you got yourself involved for no reason-"
"I came to warn her, that's all," objected Amanda angrily. "It's not my fault Burchard rammed me into the door and split my lip. I wasn't even going to hang around for that-"
"Wait a sec," interrupted Buri, looking very confused. "You mean you two *knew* this was going to happen?? But that's impossible..."
"There's something you three should know," said Amanda, wearily leaning on Alyse as she tried to figure out how to say this. "Especially you Kel. Me, Elizabeth, and Alyse are from another world. Another world where Tortal only exists as a series of books, and some of those books are about your life, Kel...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Libby and Artman hadn't been sleeping much lately, with the constant raids on near by towns and hit-and-run attacks used by the Scanrans to try to thin out their defenses. John hadn't had a full nights rest in three weeks, and to say the least he was not going to let anything get in the way of his rest this time.
About three hours before dawn, some fighting broke out along the edges of the camp, and both were quickly called to come and help fight and heal those who had been hurt.
"That's it," growled Artman, pushing his hair out of his eyes and throwing on a shirt. "I *will* get my eight hours of sleep if it's the last thing I do!"
"What are you talking about, Artman?" asked Libby, getting worried. "What are you planning to do this time?"
"Watch and see." He stalked out to where the Scanrans were shoot arrows at them and trying to get their pikes men in under the Tortallan's line of fire. Artman rose up his arms and shouted a few words loudly, flashing with fire briefly until it transferred itself onto the Scanrans, burning those close by to a crisp.
"Retreat!" yelled one of the men as Artman continued to ignite them randomly flashing eyes and a weird grin on his face.
"Done," he said at last, heading back for his tent. "If anyone disturbs me for the next five hours, I swear I'll do the same to them as well."
Libby scratched her head as everyone else backed away from him quickly, having missed his display of 'fireworks' on the Scanrans. "What's wrong with you all?" she asked, getting back to healing a guy with a broken arm. "It's not like he's going to set you on fire or anything." A woman near her fainted as the rest backed away from Libby fearfully. "What?" she asked confusedly. "What did I say...?"
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
John had spent the last few nights in the barn with Mandy, getting up to feel her when she woke up and bit his hand or arm and sleeping when she was not. She romped around the small pen they had made, and liked to deprive John of his sleep by butting him with her head until he got up to play with her.
His favorite time was when she settled down and let him sleep or curled up next to him for a nap. Sarah did the rest of the chores in exchange for the fact that she got a full night's sleep and didn't have to worry about the new-born horse that much.
Right now Mandy was biting him again, wanting more milk from the bottle and the warm mush they had made up a few hours ago. "Alright, alright, I'm going," muttered John, rolling out of the pile of hay that was his bed and getting one of the warmed bottles out. The foal greedily sucked it dry before turning to the bowl of mush and gulping it down as fast as she could.
"Hungry little thing, weren't you?" asked John, lying back down in the hay. The foal burped loudly in response and curled up next to him, laying her head on his stomach. "Hey now!" he objected. "I'm not a pillow!" Mandy just snorted and stayed where she was, that infuriatingly cute look on her face as she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
"Isn't that just the sweetest thing I ever did see," cooed Sarah from the entrance in the stall. "The baby and her daddy are taking a nap."
"Shut up, Sarah. Just shut up."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Vixen sat at her table in the main room of the Dancing Dove, Mouse, Joe, Ratina, Alleycat, and Old Bart sitting with her as they talked quietly under the noise of the room. Allie was upstairs with a group of young men and women, teaching them some tricks of the trade. "Have the young one's been taken to the safe spot?" she asked barely above a whisper, looking at Bart meaningfully. He nodded. [Good] thought Vixen to her self as she mentally checked it off her list. [It would not be good to have any young ones caught up in the crossfire if a fight breaks out. They'll be safe at Madame Cooper's shop with some older Rogue to guard them.]
"What about the old ones?" she asked Joe, staring him straight in the eye. By that she meant the few beggars and older thieves in her group that couldn't fight and needed looking after.
"We found them a spot and they'll be fine," he replied, his lips barely moving. Roberto had agreed to keep those at his home for a week or two and then they'd have to find new place for them to stay.
"And those on the 'expedition'?"
"I just got word that they made it successfully into the merchant's house and are now tackling his spelled safe."
"Good." Vixen glanced up and around the room, her eyes roaming nervously for a second before they settled on the table Xavier had once occupied. Now it was over run with Scanrans, all claiming to need refuge from the war in their homeland.
There was rumor of an uprising in some of the smaller towns far from there, but they had yet to receive word from the thieves they sent to check it out, and until then all they could do was wait.
Joe squirmed uneasily in his chair as the tension built even higher in the room, things beginning to look very tense and uneasy as the noise dimmed to a few whispers here and there, and the occasional passing of a night guard out on a horse on the streets.
"What's going on?" asked Mouse as they waited for the next horse to come by, but it never did. If it had, they would've easily heard it the way the room was so quite, but no noise came from the streets at all... "Something's going to happen, I can feel it-"
"AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" The noise came from upstairs. Vixen stood up quickly as the room erupted into mass confusion. Men dressed in dark blue uniforms poured out from the stairs and began to attack the thieves of the Rogue. Those from Scanra ripped of their tunics to reveal dark blue shirts underneath and turned against those from Tortal as well, creating an uproar that brought the place to life instantly.
Vixen and her friends formed a ring, slicing through the crowd and making their way to the back door. She fought like a mad beast, using her pole arm to cut down the fair-haired Scanrans and help those from her group who had been hurt.
Joe fought at her back, doing the best he could with his knives, but not doing that well all together. "Here," said Vixen, shoving the short sword he had given her into his hands, "Use this. You're better at it than I." Which was true, Joe couldn't fight with knives or steal a purse, but man could he fence.
Mouse tried to sing the men under her control, but they were wearing charms that protected them from her voice and her attempts to break through them were futile. "We've got to get out of here, now!" She yelled, leading a large group of them to the back door and into the courtyard. Vixen and Joe were the last to follow.
Together they held the back door, the rest of the group outside and some of the Rogue still inside trying to fight for their lives in a mad rush for the door. "Bart!" yelled Vixen as she watched him go down in the crowd. "Bart!" Joe grabbed her arm and stopped her from running back into the thick of the fight and began to drag her out the door. "No!" she screamed, fighting his hold. "I have to help my thieves. My rogue. NO!!"
"I can't let you go back in there," grunted Joe as he thrust the short sword through a Scanran's middle before dragging her out the door. "You mean to much to me and the others, we have to go now! This is a lost cause, Vixen, you'll only get yourself killed."
"Then I'll die with my people!"
"Like hell will I let that happen." If Vixen had actually been listening to him, she might had realized exactly what is was he was trying to say. "I care way to much for you to do that, Vixen."
"But they are my people! I'm the Queen, I have to help them..." A cloth was placed over her mouth and she was instantly knocked out from the fumes as her body went limp.
"I'm sorry, Vixen," said Joe softly, getting Ratina and Mouse to help him put her on his horse in front of him. "This is the only way...."
Allie came running up just then, all of the youths who had been with her and a few adults from upstairs coming behind her as well. There were about 12 in all, and they quickly scrambled for horses as Scanrans flooded out of the building and went after them.
"Follow me!" yelled Mouse, two other small rogue members with her as Baby (her giant Clydesdale mare) reared up on her hind legs from fright. She galloped away down the streets, those who could follow doing so and Allie staying behind to help those who couldn't.
"Spider!" she yelled to one of the men, "Take those five without horses to one of the safe spots and follow us later, ok?"
"Yes ma'am!" He and the five disappeared instantly, creeping away as only a Rogue can do. She took out a few knives and threw them, keep enough to fight with as she took out some Scanrans who were harassing a near by girl.
"Come on!" she called to the girl, pulling her onto her pinto mare and turning around only to get an arrow in the back of her shoulder for not watching close enough. "Arrgghh! (&^&^$^%#^)*+)(&(_*^*&%&^$!!!" Several curses and oathes flew out of her mouth as she carelessly took out all of her throwing stars and launched them as the man with the bow, effectively stopping him from ever shooting again. "Stupid Scanrans!"
The girl who was now in riding in front of her guided the horse to the road and galloped away into the night, the last Rogue to leave the Dancing Dove as it was over run by foreigners and they were driven out for the first time in years...
The Rogue was no more.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Sarah had just fallen asleep that night when a loud pounding at the door brought her to her senses, making her throw on some clothes and run to answer the door as quickly as she could. John met her in the hallway, back in the house since the foal had become independent and had found a place in the herd.
He yanked open the door toe reveal and very disheveled Mouse and Allie, and knocked out Vixen who was being carried by Joe, and several others (about 25 in all) who were hurt, tired, hungry and/or cold depending on where they had been when the fighting had broken out.
"Get in here, you guys," said Sarah quickly, handing out extra blankets and getting some hot coffee ready to help warm up the Rogue as they piled into her small house. John took the horses and some of the guys to the barn where they were stabled in a stall or the loft (depending on if you were a horse or a human) with food and extra blankets and such to keep them warm and fed. He bandaged the few wounds that they had before heading back to the house with the promise to come check on them shortly after he had helped out there.
Vixen hadn't woken up yet, and Joe stayed with her as Mouse bandaged Allie's arrow wound and saw to any others who had been hurt. There were several cuts and bruises, and a serious slash here and there, but everyone who had made it this far was still alive and those who hadn't most likely weren't.
"What happened to you guys?" John asked Allie as he gave her a mug of coffee and a blanket to curl up in. "I knew there could be some trouble, but this is a little more than I expected..."
"The Scanrans snuck in through a window on the top floor from another building," Allie said quietly, sipping her drink as she did. "I screamed to alert those down stairs and several of them managed to get past me to the stairs and into the main room. Upstairs, I was able to keep those with me safe and save a few from the rooms around mine. We climbed down a drainpipe and crept around the back, finding the others and a knocked out Vixen back there. I don't know what happened to the others, but I'm sure I don't want to." She shivered slightly as John shook his head and moved on, others still needed help and he was one of the few capable of doing so.
Vixen woke up just then, sitting up quickly as realization dawned on her of exactly what had just happened. The Scanrans, the battle...
"No," she whispered, holding her head in her hands. "No....no..." Vixen, Queen of the Rogue and defeater of Jeremy, wept. She wept for her lost friends and foes, for those she had promised to protect and hadn't been able to, for those who had been hurt or killed, for those who had lost ones as well.
Joe came and put an arm around her, letting her cry into his shoulder as she tried to deal with an overwhelming sense of loss that came with their defeat. Sarah and John, who had finished doling out food and blanket, watched this from a corner by the fire. Allie and Mouse came and helped comfort her to, all gathered in a circle as they mourned their loss with her.
"You do know that you can't all stay here," piped up John when she had settled down and had fallen in an exhausted sleep on Joe's shoulder. "We don't have the room or ability to feed you all..."
"Can we leave a few of the younger ones here?" asked Mouse quickly, getting up and taking some paper and charcoal stick from her pocket. "We can't travel in this big of a group, and some of them need to stay out of this fight for their own safety."
"We can take 10 at the most," conceded John, Sarah having slipped back to her room for a few minutes sleep. "Three in here and seven in the loft."
"How about 13 and we'll leave some gold nobles behind as well to help with the cost?" offered Mouse, a shrewd bargainer as always.
"Deal. How much gold?" She pulled out a fat purse she had lifted from a noble leaving Corus that day and placed it in his hand. "This will definitely do. Thanks."
"No, thank you," said Joe, shaking his hand with his free one. "We need to go scope out what's going on in the other towns and probably recruit some new help from other village's Rogues. Having you take these young ones is more than we could hope for from you."
"It's no problem," replied John, shrugging his shoulder carelessly. "It's what we can do for some old friends."
"I see your goatee is growing back."
"Good grief."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda and Levi were walking back to their tents after breakfast, talking about birthdays for some reason or other. "So, when is yours and your sisters?" he asked lightly, leaning against the wind that threatened to blow them away.
"Mine's in May, and Elizabeth's is in...oh shoot."
"What's wrong?"
"I forgot Elizabeth's birthday last November!" Amanda sprinted the rest of the way back to the tents and found Elizabeth there just waking up, wearing a thick robe as she made herself a cup of coffee to wake her up.
"How could you let me forget about your birthday last November?" exploded Amanda, not even taking the time to say 'good morning.'
"Oh, well let's think about this for a minute," said Elizabeth with sly smile on her face. "First off, you didn't even remember you *own* birthday this past year. I had to remind you-"
"I was under a lot of stress!"
"As you were on my birthday. It was one of the days you worked straight through to get all that unnecessary paper work done (*coughLEVIcough*) and there was that cute serving boy who was hanging around...yeah so I forgot to remind you not to forget so I just let the whole thing drop..."
"Birthdays aren't that big a deal," said Alyse from the doorway. "I had to skip over mine because I still had 'amnesia', remember?"
"Why don't we hold a joint 'belated birthday bash' for you guys, then?" suggested Levi, hoping to get Amanda to stop looking so guilty. "You all can go and get your friends, I'll go order a cake, Amanda could go use her influence to get us a room at the fief to use, and we'll hold a private celebration for just us and those we invite."
"Sounds go to me," said Elizabeth, grinning crazily.
"Yeah," added Alyse, "It'd be nice to have a birthday for once. Only a few others could be rounded up on such short notice, with only Kel, Cleon, Raoul, Buri, Faleron (of course) and Neal coming besides their original group.
It may not have been as grand as it could have, and things were little rushed, but the two sisters and their cousin still had fun.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer was once again the head cook of the Procession, and sat with Sean in the back of the kitchen by the fire, staying warm by the coals that were slowly dying down from a day's worth of cooking.
Sean had made a small hollow in the sacks of flour and sat there staring into the fire, Jenny beside him leaning on his side with his arm around her. The cats last around them, Tigress and Caramel across their laps as Snickers and Chocolate wrestled on the floor and Snowball lay above them on the extra sacks.
Jennifer's eyes began to close, they day's hard work taking its toll on her. Just as she was about to drift off for good, Sean said, "Jenny, are you happy here?"
"Absolutely," murmured Jennifer, leaning more into him as sleep overwhelmed her at last. "I wouldn't have things any other way..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Those left of the Rogue had traveled from town to town, realizing the attack had not only been centered in Corus as those left of other rogues came to them for help and joined their small band. The last town had been one of those first hit and only had five surviving members left, the rest dead or taken as prisoners by the foreigners.
"We have to do something," argued Vixen at the next meeting they had at a small inn by the main road, yet apart from the town. "There's got to be a way to drive these Northerners back to where they came from."
A knock at the door caused everyone to hush, and Joe stuck his head cautiously out the door with a weapon in hand. It was a small boy, beaten a bruised as well as half frozen as he was ushered in and given a place by the fire.
"What's the matter, young one?" asked Vixen as she gave him some bite and sup and let him have her cloak as a blanket. "Why have you come to us?"
"My pa was the King of Thieves here," explained the boy softly. "They killed him and took me and ma as captives. I escaped and managed to hear some of their plans. The guy in charge, Xavier, (Vixen growled at this, but the boy kept going) is helping the Scanra Warlord, who had promised him a noble's place if he manages to overthrow the entire Tortallian rogue and use it to create a diversion so he can slip forces in over the border."
"We have to get rid of them, now!" said Vixen angrily. "They've killed lives that could've been spared, lives that were under mine and other rogue leader's protection. This matter must be settled soon, before it's too late..."
"We'll take care of them, I promise," said Joe gently, laying a hand on her shoulder. She shook it off and began to pace restlessly. "Vixen, settle down. I have a plan."
"What is it?" said Vixen quickly, her full attention on him in an instant.
Joe smiled craftily. "It goes something like this..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Artman panted slightly as he aimed another fireball at the Scanrans and let it fly, toasting another three or four of he enemy. There must've been a three-clan war party out there, and they wanted the town's supplies NOW. Even with Artman to help, the town's people had been hard-pressed to ward off the attacks, and Libby was working over time to help the wounded and heal those who desperately needed it.
She saw someone fall with an arrow through their shoulder and ran to help, kneeling beside the young man and yanking out the shaft before she used her gift to stop the bleeding. Libby was so concentrated on what she was doing that she didn't notice the huge boulder flying over the wall at her until it would've been to late to move.
Artman had noticed it, though, and created a shield around the pair just string enough to shatter the rock and keep them safe. "Thanks!" yelled Libby over her shoulder as she helped the man into the medical tent out of the range of fire.
He just waved back and went on fighting. There was little time to chat during a battle, then long periods of waiting in between. Two extremes, and neither one very pleasant, but such were the ways of war...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle had gone home with his father, who didn't like the cold and had obtained permission to skip the rest of the Procession; a week after the court had left the palace and was home a few weeks later looking for something to do as he roamed the house.
"Boy, get in here," said a sharp voice from inside Baron Emery's office. Kyle sighed and went in, almost being sure of what was to happen next. "Why didn't you accept the invitation to Lady Cornelia's ball?" asked the Baron angrily, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Because she has the personality of a dead fish," said Kyle in a bored voice.
"What about the one fief's proposal of you for their older daughter?"
"You mean the one from 'Kings reach? I met the girl over mid-winter and she's set on some other guy from the Riders. I don't want to get in the way of that."
"Will you stop dallying around an be serious about this? It is important that you get married and have an heir to the fief before I die, ok? Leaving things just, hanging if you will, only causes trouble. There are plenty of eligible women out there, go and pick one!"
"Give me a break, pops," murmured Kyle rebelliously. "Cut me some slack until we go back to court, ok? I want to do this on my own time."
"Fine, boy. But if you screw this up and *I'm* left hanging..."
"I know I know, you'll sick the dogs on me and let them tear me to shreds." Kyle shuddered; his dad's dog's heads came up to his shoulder and had huge jaws that could snap through bone quite easily. "Trust me, I understand..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse held a glaive in her hands and looked at Lady Haname nervously. She was about to get herself thrown. When the Princess had asked her to take part in the exhibition matches, she figured it'd be a fan toss here, a glaive dance there, and maybe a few round of archery, not facing off with the best among them with a glaive.
"Are you ready?" asked Lady Haname as they were signaled to start, adjusting her grip on the pole of her weapon.
"I guess-" As quick as a flash she was forced to dodge the sharp end of the glaive and strike out with the blunt end of her own. They exchanged a few more blows before drawing apart and circling each other.
[Oh shoot, oh shoot, oh shoot] thought Alyse to herself as her opponent charged at her once more. Metal met metal in a shower of sparks as Lady Haname attacked Alyse with the ferocity of a tiger. She knew it wasn't that the Yamanis Lady had anything against her, but the matches had to look good so she did her best every time.
Alyse missed a block and felt her feet get flipped out from under her; the ground the sky trading places as she landed with a 'thud!'
"Are you ok, Alyse?" asked Lady Haname as she hauled her to her feet.
"Yeah," replied Alyse, trying to see straight. "I just got my brains scrambled a bit, that's all...ow..."
"Good match," said the lady lightly, helping her younger friend back to the sidelines. "Next time don't forget to watch where the weapon goes, ok?"
"Yeah, alright." Alyse gulped some water as she readied her self for the fan-fight next. This was going to be a long day...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa, Eric, and Danielle sat in the stands at the jousting and fighting area, needing something to do other than wandering around for once. "Have you made your choice yet?" asked Eric for the fifth time that week.
"No, Eric, I have not," replied Lyssa testily. "I wish you'd leave me alone about that, I'll make my decision when *I'm* ready to and not a second sooner, ok??"
"Hey, at least you have a choice," said Danielle gloomily. "Father said I must find a husband by my next birthday or he'll decrease my dowry."
Lyssa winced in sympathy. Danielle's dowry was worth a lot, that was true, but in the world of nobles it wasn't that big at all and having it become even smaller certainly wouldn't help her any...that and being forced into marriage before you were ready...
She was definitely glad she was not a noble.
"Who's the lucky lad right now?" asked Eric lightly, trying to bring things to a more pleasant topic. "What about that Cleon fellow you danced with a few nights back?"
"First of all he's betrothed to some rich snob and secondly it's rumored that he's involved with that girl squire," retorted Danielle. "Which is too bad because he's kind of cute..."
"And his friend Neal?"
"Completely set on one of the Yamanis Ladies."
"That pretty boy, what-his-face...Kyle."
"He likes to flirt and that's about it." Danielle made a face. "I think he only does it for fun too."
"How about Faleron, then?"
"He's got a girlfriend."
"Who?"
"The cousin of those two noble sisters."
"What two noble sisters?" asked Lyssa, coming back into the conversation suddenly.
"Those two who...oh, hello there." Before them stood one of those gorgeously dark knockouts who are rather quite hard to find. He flashed a brilliant smile, and Lyssa could see Danielle was completely gone on him.
"Are you Lady Danielle?" he asked, his voice deep and velvety.
"Yes," replied Danielle her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm Sir Derick of Kings Reach, one of Faleron's cousins. Your father sent me to come and get you, he wishes to speak with you about something."
"Lead the way," said Danielle softly, taking his arm as she practically floated off beside him.
"I give her a week before she's gone on him," whispered Eric to Lyssa.
"Try the next thirty seconds if it's not already happened," she replied, chuckling softly. Apparently good guys weren't that hard to find after all...at least not in Tortal that is...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
John and Sarah had been very busy the last two weeks, trying to keep their 'guests' comfortable and trying to make their supplies last as long as possible. They had four young ladies and 9 guys who had been put with them, ranging from the ages of 12 to 16. The ladies, of course, slept inside as they guys bunked in the loft, and all of them helped out on the ranch during the day when they were able to.
A few had suffered from minor injuries, one a bruised shoulder from falling off the drainpipe and another a grazed leg from a close call with an arrow, but nothing too serious. The youths knew how to protect themselves in a jam, and could run faster than some of the horses, but they weren't allowed to leave the property anyways and stayed close at hand in case of an attack. Unfortunately, not all things can be planned for.
Xavier was no fool, and had been at the rear of the charge when the Scanrans had flooded the Dancing Dove in hopes of taking it for good. He noticed that there were no young ones or old ones among those captured or dead and that a large number had managed to escape rather than stay and die.
Immediately he had sent out search squads to find those left, but the thieves were craftier than they looked. Madame Cooper had moved the young ones to Myles' home by the palace with their guards and the women who had stayed with them. Roberto had taken the old ones to a friends house far away from there and promised to tell any who came for them where they were. John and Sarah, though, were not used to they ways of thieves, and that worked quite to their disadvantage...
John and a few of the older boys had been mending a fence in the fields when a sharp whistle came from the house. They were under attack.
They sprinted back to the house, seeing Sarah holding the door of their home with a large club in each hand as she knocked over any who came to close. There must've been close to twelve or thirteen grown men outside trying to gain entrance, but Sarah wouldn't budge an inch. From the windows some of the braver youths were throwing stones and anything hard they could get their hands on. One of the girls had a bow and was carefully picking of their horses and the men themselves when they came in her sights.
John grabbed a long pole and went at the intruders, angry that any one dare to force their way into his home, the place he had worked so hard for during the past two years. He had taken some martial arts classes back home and was more than ready to fight those with pole arms or just hand-to-hand, it was the ones with swords that he had problems with...
One of the boys who had been with him went down with spear in is leg as John rushed to save him, crying out as he did. The Scanran thief, dressed in dark blue from head to toe, grinned crazily as he raised his short sword for the final blow.
Sarah screamed, some of the girls joining her as time seemed to slow down, things passing moment by moment...
One of the thieves lifted a cross bow, taking careful aim at John's heart as his leader had bade him to do. At the same time the sound of hooves coming quickly alerted them of the arrival of others. Sarah screamed again, watching as an arrow grew of out the crossbowman's throat, blood splaying everywhere.
The man with a short sword brought his weapon down, John's eyes widening as he realized there was no way to save both himself and the boy as he surged forward and shoved the younger one out of the way...the blade flashing...coming closer...
Another shout rang out, the sound of a bow being shot as John closed his eyes and prayed for it to end quickly....and then his world went black.
Onua sat in the saddle of her horse as she calmly shot down the rest of the thieves, taking care to cripple or kill them as she had done to John's attacker. He would live, with the sword having only gashed his shoulder pretty bad, but his road of recovery would be long and hard.
The boy he had saved was using his shirt to stop the bleeding as Sarah used a club to knock out the last of the attackers before rushing to John's side. Onua rounded up the young ones with out saying a word and took them inside, returning quickly with a blanket and two of the bigger guys. Between the four of them, they carried John back inside and laid him on a bed.
Things were certainly not looking good.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
It had been two weeks since the Rogue had been so rudely rooted out of Corus, and now they were ready to take back some of what had been theirs. It was a small town, one of those that were farthest south and the only one with a Rogue for miles around, that they chose to make their first move.
Slipping along like shadows down the main street to a little building at the edge of the town, Vixen had Allie and Mouse take care of the guards before picking the locks to get inside and slaying anyone who came at her.
There was only a small force, about 20 in all and with Joe, Ratina, Alleycat, and a few other to back her up, they quickly took control and had the small town back in their possession. It was just one of the many they would be taking back over very soon, but it was a refuge for them and would be making very large use of it.
Locking the Scanrans in a dark cell in the back, they freed those who were imprisoned and set the leader for this area back in his rightful place and left him with a few of their men before moving on. Vixen pushed them on, ever on it all the faster so they could gain control once more. She was sick of being put out of her place, and those who had done it would pay, oh yes, they would pay very dearly indeed...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer, Lyssa, Sean, and Eric were having dinner in Jennifer's kitchen late one night, chairs pulled up around the dieing fire in the stove as they ate what as left of the food she ha served. There was a pot of beef stew, a few rolls, a large bowl of steamed vegetables, and a fresh baked apple pie for when they were done.
Lyssa and Eric were talking about Sir Derick, Danielle's new 'friend', and telling Jennifer as Sean about the first time they saw him in the stands.
"I don't care if he's a noble and a little 'high and mighty' for his own good," said Lyssa sincerely. "He's hot. She's a very lucky girl."
"I'd have to agree with you there," piped in Jennifer, nodding her head. "He came in here for a meal earlier today and oh my....there's really no way to describe him..."
"What is it with girls and dark guys?" asked Sean suddenly, looking a little annoyed. "I'm almost blonde, is that such a bad thing?"
"I'm not saying blondes aren't hot too, I'm saying that this guy's a lot better looking than most guys where I come from. Danielle's completely gone on him, she'd eat out of his hand if he asked her too, but he's every bit s gone on her as she is on him! It's hilarious, really, to watch them."
"Why? What do they do?"
"Dani's all shy and nervous (as if such a thing was possible for her!) and he's all 'noble like and grand' in an innocent way. It's as if they're five year olds playing 'grown ups!'"
"I'll pay more attention next time I see them together," said Jennifer, a sly glint in her eyes. "Things like that don't happen very often."
"No kidding," grumbled Sean. "I was walking around the hay stacks yesterday and some squire was rolling around there with a peasant girl. He was younger than me!"
"Things were like that back home," mused Lyssa quietly. "I knew a girl who got pregnant at 14...it was a shame, really."
"Why didn't she just get a pregnancy charm?" asked Eric pointedly. "Most girls are given one by their thirteenth by their mothers."
"Not all girls are and can afford one if they're not," replied Lyssa bluntly. "I don't have one, but then again no guy in his right mind would try anything on me, so I'm really not worried."
"I don't have one," added Jennifer. "But I'm not too worried either." Sean and Eric exchanged odd looks over the table. "What was that look for?" asked Jennifer quickly, having caught the tail end of it.
"Nothing," replied Sean, leaning back in his chair, "Don't worry about it."
"Don't worry about what?" asked Lyssa, turning to Eric. "Is there something you two would like to tell us?"
"There's nothing to tell," replied Eric with a shrug avoiding her eyes.
"Eric."
"What?"
"Tell me. Now."
"...." ^_^;;
"Grrrr...."
"Don't worry, we'll get it out of them eventually," said Jennifer, leaning closer to Sean as she patted his head. "Isn't that right, Sean?"
"...." ^_^;; "Oh boy..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Libby and Artman were traveling to another town that needed their help now, a squad of Riders with them as they went. It was getting old, fighting a battle, helping those hurt, moving one, fighting again, helping again...not that there weren't good times in between. They had word from Lord Raoul that he was planning on coming out with his group of the King's Own as soon as he could get away from 'royal duties' and seeing him and Kel would be good again. They had made friends among the Rider's, and shared a campfire as well as a pot of stew with them most nights.
Things were still not as they had hoped they would be, though, and because of Trystan's orders they weren't allowed to refuse the King and had to stay as long he asked them to. They hadn't found anyone yet, they hadn't even begun their search, and with this war slowly dragging things were worse than ever.
"What do you think would happen if we just ran away?" Artman whispered to Libby as they road on, no one else close enough to hear.
"Artman! We can't do that!" protested Libby, frowning as she did. "What about all those poor peoples that need our help?"
"Forget them," said Artman tiredly. "We haven't made any head-way here and I don't feel like staying here until I die. I want my computer and my games back! I want to play my trombone and argue with Veety about stuff. I want to go home!"
"Even if it means leaving our friends here for good? What if Veety's one of those left here?"
"That doesn't matter much."
"Artman!"
"Alright, I'm sorry, but still..."
"Just let it go, ok?"
"Fine..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle was flying with the hawks again (in their minds, anyways) over his father's lands for the 5th time that day. He asked the hawk (Triclaw was her name) to fly over the road leading to his father's fief and saw a messenger riding towards them, the King's royal seal all over him and his horse.
'Thank you for the ride, winged cousin,' he told Triclaw. 'I must go now, please be good and just return to your coup, ok?' The hawk agreed to do so, and he quickly left to clean up and go see what the fuss was about.
"This is for Master Kyle," the messenger told him when he came down stairs, a very annoyed Sir Emery meeting him there. "I was told only to give it to him."
"Well, open it boy," said the Baron, shoving the envelope in his hands, "What does it say?"
'Greetings, Kyle, son of Baron Emery,
From their Majesties King Jonathan and Queen Thayet;
Daine told us of your abilities with winger animals, and we wish to call you back to the Procession to help Daine with some matters concerning Scanra. Please send word if you are unable to come or come immediately if you can.
Many thanks,
The Monarchs of Tortal.'
"Well, boy?" asked the Baron, growing impatient. "What's this all about?"
"The King and Queen want me to return to help with some things," replied Kyle, not wanting to tell his father everything for once. "They said it was urgent."
"This had something to do with your 'bird skills', doesn't it?"
"Yes, father."
"Humph. You may go."
Kyle grinned and ran up the stairs, giving out orders to pack his things quickly, he was out of there!
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
I think this is the fastest I've ever posted before! Much thanks to those who helped, and you know who you are so I'm not writing the whole list (yeah, I know I'm lazy! ; p). Anyways, please review, it means a lot to me, and it helps me decide where the story's going. Have any ideas? Let me know, if I use it I give you credit for it, k?? Thanks!
~crosseyedbutterfly~
Yes, I know I'm constantly mixing up Joe, Levi, Sean, and Eric. It's hard to keep 'em straight, all right? I'll do my best not to confuse you all, but as a rule Joe goes with the Rogue, Eric will be around one of the Trebond people or Lyssa, Sean will be with Jennifer or in a Kitchen, and Levi will be with Amanda or Elizabeth, ok??? Thank you! Any more mix-ups you see, just tell me and I'll be sure to clear them up, ok? Ok.
Oh, and just so you know, this %....% signifies a dream, ok?
Now, on with the show.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer woke up early the next morning from habit, surprised to see Sean next to her on a pallet until she remembered what had happened the night before. She had met up with Brenna (now known as Vixen), Allie, and Mouse from her world...and then the telling of the truth to everyone...and then being outside with Sean....
She blushed softly as she thought about that last one and looked around the room slowly. Joe was asleep leaning against Vixen, who had her back to the wall and a blanket around her shoulders. Allie and Mouse were curled up on a pallet together, using the other as a source of warmth, and Ratina was on Vixen's other side using her leg as a pillow.
Sean stirred slightly before rolling over and settling back down, turning her thoughts back to him for the second time. She hadn't been sure he would react when he heard the news, but it certainly wasn't what she had expected...
{Sean had run out into the night, his breath coming out in clouds as he stopped by a wall and leaned on it heavily. Jennifer had followed him, grabbing her shawl as she did to keep off the cold. He was shivering by the time she reached him, but what surprised her most was the single tear running down his face.
He had wiped it away the moment he saw her, but she had still seen it and rushed to his side to wrap an arm around his waist. "I know it's a shock," she had whispered to him softly. "Think of the shock I had when I found myself torn away from my family and friends and having no idea what was to happen next."
"It's not that," sniffed Sean, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You could be from the realm of the gods for all I care...it's just...what if you have to go home eventually...."
"What does it matter?" asked Jennifer gently. "I'm here now, the future can hold what it will, it doesn't matter to me. I'm happy right now, with my job, finding new friends and old ones alike...and having you."
"You're right," replied Sean kissing her gently before leading a stunned Jennifer back to the others to sit and listen to the rest of the tale...}
"Are you there, Jenny?" asked a voice, a hand being waved over her eyes. She went red and snapped back to reality. It was Allie and Vixen, looking rather curious.
"You were just sitting there with this dreamy look on your face," explained Vixen, concern flashing in her eyes for a moment.
"We weren't interrupting anything were we?" asked Allie mischievously, glancing at the still sleeping Sean meaningfully.
"What!"
"Yeah, you never did tell us what happened when you too left last night..." Vixen let her words hang in the air as Allie began to sing softly.
"Jenny's got a boyfriend, Jenny's got a boy friend, Jenny's got a boyfriend..."
"Guys..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda had gotten up early, the sound of pounding feet outside her door waking her up in confusion until she remembered who's ordeal it had. Vinson would have exited the Chamber right now, and an audience would be held any minute. She threw on the nearest clothes that would be acceptable and left a note on the table for Elizabeth, Alyse and Levi before running out the door to trying and make it in time to hear part of it.
She got there out of breath and slipped into a side seat, quickly spotting Kel, Lalasa, Raoul, and several others in the crowd. Vinson made his confessions of hurting and going after three women just as in had said in the book, and was covered in bruises and cuts and appeared, shrunk, and disappeared magically.
Someone sitting beside her caught Amanda's attention for a second, and she turned to see Alyse settle in next to her in a kimono and sandals. She just nodded and turned back to where the guards where now dragging Vinson off for a full confession and a punishment as well.
"I'm going to follow Kel," Amanda whispered to Alyse, getting up quickly before anyone else left.
"Amanda, tomorrow's Joren's Ordeal," Alyse hissed to her, brown eyes meeting blue and green ones. "That means..."
"I'll take care of it," cut in Amanda, seeing Kel slip through the crowd to the door. "I've got to go now. Tell Elizabeth were I am and that I'll be back later, ok?" Without waiting for a reply, she was gone.
Amanda hurried to Kel's quarters, forgetting Joren was going to be waiting there for her until a foot shot out and sent her sprawling. "You and your kind need to stay down there where you belong," said voice dripping with venom. It was Joren, as sarcastic as ever and intent upon taking his anger out on someone.
Kel turned the corner just then, taking in the scene quickly. "Are you happy?" snapped Joren as he turned his back on Amanda (a very dumb thing to do). "You got one of us somehow, you progressives. You can't even fight your own battles-"
Kel stepped forward purposefully. "You'll be a wonderful father someday," she replied. "You're good with bedtime tales."
"Once I'm a knight-"
"You'll never be a knight!" cried Amanda, finally getting to her feet and knocking him over from behind. "Never, Joren of Stone mountain! Do you hear me?"
"Can't even fight fair..."
"Well, I learned from the master of it, Joren." Amanda's voice was dripping with sarcasm as she let out some pent up anger on the young man. "Trust me, boy, when I say that I'm looking forward to seeing the results of your Ordeal. Very much indeed." The sound of a door slamming shut behind them got their attention, and she looked to see that Kel was gone.
Joren cursed and let a few more insults fly before running down the hall away from Kel's room and Amanda's wrath. Amanda sighed and hung her head, she had to stop letting her temper get out of control before she ended up really hurting someone one of these days.
Searching her memory, Amanda knew where Kel would be ending up in the next hour, and went back to her rooms for a bow and some warmer clothes. Hurrying quickly, she went out to the practice fields and strung her recurved bow before taking out an arrow and shooting it skillfully into the center of the target.
She heard steps behind her and turned around, knowing whom it was. Kel looked at her oddly before sighing and saying, "What are you doing here, Amanda?"
"Waiting for you," Amanda replied shortly, turning back to he target to shoot some more.
"But how did you-"
"I know many things," she sighed, trying to figure out what she should say. "This is only one of them."
"I knew you had magic," said Kel evenly as she strung her long bow and aimed at a target. "I just thought it wasn't that kind..."
"It's not," admitted Amanda, letting some more arrows fly and hit the inner ring with a 'thunk!' "But I don't think you'd understand if I told you how I know what I know..."
"Do you know why I'm out here?" asked Kel coolly as she put down her bow and yanked the arrows out of the target. Her quiver was empty.
"I have a pretty good idea..." They fell silent for a long time, just shooting the bows and retrieving the arrows as they needed to until Buri spoke up from behind them.
"When one of my Riders said there were two crazy women out here with a recurve and a stripy bow, I thought he was pulling a fool's gambit on his old commander. I thought only our Yamani lilies shot those things," the commander drawled. Amanda turned and looked like she had been expecting her while Kel jumped slightly.
"I used to," replied Kel, her mask back in place. The rest went as it was in the book, with Amanda just shooting in the background and Buri and Kel talking.
"What are you doing out here, Lady Amanda?" asked Buri at length. "I know you weren't involved in the whole Vinson thing."
"Waiting for you," replied Amanda calmly, starting to pack up her things and getting Kel's as well. "It's cold out here. Let's go inside, ok?"
Buri shrugged and led them into the Rider's mess, sat them at a table, then went to the servers' window. "Kel, I have to go," said Amanda suddenly, getting up and rising from the table. "I'll come by and see you tonight."
"Wait, I wanted to ask you some questions..."objected Kel, wanting to know how she knew all she did.
"No," replied Amanda, seeing Buri come back with some drinks and rolls. "Tell Buri I'm sorry and I'll make it up to her with a round in the practice courts later, ok? Thanks." Once more, without waiting for a reply, she was gone...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
John woke up early, someone pounding on his window outside. It was Sarah, signaling him like they had agreed on. He sighed and rolled out of bed, pulling on some pants as he did. The new foal was on its way. Two of the horses had gotten out of their stalls one night, and this was the result. A mid-winter birth that was certainly not planned in the least bit at all. (Generally as a rule, the Rider's only kept Geldings and Mare, but a Stallion had been born a few years back, and no one had bothered to have him fixed so they were stuck with him now...)
John shrugged on a thick coat and went outside, the warmth instantly taken from him with the howling wind. His teeth were chattering by the time he reached the warm barn, and frozen fingers did not help with the fact that he had to help birth a foal right had that moment.
"Get over here now!" called Sarah from the far stall, kneeling in the straw. She knew from experience back home from working on a horse ranch that the mother would need help, and there was no way she was going to be able to handle it alone.
"I'm coming," he grumbled, taking of his coat and staggering over to her, nights of not sleeping well piling up on him. They did the best they could to make things go smoothly, and even had the umbilical cord cut when the mother shrieked and went limp, her pulse stopped and breathing stilled.
"Go warm up the milk," said John sadly, having expected this reaction. The mare had been sick for months, and only held on really for the birth of her foal. "I'll clean him off and keep him warm." He picked up a towel and gently rubbed the small foal, a mare, down as he check for broken bones and any signs of illness as all.
Sarah came back with a large bottle and handed it to him, going beside the mother's body to drag it out of the way outside into the blizzard. As soon as it was warm enough, they'd bury it out in the field where it belonged. John noticed an odd marking on the foal's flanks as he let her drink the bottle quickly. It looked like a small butterfly, bright cream against the tan hair, and reminded him of someone he had known from before.
"Hey Sarah," said John when she had returned, pointing to the marking. "Who does that remind you of?"
Sarah looked at it and smile. "We'll name it Mandy," she said, "Which means it's a good thing she's not here..." The foal stopped drinking the milk and curled up on John's lap, making no signs of moving at all.
"Ahhh," said Sarah softly, stroking the silky mane gently. "How sweet..."
"Oh, shut up."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle rolled out of bed late that morning, a pounding headache blurring his vision as he struggled to pull on a tunic and a pair of pants. Some how, he kept getting them backwards and inside out until a strong pair of hands sat him down and began to dress him for him.
"I think you had too much punch last night, Master," said Kyle's manservant, Rick, softly. "Your father's not going to be happy about you staying out so late at your friend's party..."
"Like I care," said Kyle loftily. "Got anything to get rid of this handover and get me seeing straight again?"
"Drink this, but I warn you it doesn't taste very good..."
"Will it get me back to normal?"
"Pretty much."
"Then, bottom's up!" Kyle downed the whole glass in one draught before turning a very interesting shade of green and running over to the waist bin to puke up everything he had eaten in the past 10 hours.
"Master is feeling better?" asked Rick as he sat beside Kyle patiently.
"Warn a guy next time you make him up chuck his guts, ok?" replied Kyle sourly, slowly rising to his feet.
"It doesn't always do that," objected Rick quickly. "It depends how much you've had to drink and how long ago it was. You must've had more than I thought to have thrown up that much..."
"About 12 or 14 glasses of the red punch and another 5 glasses of the wine..."
"Good heavens!"
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse turned and tossed in her sleep that night, haunted by something that lay in her dreams...
%She stood in front of a screen of sorts, watching scenes and pictures flash over them, not really sure what they meant....
One was of three sneaky looking young women, all strangely familiar but gone before she could study them. The next was of Lyssa, standing there with a uniform on. But the badge wasn't of Trebond. The next was of a short redheaded girl and some sandy-haired guy. She couldn't see the girl's face, and just as the person turned around the scene changed. This time it was Amanda, looking extremely angry as she rapidly shot arrows towards something in the distance and took one in the shoulder before it went on.
Then it was Elizabeth, dancing with some guys she had seen before, wearing masks as they twirled around and around... It changed to a young man she thought she recognized with brown hair and a stubby goatee, hugging a young horse with a butterfly on its flank and another young woman who looked familiar behind him. Next was her following Levi through the woods on a dark night with weapons in hand as they tirelessly hunted for something or someone...
More pictures and scenes and people showed up in her dreams, some she knew and some she didn't, but then she saw two figures glowing brightly in the distance as a portal opened up between them and was sucked inside...%
Alyse sat up in her bed, panting as she tried to calm herself. "It was only a dream," she said out loud, trying to believe it. "It was only a dream..." Some how, though, she knew it wasn't...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
It was late that evening as Rispah and Lyssa sat in their rooms, talking quietly about Lyssa's options at hand. "They've offered me the job again," said Lyssa softly, the firelight dancing across her face. "And I said I'd think about it."
"You know we won't keep you here if that is what you choose," said Rispah kindly, trying to make things easier for the girl. "It's what ever you want."
"But I don't know what I want," argued Lyssa, frowning. "If I go, I don't get to see you, Coram, or Dani any more...or Eric...and I don't want that to happen...But if I stay and never move up...this could be my only chance...ARRRGGHH!!!"
"I know, dear," sighed the older woman, "The choice is hard to make, but it is your choice alone and only you can make it. I'm not even going to tell you what I would do, it might sway you one way or the other."
"Gee, you're a lot of help..." The door burst open just then, Eric striding into the room proudly as he came up to the two at the table.
"I did it," he said at last, sounding very pompous and regal. "I finally told father what I thought of being a steward and what I want to do with my life!"
"What did he say?" asked Rispah calmly.
"That I'd been hanging around Commander Lyssa too long and if I join the Rider's he'll disown me and has already so it's all good, right?" replied Eric, running a hand through his hair. "I'll borrow the money to start, then pay it back when I get my first pay checks..."
"We'll pay for you," said Rispah, patting him on the back. "Consider it your going away present."
"Then I'm set!" said Eric brightly. "I've already talked to Commander Buri, and she said that because I had learned to fight and ride from Lyssa that I could join right away. Turns out they're putting together a new squad and now need only a few others and a captain for it!"
"So that's the position they want you to fill," said Rispah, turning to Lyssa, "What do you think of the position now?"
"I don't know," growled Lyssa, "Sure it'd be fun being with Eric and all-"
"Great! Then you'll do it?" said Eric expectantly. "It'll be just the same as it is now!"
"Except we'll be in the middle of battles and fights this time," muttered Lyssa under her breathe. "Being in charge of a garrison and an elementary group in an army are two completely different things, Eric."
"I know, I know, but still. Promise me you'll consider it."
"I don't know-"
"Please? Please? Please?????"
"Oh, all right. But I'm not giving any promises."
"You big softy," whispered Rispah to Lyssa.
"Oh, hush your mouth."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda got up before dawn the day after Joren's Ordeal, knowing right about now they would be finding him dead. She went as quickly as she could to Kel's room, hoping to get there in time to warn her before it was too late.
She was just about to knock on the door when a full-grown man went crashing into her back and sent her crashing into the door. Her lip split from impact, and the door gave way as Kel opened it from the inside, probably woken up by the noise they had made.
She had a glaive in her hands, and was opening the blinds with another. The man kicked the still stunned Amanda out of the way and dove at Kel, murder in his eyes as he did. Amanda grabbed his feet and brought him down, rolling over by Kel as she spit blood from her mouth.
Amanda was hauled to her feet by Kel as Jump and the birds attacked the man angrily, giving the pair time to collect their wits. "Trollop, you killed my boy!" shouted the man who fought Jump and the birds. Jump gripped one of the man's wrists in his jaws, drawing blood. The birds continued to strike his face and eyes as he flailed at them with his free hand.
The door to Raoul's chambers sprang open. Raoul was in his loincloth, holding his unsheathed sword. Buri, clad in only a blanket, stood at his elbow, a dagger in her free hand.
"Birds move," ordered Raoul. The sparrows darted to one side. Raoul grabbed the snarling man one-handed and smashed him against the wall, shaking off his human companions. "Jump, let go," ordered Raoul. Jump obeyed.
The man continued to curse as his companions babbled on and on about something to Raoul. "That's Lord Burchard of Stone mountain," Amanda explained to Kel softly as she put herself in front of the younger woman. "The woman's his wife and the man his brother. The Chamber killed Joren, that's probably why they're here."
Kel froze as the man stopped long enough to breath. He went right back at it with his threats and curses until Raoul changed his hold and put a fore arm across his neck to cut off the voice and the air.
"My Lord of Stone mountain, you forget yourself," he said icily. "If you try to carry out your threats, I will break your jaw."
"He is distraught," the woman said, her voice breaking. "My lord, please, Burchard is out of his mind with grief."
"My nephew is dead," the other man cried. "The Chamber of the Ordeal opened on his corpse."
"Joren? Dead?" whispered Kel, glancing at Amanda. How had she known?
"It's exactly what he deserved," growled Amanda, wiping her lip again as fresh blood began to dribble down her chin.
"Who are you?" snarled Lord Burchard, trying to get free of Raoul's grasp. "I never asked a commoner to comment on my son."
"Then why did you ask my sister to marry him?" asked Amanda sarcastically, her eyes blazing with fury. "That's right, Lord Burchard. "I'm Lady Amanda of Lynx mountain, here as your service just in time for you to slam into me for no bloody reason!!!"
Kel put a restraining hand on Amanda's shoulder as Lord Burchard ignored Amanda and turned back to her. "Jumped-up merchant slut," he whispered. "He was never the same after you arrived. Never. You witched him, cursed him-" His voice was cut off as Raoul reapplied the pressure.
"I am tired of you," said Raoul, his voice deadly soft. "Nothing affects the Chamber. Now leave." He let the man go and pushed him towards the door.
"And you," said Burchard, intending on getting in one last shot. He pointed an accusing finger at Amanda. "You and your slut of a sister-" In a flash Amanda had her dagger out and had it at his throat.
"Nobody insults my sister!" yelled Amanda, a crazy glint in her eyes.
"You cast a spell on him! You're both witches," cried Burchard, struggling out of his brother's hold. "I swear it, die you witches! You and you're evil webs and traps for men-" His voice stopped as Amanda applied pressure to the dagger and a single drop of blood ran down the blade.
"I ought to kill you right now," breathed Amanda, rage practically pouring out of her eyes. A firm hand gripped her shoulder; it's size telling her it was Raoul.
"We will make allowance for your grief," he said sternly, slowly drawing her away from Lord Burchard. "Now leave."
"We understand," said Burchard's wife, helping her husband to his feet.
"Yeah," added his brother sarcastically. "We under stand that-"
"HE SAID WE WILL MAKE AN ALLOWANCE FOR YOUR GRIEF!!!" yelled Amanda, tearing out of Raoul's grasp. "NOW GO!" She pushed them out the door and slammed it shut, leaning on it after it was closed.
Kel trembled slightly as Raoul rubbed his face with both hands. "Gods," he whispered, "I need a drink."
"Shall I get you one?" asked Kel, unsure.
"Not the kind I meant, if you don't mind," he replied. "Juice, water- no liquor. It makes me into someone I don't like."
"I'll find something," Kel promised, looking for her clothes. He turned to Amanda, who hadn't moved the door at all. Her lip bled freely, her breath coming in gasps as a knock sounded on the door. She opened it wearily to see an angry Elizabeth and worried Alyse outside the door.
"Where have you been?" demanded Elizabeth. "And you're lip's bleeding! Here, let me take care of that-"
"Elizabeth, I'm fine," cut in Amanda, taking out a handkerchief and using it to mop up the blood.
"But your lip-"
"I said I'm fine."
"Amanda! It's bleeding-" Amanda held up a hand, silencing her sister as Alyse said what sounded like a series of Yamani oaths.
"You get involved, didn't you?" she asked accusingly, "You knew this was going to happen, so you got yourself involved for no reason-"
"I came to warn her, that's all," objected Amanda angrily. "It's not my fault Burchard rammed me into the door and split my lip. I wasn't even going to hang around for that-"
"Wait a sec," interrupted Buri, looking very confused. "You mean you two *knew* this was going to happen?? But that's impossible..."
"There's something you three should know," said Amanda, wearily leaning on Alyse as she tried to figure out how to say this. "Especially you Kel. Me, Elizabeth, and Alyse are from another world. Another world where Tortal only exists as a series of books, and some of those books are about your life, Kel...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Libby and Artman hadn't been sleeping much lately, with the constant raids on near by towns and hit-and-run attacks used by the Scanrans to try to thin out their defenses. John hadn't had a full nights rest in three weeks, and to say the least he was not going to let anything get in the way of his rest this time.
About three hours before dawn, some fighting broke out along the edges of the camp, and both were quickly called to come and help fight and heal those who had been hurt.
"That's it," growled Artman, pushing his hair out of his eyes and throwing on a shirt. "I *will* get my eight hours of sleep if it's the last thing I do!"
"What are you talking about, Artman?" asked Libby, getting worried. "What are you planning to do this time?"
"Watch and see." He stalked out to where the Scanrans were shoot arrows at them and trying to get their pikes men in under the Tortallan's line of fire. Artman rose up his arms and shouted a few words loudly, flashing with fire briefly until it transferred itself onto the Scanrans, burning those close by to a crisp.
"Retreat!" yelled one of the men as Artman continued to ignite them randomly flashing eyes and a weird grin on his face.
"Done," he said at last, heading back for his tent. "If anyone disturbs me for the next five hours, I swear I'll do the same to them as well."
Libby scratched her head as everyone else backed away from him quickly, having missed his display of 'fireworks' on the Scanrans. "What's wrong with you all?" she asked, getting back to healing a guy with a broken arm. "It's not like he's going to set you on fire or anything." A woman near her fainted as the rest backed away from Libby fearfully. "What?" she asked confusedly. "What did I say...?"
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
John had spent the last few nights in the barn with Mandy, getting up to feel her when she woke up and bit his hand or arm and sleeping when she was not. She romped around the small pen they had made, and liked to deprive John of his sleep by butting him with her head until he got up to play with her.
His favorite time was when she settled down and let him sleep or curled up next to him for a nap. Sarah did the rest of the chores in exchange for the fact that she got a full night's sleep and didn't have to worry about the new-born horse that much.
Right now Mandy was biting him again, wanting more milk from the bottle and the warm mush they had made up a few hours ago. "Alright, alright, I'm going," muttered John, rolling out of the pile of hay that was his bed and getting one of the warmed bottles out. The foal greedily sucked it dry before turning to the bowl of mush and gulping it down as fast as she could.
"Hungry little thing, weren't you?" asked John, lying back down in the hay. The foal burped loudly in response and curled up next to him, laying her head on his stomach. "Hey now!" he objected. "I'm not a pillow!" Mandy just snorted and stayed where she was, that infuriatingly cute look on her face as she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
"Isn't that just the sweetest thing I ever did see," cooed Sarah from the entrance in the stall. "The baby and her daddy are taking a nap."
"Shut up, Sarah. Just shut up."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Vixen sat at her table in the main room of the Dancing Dove, Mouse, Joe, Ratina, Alleycat, and Old Bart sitting with her as they talked quietly under the noise of the room. Allie was upstairs with a group of young men and women, teaching them some tricks of the trade. "Have the young one's been taken to the safe spot?" she asked barely above a whisper, looking at Bart meaningfully. He nodded. [Good] thought Vixen to her self as she mentally checked it off her list. [It would not be good to have any young ones caught up in the crossfire if a fight breaks out. They'll be safe at Madame Cooper's shop with some older Rogue to guard them.]
"What about the old ones?" she asked Joe, staring him straight in the eye. By that she meant the few beggars and older thieves in her group that couldn't fight and needed looking after.
"We found them a spot and they'll be fine," he replied, his lips barely moving. Roberto had agreed to keep those at his home for a week or two and then they'd have to find new place for them to stay.
"And those on the 'expedition'?"
"I just got word that they made it successfully into the merchant's house and are now tackling his spelled safe."
"Good." Vixen glanced up and around the room, her eyes roaming nervously for a second before they settled on the table Xavier had once occupied. Now it was over run with Scanrans, all claiming to need refuge from the war in their homeland.
There was rumor of an uprising in some of the smaller towns far from there, but they had yet to receive word from the thieves they sent to check it out, and until then all they could do was wait.
Joe squirmed uneasily in his chair as the tension built even higher in the room, things beginning to look very tense and uneasy as the noise dimmed to a few whispers here and there, and the occasional passing of a night guard out on a horse on the streets.
"What's going on?" asked Mouse as they waited for the next horse to come by, but it never did. If it had, they would've easily heard it the way the room was so quite, but no noise came from the streets at all... "Something's going to happen, I can feel it-"
"AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" The noise came from upstairs. Vixen stood up quickly as the room erupted into mass confusion. Men dressed in dark blue uniforms poured out from the stairs and began to attack the thieves of the Rogue. Those from Scanra ripped of their tunics to reveal dark blue shirts underneath and turned against those from Tortal as well, creating an uproar that brought the place to life instantly.
Vixen and her friends formed a ring, slicing through the crowd and making their way to the back door. She fought like a mad beast, using her pole arm to cut down the fair-haired Scanrans and help those from her group who had been hurt.
Joe fought at her back, doing the best he could with his knives, but not doing that well all together. "Here," said Vixen, shoving the short sword he had given her into his hands, "Use this. You're better at it than I." Which was true, Joe couldn't fight with knives or steal a purse, but man could he fence.
Mouse tried to sing the men under her control, but they were wearing charms that protected them from her voice and her attempts to break through them were futile. "We've got to get out of here, now!" She yelled, leading a large group of them to the back door and into the courtyard. Vixen and Joe were the last to follow.
Together they held the back door, the rest of the group outside and some of the Rogue still inside trying to fight for their lives in a mad rush for the door. "Bart!" yelled Vixen as she watched him go down in the crowd. "Bart!" Joe grabbed her arm and stopped her from running back into the thick of the fight and began to drag her out the door. "No!" she screamed, fighting his hold. "I have to help my thieves. My rogue. NO!!"
"I can't let you go back in there," grunted Joe as he thrust the short sword through a Scanran's middle before dragging her out the door. "You mean to much to me and the others, we have to go now! This is a lost cause, Vixen, you'll only get yourself killed."
"Then I'll die with my people!"
"Like hell will I let that happen." If Vixen had actually been listening to him, she might had realized exactly what is was he was trying to say. "I care way to much for you to do that, Vixen."
"But they are my people! I'm the Queen, I have to help them..." A cloth was placed over her mouth and she was instantly knocked out from the fumes as her body went limp.
"I'm sorry, Vixen," said Joe softly, getting Ratina and Mouse to help him put her on his horse in front of him. "This is the only way...."
Allie came running up just then, all of the youths who had been with her and a few adults from upstairs coming behind her as well. There were about 12 in all, and they quickly scrambled for horses as Scanrans flooded out of the building and went after them.
"Follow me!" yelled Mouse, two other small rogue members with her as Baby (her giant Clydesdale mare) reared up on her hind legs from fright. She galloped away down the streets, those who could follow doing so and Allie staying behind to help those who couldn't.
"Spider!" she yelled to one of the men, "Take those five without horses to one of the safe spots and follow us later, ok?"
"Yes ma'am!" He and the five disappeared instantly, creeping away as only a Rogue can do. She took out a few knives and threw them, keep enough to fight with as she took out some Scanrans who were harassing a near by girl.
"Come on!" she called to the girl, pulling her onto her pinto mare and turning around only to get an arrow in the back of her shoulder for not watching close enough. "Arrgghh! (&^&^$^%#^)*+)(&(_*^*&%&^$!!!" Several curses and oathes flew out of her mouth as she carelessly took out all of her throwing stars and launched them as the man with the bow, effectively stopping him from ever shooting again. "Stupid Scanrans!"
The girl who was now in riding in front of her guided the horse to the road and galloped away into the night, the last Rogue to leave the Dancing Dove as it was over run by foreigners and they were driven out for the first time in years...
The Rogue was no more.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Sarah had just fallen asleep that night when a loud pounding at the door brought her to her senses, making her throw on some clothes and run to answer the door as quickly as she could. John met her in the hallway, back in the house since the foal had become independent and had found a place in the herd.
He yanked open the door toe reveal and very disheveled Mouse and Allie, and knocked out Vixen who was being carried by Joe, and several others (about 25 in all) who were hurt, tired, hungry and/or cold depending on where they had been when the fighting had broken out.
"Get in here, you guys," said Sarah quickly, handing out extra blankets and getting some hot coffee ready to help warm up the Rogue as they piled into her small house. John took the horses and some of the guys to the barn where they were stabled in a stall or the loft (depending on if you were a horse or a human) with food and extra blankets and such to keep them warm and fed. He bandaged the few wounds that they had before heading back to the house with the promise to come check on them shortly after he had helped out there.
Vixen hadn't woken up yet, and Joe stayed with her as Mouse bandaged Allie's arrow wound and saw to any others who had been hurt. There were several cuts and bruises, and a serious slash here and there, but everyone who had made it this far was still alive and those who hadn't most likely weren't.
"What happened to you guys?" John asked Allie as he gave her a mug of coffee and a blanket to curl up in. "I knew there could be some trouble, but this is a little more than I expected..."
"The Scanrans snuck in through a window on the top floor from another building," Allie said quietly, sipping her drink as she did. "I screamed to alert those down stairs and several of them managed to get past me to the stairs and into the main room. Upstairs, I was able to keep those with me safe and save a few from the rooms around mine. We climbed down a drainpipe and crept around the back, finding the others and a knocked out Vixen back there. I don't know what happened to the others, but I'm sure I don't want to." She shivered slightly as John shook his head and moved on, others still needed help and he was one of the few capable of doing so.
Vixen woke up just then, sitting up quickly as realization dawned on her of exactly what had just happened. The Scanrans, the battle...
"No," she whispered, holding her head in her hands. "No....no..." Vixen, Queen of the Rogue and defeater of Jeremy, wept. She wept for her lost friends and foes, for those she had promised to protect and hadn't been able to, for those who had been hurt or killed, for those who had lost ones as well.
Joe came and put an arm around her, letting her cry into his shoulder as she tried to deal with an overwhelming sense of loss that came with their defeat. Sarah and John, who had finished doling out food and blanket, watched this from a corner by the fire. Allie and Mouse came and helped comfort her to, all gathered in a circle as they mourned their loss with her.
"You do know that you can't all stay here," piped up John when she had settled down and had fallen in an exhausted sleep on Joe's shoulder. "We don't have the room or ability to feed you all..."
"Can we leave a few of the younger ones here?" asked Mouse quickly, getting up and taking some paper and charcoal stick from her pocket. "We can't travel in this big of a group, and some of them need to stay out of this fight for their own safety."
"We can take 10 at the most," conceded John, Sarah having slipped back to her room for a few minutes sleep. "Three in here and seven in the loft."
"How about 13 and we'll leave some gold nobles behind as well to help with the cost?" offered Mouse, a shrewd bargainer as always.
"Deal. How much gold?" She pulled out a fat purse she had lifted from a noble leaving Corus that day and placed it in his hand. "This will definitely do. Thanks."
"No, thank you," said Joe, shaking his hand with his free one. "We need to go scope out what's going on in the other towns and probably recruit some new help from other village's Rogues. Having you take these young ones is more than we could hope for from you."
"It's no problem," replied John, shrugging his shoulder carelessly. "It's what we can do for some old friends."
"I see your goatee is growing back."
"Good grief."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda and Levi were walking back to their tents after breakfast, talking about birthdays for some reason or other. "So, when is yours and your sisters?" he asked lightly, leaning against the wind that threatened to blow them away.
"Mine's in May, and Elizabeth's is in...oh shoot."
"What's wrong?"
"I forgot Elizabeth's birthday last November!" Amanda sprinted the rest of the way back to the tents and found Elizabeth there just waking up, wearing a thick robe as she made herself a cup of coffee to wake her up.
"How could you let me forget about your birthday last November?" exploded Amanda, not even taking the time to say 'good morning.'
"Oh, well let's think about this for a minute," said Elizabeth with sly smile on her face. "First off, you didn't even remember you *own* birthday this past year. I had to remind you-"
"I was under a lot of stress!"
"As you were on my birthday. It was one of the days you worked straight through to get all that unnecessary paper work done (*coughLEVIcough*) and there was that cute serving boy who was hanging around...yeah so I forgot to remind you not to forget so I just let the whole thing drop..."
"Birthdays aren't that big a deal," said Alyse from the doorway. "I had to skip over mine because I still had 'amnesia', remember?"
"Why don't we hold a joint 'belated birthday bash' for you guys, then?" suggested Levi, hoping to get Amanda to stop looking so guilty. "You all can go and get your friends, I'll go order a cake, Amanda could go use her influence to get us a room at the fief to use, and we'll hold a private celebration for just us and those we invite."
"Sounds go to me," said Elizabeth, grinning crazily.
"Yeah," added Alyse, "It'd be nice to have a birthday for once. Only a few others could be rounded up on such short notice, with only Kel, Cleon, Raoul, Buri, Faleron (of course) and Neal coming besides their original group.
It may not have been as grand as it could have, and things were little rushed, but the two sisters and their cousin still had fun.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer was once again the head cook of the Procession, and sat with Sean in the back of the kitchen by the fire, staying warm by the coals that were slowly dying down from a day's worth of cooking.
Sean had made a small hollow in the sacks of flour and sat there staring into the fire, Jenny beside him leaning on his side with his arm around her. The cats last around them, Tigress and Caramel across their laps as Snickers and Chocolate wrestled on the floor and Snowball lay above them on the extra sacks.
Jennifer's eyes began to close, they day's hard work taking its toll on her. Just as she was about to drift off for good, Sean said, "Jenny, are you happy here?"
"Absolutely," murmured Jennifer, leaning more into him as sleep overwhelmed her at last. "I wouldn't have things any other way..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Those left of the Rogue had traveled from town to town, realizing the attack had not only been centered in Corus as those left of other rogues came to them for help and joined their small band. The last town had been one of those first hit and only had five surviving members left, the rest dead or taken as prisoners by the foreigners.
"We have to do something," argued Vixen at the next meeting they had at a small inn by the main road, yet apart from the town. "There's got to be a way to drive these Northerners back to where they came from."
A knock at the door caused everyone to hush, and Joe stuck his head cautiously out the door with a weapon in hand. It was a small boy, beaten a bruised as well as half frozen as he was ushered in and given a place by the fire.
"What's the matter, young one?" asked Vixen as she gave him some bite and sup and let him have her cloak as a blanket. "Why have you come to us?"
"My pa was the King of Thieves here," explained the boy softly. "They killed him and took me and ma as captives. I escaped and managed to hear some of their plans. The guy in charge, Xavier, (Vixen growled at this, but the boy kept going) is helping the Scanra Warlord, who had promised him a noble's place if he manages to overthrow the entire Tortallian rogue and use it to create a diversion so he can slip forces in over the border."
"We have to get rid of them, now!" said Vixen angrily. "They've killed lives that could've been spared, lives that were under mine and other rogue leader's protection. This matter must be settled soon, before it's too late..."
"We'll take care of them, I promise," said Joe gently, laying a hand on her shoulder. She shook it off and began to pace restlessly. "Vixen, settle down. I have a plan."
"What is it?" said Vixen quickly, her full attention on him in an instant.
Joe smiled craftily. "It goes something like this..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Artman panted slightly as he aimed another fireball at the Scanrans and let it fly, toasting another three or four of he enemy. There must've been a three-clan war party out there, and they wanted the town's supplies NOW. Even with Artman to help, the town's people had been hard-pressed to ward off the attacks, and Libby was working over time to help the wounded and heal those who desperately needed it.
She saw someone fall with an arrow through their shoulder and ran to help, kneeling beside the young man and yanking out the shaft before she used her gift to stop the bleeding. Libby was so concentrated on what she was doing that she didn't notice the huge boulder flying over the wall at her until it would've been to late to move.
Artman had noticed it, though, and created a shield around the pair just string enough to shatter the rock and keep them safe. "Thanks!" yelled Libby over her shoulder as she helped the man into the medical tent out of the range of fire.
He just waved back and went on fighting. There was little time to chat during a battle, then long periods of waiting in between. Two extremes, and neither one very pleasant, but such were the ways of war...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle had gone home with his father, who didn't like the cold and had obtained permission to skip the rest of the Procession; a week after the court had left the palace and was home a few weeks later looking for something to do as he roamed the house.
"Boy, get in here," said a sharp voice from inside Baron Emery's office. Kyle sighed and went in, almost being sure of what was to happen next. "Why didn't you accept the invitation to Lady Cornelia's ball?" asked the Baron angrily, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Because she has the personality of a dead fish," said Kyle in a bored voice.
"What about the one fief's proposal of you for their older daughter?"
"You mean the one from 'Kings reach? I met the girl over mid-winter and she's set on some other guy from the Riders. I don't want to get in the way of that."
"Will you stop dallying around an be serious about this? It is important that you get married and have an heir to the fief before I die, ok? Leaving things just, hanging if you will, only causes trouble. There are plenty of eligible women out there, go and pick one!"
"Give me a break, pops," murmured Kyle rebelliously. "Cut me some slack until we go back to court, ok? I want to do this on my own time."
"Fine, boy. But if you screw this up and *I'm* left hanging..."
"I know I know, you'll sick the dogs on me and let them tear me to shreds." Kyle shuddered; his dad's dog's heads came up to his shoulder and had huge jaws that could snap through bone quite easily. "Trust me, I understand..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse held a glaive in her hands and looked at Lady Haname nervously. She was about to get herself thrown. When the Princess had asked her to take part in the exhibition matches, she figured it'd be a fan toss here, a glaive dance there, and maybe a few round of archery, not facing off with the best among them with a glaive.
"Are you ready?" asked Lady Haname as they were signaled to start, adjusting her grip on the pole of her weapon.
"I guess-" As quick as a flash she was forced to dodge the sharp end of the glaive and strike out with the blunt end of her own. They exchanged a few more blows before drawing apart and circling each other.
[Oh shoot, oh shoot, oh shoot] thought Alyse to herself as her opponent charged at her once more. Metal met metal in a shower of sparks as Lady Haname attacked Alyse with the ferocity of a tiger. She knew it wasn't that the Yamanis Lady had anything against her, but the matches had to look good so she did her best every time.
Alyse missed a block and felt her feet get flipped out from under her; the ground the sky trading places as she landed with a 'thud!'
"Are you ok, Alyse?" asked Lady Haname as she hauled her to her feet.
"Yeah," replied Alyse, trying to see straight. "I just got my brains scrambled a bit, that's all...ow..."
"Good match," said the lady lightly, helping her younger friend back to the sidelines. "Next time don't forget to watch where the weapon goes, ok?"
"Yeah, alright." Alyse gulped some water as she readied her self for the fan-fight next. This was going to be a long day...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa, Eric, and Danielle sat in the stands at the jousting and fighting area, needing something to do other than wandering around for once. "Have you made your choice yet?" asked Eric for the fifth time that week.
"No, Eric, I have not," replied Lyssa testily. "I wish you'd leave me alone about that, I'll make my decision when *I'm* ready to and not a second sooner, ok??"
"Hey, at least you have a choice," said Danielle gloomily. "Father said I must find a husband by my next birthday or he'll decrease my dowry."
Lyssa winced in sympathy. Danielle's dowry was worth a lot, that was true, but in the world of nobles it wasn't that big at all and having it become even smaller certainly wouldn't help her any...that and being forced into marriage before you were ready...
She was definitely glad she was not a noble.
"Who's the lucky lad right now?" asked Eric lightly, trying to bring things to a more pleasant topic. "What about that Cleon fellow you danced with a few nights back?"
"First of all he's betrothed to some rich snob and secondly it's rumored that he's involved with that girl squire," retorted Danielle. "Which is too bad because he's kind of cute..."
"And his friend Neal?"
"Completely set on one of the Yamanis Ladies."
"That pretty boy, what-his-face...Kyle."
"He likes to flirt and that's about it." Danielle made a face. "I think he only does it for fun too."
"How about Faleron, then?"
"He's got a girlfriend."
"Who?"
"The cousin of those two noble sisters."
"What two noble sisters?" asked Lyssa, coming back into the conversation suddenly.
"Those two who...oh, hello there." Before them stood one of those gorgeously dark knockouts who are rather quite hard to find. He flashed a brilliant smile, and Lyssa could see Danielle was completely gone on him.
"Are you Lady Danielle?" he asked, his voice deep and velvety.
"Yes," replied Danielle her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm Sir Derick of Kings Reach, one of Faleron's cousins. Your father sent me to come and get you, he wishes to speak with you about something."
"Lead the way," said Danielle softly, taking his arm as she practically floated off beside him.
"I give her a week before she's gone on him," whispered Eric to Lyssa.
"Try the next thirty seconds if it's not already happened," she replied, chuckling softly. Apparently good guys weren't that hard to find after all...at least not in Tortal that is...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
John and Sarah had been very busy the last two weeks, trying to keep their 'guests' comfortable and trying to make their supplies last as long as possible. They had four young ladies and 9 guys who had been put with them, ranging from the ages of 12 to 16. The ladies, of course, slept inside as they guys bunked in the loft, and all of them helped out on the ranch during the day when they were able to.
A few had suffered from minor injuries, one a bruised shoulder from falling off the drainpipe and another a grazed leg from a close call with an arrow, but nothing too serious. The youths knew how to protect themselves in a jam, and could run faster than some of the horses, but they weren't allowed to leave the property anyways and stayed close at hand in case of an attack. Unfortunately, not all things can be planned for.
Xavier was no fool, and had been at the rear of the charge when the Scanrans had flooded the Dancing Dove in hopes of taking it for good. He noticed that there were no young ones or old ones among those captured or dead and that a large number had managed to escape rather than stay and die.
Immediately he had sent out search squads to find those left, but the thieves were craftier than they looked. Madame Cooper had moved the young ones to Myles' home by the palace with their guards and the women who had stayed with them. Roberto had taken the old ones to a friends house far away from there and promised to tell any who came for them where they were. John and Sarah, though, were not used to they ways of thieves, and that worked quite to their disadvantage...
John and a few of the older boys had been mending a fence in the fields when a sharp whistle came from the house. They were under attack.
They sprinted back to the house, seeing Sarah holding the door of their home with a large club in each hand as she knocked over any who came to close. There must've been close to twelve or thirteen grown men outside trying to gain entrance, but Sarah wouldn't budge an inch. From the windows some of the braver youths were throwing stones and anything hard they could get their hands on. One of the girls had a bow and was carefully picking of their horses and the men themselves when they came in her sights.
John grabbed a long pole and went at the intruders, angry that any one dare to force their way into his home, the place he had worked so hard for during the past two years. He had taken some martial arts classes back home and was more than ready to fight those with pole arms or just hand-to-hand, it was the ones with swords that he had problems with...
One of the boys who had been with him went down with spear in is leg as John rushed to save him, crying out as he did. The Scanran thief, dressed in dark blue from head to toe, grinned crazily as he raised his short sword for the final blow.
Sarah screamed, some of the girls joining her as time seemed to slow down, things passing moment by moment...
One of the thieves lifted a cross bow, taking careful aim at John's heart as his leader had bade him to do. At the same time the sound of hooves coming quickly alerted them of the arrival of others. Sarah screamed again, watching as an arrow grew of out the crossbowman's throat, blood splaying everywhere.
The man with a short sword brought his weapon down, John's eyes widening as he realized there was no way to save both himself and the boy as he surged forward and shoved the younger one out of the way...the blade flashing...coming closer...
Another shout rang out, the sound of a bow being shot as John closed his eyes and prayed for it to end quickly....and then his world went black.
Onua sat in the saddle of her horse as she calmly shot down the rest of the thieves, taking care to cripple or kill them as she had done to John's attacker. He would live, with the sword having only gashed his shoulder pretty bad, but his road of recovery would be long and hard.
The boy he had saved was using his shirt to stop the bleeding as Sarah used a club to knock out the last of the attackers before rushing to John's side. Onua rounded up the young ones with out saying a word and took them inside, returning quickly with a blanket and two of the bigger guys. Between the four of them, they carried John back inside and laid him on a bed.
Things were certainly not looking good.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
It had been two weeks since the Rogue had been so rudely rooted out of Corus, and now they were ready to take back some of what had been theirs. It was a small town, one of those that were farthest south and the only one with a Rogue for miles around, that they chose to make their first move.
Slipping along like shadows down the main street to a little building at the edge of the town, Vixen had Allie and Mouse take care of the guards before picking the locks to get inside and slaying anyone who came at her.
There was only a small force, about 20 in all and with Joe, Ratina, Alleycat, and a few other to back her up, they quickly took control and had the small town back in their possession. It was just one of the many they would be taking back over very soon, but it was a refuge for them and would be making very large use of it.
Locking the Scanrans in a dark cell in the back, they freed those who were imprisoned and set the leader for this area back in his rightful place and left him with a few of their men before moving on. Vixen pushed them on, ever on it all the faster so they could gain control once more. She was sick of being put out of her place, and those who had done it would pay, oh yes, they would pay very dearly indeed...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer, Lyssa, Sean, and Eric were having dinner in Jennifer's kitchen late one night, chairs pulled up around the dieing fire in the stove as they ate what as left of the food she ha served. There was a pot of beef stew, a few rolls, a large bowl of steamed vegetables, and a fresh baked apple pie for when they were done.
Lyssa and Eric were talking about Sir Derick, Danielle's new 'friend', and telling Jennifer as Sean about the first time they saw him in the stands.
"I don't care if he's a noble and a little 'high and mighty' for his own good," said Lyssa sincerely. "He's hot. She's a very lucky girl."
"I'd have to agree with you there," piped in Jennifer, nodding her head. "He came in here for a meal earlier today and oh my....there's really no way to describe him..."
"What is it with girls and dark guys?" asked Sean suddenly, looking a little annoyed. "I'm almost blonde, is that such a bad thing?"
"I'm not saying blondes aren't hot too, I'm saying that this guy's a lot better looking than most guys where I come from. Danielle's completely gone on him, she'd eat out of his hand if he asked her too, but he's every bit s gone on her as she is on him! It's hilarious, really, to watch them."
"Why? What do they do?"
"Dani's all shy and nervous (as if such a thing was possible for her!) and he's all 'noble like and grand' in an innocent way. It's as if they're five year olds playing 'grown ups!'"
"I'll pay more attention next time I see them together," said Jennifer, a sly glint in her eyes. "Things like that don't happen very often."
"No kidding," grumbled Sean. "I was walking around the hay stacks yesterday and some squire was rolling around there with a peasant girl. He was younger than me!"
"Things were like that back home," mused Lyssa quietly. "I knew a girl who got pregnant at 14...it was a shame, really."
"Why didn't she just get a pregnancy charm?" asked Eric pointedly. "Most girls are given one by their thirteenth by their mothers."
"Not all girls are and can afford one if they're not," replied Lyssa bluntly. "I don't have one, but then again no guy in his right mind would try anything on me, so I'm really not worried."
"I don't have one," added Jennifer. "But I'm not too worried either." Sean and Eric exchanged odd looks over the table. "What was that look for?" asked Jennifer quickly, having caught the tail end of it.
"Nothing," replied Sean, leaning back in his chair, "Don't worry about it."
"Don't worry about what?" asked Lyssa, turning to Eric. "Is there something you two would like to tell us?"
"There's nothing to tell," replied Eric with a shrug avoiding her eyes.
"Eric."
"What?"
"Tell me. Now."
"...." ^_^;;
"Grrrr...."
"Don't worry, we'll get it out of them eventually," said Jennifer, leaning closer to Sean as she patted his head. "Isn't that right, Sean?"
"...." ^_^;; "Oh boy..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Libby and Artman were traveling to another town that needed their help now, a squad of Riders with them as they went. It was getting old, fighting a battle, helping those hurt, moving one, fighting again, helping again...not that there weren't good times in between. They had word from Lord Raoul that he was planning on coming out with his group of the King's Own as soon as he could get away from 'royal duties' and seeing him and Kel would be good again. They had made friends among the Rider's, and shared a campfire as well as a pot of stew with them most nights.
Things were still not as they had hoped they would be, though, and because of Trystan's orders they weren't allowed to refuse the King and had to stay as long he asked them to. They hadn't found anyone yet, they hadn't even begun their search, and with this war slowly dragging things were worse than ever.
"What do you think would happen if we just ran away?" Artman whispered to Libby as they road on, no one else close enough to hear.
"Artman! We can't do that!" protested Libby, frowning as she did. "What about all those poor peoples that need our help?"
"Forget them," said Artman tiredly. "We haven't made any head-way here and I don't feel like staying here until I die. I want my computer and my games back! I want to play my trombone and argue with Veety about stuff. I want to go home!"
"Even if it means leaving our friends here for good? What if Veety's one of those left here?"
"That doesn't matter much."
"Artman!"
"Alright, I'm sorry, but still..."
"Just let it go, ok?"
"Fine..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle was flying with the hawks again (in their minds, anyways) over his father's lands for the 5th time that day. He asked the hawk (Triclaw was her name) to fly over the road leading to his father's fief and saw a messenger riding towards them, the King's royal seal all over him and his horse.
'Thank you for the ride, winged cousin,' he told Triclaw. 'I must go now, please be good and just return to your coup, ok?' The hawk agreed to do so, and he quickly left to clean up and go see what the fuss was about.
"This is for Master Kyle," the messenger told him when he came down stairs, a very annoyed Sir Emery meeting him there. "I was told only to give it to him."
"Well, open it boy," said the Baron, shoving the envelope in his hands, "What does it say?"
'Greetings, Kyle, son of Baron Emery,
From their Majesties King Jonathan and Queen Thayet;
Daine told us of your abilities with winger animals, and we wish to call you back to the Procession to help Daine with some matters concerning Scanra. Please send word if you are unable to come or come immediately if you can.
Many thanks,
The Monarchs of Tortal.'
"Well, boy?" asked the Baron, growing impatient. "What's this all about?"
"The King and Queen want me to return to help with some things," replied Kyle, not wanting to tell his father everything for once. "They said it was urgent."
"This had something to do with your 'bird skills', doesn't it?"
"Yes, father."
"Humph. You may go."
Kyle grinned and ran up the stairs, giving out orders to pack his things quickly, he was out of there!
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
I think this is the fastest I've ever posted before! Much thanks to those who helped, and you know who you are so I'm not writing the whole list (yeah, I know I'm lazy! ; p). Anyways, please review, it means a lot to me, and it helps me decide where the story's going. Have any ideas? Let me know, if I use it I give you credit for it, k?? Thanks!
~crosseyedbutterfly~