Ahh! Attack of the killer, radioactive bunnies! No!!! *hides behind a
corner until the bunnies pass by* Whew! Anywho, here's the next chapter, I
don't think there's any changes I need to mention from the last chapter, so
go on and read!
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Alyse huddled on her horse's back, pulling her cloak tighter about her as the winter winds did their best to steal the little warmth she had left. She had decided to leave the palace sooner than planned and face the dangerous trip north by herself. No one knew that she had left, most thought she had gone to Faleron's parents home, and her note wouldn't be found until a week or so.
That had been about a week ago now, she had lost count of the days in the moonless nights and sunless days on the road. There was only one stop left, that was Lynx mountain.
'Snap!'
'Neigh!' Alyse looked over her horse's neck; Fern had gotten her foot stuck in some ice. She quickly jumped down and ran around the front, doing her best not to hurt the mare as she removed it from the hole.
"Oh dear...." The flesh around the hoof had been torn up pretty badly and bled freely in the snow, staining it a crimson red. "Looks I won't be riding any more..." She tore some strips off her cloak and bound it around the mare's ankle, making sure it was secure before moving on. Leading her horse would take twice as long, but she couldn't ride her and risk laming Fern permanently.
**two hours later**
Alyse struggled to keep her eyelids open, trying to push against the wind along the road. She knew she was near the fief, just a bit farther and she'd be there, just a bit farther and she'd be home...Her legs buckled and lay there in the snow, sleep overcoming her senses as Fern stood beside her, patiently waiting like a silent sentinel in the snow. Her world went dark as she tried to call out; tried to do anything but lay here and die from the cold....but...it was.....too....late...
Alyse sat up in her bed, still dressed in her traveling clothes and Amanda asleep beside her in an overstuffed chair. "Good, you're awake," said Grandfather, putting another hot brick near her feet. "How are you feeling?" Alyse stared at the ceiling, wondering if this was a dream. The last thing she remembered was the ice and the snow, falling asleep beside her horse and wondering if she was going to die... "Lady Alyse?"
"Hm?"
"I asked how you were feeling."
"What? Oh, sorry. I'm all right." She looked around the room, eyes resting on Amanda for a minute. "How'd I get here, last thing I remember is being outside...?"
"Amanda couldn't sleep and suddenly ran outside and got her horse saddled up," explained Grandfather, handing her a mug of hot tea. "She found you a few miles outside of town, though she didn't know how she knew you were there. If she hadn't found you, you would've died. I was able to warm you up in time before frost bite set in, luckily, so we won't be cutting off any limbs today."
Alyse shivered, not liking the thought of losing a finger or an arm. "Good. Where's my horse?"
"In the stables being taken care of right now. The cuts weren't too serious, she aught to be fine in a few weeks." Grandfather handed her a bowl of soup and went over to Amanda, shaking her gently. "Amanda, wake up Lady Amanda."
"How many times do I have to tell you to drop the 'Lady'?" she growled, opening one eye. Her mood softened the moment she saw Alyse was awake, leaning over her 'cousin' to get a better look. "What were you doing out there, Alyse? I thought you were going to stay at the palace until the passes completely opened up and it was *safe* to travel around again."
"Speaking of which, how did you get through the passes?" asked Grandfather, eyebrows raised. "No one should be able to get through until the end of February at the earliest."
"I wanted to come home," explained Alyse, looking at Amanda, eyes pleading for her not to have to say more. "I just wanted to come home..."
"Why?" asked Amanda, putting a hand on Alyse's arm. "You could've been killed Alyse, what happened?"
"...Faleron."
Amanda frowned. "He dumped you?"
"No....he's dead."
Silence reigned in the room, the only noise the bells of the clock as it chimed out the hour in the hall. Amanda was the first to break the silence. "....dead? How?"
"A raid, he and several others were killed."
"Oh, Alyse...." Grandfather comforted the young woman as Amanda sat there in complete shock, her mouth opened wide. Levi walked in about then, a tray of hot food in his hands.
"Whoa, who died?" he asked when he saw Amanda's face. He was just kidding, but Alyse just cried all the harder as Amanda glared at him. "What? What did I say?"
"Levi..." Amanda got up and took him outside as Alyse continued to cry. He felt so bad when he learned the truth, and avoided her for several days after the incident.
"Shh, it'll be alright," said Grandfather when she had settled down a little bit, still leaning into him. "You're home now. You have your family and friends here."
"Yeah," whispered Alyse as she took in the familiar surroundings. "Home..."
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Trystan sighed and slumped back in her chair, relief obvious on her face. That had been the closest call she had had with a person for quite sometime. Not that she could blame the poor girl, losing someone close to her heart so suddenly....
Making Amanda go find her had been a stroke of luck, though, she'd have to remember that that one went with her intuition. Dreams were the easiest form of communication without actually going and telling someone to do something and giving herself away.
"Goddess bless us all, I hope that never happens again," she sighed as she leaned back in the chair even further, beyond her point of balance. 'WHUMP!' "...ow..."
"That's what you get for not being careful," said Grendel, materializing beside her.
"Oh, shut up, Grendel, just shut up..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda growled as she walked into her rooms, a smirking Elizabeth following her close behind. She had lost as bet, and now had to go to a ball for some rich noble's birthday and wear a dress. "Darn you, Elizabeth, I swear..."
"That you'll kill me when this is done," finished Elizabeth, rolling her eyes with a grin. "The same threats don't work every time, Amanda."
"Yeah, but then you'd be dead."
"True....now. What dress should you wear?" She rummaged through Amanda's things, leaving her sister to sit on the bed and watch. "How about this?" It was a pink gown with frills and lace.
"Like heck."
"Fine, then you pick one out." Amanda sighed and went over to her closet. She didn't mind dresses until she had to wear one. Looking through what she had, she drew out a dark blue, plain velvet gown with long, flowing sleeves and a black wrap that went with it.
"How's this?"
"Hm...simple, yet elegant. It works." Elizabeth went to her to own room to change, leaving Amanda to fix herself up within the hour that they had left. She put on the dress and went to her jewelry box, trying to find something that would go with the outfit she had been ordered to wear.
"Lady Amanda-"
"It's just Amanda, Grandfather."
"Amanda, the carriage and horses will be ready on time. Is there anything else you need help with?" He stood in the doorway, watching with amusement as she put on some silver earbobs and a fine bracelet, keeping on the silver lynx paw charm that Elizabeth had given her as always.
"No, thank you, Grandfather."
"Amanda, could I ask you a question?" said Grandfather, tilting his head to the side.
"Shoot."
"Do you know how to dance?"
"Um....sort of..."
"You do realize that you'll have to dance since you're wearing a gown and many will be taking this opportunity since you never wear them at all." Amanda turned around, her eyes huge.
"Oh, crap..."
"Would you like a crash-course dance lesson before you go?" offered Grandfather, eyes twinkling merrily. "It is the least I can do..."
"She'll take it," said Elizabeth, appearing beside him. Seeing Amanda was about to object to that, she added, "Unless she wants to make a fool out of herself on the dance floor..."
"Grr.......fine. Meet me in the study in a few minutes."
"Yes, ma'am."
Elizabeth went there as soon as she was done with her hair, watching Amanda learn how to do some basic steps from Grandfather. Levi walked in and his eyes got huge, jaw dropping to the floor as Amanda tried to do a waltz.
"Relax, just relax. I know you like music, so just let it guide your steps," instructed Grandfather, whirling her around slowly. He caught sight of his son and smiled.
"She looks good tonight, doesn't she?" Elizabeth whispered to him, waiting for his reaction.
"Hm? Oh, yeah." He stopped staring long enough to glance as Elizabeth, who was grinning at him evilly. "What?"
"Nothing..."
"Levi," called Grandfather, "I need your help here." Levi glanced at Elizabeth one more time and went over to his father, waiting for his instructions. "I need you to dance with Amanda."
"Um...ok......" Amanda said nothing as she put her hand on his shoulder and let him take her other hand in his. Elizabeth could've sworn she saw her blush faintly, but you couldn't tell in the flicking firelight. He whirled her around gently, grinning to himself as he saw her relax and forget that she hated this. One might even go so far as to say she liked it...
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Jennifer sat in the room she shared with Stephanie, fixing some baskets they had brought with them from the hut. Stephanie walked in, a couple letters in her hands and a box.
"What's that?" asked Jennifer, pointed at it with a knife she held in her hand. Tigress lay at her feet; the other kittens romping near the fire.
"A package for you from your friends in Corus," replied Stephanie. "You got a letter, too. Here." She handed the things to Jennifer and went to her bed, shifting through her letters.
"Thanks." Jennifer used the knife to slice open the box, opening it carefully incase the Rogue members had decided to put some tricks in there. She pulled out three wrapped objects and put them on the bed beside her, looking at them oddly. She opened the first one, revealing a small dagger that was inlaid with silver and a stone set in its pommel. Her initials had been engraved in the blade and a cat charm was set at the hilt. She grinned and attached its sheath to the belt before opening the second on.
Inside was a box with a ring. The ring was a silver band with a swirling design engraved into it and five little stones equally spaced around it. Each one was a varying shade of green, one of her favorite colors. She grinned and put it on her finger before moving onto the third one.
Inside was a small box with a necklace in it. The chain was of fine silver and was the thinnest thing she had ever seen. On it was a charm the size of her thumbnail in the shape of a cooking pan. On one side was a 'J', on the other a 'R'. She put it on and added the ring to it, hiding it under her shirt since neither thing was something a guy would normally wear.
She picked up the letter and opened it, revealing three small, separate notes. The first one said:
Hey Jenny,
How are you? Sorry about this being late, I kinda got caught up in some things, yeah. Anyways, Midwinter's luck and here's the gift I promised you when you left. Sean was by here today and sends his love, though you'll probably see him before you get this. Hope you enjoy the dagger, it aught to come in handy, knowing you.
Love,
Vixen
Jennifer smiled, so that's what these were, her midwinter gifts. She opened the second note, it read:
Dear Jenny,
Hey, what's up? Vixen will probably send this late, so sorry if this isn't on time, I didn't want to trust her with this but I'm too busy to do it myself. Hope you're having fun, and we're still trying to figure out a way to clear your name. I hope the ring fits, I thought you'd like it. Midwinter luck!
Bryanna a.k.a. Mouse
So that's who the ring was from, which meant that the last gift had to be from Allie. She unfolded the note, and it said:
Jenny,
Hey. I got this for you as a suggestion from someone else *coughSeancough* and thought it was a good idea. No girl should be without one of these, and you should be able to guess what it is. Midwinter luck and I hope this comes in handy next time you're with lover boy.
Allie
Jennifer could feel her cheeks get hot and knew she was bright red as she fingered the charm that was around her neck. Yup, that was from Allie alright. She would want to make sure her friends had such things in case of an 'emergency'. Or at least what Allie would qualify as an emergency.
"What's wrong?" asked Stephanie when she noticed Jennifer's red face. "You hot or something?"
"Uh...no. Just what my friend said, that's all."
"What did she say?"
"...you don't want to know."
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Kyle sat in the courtroom with the King and the head magistrates, wishing this whole process was over. The Baron had a huge amount of land, houses, and stores of money and goods that he owned. Each one had to be individually transferred over to Kyle's name, and then he would don the title 'Baron ' as the finishing touch. He had to be present while the King and the magistrates went over everything, signing things occasionally, and answering questions at times.
"Well," said the King after what seemed like an eternity. "We've transferred all documents and possessions to your name, Master Kyle. Would you bow before me, please?"
"Why?"
"I need you to take the oath."
"Oh, right."
Kyle knelt before the King on one knee, one hand on his heart and the other the King's hand. "Do you, Master Kyle, promise to do your best to carry on the title and tradition as your father did?"
"Yes, sire."
"Do you, Master Kyle, swear to never use it for your own advantage less you cause it to ruin and take the penalties for it?"
"Yes, sire."
"Then rise, Baron Kyle of Crescent Hollow, and consider yourself Master of those lands your father once held."
"Uh, thanks, King Jonathan, I think..."
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Libby walked along the edge of the camp as night fell, the smells of dinner being cooked and sounds of people scurrying around the small camp wafting over her. She noticed a dark figure in the distance, coming closer by the second.
"Libby?" called out a familiar voice, is that you?"
"Uh, yeah," she called back, reaching for her dagger. "Who are you?"
A light chuckle floated towards her as the person lit a lamp, showing their face. "It's me, Daine."
"Oh, hey Daine!" Libby smiled and waited for her come closer, leaving her dagger in its sheath. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I was coming by and saw your fires a ways back. Since I haven't had a hot meal in days and the snow is starting to fall again, I figured I'd come see if I could get some food and shelter for the night."
"You're more than welcome to share with us," said Libby with a shrug. "Come on, I think dinner's ready."
"Thanks!" They walked through the crowds to the outdoor kitchen, getting three plates of food (one was for Artman) and heading over to their tent.
"Artman, I've got some food and a guest!" called Libby as she opened the flap, letting Daine go in first.
"What- oh, hey Daine. What's up?"
"Um, nothing, thanks. How are you?"
"Fine, thank you." He turned back to his little project, a crystal that could explode a rain of fire, and nibbled bits off the plate Libby set next to him.
"So, where's that guy who you were training during the procession, Kyle was his name, right?" asked Libby, feeding her bunnies some scraps.
"He went home. His father died."
"The Baron of Crescent Hollow?"
"Yep, Kyle inherited everything, including the responsibilities."
Artman whistled from where he was sitting. "From what I heard, the Baron has a treasury to rival the King's. Imagine becoming that rich in an instant."
"I'd rather not," replied Daine. "I'm happy with what I've got."
"Hmph."
"So, he's back home now?" questioned Libby, still knowing she had seen him somewhere before their first meeting with Daine.
"Yeah, I'll probably hearing from him soon to find out if he's coming back out to help or not, probably not though."
"Why?"
"He has no heir."
"Huh?"
"Look, there is no family left at Crescent Hollow. The Baron was an only child, and he never got married. Kyle is his only adopted son, so after him there's no one else with a direct claim to the property..."
"Meaning that the third and fourth cousins would carve it to shreds the moment he got killed or captured." Libby smiled. "I get it!"
"Wait, did you say the Baron's son was adopted?" asked Artman, "I didn't know that."
"Most people think he's illegitimate or something," explained Daine, "But the King told me that he was just adopted out of the blue."
"You don't say..." Libby scratched her head, cobwebbed wheels of her mind slowly turning for once. "I want to get talk to him when we get called back to Corus."
"Why?" Daine gave her a weird look, putting her fork down for a second. "He's just you average guy."
"Huh? Oh! No reason..."
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Allie sat at the table in the room she and Mouse shared, watching Kara as she slept peacefully on the bed. "Look," said Mouse from the doorway, her purse in her hand. "She's asleep and probably won't wake up until I get back. If she does, teach her something, it always works for me."
"Yeah, well, I'm not you," Allie called after her as she disappeared down the hall, going to buy some more food for the girl.
"Hey Auntie Allie," said Kara, suddenly popping up in front of the young woman.
"Ahh! What are you doing out of bed? Weren't you just asleep?"
"Nope, Kara was pretending." Allie sighed, the girl had started to talk in third person recently, and she wasn't sure if she could take this right now.
"Well, Kara needs to try and fall asleep for her Auntie Allie."
"Kara's not tired."
"Kara can pretend she's tired."
"No she can't."
"Yes she can."
"No she can't"
"Yes she can."
"No she can't"
"YES SHE CAN AND SHE WILL IF SHE WANTS TO LIVE!!!" Allie glared at the small, huddled figure in front of her. "Go. To. Sleep."
"Yes, Auntie Allie."
{That was too easy} thought Allie as she watched the girl, {There has to be a catch, there always is with little kids...}
*sniff**sniff*
{Oh no...)
*sniff**sniff**sob!* Allie groaned as the little girl started to cry into her pillow, the tears looking like they would never end.
"Oh, Kara, I'm sorry," ground Allie through her teeth, going over and sitting next to the girl. "I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."
*sniff* "You're really sorry?"
".......yeah, I guess so."
"You're lying."
"Are not."
"Are to."
"Are not."
"Are to."
"Are not."
"Are to."
"Look, I'm sorry, ok???"
".......ok!" Kara's tears vanished and she latched on to Allie's neck. "I luv you Auntie Allie!"
"Oh my gosh...."
"Hey, how were things?" asked Mouse, walking into the room with the bags in her arms. Seeing Kara's smile, she added, "See, I told you it'd be easy."
"Grr......."
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Sarah stood in the kitchen, boiling some vegetables and beef together for stew as she watched the bread in the over to make sure it didn't burn. John sat at the table repairing some tack that had snapped that day.
*knock** knock*
"Hm? John, go get the door, will you?" asked Sarah, tasting the soup and adding some salt.
"Fine." He got up and walked over to the door, opening it quickly. "Hello- oh, hey guys." He watched as some members of Rogue who had stayed with them just pushed past him and took their places at the table, leaving him with no place to sit. "Hey! What's-"
"Hi, you guys," cut in Sarah, taking the bread out of the oven. "You're right on time, how've you all been?"
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE???" yelled John, not being able to take it any longer.
"Oh, did I forget to tell you," said Sarah with a smile. "They sent a letter saying they were coming for dinner today."
"Yeah, you forgot to tell me," retorted John, pulling up a stool. "Any other surprises you'd like to share with me?"
"Yeah, the inspector for the barn is coming tonight-"
"WHAT??" John jumped up, starting to run out to the barn to get everything ready.
"Just kidding, just kidding."
"Gees." He sat back down, running hand through his fairly long hair. "Will you not do that anymore? You know if we don't pass that test, we're fired."
"Yeah, I know."
They spent the rest of the night laughing and talking with the six young teens an adults, staying up to the early morning hours.
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Lyssa rode hard with a small squad of fighters, tracking the Scanrans that had attacked the night before. "Keep you eyes open," she called. "The last thing I need is for you to be dead."
'zip!'
'Thunk!'
"Aahh!"
"Attack!" Lyssa charged headfirst on her horse into the crowd of Scanrans that ran at them, her swords drawn and ready for battle. Using her shield, she blocked off a footman's ax blows and sliced off his head, moving on to the next before it hit the ground.
Eric battled beside her, almost falling from his mount as a Scanran grabbed onto his saddle and tried to yank it off. "Hey!" He reached back and smashed the man's head in with a war hammer, quickly righting himself once more.
"Retreat!" The Scanrans took off running at the Rider's chased them, driving them out of their section of the woods before turning back to the fort.
"Go search the bodies and grab all the weapons that were dropped," ordered Lyssa, sitting up straight on her horse as she watched them flee through the snow. "The rest you of, come back with me."
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Alyse sat moodily in a chair by her window, Ronnie asleep in her lap and a tray of food beside her. She had refused to leave her room since she came, and had spent the time sitting down in that chair, staring out the window at the drifting snow flakes.
{He's dead, he's dead, he's dead...} her mind said over and over, taunting her almost to the point of madness. {Faleron's dead, he's not coming back, he's gone for good, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead...}
"Shut up!" she cried, covering her ears with her hands. "I don't care anymore."
"Alyse, are you alright?" asked someone behind her. She clenched her teeth and bit back the sarcastic laughter that threatened to burst out. Alright? How could she possibly be alright? Why even bother asking such an absurd question? "Alyse...?"
"What?" she snapped, keeping her eyes centered on the window.
"I asked you a question."
"Why do you ask questions that you already know the answer to?"
"Why do you continue to dwell on Faleron when you know he's not coming back?" Alyse's eyes snapped, whirling around to face Amanda angrily. "Alyse, this isn't like you, snap out of it..."
"I can't. He was more than a friend, Amanda."
"You think I didn't know that already?" Amanda came and sat next to her on the arm of the chair, a box in her hands. "I didn't come to argue with you Alyse, here's your midwinter and birthday presents. I was going to give them to you this spring, but you came back early..." She got up and headed for the door, leaving the box in Alyse's hands.
"Amanda." The older young woman stopped at the door.
"Yes?"
"You were right."
"..huh?"
"The King, he said you were right, and that he was sorry."
Amanda's face formed a grim smile as she walked out the door, her eyes gleaming sadly as she remembered the fight she had had with the King. "...so am I."
Alyse turned back to the window and opened the box in her hands, pulling out a small card and two wrapped objects. The card read:
Alyse
Sorry these are late, but you weren't exactly here for your birthday or midwinter so we do have an excuse this time!
Your cousins,
Amanda & Elizabeth
She shook her head and opened the first package. It was a charm bracelet with several charms on it. There was a fan, a dagger that looked like Amanda's, a mini-cross bow, a heart, a shield with Faleron's crest on it, and a dog that looked like Ronnie. Putting it on, she let a few tears slide silently down her face before unwrapping the other present.
This one was a small wooden bow with designs carved in the sides and front. Lynx and bears roamed over mountains against a clear sky, and the fief sat in all its grandeur on one side all to itself. On the lid was the family crest, and her name carved right below it.
Getting up, she walked over to her dresser and put both gifts there along with the note. She fingered the charm that was shaped like Faleron's crest and sighed, it was gong to be a long wait until spring....
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda walked into her study, shaking her head. Levi looked up at her from the couch, a book in his hands. "Still brooding over him?"
"Yep."
"Hey, guys," said Elizabeth, popping her head in the room. "I'm bored."
"You're always bored."
"I have an idea," said Levi, getting up and putting the book back on its shelf. "Do you guys like to go sledding?"
"Sledding?" Elizabeth gave Amanda an odd look, who just shrugged in reply.
"Sure."
"Alright, then, I'll meet you in the courtyard in a few minutes." They each split up and went to their respective rooms, quickly changing into some winter clothes. Once all bundled up, they met back up at the appointed spot where Levi had a light, metal disk for them.
"Where's the hill?" asked Amanda, following his through the snow.
"Right up here." He pushed past some trees and revealed the side of the mountain, completely smooth and steep, perfect for flying down hill.
"Wow."
"Wait until you go down your first time." He put his disk down and jumped on, starting to zip down the hill. Amanda laughed and got on hers as well, following his soon after.
"You're both crazy!" yelled Elizabeth, her eyes huge. "You'll break your necks, or....whatever." She got on her sled and pushed herself off, using her hands to keep her from going to fast. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"
Some 5 or 10 minutes later, Levi slowed to a stop at the bottom of the hill, getting up off his disk. "Wow, that was-"
"WHHHHAAAAAAAA!!!!!! YOU CAN'T JUST STOP LIKE THAT, LEVI!!!"
*CRASH*
Amanda slammed into him head on, flipping off her sled and rolling several feet with Levi landing somewhere nearby. They lay there, Elizabeth coming to a stop between them.
"Hey, are you two ok?"
"...........ow." Amanda sat up and looked at Levi with amusement.
"Wimp."
He sat up and looked at her. "Are not!"
"You're the guy here, and you're the one groaning in pain."
"A person on a sled didn't just slam you."
"No, I was the person on the sled at slammed into the idiot who stopped in the middle of the hill."
"True....it was not the middle of the hill!"
"Was too!"
'Whap!' Amanda looked at the sky, her vision clouded by the snowball that covered her vision.
"Oh, you are so dead..."
"Only if you can catch me!" Levi ran up the hill, dragging his sled up with him as Amanda chased after him with revenge written on her face.
Elizabeth watched them from the bottom of the hill, shaking her head. "Kids..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
The small kitchen used to feed the servants was empty other than the three whom moved about busily, trying to find something decent to eat. The normal staff had the week off, and most had gone to see relatives or just get out of the fief for awhile. Jennifer didn't have that luxury, since there was still a chance someone may recognize her, and since Chris was visiting Stephanie again, she didn't feel like going out anywhere.
Jen, as they called her, poked her head in a barrel. "Hm, lamb chops here, fresh too. I'll cook those up for us with some herbs, it'll be really good...."
"Here's some carrots and potatoes," said Chris, coming out of the cellar. "Just enough for the three of us too."
"I found a bag of flours and some yeast," said Stephanie from the cupboard. "Could you make some bread with that?"
"Sounds good to me." Jen got to work, slicing this, pealing that, setting that to boil and putting the pan next to it in the over. She watched the chops with practice, making sure they didn't bake too long, and watched the bread to make sure it didn't burn as well.
Stephanie went and raided the main kitchen, bringing back part of a pie and a cask of cider for them to drink. Jen set both to warm on the stovetop and pulled out the bread, leaving Stephanie to cut it up.
"How's the 'tatoes coming?" asked Chris, sitting on the edge of the table with his legs hanging over. "They's my favorites."
"Really? Well, they'll be done in a minute...."
"Hey, who's cooking in here?" asked the head cook, a plump woman with a pleasant smile and a handful of gray hairs. "Stephanie, now I know this isn't you, you can barely manage a decent gruel at times..."
"Well, gee, thanks Helga," said Stephanie wryly, taking a seat at the table. Jen kept her head bent, trying not to catch the lady's attention. "It's actually my helper, Jen, you've met him."
"That small guy who don't talk at meals? He can cook?" The lady bustled over to the stove and looked at the food, obviously impressed. "Well I'll be....you did all this with no recipes or nothing?" Jen just nodded, taking the meat out of the oven. "Not bad, little guy, not bad at all." Jen and Stephanie hid grins as Helga waddled out of the room, shaking her head and muttering to herself. "A boy who can cook better'n me with out any instructions....well, Helga, I guess you've seen everything now....that boy...."
Jen burst out laughing the moment the lady was gone, Stephanie joining her and Chris looking at them like they were insane. "What's so funny, sis? Jen?"
"Oh, I'll tell you when you're older,"
"Oh! That's what you always say!!"
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle stood in his room at the palace, looking at his packed bags and boxed up things. He was to begin the trip back to the fief in a few days, and right now was trying to decide if he should write personally to Daine, or have the King tell her for him. He sighed, she was too good a friend just to leave her hanging like that, and he at least owed her the personal note saying he wasn't coming back.
Sitting down at the desk, he pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, starting to write. His note was something like this:
Daine
It's Kyle. I won't be coming back out to help you, I'm sorry. Dad left a clause in his will that I didn't know about saying that I had to get married and have an heir in four years or I lose everything. That means, since there are no direct relatives, that I can't go back out until I've got a wife and a kid. Fun, right? Anyway, I'll see you next time you visit the palace, ok? We can talk more then.
The newly appointed:
Baron Kyle of Crescent Hollow
Folding it up and sealing an envelope with his color of wax and his seal, he gave it to a messenger and walked back in his room, looking out the window. He missed being free...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Libby sat in the middle of a ring of men and women who were traveling with her and Artman, her bunnies all around her.
"Are you ready?" she asked, two long ribbons in her hands.
"Uh, sure."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Depends on what you're going to do."
"Shut up, Carl."
"Sorry..."
"Go on, Libby."
"Ok!" She tied ribbon to a stake she had driven into the ground, looking her bunnies. "Ready guys and gals?"
*nod**nod*
*hop**nod*
*hop**hop*
*nod**hop*
"Ok then, lets go!" Pinky and Pinky Jr. on one side and Dusty, Rose, and 'Iforget' on the other (she still hadn't figured out a name for that pour little gal.) She swung the ribbons at the same time, using a constant beat that never wavered, and chanting as she did.
Up and down,
Up and down.
Bunny hop
Bunny hop
Up and down
Up and down
Bunny hop
Whoo!
Rope up
Rope down
Rope up
Rope down
Bunny hop
Bunny hop
Bunny hop
Whoo!
Family o'
Bunnies
Hopping with
their buddies
Bunny hop
Bunny hop
Bunny hop
Whoo!
"Look everybody, it's the Family of Jump roping Bunnies Brigade!" Libby cried, going and chanting again as everyone began to scout away with looks of fear in their eyes.
Artman watched from a few feet away, wondering if Libby had really cracked or not. "Ok..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Mouse and Allie sat in the main room of the Dancing Dove at their table, keeping an eye on things until Vixen got down there. "Where is she?" asked Allie, glancing at the stairs. "I don't like leaving Karalee with Paul for this long."
"She's fine, Allie, stop worrying," admonished Mouse, giving her a slight glare. "And when I came downstairs, she said she had to 'talk' to Joe about something, so they could be awhile..."
"Looks like your lies stopped working," Joe teased Vixen as they came around the corner, coming in from the outside.
"How did you get out there?" demanded Allie, giving them a weird look.
"It's a long story," said Vixen, ducking her head as she blushed and took her seat in the 'throne'.
"Right...."
Joe sat next to her as close as was possible, ordering them some drinks from the bar with a wave of his hand. "So," said Mouse, leaning back in her chair with a sly smile on her face. "What were you and Joe 'talking' about, Vixie dearest?"
"...well....um....."
"Let's not talk about that," said Joe in a stage whisper, winking at the other two Rogue sisters. "That's not the sort of things Queens are supposed to be known to do."
"What! Joe...." Vixen went on into one of her rants, a particularly long one that promised to last for sometime.
"You do know the easiest way to stop her is to clamp a hand over her mouth," Allie told him with a grin.
"Actually, I found an easier way."
"Really, how?"
"Well, lets just she doesn't try to stop this one."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Care to demonstrate?" Vixen was still going on the background, apparently oblivious to the fact that they were talking.
"Sure, why not?" He leaned closer to her and tugged on one of her curls, getting her to turn quickly.
"Hey! Don't you-.......mm........"
"Yep, that is a lot more effective," whispered Allie to Mouse as the pair continued to kiss and hoots and whistles went up around the room.
"I'd have to agree with you there...."
"Bite me," growled Vixen ever so sweetly at her sisters when they were done.
"Where?" asked Allie as mischievous look on her face. "Maybe we could get Joe to do it for us..."
He laughed as Vixen reached across the table to grab Allie, missing by a couple inches. "Darn you, Allie, I swear..." Joe sighed and leaned over, silencing her again.
"At least we don't have to hear her voice go up into the higher decibel rang anymore," admitted Mouse, getting up from her chair. "Let's leave the lovebirds alone, shall we?"
"Fine. Later, Vixie and Joe."
"Later."
"See ya, guys."
"I told you they'd eventually come down stairs," said Mouse, opening the door to Paul's room to reveal him tied to the chair and Karalee doing a dance around him.
Allie took one look and walked back out again. "I don't even want to know..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Sarah was sitting in the kitchen, reading over some letters that she'd gotten from the others recently as John walked by her to his room. "Are you going to bed, soon?" he asked, stopping for a second.
"Yeah, in a little while."
"Ok, 'night."
"'Night."
**three hours later**
Sarah sat up with a start, a half-finished letter clinging to her face as light poured in the window. She glanced outside, thinking she'd slept through the whole night at the table.
"John," she called, going to the stove. "John, its time to get up."
"Sarah, its midnight," he called back, not moving from his bed. "I can see the freaking moon from my window. Good night."
Then why was it so light? Where was it coming from? She ran to the window, searching the landscape.
"Ahhh! John the barn's on fire!" She outside, ignoring the fact it was freezing cold and headed for the barn. "The horses, we have to save the horses!"
"What?" John got up and stumbled to the window in the other room, trying to see straight. "Oh Crap!! Hang on Sarah, I'm coming!" He threw on his boots and ran out the door, running to the barn where she was opening the door.
The horses streamed out, some with their manes and tails on fire and others with other burned spots. "That's not all of them!" cried Sarah, looking into the blaze. "I only counted 30 of them, and we have more than 40!"
"It's too late to save them!" yelled John, seeing some of their neighbors riding up the drive to see what the huge fire was about. He heard a horse scream as a beam fell, blocking its path of escape. "Oh no, Mandy!"
Pushing Sarah into the snow, he ran inside and dove through the flames, looking for the young horse he had raised from a baby. "Mandy! Mandy, where are you!"
'Neigh!!!' He kicked down the door to her stall and grabbed her lead, pulling the mare after him.
"Dang it, Mandy, don't fight me now or we'll both die!" he yelled angrily as the mare refused to move. "Come on."
"John, get out of there!" cried a voice from the outside, "The whole barn's going to collapse!!"
"I'm coming!" he yelled back, tugging Mandy along with him. "Come on, you stupid horse!" Mandy broke from his grip and bolted, leaving John to run along behind. He tripped on a beam and fell, crying out as the fire scorched his flesh. "Why the heck is it always me???" He got up and hobbled out, collapsing in the snow as Sarah ran to his side.
"John! John! Are you ok?? Please answer me, John!"
*cough* "I'm fine." *cough* Several of the men from the village who came when they saw the flames carried him inside, having the healer fix his burns while the guy was still there.
"So, how'd it start?" a man asked Sarah as she stood outside and watched it burn, the horses who had escaped all safely out in the fields.
"I don't know," she replied with a shrug. "We don't keep any candles or lanterns in the barn, so unless there was a bolt of lighting from a nonexistent storm...."
"Arson?"
"Could be, yeah."
"Hm, tough break."
"Onua's gonna have a fit."
"She already knows."
"ONUA??"
"I was staying with a friend and saw the fire," she explained, knocking the snow off a railing of the fence and sat down. "It's a shame, that barns been standing since I started working for the King."
"Yeah....a shame...."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa stood out on the platform that was used for guard duty by herself, several layers of clothes keeping her warm and a mug of hot coffee to boot. The snow fell gently around her, and she was reminded of a time that seemed so long ago back home in Indiana...
*flashback*
{Lyssa stood out on the balcony of a cabin in the snow, the winds whipping around her mercilessly. She didn't even shiver, though all she wore were her pajamas and a light jacket, her mind was on other things.
She could hear Crystal and some other girl playing cards in the background, the glass door not blocking most of the sound. She could hear the girls in the cabin next to them laughing and talking loudly in the downstairs meeting room, it was where most everybody met while they had free time. Everyone who wasn't there from the church group was probably in their rooms or the gym, but she didn't really feel like going to either one.
A lone figure crunched through the snow below her, coming up the back stairs to stand beside her.
"Cold?" asked Amanda, a small smile on her face.
"Mm, no really."
"Let's go inside, your lips are turning blue."
"Seriously?"
"No, but you still look cold."
"Fine."}
Lyssa sighed as the next person came to relieve her of guard duty and she went back to her rooms to sleep. It was going to be long night.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse walked slowly around the gardens that were adjacent to the courtyard of the fief, having snuck out earlier that day with Ronnie as her companion. He walked along beside her, too worried about his master to romp and play for once. The last few days, she had begun to realize what everyone else had been telling her all along: she had to let him go and move on.
{He was so special....but he wouldn't want me to live the rest of my life like this....he loved me.... and would want me to be happy...but still...} Her mind continued waging this war back and forth as she continued to wander. She found a corner that was mainly sheltered from the wind and the snow.
Looking closer, she realized there were flowers there, real flowers growing in the shelter of the walls. The sunlight reached it, but the wind never did. She picked one and held it to the light, seeing the shafts shine through the delicate petals.
"It's called a snow angel," said a voice behind her. "Grandfather said they only grow in protected hollows during the winter, and represent a resilient spirit."
"Snow angel...." Alyse turned around, facing her cousin. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth."
"For what?"
"For....for not being myself lately."
Elizabeth shrugged, smiling crookedly. "It's no big deal. Besides, Amanda took the brunt of it anyways."
"Gee, thanks sis," said Amanda, coming around the corner suddenly. "Thanks for the help you've been."
"You're welcome!"
"Um, Elizabeth? How did you know about the flower?" asked Alyse, frowning slightly.
"Amanda found some outside her door Midwinter day, so I asked Grandfather about them," she replied, giving Amanda a 'look.'
"Oh....thanks."
"No problem. It's cold, so I'm going back inside." She was gone before either could say a word, disappearing like she often did.
"How are you feeling?" asked Amanda, leaning against the wall.
"Better....I think that...."
"...that what?"
"I think that....I can finally....let him go..." A single tear fell down her face, sliding to her chin and soaking into her scarf. "He...he was great, Amanda. He...really was... ..but..."
"You need to move on? Live you life?"
"Yeah."
"Then I am happy for you." Amanda gave her a quick hug and left, leaving Alyse to be with her thoughts.
"Good bye, Faleron...." she whispered, the wind taking the flowers and scattering their petals through the air. "Good bye...."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Levi set up the chessboard for another game, sighing as he did. He had just lose two in a row, making the score 1-3, Amanda winning. The others had gone off early to bed that night, leaving her to do some work and him with nothing to do. In exchange for his help, she's agreed to play chess with him like always and was now sitting there grinning with pleasure at his loss.
"Ready to lose?" he asked, hand hovering over a pawn.
"Sure, why not," she replied with a shrug, letting him go first. "You seem convinced you'll win, and that could work to my advantage."
"Really? How?"
Amanda smirked. "Like I'd tell you."
"Grr....meany."
"Right..." She made her move and watched as he made his, wondering what he was going to try this time. She had long since figured out his original plans for winning, just as he had figured out hers. Now both were continuingly trying new things out and had to stay on their toes during the game.
"What are you planning to do this summer?" he asked out of the blue, looking her straight in the eye.
"Wasn't that random," she murmured, rolling her eyes. "I'm going to stay here until late Autumn or so to finish up some work and then head back to the palace, Kel's ordeal is this year."
"That's right. Who all's going with you?"
"Why? Do you want to come?"
"...maybe."
Amanda laughed, moving her queen. "Elizabeth is coming to check out the noble's sons, I'm sure, and Alyse will want to see her friends again...check."
"Hm, so is Pop coming or not?"
"Well, it's either you or him, take your pick."
"He'll manage things better for you while you're gone." He grinned and moved his knight, taking out her queen. "Check mate, HA!" She sat there and watched him as he did a little 'victory dance' in his chair, eyes sparkling with amusement. "I won! I won! I beat you good! I won! I won! Oh yeah!" He suddenly looked at her, puzzled. "Aren't you going to growl at me and swing a mallet at my head or something?"
"Why would I? Did I do that last time?"
"Well, no....but the last time someone rubbed something in like that you beat him into the ground."
Amanda frowned. "When was that? I don't remember beating anyone into the ground."
"When the Shang Lynx was here and he beat you at that archery match. You didn't hurt him then, but later when he wouldn't stop bragging about it for days."
"Oh yeah...well, that was over a long space of time... and he was really getting on my nerves at that point, he knew how to be a nuisance at times....besides, I'd rather lose to you than to him anyway."
**outside the door in the hall**
Elizabeth clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes huge. Amanda would never admit not minding losing to a guy, ever. At least not the Amanda she had known for several years and had marched with in the band. What the heck was going on here?
"What are you doing out here?" asked a voice behind her. She whirled around, seeing Alyse standing there in her robe and slippers. "Aren't you supposed to be asleep-"
"Shh! I'm spying on Amanda and Levi," whispered Elizabeth, pulling Alyse down so she couldn't be seen.
"What? Why? This is Amanda we're talking about. Nothing's going to happen that's worth spying on."
"Hmph. That's what you think."
"What?" Alyse blinked in surprise, looking Elizabeth straight in the eye. "She actually did something?"
"No, she said something-"
"What did she say?"
"That she didn't mind losing to Levi."
"What's so odd about that?? It could mean a million things, knowing her. Come on, its late and you need to sleep, ok?"
Elizabeth grumbled and left her post, heading towards her room. "Ok..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer and Stephanie stood in the barn, surveying the herd. A few of the ewes were pregnant again, and one had just had twins this morning. Tigress prowled around near Jennifer's feet, hunting for mice and other small rodents.
"Wonder what we'll do next," said Stephanie. "Usually it takes me all winter to clean the tack for the donkey and fix up everything. That and repairs my clothes and personal effects. But with your help it's done in half the time, leaving me with nothing to do."
"Sorry," muttered Jennifer, ducking her head.
"Oh, no. That's alright," she replied, ruffling Jennifer's short hair. "I kind of like having you around, Jen. You work hard and don't complain about getting dirty to get the job done."
"Uh...thanks..." Jennifer avoided saying much when others were around, and since a few stable hands were present she tried to say as little as possible. Sometimes, she resorted entirely to hand signs, and some thought she was a mute."
Sean rushed in right about that time, giving his sister a quickly hug before turning to Jennifer and shaking her hand (he couldn't exactly hug her in public because he was a guy and they thought she was a guy).
"You guys," he gushed quietly, making sure no one else could hear. "I've got some good news. The fief where you were sentenced to death for killing that guy has just been wiped out. The King found out that the head of the fief, the dead guy's son, paid his girlfriend, a servant, to kill his dad and blame it on someone else. They have all the evidence and everything. The King wanted them to dig up that body that they found and prove it was you, but no one seems to be able to remember where it was buried."
Jennifer's eyes got huge. "Does that mean that-"
"No, they'll call you a fake and kill you anyways," he countered immediately. "But if you stay here awhile longer, maybe, just maybe, we can find someone to get you an audience with the King. The only problem is, I don't hold much influence there and mom and pop refuse to help."
"But you'll keep trying, right?"
"Of course. I just have to find the right person, one who has a believable story and background and can afford to pay the mages fees to have everyone tested for telling the truth." He glanced around, gave her a quick hug when no one was looking. "I have to go, ok? Mom and pop need me home for some work. I'll come back and visit later, bye."
"Bye, little bro."
"See ya, sis."
"He's great, isn't he?" remarked Stephanie, seeing Jennifer blush. "All he wants is for your name to be clear again, and that's what he's trying to do."
Jennifer nodded, keeping her eyes on Carmel, who was prowling around her legs with his siblings. Maybe soon she could return to Corus and see her friends at the Dancing Dove and Roberto's family...just maybe...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle arrived at his father's- no, it was now his he corrected himself mentally, smiling wryly at the situation before him. He had been in this land for, what, two and a half to three years. At the beginning he had hoped it was all a dream, and had hung onto that lurking suspicion until just recently. Sure, it was foolish of him to do so, but what else could he do? His friends, his family, everyone he had ever known up until he touched that cursed book had been in his old world.
Now he was miles, probably light years from where ever America was, and wished it were closer now than ever. If he could just go home, just for a minute, everything would be so much easier...
He walked up to his rooms and called for his servant, the one who had faithfully helped him since he had arrived there. "Martin!! Martin, where are you??"
"Right here, sir," said a large, thick-chested man who, with his long black hair ties back in a ponytail and weather worn face, looked like he belonged more in armor with a sword strapped to his back than the servants garb he wore right then.
"I'm promoting you to Chief Steward. That other guy who did it before, Hank or whatever his name is, now reports to you. I want this staff downsized to bare minimum, no extra workers if we can help it. Keep only the best, and their family members if you have to. Those who you send off, give them a nice big bonus to keep them going until they can get another source of income. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Baron Kyle," said Martin, giving him a huge smile. "Anything else for you, sir?"
"No, that'll be fine for now. If anyone wishes to see me, I'll be up in the main study cleaning things out."
"Of course, sir." Kyle continued up the stairs, stopping at a large set up double doors and going in. His mind drifted back to what he had been thinking about earlier, with the being sucked in the book and all. He had seen pictures of other people in there, three of which he had recognized and the rest had been familiar in some way or another.
So he really was in the book, and if the pictures were any indication, Elizabeth was here with that friend of hers, Amanda. The only problem was, he only knew what Elizabeth looked like, and none of her friends other than Brenna and Sarah. He wracked his brain, had he seen them in there too? He was fairly certain he had seen Sarah, but not so sure about Brenna. He had only been skimming the pages, after all, not thinking that paying attention could mean so much later on.
If he was right, all he had to do was find her and maybe he could find a way to get home, because right now that's the only place he wanted to be.
"Um, sir?" said Martin, sticking his head in the door. "Some merchants are here to see you sir, something about a sales tax...?"
Kyle sighed, duty called. He waved his hand, sitting down at the desk. "Send them in"
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Artman stood by himself in the middle of a huge, snow-laden field, the whiteness completely unscarred as far as the eye could see. He smirked, that wasn't going to last much longer. He pulled out a sheet of paper and read over the lines one last time, making sure he had it right.
He slowly began to chant some words and a ball of fire appeared in each hand, growing slowly. He shaped them into fire funnels, tornadoes of fire, and let them lose before him, turning to snow to steam and leaving burnt marks on the ground below.
Letting them grow even more to where they were the same height as he, Artman began to move his hands together, pulling the funnels with them. He paused, this had to be right or he would lose control. Just a few more inches.
"Hey, you! What are you doing in my fields!" Artman turned, the fire funnels mashing together and tearing out of his grip.
"Oh, crap..." Artman ran, the towering waterspout of flames following his every more. "Oh no, Libby help me!!"
Libby looked up from her work of making salves, recognizing the familiar call. "Baka Artman," she muttered under her breath, running as fast she should could when she saw the flames. Putting a shield around her partner mage, she waited until the fire died down after having 'consumed' him before letting him go.
"Libby," Artman whined, rubbing his face again. "Couldn't you have made the shield stronger? I just got some stubble to grow after last time, and now it's gone!"
"Eh," said Libby, shrugging her shoulders as she went back to her work. "It's your own fault for not asking permission to use the field and trying out a new spell without warning anybody. You'll live."
Artman sat there, pouting like a small boy with his arms crossed. "That's not fair..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Mouse arranged for dinner to be brought up to her quarters for one night, figuring it was the best way to feed Kara her meals since she saw way to much down in the main room that she wasn't ready for yet. Some things (like brawls and barmaids) just weren't appropriate for children her age.
Joe and Vixen had agreed to have dinner with them (after Mouse suggested that they may have something more 'important' to do) and had just settled in their seats across from Mouse and Karalee when the food arrived.
"What are we having?" asked Allie, raising the lids on the dishes. "It better not be beef and potatoes again, I'm really getting sick of it."
"Chicken, carrots and rolls," said Paul, setting down the rest of the dishes and a pitcher of juice. Mouse had said no ale incase Kara got her hands on some and made a fool of herself.
"Thanks, Paul," said Vixen, taking some of the chicken and putting it on her plate quickly. "What shall we talk about tonight, since we've all been told we have to meet in the same place for a meal."
"Keep it clean," said Mouse, her voice having an edge of warning to it.
"What's a vixen?" asked Karalee out of the blue, taking a sip of her juice.
"A vixen is a type of female fox," explained Joe, giving the girl a smile.
"Then why is Aunt Vixen named after a fox?" puzzled the little girl aloud, her little brow scrunching up in thought.
"She's named after a female fox because she's a female as well and as sly as a fox," rationalized Joe, putting down his fork and looking at his Queen. "I'm the one who gave her that nickname, too."
"Vixen's not your real name??" Kara's eyes got huge as she dropped her fork. "You're allowed to change your name?? Cool!"
"Well, not exactly change it," admitted Vixen, shrugging her shoulders. "My real name is Brenna, it always will be, I'm just going by Vixen for now."
"Really? That's awesome." Vixen laughed, you really had to when Kara was all cute and adorable like that.
"What's your favorite color, Kara?" asked Allie, trying to get a gauge on how long it would take to turn this little girl over to her way of thinking.
"Purple and pink, Auntie Allie."
*twitch* Allie tried not to growl in frustration and inwardly sighed. Pink and purple, that wouldn't be too hard. Purple could be darkened until it was almost black and pink....well, pink was an off shoot of red......he...he....
"Good choice," said Vixen, smiling to herself. "Purple is the best color there is."
Mouse rolled her eyes. "And Libby's favorite color was pink. You choose good colors if you want to make those two happy."
"Well, yeah, but purple is so much better than pink," said Vixen, giving her a look.
"Says who?"
"Well, Amanda would've agreed with me if she were here..."
"Yeah, but Amanda has this phobia of the color pink. She refuses to wear it even if her life depends on it. That doesn't count."
"Well, still, purple is the best color there is. The only gift that was another color that I liked was the bracelet Allie gave me. It was r-" Vixen's eyes got huge as she looked at the bracelet that she had worn hidden under her sleeve since she got it. The stone eyes were purple, not red anymore. "What the heck...."
Joe looked at her bracelet, recognizing it immediately. "Hey! That looks exactly like the one I got from Allie." Allie and Mouse stiffened in their chairs suddenly, wondering of they would be able to bolt out of the room if they needed to. "Though, my dragon's eyes are blue- then again..." He stared at his bracelet, trying to figure out what had happened. "Wait a sec, I know it was blue, it matched my favorite tunic perfectly, and it's not purple, I can tell you that..."
"Hang on," said Vixen, noticing that the bracelets were exactly alike. "When was the last time you checked the color of the eyes?"
"Before the final battle with the Scanrans, I looked at it for good luck, why?"
"Blue and red make purple."
"So? What does....oh." He looked over at Allie, who looked like she wished the ground would just swallow her up. Mouse looked pretty nervous too, she had probably known about the whole thing.
"Allie?" said Vixen, her voice just above a growl. "Mouse?"
"..um, yeah?"
"Yes, Vixie?"
"Would you care to explain this?"
Mouse put on an extra innocent face and replied, "Explain what?"
Allie joined her, though doing not quite as well with the 'innocent' part. "Yeah, explain what, Vixie dearest?"
*twitch*
Joe leaned over and whispered something in Vixen's ear, causing her to relax slightly. A smirk formed on her face, making the other pair even more worried.
"What are they planning to do?" whispered Allie.
"I have no idea...."
"That's what scares me."
"Be glad there's a small child in here, or your blood would be all over the place by now," said Vixen sweetly, turning back to her meal.
"What's she talking about, Mama Mouse?" said Karalee softly, having watched the whole thing with interest.
"I'll tell you when you're older," explained Mouse, turning back to her wine with a will. "A lot older."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Sarah and John looked at the work that had been done, pride written all over their faces. The barn had been completely rebuilt in one day with the help of several Rider's who had just been hired to duty and some people who owed Onua a favor or two. It was a third bigger than the last one, and hopefully wouldn't need as many repairs as the last as time went by.
"Hey guys," said Onua, walking up quickly. "I have to head back to the palace, duty calls. Those who came with me will be leaving in a minute, and everyone from this town or the other one have already left, ok?"
"Yeah, thanks for the help," said Sarah, "We'll start getting the horses back into their stalls tonight."
"That'd be a good idea. Be sure to thank those who took them in for you. Is there anything else you need?"
"This months pay," said John, holding out his hand.
"Darn, I was hoping you'd forgotten," said Onua, giving him a purse of coins. John snorted and gave her a look. "I was just kidding you know. Oh, and by the way, we know who set the fire."
"Really? Who?" asked Sarah, very interested all of a sudden.
"A rider who we had to lay off recently for setting fires in the Rider facilities. He was a firebug, the worst kind too. The Courts sent him off to hard labor on the roads for the next ten years."
"Glad to hear it," muttered John. "That's what it feels like we had to do today."
"Aw, the little boy tired?" taunted Onua.
"Shut up."
Onua just laughed. "I have to go, now. See you two soon!"
"Bye, Onua!" called Sarah after her retreating form.
"Yeah, good riddance," added John, more joking than serious.
"Be nice, John," said Sarah, a tone of warning in her voice.
"Yeah, fine. Whatever."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa sat in the small room with the General, waiting patiently for Alyse or Elizabeth to arrive. They usually weren't this late, and she wondered what was keeping them.
A tall young man with dark features and a strong build walked in the room, bowing to them at the door. "I am Steward Levi of Lynx mountain," he explained, taking a seat. "I'm sorry I am late, Lady Elizabeth forgot she couldn't come until just a few minutes before you had to leave to make it on time."
"Where is Lady Amanda?" asked the General, looking rather bored. "Out with her sister at some beauty shop, right?"
"No, General Yorkshire," said Levi coldly. "The Ladies are doing a personal inspection of weapons and soldiers at the garrison today."
"What do ladies know about weapons and soldiers," snorted the General. Lyssa cleared her throat, glaring at the General.
"Some ladies know much more than you do," she said icily, her gaze never leaving his face. Turning to Levi, she added, " Have you any news from Lady Alyse? I heard she went to the palace for the winter."
"She is back home, now," replied Levi, "And lucky to be alive, at that."
"Why did she risk the journey north?? And at this time of year......??"
"She was...mourning....the death of a loved one....and wished to be home with her family...." said Levi slowly, giving Lyssa a look.
"Faleron?"
"Yep."
"Ouch. How's she holding up?"
"She's better now. Her cousins were worried for awhile, they thought she might not snap out of it."
"But she did?"
"Yeah."
"Hate to break up the chat," said the General sarcastically, "But we do have work to do, you know."
Lyssa sighed and settled back in her chair. {Here we go again...}
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda sat in her room in the afternoon, gladly taking the time to herself for a few minutes. Pulling out another small, black book, she began to write in it, filling the blank pages with her and 'family's' adventures of late. She had finished another five or six pages when Elizabeth walked in, humming to herself.
"What are you doing?" she asked as she saw Amanda go to hide the book, then leave it out when she realized who it was.
"Writing. Why?"
"About what?"
"Us."
"Hm?"
"Our time here in Tortal."
"Oh....let me read it." Elizabeth took it away and started scanning it, noting that not all of it was in Amanda's point of view. "Did anyone else write in here?"
"I had Alyse write some of her stories that we weren't around for. Why?"
"Can I write part of it?"
"But I'm with you all the time....your adventure and stories are already in there."
"Hm......not all time...."
Amanda caught the sly look Elizabeth was giving her and promptly took the book away. "No."
"Oh, please?"
"No."
"I won't put any details....well, nothing too graphic....I think...."
"No."
"Come on, please?"
"No, Elizabeth, and no means no."
"Grr, you're no fun." She walked out the door, Amanda watching her go.
"That's where you're wrong, Liz," she murmured as her sister whisked out of sight. "I'm not no fun, I'm just me."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Hey again! Hope you liked this installment of my rather famous (not) story. I don't think we have any birthdays this time around, let me check. Hm....hm......nope, no birthdays right now that haven't already been covered. I just got on my summer vacation, and am enjoying every moment of it, I hope you're enjoying yours too. Don't forget to review, and have a great day!! ^_^
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse huddled on her horse's back, pulling her cloak tighter about her as the winter winds did their best to steal the little warmth she had left. She had decided to leave the palace sooner than planned and face the dangerous trip north by herself. No one knew that she had left, most thought she had gone to Faleron's parents home, and her note wouldn't be found until a week or so.
That had been about a week ago now, she had lost count of the days in the moonless nights and sunless days on the road. There was only one stop left, that was Lynx mountain.
'Snap!'
'Neigh!' Alyse looked over her horse's neck; Fern had gotten her foot stuck in some ice. She quickly jumped down and ran around the front, doing her best not to hurt the mare as she removed it from the hole.
"Oh dear...." The flesh around the hoof had been torn up pretty badly and bled freely in the snow, staining it a crimson red. "Looks I won't be riding any more..." She tore some strips off her cloak and bound it around the mare's ankle, making sure it was secure before moving on. Leading her horse would take twice as long, but she couldn't ride her and risk laming Fern permanently.
**two hours later**
Alyse struggled to keep her eyelids open, trying to push against the wind along the road. She knew she was near the fief, just a bit farther and she'd be there, just a bit farther and she'd be home...Her legs buckled and lay there in the snow, sleep overcoming her senses as Fern stood beside her, patiently waiting like a silent sentinel in the snow. Her world went dark as she tried to call out; tried to do anything but lay here and die from the cold....but...it was.....too....late...
Alyse sat up in her bed, still dressed in her traveling clothes and Amanda asleep beside her in an overstuffed chair. "Good, you're awake," said Grandfather, putting another hot brick near her feet. "How are you feeling?" Alyse stared at the ceiling, wondering if this was a dream. The last thing she remembered was the ice and the snow, falling asleep beside her horse and wondering if she was going to die... "Lady Alyse?"
"Hm?"
"I asked how you were feeling."
"What? Oh, sorry. I'm all right." She looked around the room, eyes resting on Amanda for a minute. "How'd I get here, last thing I remember is being outside...?"
"Amanda couldn't sleep and suddenly ran outside and got her horse saddled up," explained Grandfather, handing her a mug of hot tea. "She found you a few miles outside of town, though she didn't know how she knew you were there. If she hadn't found you, you would've died. I was able to warm you up in time before frost bite set in, luckily, so we won't be cutting off any limbs today."
Alyse shivered, not liking the thought of losing a finger or an arm. "Good. Where's my horse?"
"In the stables being taken care of right now. The cuts weren't too serious, she aught to be fine in a few weeks." Grandfather handed her a bowl of soup and went over to Amanda, shaking her gently. "Amanda, wake up Lady Amanda."
"How many times do I have to tell you to drop the 'Lady'?" she growled, opening one eye. Her mood softened the moment she saw Alyse was awake, leaning over her 'cousin' to get a better look. "What were you doing out there, Alyse? I thought you were going to stay at the palace until the passes completely opened up and it was *safe* to travel around again."
"Speaking of which, how did you get through the passes?" asked Grandfather, eyebrows raised. "No one should be able to get through until the end of February at the earliest."
"I wanted to come home," explained Alyse, looking at Amanda, eyes pleading for her not to have to say more. "I just wanted to come home..."
"Why?" asked Amanda, putting a hand on Alyse's arm. "You could've been killed Alyse, what happened?"
"...Faleron."
Amanda frowned. "He dumped you?"
"No....he's dead."
Silence reigned in the room, the only noise the bells of the clock as it chimed out the hour in the hall. Amanda was the first to break the silence. "....dead? How?"
"A raid, he and several others were killed."
"Oh, Alyse...." Grandfather comforted the young woman as Amanda sat there in complete shock, her mouth opened wide. Levi walked in about then, a tray of hot food in his hands.
"Whoa, who died?" he asked when he saw Amanda's face. He was just kidding, but Alyse just cried all the harder as Amanda glared at him. "What? What did I say?"
"Levi..." Amanda got up and took him outside as Alyse continued to cry. He felt so bad when he learned the truth, and avoided her for several days after the incident.
"Shh, it'll be alright," said Grandfather when she had settled down a little bit, still leaning into him. "You're home now. You have your family and friends here."
"Yeah," whispered Alyse as she took in the familiar surroundings. "Home..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Trystan sighed and slumped back in her chair, relief obvious on her face. That had been the closest call she had had with a person for quite sometime. Not that she could blame the poor girl, losing someone close to her heart so suddenly....
Making Amanda go find her had been a stroke of luck, though, she'd have to remember that that one went with her intuition. Dreams were the easiest form of communication without actually going and telling someone to do something and giving herself away.
"Goddess bless us all, I hope that never happens again," she sighed as she leaned back in the chair even further, beyond her point of balance. 'WHUMP!' "...ow..."
"That's what you get for not being careful," said Grendel, materializing beside her.
"Oh, shut up, Grendel, just shut up..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda growled as she walked into her rooms, a smirking Elizabeth following her close behind. She had lost as bet, and now had to go to a ball for some rich noble's birthday and wear a dress. "Darn you, Elizabeth, I swear..."
"That you'll kill me when this is done," finished Elizabeth, rolling her eyes with a grin. "The same threats don't work every time, Amanda."
"Yeah, but then you'd be dead."
"True....now. What dress should you wear?" She rummaged through Amanda's things, leaving her sister to sit on the bed and watch. "How about this?" It was a pink gown with frills and lace.
"Like heck."
"Fine, then you pick one out." Amanda sighed and went over to her closet. She didn't mind dresses until she had to wear one. Looking through what she had, she drew out a dark blue, plain velvet gown with long, flowing sleeves and a black wrap that went with it.
"How's this?"
"Hm...simple, yet elegant. It works." Elizabeth went to her to own room to change, leaving Amanda to fix herself up within the hour that they had left. She put on the dress and went to her jewelry box, trying to find something that would go with the outfit she had been ordered to wear.
"Lady Amanda-"
"It's just Amanda, Grandfather."
"Amanda, the carriage and horses will be ready on time. Is there anything else you need help with?" He stood in the doorway, watching with amusement as she put on some silver earbobs and a fine bracelet, keeping on the silver lynx paw charm that Elizabeth had given her as always.
"No, thank you, Grandfather."
"Amanda, could I ask you a question?" said Grandfather, tilting his head to the side.
"Shoot."
"Do you know how to dance?"
"Um....sort of..."
"You do realize that you'll have to dance since you're wearing a gown and many will be taking this opportunity since you never wear them at all." Amanda turned around, her eyes huge.
"Oh, crap..."
"Would you like a crash-course dance lesson before you go?" offered Grandfather, eyes twinkling merrily. "It is the least I can do..."
"She'll take it," said Elizabeth, appearing beside him. Seeing Amanda was about to object to that, she added, "Unless she wants to make a fool out of herself on the dance floor..."
"Grr.......fine. Meet me in the study in a few minutes."
"Yes, ma'am."
Elizabeth went there as soon as she was done with her hair, watching Amanda learn how to do some basic steps from Grandfather. Levi walked in and his eyes got huge, jaw dropping to the floor as Amanda tried to do a waltz.
"Relax, just relax. I know you like music, so just let it guide your steps," instructed Grandfather, whirling her around slowly. He caught sight of his son and smiled.
"She looks good tonight, doesn't she?" Elizabeth whispered to him, waiting for his reaction.
"Hm? Oh, yeah." He stopped staring long enough to glance as Elizabeth, who was grinning at him evilly. "What?"
"Nothing..."
"Levi," called Grandfather, "I need your help here." Levi glanced at Elizabeth one more time and went over to his father, waiting for his instructions. "I need you to dance with Amanda."
"Um...ok......" Amanda said nothing as she put her hand on his shoulder and let him take her other hand in his. Elizabeth could've sworn she saw her blush faintly, but you couldn't tell in the flicking firelight. He whirled her around gently, grinning to himself as he saw her relax and forget that she hated this. One might even go so far as to say she liked it...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer sat in the room she shared with Stephanie, fixing some baskets they had brought with them from the hut. Stephanie walked in, a couple letters in her hands and a box.
"What's that?" asked Jennifer, pointed at it with a knife she held in her hand. Tigress lay at her feet; the other kittens romping near the fire.
"A package for you from your friends in Corus," replied Stephanie. "You got a letter, too. Here." She handed the things to Jennifer and went to her bed, shifting through her letters.
"Thanks." Jennifer used the knife to slice open the box, opening it carefully incase the Rogue members had decided to put some tricks in there. She pulled out three wrapped objects and put them on the bed beside her, looking at them oddly. She opened the first one, revealing a small dagger that was inlaid with silver and a stone set in its pommel. Her initials had been engraved in the blade and a cat charm was set at the hilt. She grinned and attached its sheath to the belt before opening the second on.
Inside was a box with a ring. The ring was a silver band with a swirling design engraved into it and five little stones equally spaced around it. Each one was a varying shade of green, one of her favorite colors. She grinned and put it on her finger before moving onto the third one.
Inside was a small box with a necklace in it. The chain was of fine silver and was the thinnest thing she had ever seen. On it was a charm the size of her thumbnail in the shape of a cooking pan. On one side was a 'J', on the other a 'R'. She put it on and added the ring to it, hiding it under her shirt since neither thing was something a guy would normally wear.
She picked up the letter and opened it, revealing three small, separate notes. The first one said:
Hey Jenny,
How are you? Sorry about this being late, I kinda got caught up in some things, yeah. Anyways, Midwinter's luck and here's the gift I promised you when you left. Sean was by here today and sends his love, though you'll probably see him before you get this. Hope you enjoy the dagger, it aught to come in handy, knowing you.
Love,
Vixen
Jennifer smiled, so that's what these were, her midwinter gifts. She opened the second note, it read:
Dear Jenny,
Hey, what's up? Vixen will probably send this late, so sorry if this isn't on time, I didn't want to trust her with this but I'm too busy to do it myself. Hope you're having fun, and we're still trying to figure out a way to clear your name. I hope the ring fits, I thought you'd like it. Midwinter luck!
Bryanna a.k.a. Mouse
So that's who the ring was from, which meant that the last gift had to be from Allie. She unfolded the note, and it said:
Jenny,
Hey. I got this for you as a suggestion from someone else *coughSeancough* and thought it was a good idea. No girl should be without one of these, and you should be able to guess what it is. Midwinter luck and I hope this comes in handy next time you're with lover boy.
Allie
Jennifer could feel her cheeks get hot and knew she was bright red as she fingered the charm that was around her neck. Yup, that was from Allie alright. She would want to make sure her friends had such things in case of an 'emergency'. Or at least what Allie would qualify as an emergency.
"What's wrong?" asked Stephanie when she noticed Jennifer's red face. "You hot or something?"
"Uh...no. Just what my friend said, that's all."
"What did she say?"
"...you don't want to know."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle sat in the courtroom with the King and the head magistrates, wishing this whole process was over. The Baron had a huge amount of land, houses, and stores of money and goods that he owned. Each one had to be individually transferred over to Kyle's name, and then he would don the title 'Baron ' as the finishing touch. He had to be present while the King and the magistrates went over everything, signing things occasionally, and answering questions at times.
"Well," said the King after what seemed like an eternity. "We've transferred all documents and possessions to your name, Master Kyle. Would you bow before me, please?"
"Why?"
"I need you to take the oath."
"Oh, right."
Kyle knelt before the King on one knee, one hand on his heart and the other the King's hand. "Do you, Master Kyle, promise to do your best to carry on the title and tradition as your father did?"
"Yes, sire."
"Do you, Master Kyle, swear to never use it for your own advantage less you cause it to ruin and take the penalties for it?"
"Yes, sire."
"Then rise, Baron Kyle of Crescent Hollow, and consider yourself Master of those lands your father once held."
"Uh, thanks, King Jonathan, I think..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Libby walked along the edge of the camp as night fell, the smells of dinner being cooked and sounds of people scurrying around the small camp wafting over her. She noticed a dark figure in the distance, coming closer by the second.
"Libby?" called out a familiar voice, is that you?"
"Uh, yeah," she called back, reaching for her dagger. "Who are you?"
A light chuckle floated towards her as the person lit a lamp, showing their face. "It's me, Daine."
"Oh, hey Daine!" Libby smiled and waited for her come closer, leaving her dagger in its sheath. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I was coming by and saw your fires a ways back. Since I haven't had a hot meal in days and the snow is starting to fall again, I figured I'd come see if I could get some food and shelter for the night."
"You're more than welcome to share with us," said Libby with a shrug. "Come on, I think dinner's ready."
"Thanks!" They walked through the crowds to the outdoor kitchen, getting three plates of food (one was for Artman) and heading over to their tent.
"Artman, I've got some food and a guest!" called Libby as she opened the flap, letting Daine go in first.
"What- oh, hey Daine. What's up?"
"Um, nothing, thanks. How are you?"
"Fine, thank you." He turned back to his little project, a crystal that could explode a rain of fire, and nibbled bits off the plate Libby set next to him.
"So, where's that guy who you were training during the procession, Kyle was his name, right?" asked Libby, feeding her bunnies some scraps.
"He went home. His father died."
"The Baron of Crescent Hollow?"
"Yep, Kyle inherited everything, including the responsibilities."
Artman whistled from where he was sitting. "From what I heard, the Baron has a treasury to rival the King's. Imagine becoming that rich in an instant."
"I'd rather not," replied Daine. "I'm happy with what I've got."
"Hmph."
"So, he's back home now?" questioned Libby, still knowing she had seen him somewhere before their first meeting with Daine.
"Yeah, I'll probably hearing from him soon to find out if he's coming back out to help or not, probably not though."
"Why?"
"He has no heir."
"Huh?"
"Look, there is no family left at Crescent Hollow. The Baron was an only child, and he never got married. Kyle is his only adopted son, so after him there's no one else with a direct claim to the property..."
"Meaning that the third and fourth cousins would carve it to shreds the moment he got killed or captured." Libby smiled. "I get it!"
"Wait, did you say the Baron's son was adopted?" asked Artman, "I didn't know that."
"Most people think he's illegitimate or something," explained Daine, "But the King told me that he was just adopted out of the blue."
"You don't say..." Libby scratched her head, cobwebbed wheels of her mind slowly turning for once. "I want to get talk to him when we get called back to Corus."
"Why?" Daine gave her a weird look, putting her fork down for a second. "He's just you average guy."
"Huh? Oh! No reason..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Allie sat at the table in the room she and Mouse shared, watching Kara as she slept peacefully on the bed. "Look," said Mouse from the doorway, her purse in her hand. "She's asleep and probably won't wake up until I get back. If she does, teach her something, it always works for me."
"Yeah, well, I'm not you," Allie called after her as she disappeared down the hall, going to buy some more food for the girl.
"Hey Auntie Allie," said Kara, suddenly popping up in front of the young woman.
"Ahh! What are you doing out of bed? Weren't you just asleep?"
"Nope, Kara was pretending." Allie sighed, the girl had started to talk in third person recently, and she wasn't sure if she could take this right now.
"Well, Kara needs to try and fall asleep for her Auntie Allie."
"Kara's not tired."
"Kara can pretend she's tired."
"No she can't."
"Yes she can."
"No she can't"
"Yes she can."
"No she can't"
"YES SHE CAN AND SHE WILL IF SHE WANTS TO LIVE!!!" Allie glared at the small, huddled figure in front of her. "Go. To. Sleep."
"Yes, Auntie Allie."
{That was too easy} thought Allie as she watched the girl, {There has to be a catch, there always is with little kids...}
*sniff**sniff*
{Oh no...)
*sniff**sniff**sob!* Allie groaned as the little girl started to cry into her pillow, the tears looking like they would never end.
"Oh, Kara, I'm sorry," ground Allie through her teeth, going over and sitting next to the girl. "I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."
*sniff* "You're really sorry?"
".......yeah, I guess so."
"You're lying."
"Are not."
"Are to."
"Are not."
"Are to."
"Are not."
"Are to."
"Look, I'm sorry, ok???"
".......ok!" Kara's tears vanished and she latched on to Allie's neck. "I luv you Auntie Allie!"
"Oh my gosh...."
"Hey, how were things?" asked Mouse, walking into the room with the bags in her arms. Seeing Kara's smile, she added, "See, I told you it'd be easy."
"Grr......."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Sarah stood in the kitchen, boiling some vegetables and beef together for stew as she watched the bread in the over to make sure it didn't burn. John sat at the table repairing some tack that had snapped that day.
*knock** knock*
"Hm? John, go get the door, will you?" asked Sarah, tasting the soup and adding some salt.
"Fine." He got up and walked over to the door, opening it quickly. "Hello- oh, hey guys." He watched as some members of Rogue who had stayed with them just pushed past him and took their places at the table, leaving him with no place to sit. "Hey! What's-"
"Hi, you guys," cut in Sarah, taking the bread out of the oven. "You're right on time, how've you all been?"
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE???" yelled John, not being able to take it any longer.
"Oh, did I forget to tell you," said Sarah with a smile. "They sent a letter saying they were coming for dinner today."
"Yeah, you forgot to tell me," retorted John, pulling up a stool. "Any other surprises you'd like to share with me?"
"Yeah, the inspector for the barn is coming tonight-"
"WHAT??" John jumped up, starting to run out to the barn to get everything ready.
"Just kidding, just kidding."
"Gees." He sat back down, running hand through his fairly long hair. "Will you not do that anymore? You know if we don't pass that test, we're fired."
"Yeah, I know."
They spent the rest of the night laughing and talking with the six young teens an adults, staying up to the early morning hours.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa rode hard with a small squad of fighters, tracking the Scanrans that had attacked the night before. "Keep you eyes open," she called. "The last thing I need is for you to be dead."
'zip!'
'Thunk!'
"Aahh!"
"Attack!" Lyssa charged headfirst on her horse into the crowd of Scanrans that ran at them, her swords drawn and ready for battle. Using her shield, she blocked off a footman's ax blows and sliced off his head, moving on to the next before it hit the ground.
Eric battled beside her, almost falling from his mount as a Scanran grabbed onto his saddle and tried to yank it off. "Hey!" He reached back and smashed the man's head in with a war hammer, quickly righting himself once more.
"Retreat!" The Scanrans took off running at the Rider's chased them, driving them out of their section of the woods before turning back to the fort.
"Go search the bodies and grab all the weapons that were dropped," ordered Lyssa, sitting up straight on her horse as she watched them flee through the snow. "The rest you of, come back with me."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse sat moodily in a chair by her window, Ronnie asleep in her lap and a tray of food beside her. She had refused to leave her room since she came, and had spent the time sitting down in that chair, staring out the window at the drifting snow flakes.
{He's dead, he's dead, he's dead...} her mind said over and over, taunting her almost to the point of madness. {Faleron's dead, he's not coming back, he's gone for good, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead...}
"Shut up!" she cried, covering her ears with her hands. "I don't care anymore."
"Alyse, are you alright?" asked someone behind her. She clenched her teeth and bit back the sarcastic laughter that threatened to burst out. Alright? How could she possibly be alright? Why even bother asking such an absurd question? "Alyse...?"
"What?" she snapped, keeping her eyes centered on the window.
"I asked you a question."
"Why do you ask questions that you already know the answer to?"
"Why do you continue to dwell on Faleron when you know he's not coming back?" Alyse's eyes snapped, whirling around to face Amanda angrily. "Alyse, this isn't like you, snap out of it..."
"I can't. He was more than a friend, Amanda."
"You think I didn't know that already?" Amanda came and sat next to her on the arm of the chair, a box in her hands. "I didn't come to argue with you Alyse, here's your midwinter and birthday presents. I was going to give them to you this spring, but you came back early..." She got up and headed for the door, leaving the box in Alyse's hands.
"Amanda." The older young woman stopped at the door.
"Yes?"
"You were right."
"..huh?"
"The King, he said you were right, and that he was sorry."
Amanda's face formed a grim smile as she walked out the door, her eyes gleaming sadly as she remembered the fight she had had with the King. "...so am I."
Alyse turned back to the window and opened the box in her hands, pulling out a small card and two wrapped objects. The card read:
Alyse
Sorry these are late, but you weren't exactly here for your birthday or midwinter so we do have an excuse this time!
Your cousins,
Amanda & Elizabeth
She shook her head and opened the first package. It was a charm bracelet with several charms on it. There was a fan, a dagger that looked like Amanda's, a mini-cross bow, a heart, a shield with Faleron's crest on it, and a dog that looked like Ronnie. Putting it on, she let a few tears slide silently down her face before unwrapping the other present.
This one was a small wooden bow with designs carved in the sides and front. Lynx and bears roamed over mountains against a clear sky, and the fief sat in all its grandeur on one side all to itself. On the lid was the family crest, and her name carved right below it.
Getting up, she walked over to her dresser and put both gifts there along with the note. She fingered the charm that was shaped like Faleron's crest and sighed, it was gong to be a long wait until spring....
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda walked into her study, shaking her head. Levi looked up at her from the couch, a book in his hands. "Still brooding over him?"
"Yep."
"Hey, guys," said Elizabeth, popping her head in the room. "I'm bored."
"You're always bored."
"I have an idea," said Levi, getting up and putting the book back on its shelf. "Do you guys like to go sledding?"
"Sledding?" Elizabeth gave Amanda an odd look, who just shrugged in reply.
"Sure."
"Alright, then, I'll meet you in the courtyard in a few minutes." They each split up and went to their respective rooms, quickly changing into some winter clothes. Once all bundled up, they met back up at the appointed spot where Levi had a light, metal disk for them.
"Where's the hill?" asked Amanda, following his through the snow.
"Right up here." He pushed past some trees and revealed the side of the mountain, completely smooth and steep, perfect for flying down hill.
"Wow."
"Wait until you go down your first time." He put his disk down and jumped on, starting to zip down the hill. Amanda laughed and got on hers as well, following his soon after.
"You're both crazy!" yelled Elizabeth, her eyes huge. "You'll break your necks, or....whatever." She got on her sled and pushed herself off, using her hands to keep her from going to fast. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"
Some 5 or 10 minutes later, Levi slowed to a stop at the bottom of the hill, getting up off his disk. "Wow, that was-"
"WHHHHAAAAAAAA!!!!!! YOU CAN'T JUST STOP LIKE THAT, LEVI!!!"
*CRASH*
Amanda slammed into him head on, flipping off her sled and rolling several feet with Levi landing somewhere nearby. They lay there, Elizabeth coming to a stop between them.
"Hey, are you two ok?"
"...........ow." Amanda sat up and looked at Levi with amusement.
"Wimp."
He sat up and looked at her. "Are not!"
"You're the guy here, and you're the one groaning in pain."
"A person on a sled didn't just slam you."
"No, I was the person on the sled at slammed into the idiot who stopped in the middle of the hill."
"True....it was not the middle of the hill!"
"Was too!"
'Whap!' Amanda looked at the sky, her vision clouded by the snowball that covered her vision.
"Oh, you are so dead..."
"Only if you can catch me!" Levi ran up the hill, dragging his sled up with him as Amanda chased after him with revenge written on her face.
Elizabeth watched them from the bottom of the hill, shaking her head. "Kids..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
The small kitchen used to feed the servants was empty other than the three whom moved about busily, trying to find something decent to eat. The normal staff had the week off, and most had gone to see relatives or just get out of the fief for awhile. Jennifer didn't have that luxury, since there was still a chance someone may recognize her, and since Chris was visiting Stephanie again, she didn't feel like going out anywhere.
Jen, as they called her, poked her head in a barrel. "Hm, lamb chops here, fresh too. I'll cook those up for us with some herbs, it'll be really good...."
"Here's some carrots and potatoes," said Chris, coming out of the cellar. "Just enough for the three of us too."
"I found a bag of flours and some yeast," said Stephanie from the cupboard. "Could you make some bread with that?"
"Sounds good to me." Jen got to work, slicing this, pealing that, setting that to boil and putting the pan next to it in the over. She watched the chops with practice, making sure they didn't bake too long, and watched the bread to make sure it didn't burn as well.
Stephanie went and raided the main kitchen, bringing back part of a pie and a cask of cider for them to drink. Jen set both to warm on the stovetop and pulled out the bread, leaving Stephanie to cut it up.
"How's the 'tatoes coming?" asked Chris, sitting on the edge of the table with his legs hanging over. "They's my favorites."
"Really? Well, they'll be done in a minute...."
"Hey, who's cooking in here?" asked the head cook, a plump woman with a pleasant smile and a handful of gray hairs. "Stephanie, now I know this isn't you, you can barely manage a decent gruel at times..."
"Well, gee, thanks Helga," said Stephanie wryly, taking a seat at the table. Jen kept her head bent, trying not to catch the lady's attention. "It's actually my helper, Jen, you've met him."
"That small guy who don't talk at meals? He can cook?" The lady bustled over to the stove and looked at the food, obviously impressed. "Well I'll be....you did all this with no recipes or nothing?" Jen just nodded, taking the meat out of the oven. "Not bad, little guy, not bad at all." Jen and Stephanie hid grins as Helga waddled out of the room, shaking her head and muttering to herself. "A boy who can cook better'n me with out any instructions....well, Helga, I guess you've seen everything now....that boy...."
Jen burst out laughing the moment the lady was gone, Stephanie joining her and Chris looking at them like they were insane. "What's so funny, sis? Jen?"
"Oh, I'll tell you when you're older,"
"Oh! That's what you always say!!"
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle stood in his room at the palace, looking at his packed bags and boxed up things. He was to begin the trip back to the fief in a few days, and right now was trying to decide if he should write personally to Daine, or have the King tell her for him. He sighed, she was too good a friend just to leave her hanging like that, and he at least owed her the personal note saying he wasn't coming back.
Sitting down at the desk, he pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, starting to write. His note was something like this:
Daine
It's Kyle. I won't be coming back out to help you, I'm sorry. Dad left a clause in his will that I didn't know about saying that I had to get married and have an heir in four years or I lose everything. That means, since there are no direct relatives, that I can't go back out until I've got a wife and a kid. Fun, right? Anyway, I'll see you next time you visit the palace, ok? We can talk more then.
The newly appointed:
Baron Kyle of Crescent Hollow
Folding it up and sealing an envelope with his color of wax and his seal, he gave it to a messenger and walked back in his room, looking out the window. He missed being free...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Libby sat in the middle of a ring of men and women who were traveling with her and Artman, her bunnies all around her.
"Are you ready?" she asked, two long ribbons in her hands.
"Uh, sure."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Depends on what you're going to do."
"Shut up, Carl."
"Sorry..."
"Go on, Libby."
"Ok!" She tied ribbon to a stake she had driven into the ground, looking her bunnies. "Ready guys and gals?"
*nod**nod*
*hop**nod*
*hop**hop*
*nod**hop*
"Ok then, lets go!" Pinky and Pinky Jr. on one side and Dusty, Rose, and 'Iforget' on the other (she still hadn't figured out a name for that pour little gal.) She swung the ribbons at the same time, using a constant beat that never wavered, and chanting as she did.
Up and down,
Up and down.
Bunny hop
Bunny hop
Up and down
Up and down
Bunny hop
Whoo!
Rope up
Rope down
Rope up
Rope down
Bunny hop
Bunny hop
Bunny hop
Whoo!
Family o'
Bunnies
Hopping with
their buddies
Bunny hop
Bunny hop
Bunny hop
Whoo!
"Look everybody, it's the Family of Jump roping Bunnies Brigade!" Libby cried, going and chanting again as everyone began to scout away with looks of fear in their eyes.
Artman watched from a few feet away, wondering if Libby had really cracked or not. "Ok..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Mouse and Allie sat in the main room of the Dancing Dove at their table, keeping an eye on things until Vixen got down there. "Where is she?" asked Allie, glancing at the stairs. "I don't like leaving Karalee with Paul for this long."
"She's fine, Allie, stop worrying," admonished Mouse, giving her a slight glare. "And when I came downstairs, she said she had to 'talk' to Joe about something, so they could be awhile..."
"Looks like your lies stopped working," Joe teased Vixen as they came around the corner, coming in from the outside.
"How did you get out there?" demanded Allie, giving them a weird look.
"It's a long story," said Vixen, ducking her head as she blushed and took her seat in the 'throne'.
"Right...."
Joe sat next to her as close as was possible, ordering them some drinks from the bar with a wave of his hand. "So," said Mouse, leaning back in her chair with a sly smile on her face. "What were you and Joe 'talking' about, Vixie dearest?"
"...well....um....."
"Let's not talk about that," said Joe in a stage whisper, winking at the other two Rogue sisters. "That's not the sort of things Queens are supposed to be known to do."
"What! Joe...." Vixen went on into one of her rants, a particularly long one that promised to last for sometime.
"You do know the easiest way to stop her is to clamp a hand over her mouth," Allie told him with a grin.
"Actually, I found an easier way."
"Really, how?"
"Well, lets just she doesn't try to stop this one."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Care to demonstrate?" Vixen was still going on the background, apparently oblivious to the fact that they were talking.
"Sure, why not?" He leaned closer to her and tugged on one of her curls, getting her to turn quickly.
"Hey! Don't you-.......mm........"
"Yep, that is a lot more effective," whispered Allie to Mouse as the pair continued to kiss and hoots and whistles went up around the room.
"I'd have to agree with you there...."
"Bite me," growled Vixen ever so sweetly at her sisters when they were done.
"Where?" asked Allie as mischievous look on her face. "Maybe we could get Joe to do it for us..."
He laughed as Vixen reached across the table to grab Allie, missing by a couple inches. "Darn you, Allie, I swear..." Joe sighed and leaned over, silencing her again.
"At least we don't have to hear her voice go up into the higher decibel rang anymore," admitted Mouse, getting up from her chair. "Let's leave the lovebirds alone, shall we?"
"Fine. Later, Vixie and Joe."
"Later."
"See ya, guys."
"I told you they'd eventually come down stairs," said Mouse, opening the door to Paul's room to reveal him tied to the chair and Karalee doing a dance around him.
Allie took one look and walked back out again. "I don't even want to know..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Sarah was sitting in the kitchen, reading over some letters that she'd gotten from the others recently as John walked by her to his room. "Are you going to bed, soon?" he asked, stopping for a second.
"Yeah, in a little while."
"Ok, 'night."
"'Night."
**three hours later**
Sarah sat up with a start, a half-finished letter clinging to her face as light poured in the window. She glanced outside, thinking she'd slept through the whole night at the table.
"John," she called, going to the stove. "John, its time to get up."
"Sarah, its midnight," he called back, not moving from his bed. "I can see the freaking moon from my window. Good night."
Then why was it so light? Where was it coming from? She ran to the window, searching the landscape.
"Ahhh! John the barn's on fire!" She outside, ignoring the fact it was freezing cold and headed for the barn. "The horses, we have to save the horses!"
"What?" John got up and stumbled to the window in the other room, trying to see straight. "Oh Crap!! Hang on Sarah, I'm coming!" He threw on his boots and ran out the door, running to the barn where she was opening the door.
The horses streamed out, some with their manes and tails on fire and others with other burned spots. "That's not all of them!" cried Sarah, looking into the blaze. "I only counted 30 of them, and we have more than 40!"
"It's too late to save them!" yelled John, seeing some of their neighbors riding up the drive to see what the huge fire was about. He heard a horse scream as a beam fell, blocking its path of escape. "Oh no, Mandy!"
Pushing Sarah into the snow, he ran inside and dove through the flames, looking for the young horse he had raised from a baby. "Mandy! Mandy, where are you!"
'Neigh!!!' He kicked down the door to her stall and grabbed her lead, pulling the mare after him.
"Dang it, Mandy, don't fight me now or we'll both die!" he yelled angrily as the mare refused to move. "Come on."
"John, get out of there!" cried a voice from the outside, "The whole barn's going to collapse!!"
"I'm coming!" he yelled back, tugging Mandy along with him. "Come on, you stupid horse!" Mandy broke from his grip and bolted, leaving John to run along behind. He tripped on a beam and fell, crying out as the fire scorched his flesh. "Why the heck is it always me???" He got up and hobbled out, collapsing in the snow as Sarah ran to his side.
"John! John! Are you ok?? Please answer me, John!"
*cough* "I'm fine." *cough* Several of the men from the village who came when they saw the flames carried him inside, having the healer fix his burns while the guy was still there.
"So, how'd it start?" a man asked Sarah as she stood outside and watched it burn, the horses who had escaped all safely out in the fields.
"I don't know," she replied with a shrug. "We don't keep any candles or lanterns in the barn, so unless there was a bolt of lighting from a nonexistent storm...."
"Arson?"
"Could be, yeah."
"Hm, tough break."
"Onua's gonna have a fit."
"She already knows."
"ONUA??"
"I was staying with a friend and saw the fire," she explained, knocking the snow off a railing of the fence and sat down. "It's a shame, that barns been standing since I started working for the King."
"Yeah....a shame...."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa stood out on the platform that was used for guard duty by herself, several layers of clothes keeping her warm and a mug of hot coffee to boot. The snow fell gently around her, and she was reminded of a time that seemed so long ago back home in Indiana...
*flashback*
{Lyssa stood out on the balcony of a cabin in the snow, the winds whipping around her mercilessly. She didn't even shiver, though all she wore were her pajamas and a light jacket, her mind was on other things.
She could hear Crystal and some other girl playing cards in the background, the glass door not blocking most of the sound. She could hear the girls in the cabin next to them laughing and talking loudly in the downstairs meeting room, it was where most everybody met while they had free time. Everyone who wasn't there from the church group was probably in their rooms or the gym, but she didn't really feel like going to either one.
A lone figure crunched through the snow below her, coming up the back stairs to stand beside her.
"Cold?" asked Amanda, a small smile on her face.
"Mm, no really."
"Let's go inside, your lips are turning blue."
"Seriously?"
"No, but you still look cold."
"Fine."}
Lyssa sighed as the next person came to relieve her of guard duty and she went back to her rooms to sleep. It was going to be long night.
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Alyse walked slowly around the gardens that were adjacent to the courtyard of the fief, having snuck out earlier that day with Ronnie as her companion. He walked along beside her, too worried about his master to romp and play for once. The last few days, she had begun to realize what everyone else had been telling her all along: she had to let him go and move on.
{He was so special....but he wouldn't want me to live the rest of my life like this....he loved me.... and would want me to be happy...but still...} Her mind continued waging this war back and forth as she continued to wander. She found a corner that was mainly sheltered from the wind and the snow.
Looking closer, she realized there were flowers there, real flowers growing in the shelter of the walls. The sunlight reached it, but the wind never did. She picked one and held it to the light, seeing the shafts shine through the delicate petals.
"It's called a snow angel," said a voice behind her. "Grandfather said they only grow in protected hollows during the winter, and represent a resilient spirit."
"Snow angel...." Alyse turned around, facing her cousin. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth."
"For what?"
"For....for not being myself lately."
Elizabeth shrugged, smiling crookedly. "It's no big deal. Besides, Amanda took the brunt of it anyways."
"Gee, thanks sis," said Amanda, coming around the corner suddenly. "Thanks for the help you've been."
"You're welcome!"
"Um, Elizabeth? How did you know about the flower?" asked Alyse, frowning slightly.
"Amanda found some outside her door Midwinter day, so I asked Grandfather about them," she replied, giving Amanda a 'look.'
"Oh....thanks."
"No problem. It's cold, so I'm going back inside." She was gone before either could say a word, disappearing like she often did.
"How are you feeling?" asked Amanda, leaning against the wall.
"Better....I think that...."
"...that what?"
"I think that....I can finally....let him go..." A single tear fell down her face, sliding to her chin and soaking into her scarf. "He...he was great, Amanda. He...really was... ..but..."
"You need to move on? Live you life?"
"Yeah."
"Then I am happy for you." Amanda gave her a quick hug and left, leaving Alyse to be with her thoughts.
"Good bye, Faleron...." she whispered, the wind taking the flowers and scattering their petals through the air. "Good bye...."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Levi set up the chessboard for another game, sighing as he did. He had just lose two in a row, making the score 1-3, Amanda winning. The others had gone off early to bed that night, leaving her to do some work and him with nothing to do. In exchange for his help, she's agreed to play chess with him like always and was now sitting there grinning with pleasure at his loss.
"Ready to lose?" he asked, hand hovering over a pawn.
"Sure, why not," she replied with a shrug, letting him go first. "You seem convinced you'll win, and that could work to my advantage."
"Really? How?"
Amanda smirked. "Like I'd tell you."
"Grr....meany."
"Right..." She made her move and watched as he made his, wondering what he was going to try this time. She had long since figured out his original plans for winning, just as he had figured out hers. Now both were continuingly trying new things out and had to stay on their toes during the game.
"What are you planning to do this summer?" he asked out of the blue, looking her straight in the eye.
"Wasn't that random," she murmured, rolling her eyes. "I'm going to stay here until late Autumn or so to finish up some work and then head back to the palace, Kel's ordeal is this year."
"That's right. Who all's going with you?"
"Why? Do you want to come?"
"...maybe."
Amanda laughed, moving her queen. "Elizabeth is coming to check out the noble's sons, I'm sure, and Alyse will want to see her friends again...check."
"Hm, so is Pop coming or not?"
"Well, it's either you or him, take your pick."
"He'll manage things better for you while you're gone." He grinned and moved his knight, taking out her queen. "Check mate, HA!" She sat there and watched him as he did a little 'victory dance' in his chair, eyes sparkling with amusement. "I won! I won! I beat you good! I won! I won! Oh yeah!" He suddenly looked at her, puzzled. "Aren't you going to growl at me and swing a mallet at my head or something?"
"Why would I? Did I do that last time?"
"Well, no....but the last time someone rubbed something in like that you beat him into the ground."
Amanda frowned. "When was that? I don't remember beating anyone into the ground."
"When the Shang Lynx was here and he beat you at that archery match. You didn't hurt him then, but later when he wouldn't stop bragging about it for days."
"Oh yeah...well, that was over a long space of time... and he was really getting on my nerves at that point, he knew how to be a nuisance at times....besides, I'd rather lose to you than to him anyway."
**outside the door in the hall**
Elizabeth clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes huge. Amanda would never admit not minding losing to a guy, ever. At least not the Amanda she had known for several years and had marched with in the band. What the heck was going on here?
"What are you doing out here?" asked a voice behind her. She whirled around, seeing Alyse standing there in her robe and slippers. "Aren't you supposed to be asleep-"
"Shh! I'm spying on Amanda and Levi," whispered Elizabeth, pulling Alyse down so she couldn't be seen.
"What? Why? This is Amanda we're talking about. Nothing's going to happen that's worth spying on."
"Hmph. That's what you think."
"What?" Alyse blinked in surprise, looking Elizabeth straight in the eye. "She actually did something?"
"No, she said something-"
"What did she say?"
"That she didn't mind losing to Levi."
"What's so odd about that?? It could mean a million things, knowing her. Come on, its late and you need to sleep, ok?"
Elizabeth grumbled and left her post, heading towards her room. "Ok..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Jennifer and Stephanie stood in the barn, surveying the herd. A few of the ewes were pregnant again, and one had just had twins this morning. Tigress prowled around near Jennifer's feet, hunting for mice and other small rodents.
"Wonder what we'll do next," said Stephanie. "Usually it takes me all winter to clean the tack for the donkey and fix up everything. That and repairs my clothes and personal effects. But with your help it's done in half the time, leaving me with nothing to do."
"Sorry," muttered Jennifer, ducking her head.
"Oh, no. That's alright," she replied, ruffling Jennifer's short hair. "I kind of like having you around, Jen. You work hard and don't complain about getting dirty to get the job done."
"Uh...thanks..." Jennifer avoided saying much when others were around, and since a few stable hands were present she tried to say as little as possible. Sometimes, she resorted entirely to hand signs, and some thought she was a mute."
Sean rushed in right about that time, giving his sister a quickly hug before turning to Jennifer and shaking her hand (he couldn't exactly hug her in public because he was a guy and they thought she was a guy).
"You guys," he gushed quietly, making sure no one else could hear. "I've got some good news. The fief where you were sentenced to death for killing that guy has just been wiped out. The King found out that the head of the fief, the dead guy's son, paid his girlfriend, a servant, to kill his dad and blame it on someone else. They have all the evidence and everything. The King wanted them to dig up that body that they found and prove it was you, but no one seems to be able to remember where it was buried."
Jennifer's eyes got huge. "Does that mean that-"
"No, they'll call you a fake and kill you anyways," he countered immediately. "But if you stay here awhile longer, maybe, just maybe, we can find someone to get you an audience with the King. The only problem is, I don't hold much influence there and mom and pop refuse to help."
"But you'll keep trying, right?"
"Of course. I just have to find the right person, one who has a believable story and background and can afford to pay the mages fees to have everyone tested for telling the truth." He glanced around, gave her a quick hug when no one was looking. "I have to go, ok? Mom and pop need me home for some work. I'll come back and visit later, bye."
"Bye, little bro."
"See ya, sis."
"He's great, isn't he?" remarked Stephanie, seeing Jennifer blush. "All he wants is for your name to be clear again, and that's what he's trying to do."
Jennifer nodded, keeping her eyes on Carmel, who was prowling around her legs with his siblings. Maybe soon she could return to Corus and see her friends at the Dancing Dove and Roberto's family...just maybe...
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Kyle arrived at his father's- no, it was now his he corrected himself mentally, smiling wryly at the situation before him. He had been in this land for, what, two and a half to three years. At the beginning he had hoped it was all a dream, and had hung onto that lurking suspicion until just recently. Sure, it was foolish of him to do so, but what else could he do? His friends, his family, everyone he had ever known up until he touched that cursed book had been in his old world.
Now he was miles, probably light years from where ever America was, and wished it were closer now than ever. If he could just go home, just for a minute, everything would be so much easier...
He walked up to his rooms and called for his servant, the one who had faithfully helped him since he had arrived there. "Martin!! Martin, where are you??"
"Right here, sir," said a large, thick-chested man who, with his long black hair ties back in a ponytail and weather worn face, looked like he belonged more in armor with a sword strapped to his back than the servants garb he wore right then.
"I'm promoting you to Chief Steward. That other guy who did it before, Hank or whatever his name is, now reports to you. I want this staff downsized to bare minimum, no extra workers if we can help it. Keep only the best, and their family members if you have to. Those who you send off, give them a nice big bonus to keep them going until they can get another source of income. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Baron Kyle," said Martin, giving him a huge smile. "Anything else for you, sir?"
"No, that'll be fine for now. If anyone wishes to see me, I'll be up in the main study cleaning things out."
"Of course, sir." Kyle continued up the stairs, stopping at a large set up double doors and going in. His mind drifted back to what he had been thinking about earlier, with the being sucked in the book and all. He had seen pictures of other people in there, three of which he had recognized and the rest had been familiar in some way or another.
So he really was in the book, and if the pictures were any indication, Elizabeth was here with that friend of hers, Amanda. The only problem was, he only knew what Elizabeth looked like, and none of her friends other than Brenna and Sarah. He wracked his brain, had he seen them in there too? He was fairly certain he had seen Sarah, but not so sure about Brenna. He had only been skimming the pages, after all, not thinking that paying attention could mean so much later on.
If he was right, all he had to do was find her and maybe he could find a way to get home, because right now that's the only place he wanted to be.
"Um, sir?" said Martin, sticking his head in the door. "Some merchants are here to see you sir, something about a sales tax...?"
Kyle sighed, duty called. He waved his hand, sitting down at the desk. "Send them in"
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Artman stood by himself in the middle of a huge, snow-laden field, the whiteness completely unscarred as far as the eye could see. He smirked, that wasn't going to last much longer. He pulled out a sheet of paper and read over the lines one last time, making sure he had it right.
He slowly began to chant some words and a ball of fire appeared in each hand, growing slowly. He shaped them into fire funnels, tornadoes of fire, and let them lose before him, turning to snow to steam and leaving burnt marks on the ground below.
Letting them grow even more to where they were the same height as he, Artman began to move his hands together, pulling the funnels with them. He paused, this had to be right or he would lose control. Just a few more inches.
"Hey, you! What are you doing in my fields!" Artman turned, the fire funnels mashing together and tearing out of his grip.
"Oh, crap..." Artman ran, the towering waterspout of flames following his every more. "Oh no, Libby help me!!"
Libby looked up from her work of making salves, recognizing the familiar call. "Baka Artman," she muttered under her breath, running as fast she should could when she saw the flames. Putting a shield around her partner mage, she waited until the fire died down after having 'consumed' him before letting him go.
"Libby," Artman whined, rubbing his face again. "Couldn't you have made the shield stronger? I just got some stubble to grow after last time, and now it's gone!"
"Eh," said Libby, shrugging her shoulders as she went back to her work. "It's your own fault for not asking permission to use the field and trying out a new spell without warning anybody. You'll live."
Artman sat there, pouting like a small boy with his arms crossed. "That's not fair..."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Mouse arranged for dinner to be brought up to her quarters for one night, figuring it was the best way to feed Kara her meals since she saw way to much down in the main room that she wasn't ready for yet. Some things (like brawls and barmaids) just weren't appropriate for children her age.
Joe and Vixen had agreed to have dinner with them (after Mouse suggested that they may have something more 'important' to do) and had just settled in their seats across from Mouse and Karalee when the food arrived.
"What are we having?" asked Allie, raising the lids on the dishes. "It better not be beef and potatoes again, I'm really getting sick of it."
"Chicken, carrots and rolls," said Paul, setting down the rest of the dishes and a pitcher of juice. Mouse had said no ale incase Kara got her hands on some and made a fool of herself.
"Thanks, Paul," said Vixen, taking some of the chicken and putting it on her plate quickly. "What shall we talk about tonight, since we've all been told we have to meet in the same place for a meal."
"Keep it clean," said Mouse, her voice having an edge of warning to it.
"What's a vixen?" asked Karalee out of the blue, taking a sip of her juice.
"A vixen is a type of female fox," explained Joe, giving the girl a smile.
"Then why is Aunt Vixen named after a fox?" puzzled the little girl aloud, her little brow scrunching up in thought.
"She's named after a female fox because she's a female as well and as sly as a fox," rationalized Joe, putting down his fork and looking at his Queen. "I'm the one who gave her that nickname, too."
"Vixen's not your real name??" Kara's eyes got huge as she dropped her fork. "You're allowed to change your name?? Cool!"
"Well, not exactly change it," admitted Vixen, shrugging her shoulders. "My real name is Brenna, it always will be, I'm just going by Vixen for now."
"Really? That's awesome." Vixen laughed, you really had to when Kara was all cute and adorable like that.
"What's your favorite color, Kara?" asked Allie, trying to get a gauge on how long it would take to turn this little girl over to her way of thinking.
"Purple and pink, Auntie Allie."
*twitch* Allie tried not to growl in frustration and inwardly sighed. Pink and purple, that wouldn't be too hard. Purple could be darkened until it was almost black and pink....well, pink was an off shoot of red......he...he....
"Good choice," said Vixen, smiling to herself. "Purple is the best color there is."
Mouse rolled her eyes. "And Libby's favorite color was pink. You choose good colors if you want to make those two happy."
"Well, yeah, but purple is so much better than pink," said Vixen, giving her a look.
"Says who?"
"Well, Amanda would've agreed with me if she were here..."
"Yeah, but Amanda has this phobia of the color pink. She refuses to wear it even if her life depends on it. That doesn't count."
"Well, still, purple is the best color there is. The only gift that was another color that I liked was the bracelet Allie gave me. It was r-" Vixen's eyes got huge as she looked at the bracelet that she had worn hidden under her sleeve since she got it. The stone eyes were purple, not red anymore. "What the heck...."
Joe looked at her bracelet, recognizing it immediately. "Hey! That looks exactly like the one I got from Allie." Allie and Mouse stiffened in their chairs suddenly, wondering of they would be able to bolt out of the room if they needed to. "Though, my dragon's eyes are blue- then again..." He stared at his bracelet, trying to figure out what had happened. "Wait a sec, I know it was blue, it matched my favorite tunic perfectly, and it's not purple, I can tell you that..."
"Hang on," said Vixen, noticing that the bracelets were exactly alike. "When was the last time you checked the color of the eyes?"
"Before the final battle with the Scanrans, I looked at it for good luck, why?"
"Blue and red make purple."
"So? What does....oh." He looked over at Allie, who looked like she wished the ground would just swallow her up. Mouse looked pretty nervous too, she had probably known about the whole thing.
"Allie?" said Vixen, her voice just above a growl. "Mouse?"
"..um, yeah?"
"Yes, Vixie?"
"Would you care to explain this?"
Mouse put on an extra innocent face and replied, "Explain what?"
Allie joined her, though doing not quite as well with the 'innocent' part. "Yeah, explain what, Vixie dearest?"
*twitch*
Joe leaned over and whispered something in Vixen's ear, causing her to relax slightly. A smirk formed on her face, making the other pair even more worried.
"What are they planning to do?" whispered Allie.
"I have no idea...."
"That's what scares me."
"Be glad there's a small child in here, or your blood would be all over the place by now," said Vixen sweetly, turning back to her meal.
"What's she talking about, Mama Mouse?" said Karalee softly, having watched the whole thing with interest.
"I'll tell you when you're older," explained Mouse, turning back to her wine with a will. "A lot older."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Sarah and John looked at the work that had been done, pride written all over their faces. The barn had been completely rebuilt in one day with the help of several Rider's who had just been hired to duty and some people who owed Onua a favor or two. It was a third bigger than the last one, and hopefully wouldn't need as many repairs as the last as time went by.
"Hey guys," said Onua, walking up quickly. "I have to head back to the palace, duty calls. Those who came with me will be leaving in a minute, and everyone from this town or the other one have already left, ok?"
"Yeah, thanks for the help," said Sarah, "We'll start getting the horses back into their stalls tonight."
"That'd be a good idea. Be sure to thank those who took them in for you. Is there anything else you need?"
"This months pay," said John, holding out his hand.
"Darn, I was hoping you'd forgotten," said Onua, giving him a purse of coins. John snorted and gave her a look. "I was just kidding you know. Oh, and by the way, we know who set the fire."
"Really? Who?" asked Sarah, very interested all of a sudden.
"A rider who we had to lay off recently for setting fires in the Rider facilities. He was a firebug, the worst kind too. The Courts sent him off to hard labor on the roads for the next ten years."
"Glad to hear it," muttered John. "That's what it feels like we had to do today."
"Aw, the little boy tired?" taunted Onua.
"Shut up."
Onua just laughed. "I have to go, now. See you two soon!"
"Bye, Onua!" called Sarah after her retreating form.
"Yeah, good riddance," added John, more joking than serious.
"Be nice, John," said Sarah, a tone of warning in her voice.
"Yeah, fine. Whatever."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Lyssa sat in the small room with the General, waiting patiently for Alyse or Elizabeth to arrive. They usually weren't this late, and she wondered what was keeping them.
A tall young man with dark features and a strong build walked in the room, bowing to them at the door. "I am Steward Levi of Lynx mountain," he explained, taking a seat. "I'm sorry I am late, Lady Elizabeth forgot she couldn't come until just a few minutes before you had to leave to make it on time."
"Where is Lady Amanda?" asked the General, looking rather bored. "Out with her sister at some beauty shop, right?"
"No, General Yorkshire," said Levi coldly. "The Ladies are doing a personal inspection of weapons and soldiers at the garrison today."
"What do ladies know about weapons and soldiers," snorted the General. Lyssa cleared her throat, glaring at the General.
"Some ladies know much more than you do," she said icily, her gaze never leaving his face. Turning to Levi, she added, " Have you any news from Lady Alyse? I heard she went to the palace for the winter."
"She is back home, now," replied Levi, "And lucky to be alive, at that."
"Why did she risk the journey north?? And at this time of year......??"
"She was...mourning....the death of a loved one....and wished to be home with her family...." said Levi slowly, giving Lyssa a look.
"Faleron?"
"Yep."
"Ouch. How's she holding up?"
"She's better now. Her cousins were worried for awhile, they thought she might not snap out of it."
"But she did?"
"Yeah."
"Hate to break up the chat," said the General sarcastically, "But we do have work to do, you know."
Lyssa sighed and settled back in her chair. {Here we go again...}
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Amanda sat in her room in the afternoon, gladly taking the time to herself for a few minutes. Pulling out another small, black book, she began to write in it, filling the blank pages with her and 'family's' adventures of late. She had finished another five or six pages when Elizabeth walked in, humming to herself.
"What are you doing?" she asked as she saw Amanda go to hide the book, then leave it out when she realized who it was.
"Writing. Why?"
"About what?"
"Us."
"Hm?"
"Our time here in Tortal."
"Oh....let me read it." Elizabeth took it away and started scanning it, noting that not all of it was in Amanda's point of view. "Did anyone else write in here?"
"I had Alyse write some of her stories that we weren't around for. Why?"
"Can I write part of it?"
"But I'm with you all the time....your adventure and stories are already in there."
"Hm......not all time...."
Amanda caught the sly look Elizabeth was giving her and promptly took the book away. "No."
"Oh, please?"
"No."
"I won't put any details....well, nothing too graphic....I think...."
"No."
"Come on, please?"
"No, Elizabeth, and no means no."
"Grr, you're no fun." She walked out the door, Amanda watching her go.
"That's where you're wrong, Liz," she murmured as her sister whisked out of sight. "I'm not no fun, I'm just me."
*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*
Hey again! Hope you liked this installment of my rather famous (not) story. I don't think we have any birthdays this time around, let me check. Hm....hm......nope, no birthdays right now that haven't already been covered. I just got on my summer vacation, and am enjoying every moment of it, I hope you're enjoying yours too. Don't forget to review, and have a great day!! ^_^