Twisted Tortallian Tale

by crosseyedbutterfly

Me and some pals get sucked into Tortal, but why?? *Chapters 1-11 reloaded with errors fixed. Others will be shortly!*

22.

I'm BACK!! I know, I know, it's been a couple months since I updated, but I have an excuse, really! My two anime fics were almost complete so I took time off of this one to finish one of them off and almost finish the other, and it only has about 5 chapters left so I think I'm ok.

Now that that's out of the way, there's something you must know. I just read Lady Knight, and if you haven't read Lady Knight I would suggest you do so because once Squire ends we're going straight into it and there will be spoilers. Oh yes, there will be so many spoilers that you could probably read this and not read Lady Knight and still know the majority of what happens.

Now that that's been said, go read the chapter!!

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Lyssa rode out in the front of the formation, hunting down the Scanrans that had attacked the town that was under her protection and planning on killing every last one of them.

*whiz*

*thunk*

*thunk*

"AHHH!!!" Lyssa's horse reared as she pulled the arrow out of her arm, quickly getting her mount under control and charging in the direction of the arrow with all her men and women right behind her. "ATTACK!!!"

Arrows fell thick around them as they rode in, a couple of horses and riders falling prey to them as they sped on. Like a battering ram, they smashed through the enemy ranks and scattered their fighters from one another, easily picking them off.

"Don't let any escape!" cried Lyssa above the din, taking another arrow in the chest. "ARGH!!"

"Hey!" cried Eric, catching her before she fell from her mount. "Easy, easy..."

"They're gone into the woods," said Captain, riding up to them. "What should we do?"

"Send part of them men after them," groaned Lyssa, snapping off the shaft of that arrow and pulling it out as well. "The rest stay here with me. You lead them, just make sure they aren't lying somewhere waiting for us to leave to they can attack again."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Here," said Eric, taking out some handkerchiefs he always carried with him and putting them on her wounds, stopping some of the blood flow as she began to sway dizzily on her horse.

"Idiots," she groaned, slumping over as she realized she was loosing too much blood. "Murdering scondrels, sons of....un...."

Eric caught her as she nearly passed out, gripping the front of her saddle with two hands before the Captain returned with his men.

"They're gone," he reported, giving a quick salute. "We made sure of it."

"Head back," said Eric, taking over for Lyssa. "Get the dead and the wounded back to the town and get that healer woman, we're going to need her."

"She that bad off?"

"Yeah."

"I'm on it, sir."

Eric got off his horse and jumped up behind Lyssa on hers, leading both as fast as he could without jarring her too much to the town.

"Hang in there, Commander," he said in a low voice. "We'll get you some help, just hang on..."

They reached the town and Eric immediately took her to the barracks, securing them a place in the infirmary and getting her a healer as quickly as he could.

"The Brazerian Mage is here," said the healer he had found at first. "Go to her, there is little I can do for you Commander. Eric nodded and rushed down the halls, looking everywhere he could think of until he found himself in a courtyard surrounded with bunnies and a young woman in the middle of them.

"Are you the Super Healer Woman?" he asked, rushing over to her side. The woman smiled cutely.

"Yep."

"Can you help my friend?"

"Who is it?"

"My Commander, she was hurt in the raid."

The woman turned serious. "Where is she?"

"In the infirmary."

"Then lets go."

The woman followed him the whole way there, her bunnies obediently waiting for her where she left them. "In there," said Eric, opening a door for the woman. Lyssa's wounds hadn't stopped bleeding yet, and if she lost much more blood there'd be no hope in the world for her to even think of recovering.

"How are you feeling?" asked the woman in a soft voice.

"Worse than most days," gasped Lyssa. The mage woman put her hand on Lyssa's forehead, quickly transferring enough power into the girl to keep her alive for awhile. She then put a hand on her arm and started to mend it, easily bringing the two sides together and sealing them up with a small scar. She then turned her attention to the girl's other wound on her chest, putting her hand there as well.

"Her lung's collapsed," observed the mage, and there's blood clots there too....let me see....that should do it..." Lyssa started breathing easily, her lungs back to normal. "And about the torn muscles and bleeding..." The mage brought the wound back together and closed it up, leaving a small scar as well there.

"Thanks," whispered Lyssa, feeling very tired all of a sudden. "What's your name, healer?"

"Libby," said the mage with a smile. "And yours?"

"Lyssa. Commander Lyssa of the Riders."

"The Queen's Rider's, right?"

"Yeah, thanks for the help. I owe you one"

"My pleasure."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Kyle sat in his study, randomly going through a stack of complaints from his villagers that had been building up over the months. Martin had told him to take care of for sometime, but he had ignored him and now he had a couple days worth of work in front of him because of his stupidity.

"Sir," said one of his servants, sticking his head in the door.

"Yeah?" mumbled Kyle, listening with half an ear. "What is it?"

"There's someone here to see you, sir."

"Who?"

"Someone from Knoxfort, sir."

Kyle rolled his eyes. "Send him up."

"Well, he has some friends with him."

"Find, send them up too, and get Martin while you're at it, ok?"

"Yes, sir."

"Thanks."

Kyle pushed aside the pile and neatened up his desk and appearance, just finishing when three well dressed men walked in the door, all of them much taller and stronger than he.

"Hey, Gentlemen," said Kyle with a slight bow. "I'm Baron Kyle. What can I do for you?"

"Baron Kyle," said the smallest of the men, even though he was still taller than Kyle, with a low bow. "I am Esmund Green, a friend, shall we say, of our dear Lady Isis who lives just down yonder at Knoxfort."

"I am familiar with who she is and where she lives," replied Kyle with a straight face. "What is her purpose in sending you to me?"

"She wishes for us to strongly urge you to rethink what you said last time," said Esmund, slowly popping his knuckles one by one. "After all, life is short enough as it is... no need to make it any shorter, right?"

"Am I to take that as a threat?" asked Kyle lightly, his hand tracing the handle of his dagger on his belt.

"No, just a promise, sir," replied Esmund with a smirk. "I trust you've come to a decision now..."

"To ignore you and move on with my life?" cut in Kyle smartly, raising an eyebrow. "What do you know I have. Good day, Gentlemen."

"Maybe you don't understand, Baron," said Esmund, grinding every word through his teeth as he stepped in front of Kyle as he made his way to the door. "You aren't going to be give a choice."

"On what to think or what to do?"

"Both."

"Tough." Kyle pushed his way past, two of his guards waiting outside the door for him with Martin. "Tell Lady Isis she'd better come up with something better than that if she wants the land. Like maybe say some cash since it belongs to me and she'll have to pay for it if she wants it."

"Why you little..."

"That is quite enough," said Martin, snapping his fingers. The guards immediately put themselves between the Baron and the men. "Leave, now, before I have you sent off to the stocks for your behavior."

"Yes, sir," replied Esmund and his men through his teeth, looking very displeased. "I shall give Lady Isis your regards, Baron..."

"Please do," replied Kyle coldly, going off down the hall to another part of the house. "And don't bother coming back."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Jennifer knelt in the grass beside Chocolate, helping the pregnant goat along as she gave birth to a baby. "That's it, easy girl, easy..." Jennifer picked up the new born and wiped her off, leaving her to drink her mother's milk.

"What are you going to name it?" asked Stephanie, coming to stand beside her in the field.

"I don't know," replied Jennifer, "It's the first one I've had to birth since we got the herd."

"Well, the mother's named Chocolate....and it's a really pretty cream color..."

"Vanilla?"

"If that's what you want."

"I guess so." Jennifer looked at the newborn goat, still drinking down the milk with the only spot on her entire coat a small brown dot on one ear. "Yeah, I'll call her Vanilla."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Vixen crept along the road to Knoxfort, Allie and Mouse behind her with four other thieves as they hid from the watch and others on the road in the dark. The moon wasn't even out and the sky cloudy to where the stars couldn't even be seen. The perfect night for a bust.

"Do you have the key?" murmured Vixen, arriving at a small side gate Allie had led them to.

"Don't need one," she replied, taking out a small pick and easily opening the lock to let then in.

"Show off."

"So?"

"Focus," said Mouse, staying to the shadows as they made their way under the overhand that the guards were on, keeping perfectly silent all the way.

"Here?" asked Vixen, pointing to a door.

"Yeah," replied Allie, going in before her.

"You, stay here and watch for any who might be following us," said Vixen, handing him a charm he could warn her with. "You know the drill."

"Yes, Queen."

"Good, let's go." They continued down the halls, zigzagging back and forth across the mansion until they found the door to the prisoner cells, quickly opening it and making their way down there.

The hand wasn't sticking out of the bar this time, and Allie quickly went down to the stall looking for her through the bars. "It's me, the friend," she called softly, seeing someone asleep in the pile of rags in the corner.

"Have you come for me?" asked the thin voice, weak from starvation and abuse for her deeds.

"Yes," replied Allie, quickly undoing the lock to the cage. "Gees, these things are simple, you'd think they'd make them harder than this..."

"Hush and get it done," said Vixen, in the room as soon as the door was open. "Come here, I'm going to carry you out..."

"Who are you?" asked the young woman, thinner than they thought was humanly possible and still living.

"The Queen of Thieves."

"Eh?!"

"Shh," said Mouse, covering the young woman's mouth. "Your brother is coming with us, awaiting our return outside the village with horses for us, ok?"

The woman nodded.

"Do you have a name?"

The woman nodded again.

"What is it?"

"Sana....Sanalee."

Vixen glanced at her. "Nice name."

"Thanks."

They crept back out the way they had come, weaving back and forth across the mansion until they reached the door they had gone in, picking up lookout they had left at certain points along the way.

"Stop!" whispered Mouse, grabbing Allie and yanking her back before she nearly walked into the view of a guard who was walking along the outer wall. "Careful, moron."

"Sorry," muttered Allie, using her gift to turn the guard away from them towards the other gate on the other side of the yard.

"Hurry up," said Mouse, opening the gate and restoring the lock the moment they were all out. "To the woods, now."

"Who gave you permission to order us around?" grunted Vixen, still carrying Sanalee.

"Me," replied Mouse with a grin.

Vixen rolled her eyes. "Great."

"Yup."

"Where's the boy?" asked one of the thieves as they arrived by the horses, no one else in sight.

"I don't know," replied Vixen, hearing something shift above her. "What the-"

"AHH!!"

"Shh!!" cried everyone, immediately on their guard for someone who might have heard them.

"Nice entrance," muttered Mouse, shoving the smaller boy off her of her.

"Sorry," he muttered, looking around the group for one specific person... "Yana!"

"You can talk to her later," said Vixen, mounting her horse and helping the young woman up behind her. "Let's go!"

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Sarah sat outside on the fence, chewing on a piece of grass as she waited for Jon to get back with the leather so they could start making some new bridles and reins. A figure galloped into view, definitely not Jon as this rider's gait was steady and Offbeat could never accomplish something like that. Maybe one of the villagers wanting some help or an extra person around so they could complete one of their many projects.

The rider got closer, showing it to be a woman who looked strangely familiar with a cape flowing out behind her. Sarah jumped off the railing, walking over to the main clearing in front of the yard.

"Hey!" she called, waving to the woman.

"Hey!" called the woman back, waving as well.

"It's Onua," said Anne, coming out from the house to stand beside her.

"How can you tell?" asked Sarah, shading her eyes as she looked at the woman, growing closer by the second.

"Don't know," replied Anne with a shrug, going to get Tanner from the loft where he was napping. "I just can."

"Hello," said Onua, jumping off her horse as she always did, letting the mount trot over to the fence tying him to it quickly.

"Hey," said Sarah, shaking her hand quickly. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm here to bring you some news," she replied, pushing her hair out of her eyes. "Can we go inside and get something to eat here? I'm starving."

"Dinner's ready to eat anyways," said Anne, coming out of the barn with Tanner right behind her. "And Jon's on his way back right now." She pointed to the road where a cloud of dust was quickly approaching.

"Let's go in," said Sarah, leading the way. "He'll be in soon enough."

"Ok."

They walked inside, each taking a seat around the small table as Anne served them a bowl of soup and a roll of bread with cheese, that and a glass of cold ale from Tanner's reserves that he brought with him.

"Hey, you didn't wait for me," complained Jon as he walked in the door. "Hey, Onua."

"Hello, Jon. Gotten hit with any other spears lately?"

"Haha. Very funny."

"I know."

"So, what news do you bring?" asked Tanner, digging into his soup with a will.

"We didn't go North because the seller was killed by a Scanran raiding party early this spring," explained Onua.

"So what are we going to do about getting more horses for this year?" asked Sarah, glancing out the window at the herd.

"We've stared mating some of the choice mares with studs we got from a horse breeder right after we got the news of the attack," explained Onua. "Part of the herd will be taken and used for breeding purposes as well. Part of the herd will remain as extras for the Rider's and the King's Own until we have another source of horses to choose from."

"Where does that put us?" asked Sarah.

"The King wishes to see you at the Palace with some news," replied Onua with a grin. "He has another job for you, one you might like better than the one you have now. You're expected to move out of this place and to there in a week, alright?"

"Are we selling the property?"

"No, leave it as it is."

"What about us?" asked Anne, realizing what this meant. "I doubt the King wishes to speak to us as well..."

"How good are they with animals?" Onua asked Sarah and Jon, a thoughtful look on her face.

"Fairly good," admitted Sarah. "Tanner's better with horses, he loves them to death. Anne's good too, but I think she was only working here until she could save up enough to join the Rider's..."

"You want to be a fighter?" asked Onua.

"Yep," replied Anne with a grin.

"I'll get you in, Buri's a close friend of mine. And I'll get you a job at the stables, Tanner, Stephan is always looking for a good helper."

"Then it's settled," said Sarah. "We'll be there in a week, herd and all."

"See you then," said Onua, rising from her seat and thanking them for the meal. "I'll have rooms for you all when you arrive. Bye."

"Later."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Libby walked up to Raoul, hands in her pockets as Artman shuffled along behind her; still suffering the wrath of the bunny woman in all her glory and splendor. "So," she said briskly, being in a very odd mood. "What's the word from the King?"

"He wants you to use this as your base now, since you get along with the men so well," replied the King's Own Commander with a grin.

"So we'll have actually quarters here? That won't have to be completely vacated every time we leave?" asked Artman, looking hopeful.

"Yep," replied Raoul. "And there'll be a place for you in one of the towns if you ever decided you need a few days of hot baths and soft beds."

"Nice," admitted Libby. "So what area will we be covering?"

"Squire?" asked Raoul, holding out his hand. Kel nodded and handed him a map all rolled up with a tie around it. He unrolled it and set it on the table, using some rocks to keep it flat. "From here, to here." His hand moved across a large portion of the map, some of the places a good day and a half's ride away.

"Whoa," replied Artman, somewhat taken aback.

"It's better than before," pointed out Kel. "You were covering the entire Scanran boarder before, right? This is only about a third of that size."

"Who's coming to take our place?" asked Libby.

"Numair and some others," replied Raoul, rolling the map back up. "I have to go, duties to take care of and all. I trust we'll be seeing you later?"

"Yeah," replied Libby. "Depends on what comes in for us."

"Alright then. Later."

"Later days."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Amanda deftly tossed the wooden target in the air, watching as Elizabeth easily nailed it with her mini crossbow darts. She nodded and threw two at a time, those two going down with darts in their centers as well.

"Nice," admitted Amanda. "You're been practicing, but with what?"

"Targets," replied Elizabeth with a shrug. "Throw some more."

"Alright."

Amanda tossed five up at a time, then seven, then ten. Still, Elizabeth did not miss a one.

"You think you're pretty good, don't you?" asked Amanda with a smirk.

"Let's see you hit ten of them and not miss," replied Elizabeth smugly.

"I never said I could."

"Gimme you best shot, then."

"Alright..."

Amanda took several wooden disks and juggled them for a moment, suddenly firing them off one at a time in Elizabeth's direction without even a word of warning.

"Hey!"

"You said to give you my best shot," replied Amanda innocently, shrugging her shoulders right before diving out of the way of a stray dart. "Hey!!"

"Whoops!" replied Elizabeth with her hand over her mouth, probably to hide her grin more than the fact that she was sorry. "Must've slipped there..."

"Yeah, sure," came the sarcastic reply. "Maybe I'll just slip with one of these to your head."

"Naw, you wouldn't do that to me."

"Wanna bet?"

"How much?"

"Whatever is fine."

"Eh, never mind..."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Alyse strolled down the winding streets of the market place outside the village walls, taking her time as she looked from shop to shop and stand to stand for something to buy. A small crystal seller caught her eye and she stopped, lightly browsing through his wares as he dealt with another customer.

"Hello, Lady Alyse," said the man when he was through. "It is an honor to see you take an interest in my collection here. Is there something that interests you?"

"This," replied Alyse, holding up a small, crystal fan with a silver chain and a charm at the end. "How much for it?"

"Five silver crescents, if it pleases my lady."

"It does." Alyse counted out the money for the man and watched as he carefully wrapped it up for her before continuing to walk along the road with her small bundle under her arm.

Seeing a leather tanner up close by, she ducked inside and looked around, knowing she needed to get a new collar for Ronnie and a bridle for Fern. "Good afternoon, Lady Alyse," said the tanner in a rough voice, smiling under his thick beard as he bowed slightly. "What can I do for you on this fine day?"

Alyse smiled and was thankful for the hundredth time that time that her cousins were well liked as far as nobles go. "I need a dog collar and a bridle, if you will."

"Do you know the sizes or measurements, ma'am?" asked the man, relaxing as he realized she wanted to be treated just like any of his other customers.

"Somewhat," replied Alyse, "I think Ronnie wears an inch thick collar that's about twelve inches in length..."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Lyssa picked up a sword for the first time since she had been injured a little while ago, her muscles finally strong enough and her body back to normal after the mage-sleep had finally worn off.

"Go easy on her," called one of the Corporals from the other ring, watching Eric and Lyssa circle each other. "We don't want her having to go back to the healer's, do we?"

"I'll be careful," called back Eric with a grin. He had been promoted recently to second in command at the fort and now helped Lyssa run the place with as much vigor as he had had just doing his everyday chores as a regular Rider.

"Careful my foot," retorted Lyssa, charging at him. "You'll fight as your normally do."

"As you wish, ma'am..." Lyssa's sword went flying and she stopped just short of running herself through on his blade, the tip of it pressed against her stomach.

"Well shoot..."

"It looks like you lost quite a bit during all that slack time," teased Eric, staying in his defend position in case she decided to charge at him again. "Someone's getting lazy..."

"That's what you think," replied Lyssa, taking her time on this attack and managing to keep up longer before he was able to get through her defense once more.

"You'll have to do better than that," sighed Eric.

"Give me a week of training and I'll bet anything I can beat you," retorted Lyssa, a glimmer pride shinning in her eyes.

"You're rapier from the Lioness."

"And if you lose?"

"I'll do latrine duty for two weeks straight."

"Done."

**a week later**

Eric lay there on the ground, not even bothering to move as everyone around them cheered, chanting Lyssa's name as she stood over him victoriously.

"Looks like someone's going to be hauling wastes for awhile," teased Lyssa, nudging him with her boot before walking out of the ring.

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Kyle stood there calmly with Martin in the Magistrate's court, a small man whom they had chosen as their lawyer standing with them on their side.

"Presenting Lady Isis of Knoxfort and Advocate Malen of Sigis Hold," came the nasal cry, everyone watching as the pair came in a sat on their side with everyone who supported them sitting behind them.

Martin whistled softly. "Malen, one of the best you can get and usually only beaten by his brother, Advocate Muirgen of Sigis Hold."

The Lord Magistrate struck a bronze disk with a smooth, granite ball, quickly bringing things to order. After they had risen in prayer to Mithros, he said, "These proceedings are a matter of law, not of noble privilege, so if there are challenges to be issued make them outside this court, understand? Alright, now we here for the land dispute between Lady Isis and Baron Kyle and their two respective fiefs. Let it be recorded that the evidence is now being given. Lady Isis, what have you to say in this matter?"

"Advocate Malen is here with me today," she replied, rising and curtsying deeply. "He shall speak on my behalf."

"Advocate Malen may speak as required."

"Lord Magistrate," said the Advocate, rising to his feet gracefully. "As you can see by this map here, the land clearly belongs to Lady Isis and her family. It has been that way for generations."

"How old is the map?" asked the Magistrate, taking it from him to study it more closely.

"300 years old."

"I see. What have you to say, Baron Kyle?"

"Advocate Magus will speak on my behalf," he replied smartly, bowing low to the Magistrate.

"Advocate Magus may speak as required. Continue."

"As you can see in this document of sale, Baron Kyle's Grandfather, Baron Edmund, bought the land not 50 years after than map was drawn," said Advocate Magus, holding up the document before him.

"Let me see that," said the Lord Magistrate, holding out his hand. The Advocate surrendered it to him, going back to his place after he did. "Why, Lady Isis, are you bothering this man over this land if it is clearly his?"

"We have no record of that sale," replied Advocate Malen. "You cannot prove that is was written by Sir Conan, who died many years ago."

"I can and I will," replied the Lord Magistrate. "Mage Ana, step forward if you will." An older lady of 50 or so came from the crowd in the middle of the two, making her way to the front.

"Yes, Lord Magistrate," she replied, bowing slightly.

"Can you test this and tell me who signed it if the Advocates agree to it?"

"Yes I can."

"Advocate Magus?"

"Certainly, Lord Magistrate."

"Advocate Malen?"

"..."

"Advocate Malen?"

"...of course, sir."

"Then test it."

The woman held her hands out in front of her, doing a time spell to see when the parchment was written and who had wrote it. The Lord Magistrate held onto her shoulder to watch it as well, seeing it perfectly.

"You, Lady Isis," he said slowly when he was done. "Are give a fine of 50 gold crowns to pay for the court cost, half of which are to go to Baron Kyle for his troubles."

"Then the land is given to who?" asked Advocate Malen.

"Baron Kyle, of course," replied the Lord Magistrate crossly. "If you honestly think you can build a case on a ploy like that...well...you've got another thing coming."

"Good work," said Kyle, paying the Advocate and walking out the door with Martin. "At last, peace and quiet."

Martin glanced behind them to where Lady Isis and her Advocate were arguing with the Lord Magistrate, generally irritating him. "I hope so..."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Jennifer and Stephanie laid side by side in the fields with their sheep and goats, looking at the stars before they fell asleep. "You know, I love doing this," said Jennifer, putting her arm behind her head as she glanced over at Stephanie. "Don't you?"

"What? Sleeping out here with the animals when we're too far away to get back and waking up sore in the morning or eating cold food because its all we brought with us?" the Shepardess teased, sighing as she did.

"You know what I mean," replied Jennifer with a grin. "We might as well be a million miles away from the nearest town, but its to peaceful and beautiful here that sometimes I don't want to go back. It makes me feel....free...."

"What, you're not free now?" asked Stephanie, sounding confused.

"Not really," replied Jennifer. "My world now consists of the lands around our shack and the fief. Anywhere else and I might get caught..."

"Good point."

A shooting star streaked across their view, leaving a trail of light for a moment before quickly fading away.

"Whoa," whispered Stephanie. "Did you make a wish?"

"Yep," replied Jennifer, adding to herself. {To be free...}

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Vixen sat at the table in her room, Mouse tending to Sana who lay in her bed and Allie pacing the room to their right, casually tossing a dagger back and forth in her hands as she did.

"So let me get this straight," said Vixen, leaning her head on her hands. "You have been Karalee's nursemaid from the time she was born, which is what, 8 years ago?"

"Something like that."

"And this Lady Isis moved in with the family when Kara was 4 or so, her husband having died and the estate she had lived on going to pay their taxes and other expenses, leaving her without a dime."

"Pretty much, yeah."

"So big brother took her under his wing and she started to get jealous of all he had, and she didn't get along with Yana or Kara."

"Correct again."

"So, when Kara was 6 she started putting a poison in the guy's food with the help of a cook who wanted part of the fief for himself. The man died two years later, she had the cook murmured for this or that, and tried the same trick on Kara and Yana only you found out before it could get too far."

"Yeah."

"And that was through the cook she had used the second time, who happened to be one of your dear friends."

"Uh huh."

"So you devised a plan for them to escape, but it was found out and you stayed behind to cover their trail for them."

"Yup."

"That's how you got caught. You never found out what happened to Yana or Kara, but hoped they would be alright and would eventually return to save you from the dungeon."

"Right."

"Ok, then." Vixen rubbed her eyes, tired after finally getting the whole story straight. "The only question now is: what do we do now that we have the nurse and the girl but no noble to take it to the court?"

"Give Kara lot's of candy 'cuz she's a good girl?" said Karalee from the doorway, seeing her beloved nurse lying there in bed. "Sana!!"

"Hi," replied the young woman weakly, putting her arms about the younger girl. "How have you been? They treating you alright here?"

"They treatin' me just fine!" replied Kara with a grin. "I've learned lots a new tricks too, but I'll show you them later. Mama Mouse and Antie Allie take care of me mostly 'cuz Uncle Joey and Aunt Vixie are too busy with other things, but I like having them around to play with too."

"So I see," the young woman glanced around the room, giving Mouse and odd look. "Mama Mouse, is it? Did she choose it or did you?"

"She did," replied Mouse shortly. "I am so glad I'm not her real mother..."

"Oh, Mama Mouse doesn't love me anymore?" whispered Kara with a pout, her eyes growing big and watery as Mouse sighed and opened her arms giving the small bundle of energy a smile.

"No, Mama Mouse is just tired," she replied, almost falling off the chair as Kara charged into her arms. "Ah!! How many times do I have to tell you..."

"Uncle Joey!"

"Hey, what's up?" asked Joe, swinging Kara up onto his back as he walked into the room. "You guys were gone all night last night...oh. Is that the one you were going for?" He pointed at Sana, giving her a gentle smile.

"Yeah," replied Vixen, "We got her. Debated for a moment whether or not to just slit her throat then and there, but seeing as how it would cause some problems later on..."

"I know, you can't kill everyone," teased Joe, giving her a quick kiss. "

"Says who?" asked Vixen with a wicked grin.

"Stop that....you do scare certain people when you do stuff like that, you know... Queen or not..."

"Alright..."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Sarah and Jon road up to the palace grounds, Tanner and Anne right behind them in a wagon that held all their belongings. The herd had been brought up a few days before by some friends of Onua's and they could see the horses from there grazing peacefully in a pasture.

"Nice to back, right?" asked Sarah, seeing a familiar face in the crowds around them. "We're going to have to go visiting in a little while."

"They know we're here?" asked Jon in surprise.

"They do now," replied Sarah with a smile. "I just Mouse out on one of her runs, she'll tell Vixen when she gets back."

"Cool."

"There you are," called Onua, letting them and leading the way to the Rider's buildings. "Come on, lunch is waiting and I have some people I want you to meet."

"What about us?" asked Anne, getting down from the wagon when they had reached their destination and had tethered the team to a rail. "Where do you want us to go?"

"You're joining us for the meal," said Onua with a nod. "Let's go."

"Alright."

They walked into the mess hall, cleared except for a few last minute people who were quickly gulping down what food they had left. On the dais sat a familiar man and woman with their backs to them and a meal spread out before them, Jon's stomach growling loudly at the sight.

"Let's get you four fed," said Onua, taking her usual seat as they found seats beside her and the two guests. "Sarah, Jon, you remember Stephen."

"Yes, I do," replied Sarah. "Nice to see you again."

"Yeah," said Jon around a leg of chicken. "What she said."

"I understand one of you wants to become a stable hand," said the older man, white teeth flashing against his dark skin.

"I am," said Tanner. "Is there a job open that I could have?"

"Depends on what you can do."

"Almost anything with horses."

"Then you're hired."

Tanner almost spit out the sip of tea he had just taken. "Just like that?!"

"Just like that."

Tanner smiled. "Cool."

"What about you?" asked the female guest as she gestured to Anne. "What are you doing here?"

"I was hoping to join the Rider's," admitted Anne with a shrug. "But I don't suppose that's going to happen..."

"What's holding you back?"

"The training. That, and the money."

"I see." The woman sat back, trading looks with Onua over the table. "You're in luck, then. My name's Buri, head of the Queen's Rider's and I can get you those things."

Anne's mouth dropped like a stone, looking like gaping fish. "You...you're.... Commander Buri..."

"Yep, that's me," replied Buri, hiding a smile as Tanner closed Anne's mouth for her. "You can come with me after we're done here and we'll discuss what you need to do next."

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Are you two ready to see the King?" asked Onua, finished with her meal as she stood up slowly.

"Nope," replied Jon, digging his way through a pile of pasta and sauce.

"Sit down," said Sarah, shaking her head. "We could be here awhile."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Libby grinned as she adjusted the odds she had for the chess games being playing, knowing she would come out on top in the end. Kel smiled as she moved her King, leaning back in her chair.

"Check mate," she said triumphantly.

"Pay up, boys," said Libby, holding out her hat expectantly. The men groaned and gave her what spare cash they had left. Libby giggled as she began to set her odds for the final match between Qasim and Raoul for first or second. She was going to lay everything she had on it, hoping to double what she had gotten over the first few rounds. Right now she was somewhere around 500 gold crowns, and that wasn't something a poor person like her could pass up.

"What's the record on them?" she asked the Standard Bearer, looking over his shoulder at the record he was keeping.

"They've both got perfect records," he replied. "Although, Qasim has been doing far better as far as keeping more men on the board and going for the quick kill.

"Put all of this on Qasim, then," she said, handing him the hat. "You'd better be right, boy..."

"Raoul's chances aren't great, here," he affirmed quietly, keeping his head down as he studied what he had written down. "Though, most everyone else has put their money on him..."

The two of them watched as Raoul was slowly beaten back by Qasim's lightning fast moves, seemingly giving the Commander hardly a chance to think. Libby stood there with her finger's crossed with the Knight-Commander moved his rook with a self satisfied smirk, settling back in his chair as he said the two words that Libby least wanted to hear.

"Check mate."

"NO!!!" she cried, looking over the board. But he was right, Qasim had played right into his hands and left himself wide open. "NO! NO! NO! My 500 gold crowns!! NONONONONO!!!!!!!!!"

"Ha ha ha," said Artman, coming up beside her with a mocking grin on his face. "I told you not to-"

*SMACK*

X_X

^_^

"I feel much better now," said Libby as she skipped away with her bunnies, leaving the unconscious Artman lying there on the ground.

"Uh, sir?" whispered Qasim, pointing at Artman. "Should we help the poor fool?"

"And suffer the same fate?! I think not..."

"Good point..."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Amanda woke up bright and early one morning, forcing herself to crawl out of bed as the sun began to peak through her window and bath the room with its golden glow. Yawning, she changed into an old pair of pants and a shirt and brushed her hair back into a low horse tail, taking only as much time as she needed to with it.

Grabbing her set of sais from the wall, Amanda slowly walked silently down the halls of the mansion to the practice courts below, making sure no one was out there before setting the low boots she had worn aside and doing some warm-ups to get her going. Punches, jabs, hooks, high kicks, low kicks, sweeps, she mindlessly went through the routine as she had done every morning for the past couple years.

"Hey," said someone as she completed her final kicks, landing amidst the dust she had stirred up confidently.

"Huh?" Amanda whirled around, seeing Levi standing there with a smile on his face. "Oh, morning Levi."

"Practicing as always?" he asked, unslinging his unusual weapon from his back and setting it to the side.

"Yeah," she replied with a shrug, wiping the sweat from her eyes. "What do you want?"

"Nothing, just to watch," he replied as he walked over to the fence and sat on the top rail. Amanda stared at him for a second, shaking her head as she did. "What?" he asked, feeling uneasy.

"That is so sad," she replied with a smirk. "Even after all this time you still can't come up with a more creative excuse than that."

"Excuse?" he asked, trying to sound offended. "What excuse?? I see no excuse needed for me to-"

"You brought a weapon with you," interrupted Amanda, motioning to the double-ended staff. "Do you want to fight or something? Like a match?"

"Well..." he replied sheepishly. "It has been almost a year now..."

"Pick it up and get ready," she replied with a shrug. "You can have it as soon as I finish here with my stretching."

"Oh, ok..."

Levi removed his boots as well as the leather jerkin he was wearing, doing some simple stretches before Amanda stood up and picked up her weapons, her usual sign that she was ready. "Rules?" he asked quietly, getting his weapon that he had fought her with last time and standing before her.

"Anything goes," she replied. "Other than anything indecent..." She glared at him teasingly.

"Hey!" said Levi, holding his hands up briefly. "The thought never entered my mind."

 "You are whipped, boy," she said with a grin, shaking her head as she did. "First one to give wins."

"Agreed."

They began to circle each other, Levi a bit more uncertain this time than he had been the time before. He had watched her practice with her sword before, many times in fact as he had been studying her style for the competition. But her sais were another matter entirely.

Levi unhooked the two sides of his weapon, his blade in his right hand and the one with the ball in his left as he charged at her down the middle, seeing she wasn't going to make the first move. Amanda sidestepped his attack and easily evaded the blade and ball with the cross guard of her sais.

Whipping around in a circle, she swept underneath his defenses and sent him tumbling to the ground in a heap. Skipping back some, she waited patiently for him to move, never saying a word the whole time.

"You've gotten  better," he muttered, getting up to face her once more. Feigning to the left, he tried to repeat her move and found himself on the ground as she jumped over it and kicked him in the shoulder hard enough to over balance him.

"Ready to give?" asked Amanda, standing a little ways away as she flipped her blades calmly.

"Naw," he replied, getting up and rubbing his shoulder where she had left a footprint on his shirt. "That'd make it too easy for you."

"Try again, then," she replied, going into an easy defensive position. "I've got all morning before I have anything important going on. Come on, I'm wait-" Amanda was cut short as she dove to the side, just barely being missed by the blade Levi threw at her. She saw him coming out of the corner of her eye, rolling into a ball as he slammed into her, stunning her for just half a second as they landed on the ground. Too bad it wasn't long enough for him.

Amanda rolled over him and took his arm, taking him with her and ending up lying with his face in the dirt. She sat on his back, humming lightly as she looked about for her sais, seeing them lying on the ground near by.

"Now are you ready to give?" she asked, going and lifting him his head slightly.

"Nope."

"Stubborn little fool."

"Yep."

Amanda got up off his back and retrieved her weapons, waiting for him to make his next move. This time he charged at her from the side, hoping to get through her guard by knocking her weapons away. Too bad it didn't work like that. Amanda waited until she could almost touch him, sais flashing in in the sun as they sent the two parts of his weapon flying several feet away.

Levi couldn't stop himself and charged on, trying to just run by her and get away unscathed. Amanda grabbed his arm and spun him around, getting him in a choke hold with a blade to his neck. "Give?"

"Uh...yeah."

"Good boy."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Alyse woke up early that morning as always, picking up her fans and tossing them a bit to loosed her wrists before rummaging through her draws and pulling out some pants and a shirt, quickly tucking them in and pulling some knee boots over the extra long pants.

Pulling on a thick belt and sticking her fans into it, she padded down the rugged halls of the mansion, making her way to the small field where she usually practiced. Going by the practice courts, she noticed Amanda was out there as she normally was, going through one routine or another. What surprised her was that she was sparring with Levi, and beating him soundly as well.

Amanda knocked his weapons away and held him in a choke hold, saying something so quietly that the Yamanis Lady couldn't hear what it was. Levi seemed to pause for a moment, then nodded his head and she let him go, standing there as he turned around and looked at her oddly.

Alyse covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud when he kissed her briefly, then going and getting his weapons and leaving her standing there in the middle of the ring with her sais in her hands.

"Was I interrupting?" asked Alyse, shaking her out of her trance of sorts.

"What?" asked Amanda, looking surprised. "Oh, hey Alyse...wait, how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough," replied Alyse with a wink. "Later."

"Uh, yeah, bye."

Alyse smiled to herself as Amanda walked back inside, she had never seen her so flustered in her life and it had been quite an amusing experience.

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Lyssa and those under her command rode silently through the forest, looking for some sign of the Scanrans as they continued their patrol. Lyssa stopped and held up her hand, straining to hear something that had caught her attention in the background...

"YAH!!!" shouted the Scanrans, rushing out of the bushes and streaming into the clearing. Lyssa froze where she was, remembering the pain...the arrow that almost took her life...

"Watch out!" yelled Eric, seeing an axe man coming her way. Lyssa snapped out of it and drew her weapon, angrily lashing out at the enemy soldiers as they got to close to her.

"Die," she muttered to herself as she severed the head of another one of them. "Die for what you did to me." She didn't stop until there were no more Scanrans insight, her comrades sitting on their mounts around her as they panted from exhausting.

"Ma'am!" said one of the men, riding to her side.

"How many got away?"

"None, ma'am."

"And we killed all of them."

"Yes, ma'am."

"How are we?"

"We lost one, ma'am."

"Who?"

"Corporal Nate."

"Strap him to his horse and head back to the main camp," she ordered, turning her horse around abruptly. "Let's move out!"

"Yes' ma'am!!"

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Kyle walked out one of the many side doors of the mansion, Martin following close behind as they made it silently to the streets. "Tell me why we're out here again?" asked Martin, trying to sound tough.

"Because we won the case and we're celebrating," replied Kyle with a shrug. "Come on, lighten up. We'll swing by the tavern, have a couple drinks, then head back in."

"You're sure that's all."

"Positive."

"Alright, then..."

The two friends slipped into an odd bar on the edge of town, taking some seats in the far corner where they seldom would be seen.

"What can I get for you?" asked a young woman, winking at them as she sat on the table.

"Just two of your usuals," said Kyle, winking back roguishly. "And fast, if you will, we're thirsty men."

"Of course, sir." She gave them a teasing smile and sauntered off, making her way over to the bar.

"Pretty little thing, isn't sure," murmured Kyle, his heart not really into it.

"Thought you were going to try and get that Lynx mountain girl," replied Martin with a nudge. "Or are you just looking for something temporary?"

"No," replied Kyle, slowly shaking his head. "I'm fine waiting for her. I can flirt and such, it doesn't do any harm, but I want to wait before I even consider getting in some sort of a relationship with a girl."

"Taking the gentleman's road?"

"I guess so."

"What makes this girl so special from the rest?"

"Don't know." Kyle shrugged, nodding to the girl as she brought them their drinks. "Just a feeling that I've got to meet her."

"Gut instinct?"

"Maybe...so tell me about your life."

"What do you mean, 'my life'?" asked Martin, looking surprised.

"I don't know," replied Kyle. "I know nothing about you, but you know everything about me. So tell me something about yourself. Are you married?"

"Actually, yes."

"Really, to who?"

"Your cook, Mistress Hena who runs the kitchen for you."

Kyle looked surprised. "Really? I never knew that....do any of your children work for me too and I just don't know it?"

"We have no children," replied Martin, shaking his head. "It's just always worked out that way."

"Oh, sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about. It wasn't your fault. However, my younger brother works for you, he's the stable hand that always takes your horse for you."

"You mean the short one with the black hair?"

"Yep."

"Never knew that either."

"I didn't think you did."

They continued on late into the night, swapping stories and having drink after drink until the bartender threw them out, leaving them to stumble through the streets, singing at the top of their lungs and arriving at the mansion as complete basket cases.

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Jennifer lay in the middle of the yard outside the cabin, her cats surrounding her as they romped about in the tall grasses that partially hid them from view.

Tigress was still the Queen of them, actually about a paw or two taller than them and much faster and stronger as well. She was their designated protector, and if ever one of them was in need she would be there to make sure they were all right. But she protected her humans too, and Jennifer didn't know what she would do without her.

Something soft draped itself over her back and she craned her neck to see who it was, glimpsing a flash of light brown and creme stripes. Caramel. He had been the big brother for all of them, the one who was always calm and cool headed, but would rise to the occasion if he had to. He didn't fight nearly as much as Tigress did, it wasn't his style. But it was apparent he cared about his family and would do anything he needed to for them.

A flash of white as her only pure white cat leapt for a cricket reminded her of the remaining three. This one was Snowball, her prissy little busy body that acted as regal as a queen, but could be cowed in a second by Tigress or Caramel. She couldn't resist putting her nose into other's business, and with her blue eyes and spotless fur she was often the favorite of anyone who ever visited them.

Jennifer saw two pairs of ears over the grass, moving slowly together as they stalked their imaginary prey. Chocolate and Snickers, or Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee as Stephanie sometimes called them. Those two always did everything together, from sleeping to eating to pestering her for a treat... you name it. If one of them was in sight, the other was bound not to be too far behind. At least it made it easier for them to keep track of her.

Snowball came over and lay on Jennifer's stomach as she knocked Caramel off by rolling over, quickly falling asleep on her master and friend. Jennifer stroked her gently and realized that her stomach was lumpy and firm.

Feeling somewhat alarmed, Jennifer picked up the dozing cat and took her inside, calling, "Stephanie? I need you for something real quick."

"What?" asked the older girl as she rounded the corner.

"Is this normal?" asked Jennifer, showing her Snowball's stomach.

"Yep," replied Stephanie. "You're going to have kittens!"

"What?! There's going to be more of them?" asked Jennifer, wondering how she would ever manage to keep more cats than she had at that moment.

"Don't worry," said Stephanie with a shrug. "As soon as she's had them and they're weaned you can sell them at the mansion. Everyone's always looking for a good mouser."

"Oh, ok."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Allie glanced at the wine bottle she was drinking from, grimacing at the weird after taste it left in her mouth. She wouldn't drink it at all if it didn't go down like a shot of fire and warm her insides in an instant after being outside for along time in the cold night riding this way or that to escape the guards who had seen them sneak out of a noble's house.

Taking one more swig, she laid down on her bed, letting her mind drift away as dreams came upon her vision...

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

"Wes!" cried Allie in surprise, seeing him riding a horse towards her with an old Western suit on and a plastic gun in his holster. "What on earth..."

"Howdy there, miz," he said in a horrible southern accent, all long and drawn out. "Why don'cha git on over to the chuck wagon and we'll gits you some nice vittles to eat."

"Chuck wagon?" asked Allie, resisting the urge to run over and strangle him. She couldn't stand southern accents.

"Yep, that'un right over there."

A wagon appeared out of the blue, all her old friends sitting around it talking, eating, and laughing together as they didn't notice her standing right there looking at them. "Hey!" she called, feeling her stomach growl. "Save some of that food for me!"

"Yous wants some vittles?" asked Vixen in a deep southern accent. "Come and gett'im, m'friend."

"What the..."

"Who be that?" asked Libby, riding around in a circle on Veety, the old drum major from her sophomore year. "Oh, hey der, Allie. Where you been keeping yourself these past days? H'ain't seen you at all, hardly."

Allie put her hands over her ears, hoping it wasn't true...

"She's probably got some poor fella held captive for her own evil doings, right Liz?" said Amanda, doing a perfect imitation of the others.

"T'ain't very nice to do that, y'know," said Alyse from her seat, taking a drink from a mug. "The poor man is entitled to his own rights, y'know."

"AHH!!" screamed Allie as they all crowded around her, still using those awful accents as if they had every single day of their lives.

"What's the matter, sugar?" asked Sarah. "If I'z you, I'd settle down before you makes youself sick from all that shakin' you's doing."

"Please stop," whimpered Allie, trying to curl up in a tiny ball. "Please make it stop..."

"What's wrong with the sugar now?"

"Beats me, she's all a quivering and tremblin' for no reason at all."

"Maybe she be sick."

"Maybe she just be nervous or somethin'."

"Ain't no reason to be nervous, t'is just us, her old pals."

"Yee Ha!" yelled Wes, galloping through them in a rainbow outfit and a big bonnet on his head. "I's ridin' off into the sunset! Giddy up, Veety!"

"I's tryin', I's a tryin' as hard as I can!" said Veety, acting as his horse. "I'll get us there eventually, believe you me, I'll get us there..."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Allie woke up thrashing in her bed, throwing off her covers and landing on the floor with a *thud*. Vixen and Mouse rushed in, worry etched on their faces.

"Are you alright?" asked the Queen of Thieves, helping her friend sit up straight as Mouse got her a drink of water from a flagon near by.

"I'm fine," replied Allie, taking the water and gulping it down. "Really, I am..."

"We could hear you thrashing around on the other side of the door," said Mouse. "But since we had no idea what you were doing until you screamed something out about how southern accented people needed to die we didn't come in until we heard you fall out of bed."

"Have a bad nightmare, deary?" asked Vixen, using an accent of her own.

"Do it again and I'll kill you," said Allie, her dagger's out instantly.

"Ok, alright....I was just joking..."

"Is this the stuff you drank?" asked Mouse, taking a bottle from the table.

"Yeah," said Allie, "Nice and hot with a weird aftertaste..."

"Honey, this is poppy seed wine," said Vixen, taking the bottle from Mouse. "You're only supposed to drink a little at a time, and it's mainly used for people who are about to die or have painful diseases. You took out nearly half the bottle."

"At least it explains the dream," said Mouse, taking the bottle back and walking out the door, taking it back to the bar downstairs.

"Some dream it was," muttered Allie. "There is one weird thing I can't figure out though..."

"What's that?"

"Why the heck was Wes riding Veety?"

0.o "WHAT?!"

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Jon and Sarah walked down the streets of Corus, looking at the shops and taking their time to their true destination of a small tavern by the name of the Dancing Dove.

"Well, if it isn't the horse folk," teased Vixen, seeing them walk in from her usual table and thrown. "Come on over and join me here. Yes, you two, we've been expecting you for awhile."

"Who told you we were coming?" asked Sarah, sliding into a seat across from her.

"A little birdy," replied Mouse, pointing a slim girl sitting next to her. "This is Robin, she's our best scout. She's been keeping tabs on you for us while you were in town."

"Don't trust us?" asked Jon, raising his eyebrows.

"No," replied Vixen, shaking her curly head. "Just making sure that you're alright."

"Sure," said Jon sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "That's what they all say..."

"Are you challenging our Queen?" hissed Robin, a few throwing stars out in a flash.

"Easy, easy!" said Jon, holding his hands up immediately.

"He's just teasing," said Vixen, putting a hand on Robin's arm. "Relax, he doesn't mean a word of what he says, ever."

"Hey, I do mean some of it," said Jon, getting on the defensive slightly. "I meant it when I said that you guys in Wind Ensemble-"

"You can stop it right there," said Sarah, clamping a hand over his mouth. "Just let it go, alright? Can't we just all get along here?"

"No," replied Jon and Vixen at once, smiling as they did.

"Dude, you're taking Amanda's place," pointed out Mouse with a smile.

"Huh?"

"She's not here to argue with right now," said Jon with a shrug. "So I'll just take the next best thing, arguing with Br- I mean Vixie here."

"Why is arguing with me not as good as arguing with Amanda?" demanded Vixen.

"Because if she slaps me it doesn't leave a bruise or a mark in most cases," observed Jon. "Getting hit by you is the equivalent of getting hit by a sledge hammer."

"Want to make something of it?" asked Vixen, flexing her muscles.

"Not really..."

"Hey!" said Joe from where he had walked into the room, carrying Karalee on his back and her nursemaid at his side.

"That your kid?" asked Jon, already knowing the answer as Vixen glared daggers at him. "Something you haven't been telling us Vixen? I still can't believe that's your new name..."

"Jon, you're insulting me with over a hundred of my faithful minions surrounding you and at least 99% of them armed in one way or another," said Vixen lightly, giving him a wicked smile. "Let's think about this here for a second...is it such a wise idea to be teasing me like that?"

"Probably not," he replied with a shrug. "But it's not like I care..."

"He's funny lookin'," said Kara, pointing at Jon with a grin. "Where'd he come from?"

"Up the bend and around the corner," replied Jon, getting elbowed by Sarah. "Hey! What was that for?"

"That was not necessary around her," she hissed back, giving him a reproachful look.

"Oh, well sorry..."

"Don't I know you?" asked Joe, sitting down next to Vixen. "With a beard and longer hair, I think..."

"Don't remind me," replied Jon with a rueful grin. "I'm just lucky they didn't nick a vein or something while they were doing it."

"True, true."

"Hey," said Vixen, giving them a teasing glare. "I'm good with blades of any kind for any kind of job."

"Like what?" asked Jon, knowing he was pushing his luck.

"She could pull a Gwen and emasculate you with a dull blade..."

Jon shivered, shaking his head quickly. "No....that's quite alright..."

"What's a 'gwen'?" asked Joe, completely lost.

"You mean who's a Gwen?" corrected Mouse. "She's....uh, someone we knew from before..."

Sarah checked the time, sighing as she did. "We need to go," she said, getting up slowly. "Or Onua's gonna have a fit. See ya later."

"Later."

"Bye."

"Good riddance, Hewitt."

"Gee, thanks for making me feel so loved."

"You're quite welcome."

"Think we'll be seeing them again anytime soon?" asked Allie as plates of dinner were set before them.

"Unfortunately, yes," replied Vixen, tossing a piece of fruit into her mouth. "Just kidding, but yeah. With them so close it'll be hard not too."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Artman rode right behind Raoul to where the distress call was being sent from, a thick smoked fire with horses and riders surrounding it in the distance.

"Make sure they're gone for good," said Raoul, not seeing a Scanran in sight. "They may've just drawn off for a bit until they are going to attack."

"Yes, sir."

Libby knelt next to a dead man with an arrow in his chest, crying softly as she did. "No..." she whispered, not even bothering to wipe her eyes. "He didn't have to die....it didn't have to end like that..."

"What's wrong?" asked Raoul, getting down before her in the mud while everyone else loaded the dead and wounded and prepared to ride out.

"It's Lance," she replied, gently closing the man's eyes. "He just....I rushed to him the moment he was shot, keeping everyone else back and shielding us from harm. But.... he rejected my power....he wanted to die....said it was an escape from this life..."

"Lance had many problems, and broken family and dead wife being some of them," replied Raoul. "That's why he joined us, to be free of his worries. But he never really escaped them..."

"Why did it have to be now...with me..." sobbed Libby, drawing closer into herself. "Why did he have to reject my healing....my gift to him..."

"It's hard sometimes," said Dom, coming up and helping her to her feet. "Come on, let's get back to camp and get something hot into you and talk about it then."

"Alright..."

"It's clear," said Artman, riding up on his horse. "They've been gone for while, and their numbers greatly reduced by the dead spread out along the way."

"Good," said Raoul, getting up and mounting his horse. Libby got up behind Dom and held on tight, drying her eyes on her sleeve.

"I hate wars," she said softly, her words muffled by Dom's shirt.

"We all do," replied Dom, "But it can't be helped, so that's why we fight."

"I guess so..."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Amanda galloped at a brisk pace in front of the group through the woods, eager to be back home and in her own room before dark set in. Elizabeth rode just a few paces  behind her, Alyse even with her and Levi bringing up the rear like any good servant.

"Get them!" cried a voice behind them, ten Scanran raiders breaking from the cover of the bushes and rushing towards them.

"Stay together!" cried Amanda, drawing her sword that she always carried with her. Alyse transferred her reins to her mouth and brought her fans out in a flash as Elizabeth loaded a bolt on her mini-cross bow, immediately putting it in its place. Levi drew a rapier and waited beside them, his face as grim as any.

The battle wasn't an easy one. Being over two to one in attackers and defenders, the four were hard pressed to keep themselves together. Amanda's horse was killed under her with an arrow and she quickly leapt free of it, fighting on foot for the rest of the time and scoring far more blows than she received.

Elizabeth remained towards the back, firing her crossbow as fast she could and using the short distance to her advantage as far as aim. Still, she too was forced at times to duck a stray arrow or sword blow that came around the others towards her.

Alyse was not fairing well for her. Her weapon was one of short distance, and still being unsure of using her gift at in such a small area without harming her friends she didn't wish to use it. A Scanran with a club rode up by her from the others, breaking formation without a thought. Swinging his club at her, he clipped the side of her head and received a burst of magic through his middle, Alyse not even able to see straight at that point.

"Are you alright?" asked Amanda, steadying her from the ground as Alyse began to sway in the saddle.

"I think so..." said Alyse, feeling blood as she gently probed the spot. "Maybe not..."

Levi angrily leapt off his mount into their midst, Amanda quickly joining him as they chased off the rest of them with ease.

"Is everyone alright?" he asked, wiping his blade on a dead Scanran's shirt before returning it to its sheath.

"I am," said Amanda, dusting herself off some. "A few scratches and bumps, that's all. Whoa!" She dashed over and caught Alyse, who had lost her sense of balance completely and had almost tumbled from her horse.

"Moonshadow won't be coming back with us," said Elizabeth, nodding to the fallen mare. "To bad, I liked that horse."

"So did I," added Amanda, helped Alyse stand up in the road. "What now?"

"Those attackers came from the way we had just been," said Elizabeth suddenly. "Which means..."

"Back to Lady Hope and her family!" said Amanda quickly, swinging up onto Alyse's mount and helping the girl mount on behind her. "Hold on, you think you can make it there?"

"Yeah, I think so..."

"Good. Let's go!" They sprinted back to the homely fief, hoping against all hope that their fears were not true...too bad it wasn't to be that way. The fief was on fire and several Scanrans and villagers lay about dead, those who were still alive trying to gather the something of what they had had before.

"Lady Amanda!" cried an old woman, rushing to her side with a bundle in her arms.

"Isa," replied Amanda, staying where she was so Alyse wouldn't fall off. "What happened?"

"Scanran raiders snuck through the back wall and caught us off guard," she replied sadly. "All but a few killed, and most of those wounded and left for dead."

"What about Lady Hope?" she asked urgently, leaning forward slightly. "And her family? Where are they now?"

"Captured," replied Isa sadly, wiping a few tears from her eyes. "When the attack came, they sent me through the secret tunnels to the cave out in the woods. I came back as soon as I could, seeing as how they never caught up to me like they promise...the only one left is Justin, who they sent with me on the spur of the moment in a hope to keep at least one of them alive."

"Give him to me," said Amanda, holding out her arm. The woman obediently deposited the young child in her arms. "Go and get the others who are left, tell them to bring what they can and leave the rest behind, we're going back to Lynx mountain where they'll be safe."

"How do you know that?" asked Isa fearfully, trembling where she stood. "They could be setting a trap for us along the way..."

"We already fell into it and managed to fight our way out," replied Amanda grimly. "Hurry, it'll be dark soon and we don't have enough here to protect all of you."

"Yes, Lady Amanda."

The surviving twenty or so from what had once been a large town followed her solemnly down the road, hoping to find something better at her place as they left all that had once been theirs behind.

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Alyse groaned out of boredom from where she lay in bed, trying to ignore the fact that the ceiling was starting to show bright flashes of color once more. The blow she had received from the club had given her a concussion and the best the healer could do for her with all the other wounded waiting around for treatment was make sure it wasn't life threatening and give her some stuff for the dizziness and nausea. "Feeling better?" asked a soft voice from the door.

"Go'way," she replied, waving her hand feebly. "It's not nice to tease people when they can't even look at you."

"I never said I was here to tease," replied Amanda with a grin, coming and sitting next to her on the bed. "Here's something the healer gave me for you, should make the pain stay away for good until you're allowed to be up and about again."

"How many days do I have left in bed?"

"Three, same as the last time you asked, and the time before that, and the time before that...and the time before that..."

"You can shut it now."

"Sorry..." Amanda opened the bottle, pouring some in a cup and helping Alyse drink it down. "I'll come back a little later and help you take some more ok?"

"Alright."

"Take it easy."

"I will..."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Lyssa traced the multiple scars on her arms and legs one night as she sat on her bed before she went to sleep. Her father would have a fit if he were here, her mother too most likely.

Thinking about all the new friends here, she grinned sadly. They would accept her as she was now, scared and bruised and rough on the edges. People back home in Indiana had accepted her with bruises and broken bones, she was always breaking toes and bruising herself with rifles or flagpoles during practice. But scars hadn't been quite so common, and few of her friends even had serious scars to speak of.

Lyssa grinned again, thinking of one friend in particular who seemed to always be getting herself hurt. Of course, living with two younger brothers who liked to wrestle a lot seemed to have had something to do with it...but that was not it entirely either. Fighting and being a tomboy hadn't helped much either, but what did she know?

Studying the marks that symbolized different times of her a life one last time, she blew out the candle and laid down her bed, leaving those depressing thoughts for another day...

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Kyle walked along the Orchards of the large fief, ignoring the odd looks of others as he carried a few clipped bows from a pine tree with him. "Hey," he said quietly as he reached what he was looking for, a small cemetery with three rows of graves in it, the last the only one in the third row still fresh from being buried with only a short layer of grass to cover itself.

Dusting off the headstone, he read it to himself just like he had dozens of times before. "Baron Emery Fredrick the 6th, only son of Andiron the Kind. May his spirit of giving live on. 395-459, 20th year of reign of King Jonathan and Queen Thayet."

"How have you been?" he asked, even though his question wouldn't be answered. "Me? Oh, I'm alright. You'd have been proud of me, pops. I managed to beat that lady out of getting you lands. Even when she sent some of her men after me, I stood firm."

Kyle stopped there for a moment, wiping his eyes on his sleeve as he sniffed a bit, glad no one else was around to see him. "I'm going to the palace soon," he said at long last. "I don't know how long I'll be there, or when I'm going, but I'll be sure to have the servants put some pine here every once in a while. I know how much you liked the smell when you were still here."

"I have to go," he said after another pause. "You know, duty calls and all. Goddess be with you, father, good-bye."

Kyle turned the back on the grave, wondering if some far off voice had answered him softly in the swish of the trees...

'Goodbye, my son.....goodbye...'

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Jennifer and Stephanie sat together at the table, eating dinner when a loud knock came at the door. "Come in," called Stephanie, wiping her mouth and rising from the table as a group of youths from the fief came in and sat themselves down, laughing and talking loudly.

"Father sent us to make sure you had enough supplies and to remind you of the festival tomorrow," replied the young man, patting her on the back. "So, what news is there down here?"

"More lambs and goats born, you can tell him that," said Stephanie with a nod. "The predators are keeping to themselves, but that won't last long. We could use with some more sugar or flour, but if it can't be spared..."

"We have some right here!" said one of the youths, pulling the items out of her bag and handing it to Jen, who took it readily from him.

"Hey, who's the kid?" asked a girl, having never seen Jen before.

"This is my assistant, Jen," said Stephanie, taking a drink from her mug before stacking everything up and putting it in the sink for her to wash later. "He's a friend of the family the boss guy hired to get him out of his home for awhile."

"Bad situation, eh?"

"No," lied Stephanie, "Just not enough food to go around."

"Oh, I see."

"You're sure he's a guy?" asked the guy softly when Jen was out of earshot, watching her put the food away. "A bit feminine if you ask me..."

"He was raised as a cook with several other females," said Stephanie in her friend's defense, trying to come up with a story off the top of her head. "He's just very shy and to himself, don't get down on him for that."

"Which is why you trust him to live with you but no other guys?"

"Exactly."

"Then make a bet with me," said the guy, smiling slyly. "He has to come to the festival with you, I'll send someone to watch the animals, and dance with some girls and kiss one."

"He'll dance but he won't kiss," replied Stephanie, wracking her brain for excuses. "He's too much of a gentleman for that."

"On the hand."

"Fine."

"See you tomorrow, then," said the young man, getting up and heading out the door. "Come on, you lazy lot, get moving!"

"What was that all about?" asked Jenny once they were gone, bringing out the pie she had made for the two of them.

"Uh....well..." gulped Stephanie, wondering how she was going to explain this...

**The Next Day**

Jennifer and Stephanie walked to the fief after some assistants had arrived at noon to take over the animals for them. The cats had been ordered to stay in the house until they got back, and they were dressed in the best clothes they had to make a good appearance.

"Why, why, why?" muttered Jenny, shaking her head back and forth. "I can't dance, and you said I would! With *girls* no less..."

"What was I supposed to do?" hissed Stephanie, slumping over slightly. "They can't know the truth!"

"I know...I know...at least you go me out of kissing a girl, I think I can handle kissing a hand but anything else and I might get sick..."

"Which I consider to be a good sign," replied Stephanie, nudging her in the side. "If it didn't bother you my brother might have some unwelcome competition."

"He doesn't," shivered Jenny, shaking her head again. "Come on, we're almost there and might as well get this over with." They entered the gate of the small village, making their way across the lawn to the main tent with food when one Jerry's group, who was the group who had visited them before, spotted them and waved them over to a large table already set with food and crowded with people.

"Make room for my guests!" cried Jerry, seeing them approaching. "Come on, you lazy slackers! Move your selves and let them sit down, they had a long walk to get here you know!"

"What's the schedule for tonight?" asked Stephanie, drinking from a tankard of sweetened tea.

"The dance and fireworks at the same time," said Jerry, nodding at her respectfully. "No fancy stuff this year, the treasuries are drained after we kept the Progression here for a week. A blinkin' ball every night plus a feast to go with it as well!!"

"Aye, that would be a strain on anyone's pocket book," replied Stephanie with a grin. "Who's doing the fireworks? Brimstone?"

"No, he's too old," replied a cheeky fellow beside them. "He can hardly pull himself out of bed in the morning, let alone do a show for us."

"Then who?"

"That new fellow the big boss guy brought in," said Jerry,  "His name is....uh, Ignatius, that's right."

"A good fire mage?"

"From what I've heard."

"That'll be cool."

"Yeah." Music started from an area of the ground that was covered by a high tent and lit with festive lanterns, giving the place an air of joy. "Come on!" cried Jerry, obviously done with his meal and heading towards the ground as he grabbed their hands and pulled them along with them. "Pop's playing tonight!"

"Wow," admitted Stephanie, seeing the small band that had been assembled. "They're gonna be good, I'll give them that."

"Then will you dance with me?"

"No."

"Hey," said a young girl of about 11, coming to stand by them. "Haven't seen you for awhile, Steph."

"Hi, Bluebell," replied Stephanie, giving the girl a grin. "This is Jen, my assistant. Jen, this is Bluebell, Jerry's little sister."

"Hello," replied Jenny, bowing slightly.

"Nice to meet you," said Bluebell, bowing slightly.

"Why don't you take Blue for a dance?" suggested Jerry, pushing the two out onto the floor. "She'd like it, I'm sure."  Jen sent a pleading look in Stephanie's direction, but neither could think of a good excuse she took the small girl out on the floor and danced with her, doing her best to lead and trying not to trip over her own two feet. Jerry sent several young girls her way that night, each one dancing with Jenny for awhile and then leaving to go back to their own groups as another arrived on the scene.

"How old is he?" asked one of the girls, being a servant of 17.

"No one knows," replied Jerry. "He won't talk."

Blue came by and Jenny danced with her last again that evening, knowing she was going to have to kiss her on the hand when it was done because it was the final dance of the evening.

"Hey," said someone behind Stephanie, trying to get up beside her through the crowd. "Sorry I'm so late..."

"Sean?!" asked Stephanie in surprise. "What are you-?"

"I'm always here at this thing," replied Sean. "Remember?"

"Oh yeah..."

"Where's Jenny?"

"Out there completing a bet to prove her manhood."

"What?!"

"Shh!!"

They watched as the music ended, Jenny bowing to her partner and making a face when the girl wasn't looking, taking her hand and kissing it lightly before heading as quickly as she could to Stephanie's side.

"Thank goddess that's- Sean!" The two exchanged glances, knowing they would have to talk later.

"Let's go," said Stephanie, seeing Jerry heading their way. "I want to get out of here now."

"Alright."

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Kara skipped happily down the street, walking between her Aunt Allie and Mama Mouse as Vixen and Joe brought up the rear of their little group. "Where are we going today, Mama Mouse?" she asked, tugging on the young woman's sleeve.

"Out to do some...shopping..." replied Mouse, hoping that answer would suffice.

"Oh, ok!!"

"Where to first?" whispered Allie, acting like she was admiring some fabric on a table.

"I'd say the rich merchants district," replied Vixen. "We haven't hit it much lately, so they'll be getting lazy again."

"Watch yourself," warned Joe, seeing guard on the street corner. "They've tightened up a bit since they caught those three and hung them on Traitor's Hill."

"True....true....those three would've been valuable to us if they hadn't tried such a big heist on their own."

"You win some, you lose some," replied Allie. "Just as long as we do all the winning and let the others do the losing for us..."

"Pst!!!" said Vixen, getting Kara's attention as Allie lifted a bracelet from a vendor and placed it on her wrist.

"What, Aunt Vixie?"

"Go get the bracelet from Allie without her noticing like we taught you to."

"Alright!" Kara slipped up behind her quiet as a shadow and unlatched the clasp, not making a sound as she quietly slipped it off Allie's arm and onto her arm.

"Missing anything Allie?" asked Vixen after a moment, seeing her look at her arm quizzically.

"I could've sworn I had a bracelet..."

"You mean this one?" popped in Kara, holding her little arm out.

"What the..."

Whatever else she said was drowned out as the others laughed and continued on their way. It was a good day to be a thief.

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Sarah and Jon walked down the halls of the palace, wondering what in the world the King could want with them as they went to his office and knocked on the door.

"Come on."

Jon opened the door, letting Sarah in first.

"Your majesty," she said, bowing.

"Sire," he added, bowing as well.

"Have a seat," he replied, getting up and bowing to them as was the custom. "I'm glad you could make it today. Again, I apologize for such short notice..."

"That's alright," replied Sarah, still puzzled as to what this whole thing could be about. "We're not in trouble are we?"

"No, no," replied the King quickly, pulling out a paper from a file. "This is the agreement you signed with Onua, right?"

"Yes, sire."

"These are you signatures, then?"

"Yes, sire."

"Well, this agreement no longer exists since you no longer work at the farm," he said, ripping it to pieces. "I would, however, like to offer you another job elsewhere."

"What is it?" asked Jon, leaning forward slightly. "Work is work is work. We need it to earn money so we can live."

"I want you to take herd of horses up north for me and remain in a pasture we own just south of the boarder. That way if we lose a great number of horses here or there we have the ability to replace them at a moment's notice."

"Then we'll be keeping the reserves as they come in?"

"Exactly. We're negotiating with a few breeder's right now to help us out and sell us their excess horses so we can train them before they're sent north."

"I see," said Sarah, keeping herself calm and unreadable. "We'll think about it, right Jon?"

"I need your answer as soon as you can give it to me," said the King. "This needs to be set up by the time the winter passes are cleared this early Spring."

"We'll get on it," replied Sarah with a nod. "A week at the most, I promise."

"Thank you. You are dismissed." All three rose and bowed before walking out the room their two separate ways.

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Libby and Artman galloped into the town, riding through the masses of people as they parted like water before them and went to the front defenses, Artman using his gift to burn the Scanrans away.

"Ahh!" cried Libby as her horse stumbled, sending her to the ground while she was trying to get to the infirmaries.

"Are you alright, my lady?" asked a woman, coming and helping her to her feet.

"Yes," replied Libby, "But my horse..."

"Lame," said someone, checking the poor beast over. "You won't be able to ride her anymore.

"Poor girl," said Libby, petting her one more time. "Keep her well fed and let her live out her days in peace, she was good to me," she said to the man, handing him a fat purse of gold. "Please?"

"As you wish."

"Libby!" cried Dom, seeing her standing there instead of where all the injured were. "What's going on, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she replied, dusting herself off. "But my horse went lame. I'll have to ride with Artman now..."

"Take Veety," he said, swinging down from the gelding. "I don't need him anymore, Raoul had some reinforcements brought in and fresh horses with them."

"Thanks!" she mounted him and rode towards where the wounded and hurt were kept once more. "Tell Artman he'll have to come find me when he's done!"

"Alright, take care of him now!"

"I will!"

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

"What are we going to do with all these people?" asked Elizabeth as they walked through the part of town where they had set up the refugees, giving them work in the fields and places to sleep and food to eat until they could support themselves once more.

"Keep them safe as we do our own," said Amanda. "They've already promised to work hard and set up new lives here. I told them I'd do what I could to get their loved ones back, but they know I can't do much at all and are happy with just this at the moment."

"Oh. Then we've gone back to the village and taken care of everything there?"

"Since yesterday."

"Alright."

"How are things going?" she asked, walking into the warehouse that acted as a home for most of them.

"Isa is sick, ma'am," said one of the men, coming over and standing before her. "The healer is with her now, and thing's aren't looking good."

"What's the problem?" asked Amanda quietly, going and standing beside healer. "Will she be alright?"

"She's got tuberculosis," said the mage. "Lung rot. I can't heal her, she's too far gone and she probably won't last much more than a week at the most."

"Where's the baby?" she asked, nodding to show that she understood. "Justin, the one she was carrying with her?"

"Right here," said a woman, coming forward as she held the squalling boy. "None of us can get him to settle down and she's too weak to hold him. What should we do, my lady?"

"Give him here." Justin gladly went to her arms, recognizing her face and curling up in her arms. "He knows me. I'll keep him with me then, and my house." The two sisters turned to leave when Amanda remembered something, turning around and taking something from her pouch. "Here's enough to buy you a hot meal at the Tavern tonight on me. From what I heard, you've been working as hard as any out on the crops, and you deserve it."

A cheer went up behind them as they walked out, and for the first time in awhile the two sisters felt like they had done something right.

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

Alyse sat in her room, working on repairing one of her fans while everyone else went on with this or that in their business. "Hey," said Amanda, sticking her head in the door.

"Hey," replied Alyse. "Do you need something?"

"Can you watch this little guy for awhile," replied Amanda, showing that she was holding Justin in her arms. "I have to go work with the blacksmiths again and Levi is out running errands with his father. I would ask Liz, but she's busy too..."

"Yeah, sure thing," said Alyse. "Put him in his pen in your office and I'll watch him there so I can keep working on this."

"Alright."

Amanda quickly set up the small pen they had constructed for the crawling baby and left the room, grabbing a leather apron and gloves from a nearby chair as well.

"Come and get me if you need to," she called over her shoulder as she left. "I don't mind, really."

"I will," replied Alyse, turning and looking at her charge. Justin was looking at her with his head cocked to the side, smiling toothlessly. "You cutie. Wanna play with the doggie? Come here Ronnie!"

Alyse picked up her small dog and set him in the pen, watching him carefully as the dog sniffed the small boy before laying down by him obediently and letting Justin pet him some.

"Good boy." Justin crawled around and got on top of Ronnie, rolling over on his back as the dog stood up and shook him off gently. "Ronnie..." Ronnie cocked his head and whined. I can't give him a ride! he seemed to say He's too big!!

"Come here, little one," said Alyse, seeing he was about to start crying. "It's alright, he didn't mean anything by it." She picked him up and carried him around some, letting him look at some of the things in the room.

"You are such a good boy," she said after awhile, sitting back down on the couch and letting him see her fan, making sure to keep his hands far away from the sharp blades it held. "Do you like that? Do you think that's pretty?"

Justin seemed to point something, a flower with blue petals and a silver center.

"That's a flower," she said softly. "That's a butterfly you're pointing at now. And that's a dragonfly."

"Was he good for you?" asked Amanda, walking in suddenly in fresh clothes with all signs that she had just spent the better part of an hour in the smithies washed away. "No problems or anything?"

"Nope," replied Alyse, shaking her head.

"Good. Come on, buddy, time to go get you fed."

"I'll see you two later," said Alyse, watching her walk down the halls with the baby in her arms.

"Later!"

*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*~~~@~~~*

 And that, my friends, is Chapter 22. Please review because you love me and I haven't been here forever. Much thanks to those who gave me ideas at school, you know who you are.

I just wanted to say Thank You to everyone else real fast. I won't have one of those things where I go down and list thanks to people personally until I finish the fic, so here's a big general one for now! You reviewers are great and I love all of you!!

~crosseyedbutterfly~