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!*

23.

Hey!! I'm back again, ready with another chapter just for you reading pleasure!! Due to overwhelming response from readers saying this is too short, I'm adding twice the sections per chapter! No, I'm not really doing that.....you'd only get about a chapter a month at the most. What fun would that be? Anyways, read on and enjoy!!

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Kyle sat with Martin in his office, a mess of papers and charts spread out before them with a few scribes nearby waiting in case they were needed for something. Martin shuffled through a sheaf of papers quickly, looking for one in particular through the giant stack.

"Here is it," he said, handing it to Kyle. "See? That's the largest increase this fief has had in the last century, and we top it by over 100%."

"Great," muttered Kyle, slapping his hand over his eyes. "Just one more thing to make me even more desirable with the ladies."

"Some lads would kill for a chance like this," Martin reminded him roughly. "After all, their families may make in a year what you earn in taxes in a week!"

"This town is so huge we could make due with cutting taxes in half," said Kyle, shaking his head slowly. "In fact, that's a good idea. Pavlov, come here for a second. Here's my new decree: Tax collectors are only to bring in half of what they were intending to for the next few months and we'll see what happens from there."

"Yes sir!" The man scribbled down what he said and put a seal on it, letting Kyle press his ring into it before hurrying out the door and into the streets.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" asked Martin, pulling out some sheets with figures on them. "After all, we were just going to have enough to cover that pet project of yours as far as an orphanage with working facilities..."

"We can make due using the surplus from the crops to pay for supplies for it and workers," replied Kyle with a shrug. "The less we tax the people, the more they'll love me, right?"

"I guess so..."

"Then cut the taxes I will! It's not like I need all this money they've sent in to me."

"True...true..."

"Excuse me, sir," said a servant, popping his head in the door suddenly.

"Yes?" said Kyle, not caring if the man had heard what he'd said or not. "What is it?"

"There's a lady here from the shelter in town, she wishes to see you."

"Send her in, then," said Kyle, "I've been meaning to go down there anyways and talk with her."

"Yes, sir."

A few moments later a woman in her middle ages walked in, dressed in a modest habit and a pair of worn sandals. "Baron," she said, bowing before him gravely. "I wish to speak to you of a matter of great importance."

"Go on," he said, leaning forward attentively.

"We're not going to be able to make our payments on the building we're using this month and there's not enough to feed the people who are living there right now," replied the lady, bowing her head slightly. "We've tried getting support from some local folks, but everyone's stretched a bit thin with taxes coming up soon..."

"Then you rent the building?" asked Kyle, cocking his head to the side.

"Yes, sir."

"Yale," said Kyle, beckoning to the last scribe not being used. "Write this down for me. I want the building this lady uses for her establishment bought in full for her and then give her enough supplies, on her estimate, to last them for the ext month. Will that do, ma'am?"

"Yes!" she replied in surprise, her eyes open wide in shock. "Thank you, sir! That will be more than enough!"

"I'm glad," said Kyle. "If there's nothing else..."

"No, sir."

"Then I will come and see how things are going there some other day. Good day, ma'am."

"Good day, sir!"

"I love doing that," murmured Kyle as he watched her leave.

"What?" asked Martin. "Helping a woman in distress or making her extremely happy?"

"Both."

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

Lyssa leaned back on the bench, using the wall behind her for support as she sipping slowly from the large mug of hot coffee she held in her hands. "The drink of the gods," she murmured to herself, feeling it's warmth sink down to her very bones after a long night of keeping the watch and having a meeting in a little while with her other Captains.

"Hey," said Eric numbly as he sat across from her with his own cup of coffee in front of him and a plate of hot eggs and bacon besides.

"Hungry?" asked Lyssa.

"Yeah," he replied, stuffing some in his mouth.

Lyssa grimaced. "I don't know how you can eat after standing out there near the latrines for so long," she muttered, turning her head away as he continued to stuff his face for awhile.

"You used to say the same thing after I got digging duty back at Trebond," replied Eric with a grin.

"But that was only once in a blue moon when we had a troop of merchants who needed a place to stay or a group of performers or something," she sighed, laying her head on her arms.

"Don't fall asleep," said Eric, shaking her awake. "That'll just make Captain Lyle even more pissed than usual. He had duty tonight to, you know. It was in the ward, though."

"Watching over his brother?"

"As always."

"Great." Lyssa dragged herself upright anyways, drinking some more coffee to get the caffeine going through her system.

"So, how's Dani doing?" asked Eric, knowing she'd gotten a letter recently.

"Good," replied Lyssa with a nod. "The baby's fine, her husbands fine, she's basically become a good housewife, which I'm glad for her and all but I could never do it..."

"Not enough patience?"

"Of course not," replied Lyssa, shaking her head.

"Amazing how times passed, though," he commented, finishing off what was left of his meal.

"How so?" asked Lyssa.

"Think about it," he replied. "It wasn't that long ago you were just a garrison commander at Trebond just learning how to do your job and I was a servant for Coram and Rispah right along with you."

"Then your father disowned you for joining the Riders," added Lyssa. "Have you heard from the old fart recently?"

"Yeah, he made his usual demands," replied Eric with a shrug. "I don't know, maybe he'll give up someday..."

"He won't," replied Lyssa knowingly. "But maybe after you retire he'll forgive you....if he's still hanging about Trebond, I mean."

"Yeah, maybe."

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

Alyse sat on the balcony of one of the sitting rooms on the back end of the fief, idly flipping a fan in one hand as she tossed a ball for Ronnie with the other. Sipping her tea in between tosses, Alyse studied it for a moment, remembering when she had gotten her tea from her Yamanis friends in Tortal...

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

'Here,' said Princess Shinko, handing her the packets of tea and a whole other bag besides. 'For your time away from us. I know you're fond of it, so I wanted to make sure you wouldn't run out.'

Alyse had been planning to go down and buy several pounds of Yamanis tea from a vendor that afternoon, but this saved her the trip and the money. Besides, this would be of far better quality and would certainly last until she got back home after mid-winter.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"I wonder what they're doing right now," she murmured to herself, looking up at the deep blue sky high above. It would be after breakfast, so they wouldn't be having glaive or fan practice. Maybe a ride through the forest or a tour of the city from the Prince.

She missed them, and she hoped she could see them again soon. Alyse sighed, life here was nice and pleasant. And there was always something to do or help with to keep her amused, but she knew some of them still saw her as an outsider. As a foreigner who happened to be related to the Lady of the fief. At least back in Tortal there were others there who looked like her and dressed like she did as well. Not to mention spoke different languages like her as too.

They would be going back that winter, though, and it helped her cope with her slight homesickness. In reality, Corus was her first home in Tortal and she would always think of it that way, regardless of where her 'family' happened to live.

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

Vixen and Mouse woke up early, glancing over to see Allie sprawled on her mattress with clothes everywhere on the floor.

"How late was she out?" asked Mouse, pulling a shirt from her drawers over her head.

"Well past midnight," replied Vixen, reaching for a breast band from her dresser. "She did bring in- what the heck?!"

"What?" asked Mouse, coming over to see what she was looking at. "What's wrong?"

"Did you have all my under garment stuff taken to be washed?" asked Vixen, searching frantically through her drawers.

"No," replied Mouse, going and checking her drawers. "Is all yours gone from it's place?"

"Every last one of them," fumed Vixen, getting that evil glint in her eyes.

"So is mine!" cried Mouse, checking through her things again and again. "Son of a mee krob....who the heck would take our underwear like that?!"

"Some old lecher with nothing better to do, like Happosia," said Vixen with growl, pacing the floor. "But I don't remember any old perverts like him living in Tortal. Or any story outside of Ranma 1/2 for that matter..."

"Could there be a Tortallan version of this guy here?" she asked, feeling very worried.

"There could," admitted Vixen. "After all, Yamanis is the Tortallan version of Japan....and that's where the old creep was from...."

"Queen!!" came a cry from the hallway, cutting their conversation short.

"Yes?" replied Vixen, opening the door to show several angry and distressed woman standing outside her door still in their night clothes.

"My bras are missing!"

"So are mine, and my undies too!!"

"I think Taylor took mine, but he won't give them back!"

"Taylor doesn't have them, you nincompoop! How could he take all of ours at once?!"

"I don't know, but he'd find a way..."

"Mine's gone to, as well as Mouse's," said Vixen over the roar. "What do you think we should do?"

"Check all the rooms until we find who it is and string them from the roof!" cried a woman in the back. Everyone agreed with a roar and with the Queen of Thieves leading the charge they plowed into the rooms and turned them inside out, trying to come up with some trace of their missing under clothes.

They stormed every room in the entire hallway, stopping before Joe's at long last as it was the last one right next store to Vixen's. "I doubt we'll find them in here," she said, rolling her eyes. "But it can't hurt to check, come on!!"

Joe woke up with a start as the angry women streamed into his room and started tearing through his things, him watching from his bed in wide-eyed terror. "What the heck is going on here...!!"

"Just a check," said Vixen, giving him her best smile. Due to the circumstance, it didn't do much to calm him. "Let's just say some...personal items of ours have gone missing and we're checking everywhere for them."

"Oh..." said Joe, drawing himself back under his covers to drown out the noise. "Ok..." He had almost shut them out completely when he was dragged from his bed and forced to kneel on the group before a bag of lingerie they had pulled from his closet just moments before.

"Where did this come from?" growled Vixen threateningly.

"I don't know," replied Joe quickly, trying to back away from the women. The ones on either side held on tight, keeping him in place as they did. "I don't know...I didn't do it, I swear! ................help................"

"Tell me the truth," said Vixen, holding onto the pendent she wore on a chain as she spoke to him slowly. "Did you or did you not take these things?"

"I did not."

Vixen paused, checking the stone as she did. "He's telling the truth," she admitted after a moment, shrugging her shoulders.

"What now?" asked Mouse, standing there with the other still annoyed women who were starting to sort through the clothes before a rather embarrassed Joe who had kept his eyes a respectful distance from the undergarments. "That can't possibly be all of it."

"They're not all here," said one woman, confirming their fears. "Most of mine's still missing, and Sting can't find any of hers at all. What now, Queen?"

Vixen thought for a moment, several looks crossing over her face before she replied calmly, "We set a trap."

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

Jennifer sat by the fire in the hut, Stephanie sitting a little ways away fixing her sling with some waxed thread. "Jennifer?" asked Stephanie after awhile. "There's something I've always wanted to ask you."

"What?" replied Jennifer, looking somewhat puzzled.

"What's it like to be a criminal?"

"What?!"

"Not a criminal exactly," amended Stephanie, tilting her head to the side. "I mean more like....a outcast. A refugee hiding out somewhere to save your life."

"It's....interesting," admitted Jennifer with a shrug. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"What do you want to say?"

"I don't know."

"Then tell me what is was like when you were running away," said Stephanie, concentrating on her work.

"You mean when they accused me of murder and Sean broke me out of jail?"

"Yeah, then."

"I was scared, and lonely," admitted Jennifer, thinking back to when it had happened. "Sean couldn't come with me, that was obvious. I had my friends in Corus, but they were still *in* Corus...and I hadn't heard from them for awhile.... My only companion during that trip was the horse who came with me, but only she could do so much being an animal...." Tigress growled, rubbing against Jennifer's ankles. "No offense," said Jennifer, rubbing her behind the ears. "Anyways, that's about it."

"That's it?"

Jennifer shrugged. "That's it, I guess."

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

Sarah strolled down the streets in the market place, Jon staggering behind her under a load of packages they were dropping off for Onua before heading over to the Dancing Dove for awhile.

"How many more places do we have to go?" whined Jon, his fingers starting to slip.

"Just two," replied Sarah, coming up beside a stall of leather goods. "Excuse me, sir. Are you Master Smith?"

"Aye, that would be me," replied the man, eyeing her lazily. "Can I help you with something?"

"Onua sends her greetings and wishes to give you this," said Sarah, looking through the wrapped boxes and handing him a small one the size of her fist.

"That's the only one we're getting rid of?" asked Jon flatly, giving her a disbelieving look.

"The only one," she replied teasingly. "Have a good day, sir!"

"Aye, and you too, lass."

"Come on," said Sarah, walking away through the crowds. "The next place should only take a minute or two at the most to reach."

"How far?"

"A couple streets down."

"A couple streets?!"

"Wimp."

"Let's see you carry all this and not get tired."

"You're the one who offered to do it," Sarah reminded him, "Not me." She continued to walk, going as slow as she could through the crowds as Jon struggled along behind her as before. "Here we are," she said after awhile, opening the door to a small shop in a side market.

"Finally," grumbled Jon, tottering his way in.

"Hello there," said a pleasant, smiling lady behind the counter, a single streak of gray through her hair the only indication of her true age. "How may I help you two?"

"Are you Madame Cooper?" asked Sarah, smiling back.

"As a matter of fact I am," replied the lady, looking surprised. "Have we met before?"

"A couple years ago, I think," replied Sarah. "Here, we have some things from Onua for you."

"Oh, thank you!" she said quickly, coming around the counter rather quickly. She took the entire load from Jon and lifted it onto a table nearby with ease, Jon's jaw dropping to the floor as she did. "Be sure to give my thanks to Onua, these will be of great use to me very soon!"

"We'll be sure to tell her," said Sarah, dragging Jon (who was still in a state of shock) out the door. "Wake up, Jon. Earth to Hewett, are you there?"

"I'm here," he replied, snapping to his sense. "How the heck..."

"Don't ask," she replied with a shrug. "The lady works with magic, remember? For all we know she could be part god or something."

Jon pushed open the doors of the Dancing Dove as they walked in, immediately noticing some differences. At Vixen's table it was all women surrounding it and talking in loud voices. All the men were sitting on the other side of the room, looking rather frightened as the quietly sipped their drinks.

"Hey!" cried one of the women, spotting them by the door. "There's another fellow I've never seen before, maybe he did it!"

"String him up by his toes until he tells!"

"Threaten to take his manhood if he did take them!"

"Crush his fingers one by one until we get a confession!"

Jon hid behind Sarah and whimpered quietly. "That's just Jon," said Vixen when she caught sight of him, shaking her head. "He couldn't figure out how to do something like that if he tried his whole life."

"Then he didn't do it?"

"Not unless the gods themselves helped him."

"I'm going to leave now," said Jon quickly, zipping out the door.

"We'll come by and chat later," added Sarah, following him quickly.

"That was close," he said as he headed for the palace. "Threatening to take away my manhood! Can you believe it?!"

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Libby and Artman wearily rode on, having been on the move for three days in a row. The camp was in view, but it was in the middle of the night and neither they nor their mounts had the strength to move any faster than they were already.

"Do you think they'll have anyone waiting out for us?" asked Libby, about to fall asleep in the saddle.

"No more than the usual guards who they have out every night," replied Artman his eyelids drooping dangerously low. "I can't....keep....my eyes....YEOUCH!!!!!!!!!!"

Libby jerked her head up, seeing Artman's hair standing on end with the ends of it smoking slightly. "Did you forget to disengage that spell that mage taught you?" she asked, shaking her head as she did.

"So?" he asked, turning to face her. "At least I'm still up."

"So am I and I didn't use the spell."

"Ho! Who goes there?" cried a man from the walls, finally seeing them in the distance through the dark.

"The Mages from Brazir," Libby called back wearily. "Let us it, if you will."

"Right away, ma'am!"

"How can they tell whenever it's you but never when it's me?" complained Artman.

"Because they like me better," replied Libby, sticking her tongue out at him.

"Because you're the only female in the camp," he added, shaking his head. "There used to be a time when women weren't patronized this much."

"Oh and pray tell when was that?" shot back Libby sarcastically. "Get real, Artman, they just like me better because I didn't nearly blow them up twice."

"I've almost got it right!"

"You pyro."

They went to the tent and fell asleep on their separate cots, not waking for two days and arguing the moment they opened their eyes about how long they had been out. Libby won, of course.

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

Amanda sat at her desk holding Justin in her arms and feeding him a bottle, listening as Grandfather gave her some figures for this years harvest of goods.

"We've brought in more furs then ever," he said, adding up something on his abacus. "The tax we get on those for hunting on our property should easily cover what expenses we may have. The taxes you had cut bring in just enough to cover ourselves as far as paying those who work for us."

"What about the food supply?" she asked anxiously. "We're not buying food from our neighbors at outrageous prices like last year. I refuse to."

"The grain we brought in should easily cover the village for the winter, plus into next spring and summer," admitted Grandfather with a grin. "Thanks to those extra acres you had planted, that is. The vegetables are coming in fine, a little late but if we don't get any really early frosts we should be fine. The little fruit that we are able to grow up here is doing fine and part of it has been brought in already."

"How are those town orchards doing?" asked Amanda, taking the bottle away from Justin and starting to burp him.

"The community trees are full of produce ready to be picked," affirmed Grandfather. "We've set up to get our share and help those who have trouble picking it so they can have some as well. Don't worry about that, we'll have enough to make some apple sauce this year."

"Which will be much better than whatever their name gave to us," added Amanda, making a face as she did. "That stuff tasted worse than anything I've ever concocted."

"Or so you say," said Levi from the doorway, leaning against the frame. "How is he?"

"He just finished his dinner, so don't go tossing him around like last time," said Amanda with a grin. "I'm not cleaning it up if he pukes all over you."

"I won't, I won't," replied Levi, holding his hands up in defense. "Is there anything I need to do, pops?"

"Yeah, go get Lady Amanda copies of all these from the Scribe downstairs," said Grandfather, handing him the stack. "And wipe your mouth while you're at it, you're drooling."

"Am not!"

"Enough," said Amanda, giving them both a mock-stern look. "Grandfather, how many times do I have to tell you just to cut the Lady part? Really, after you've known me this long..."

"In my mind, you will always be the lady of this house," replied Grandfather, bowing to her slightly. "I give you what title I think you deserve, regardless of what you say."

"If that is what you wish to do..."

"I do, Lady Amanda."

"Fine." She turned to Levi, who had come over and taken Justin from her arms for a moment. "Give him back, you need to get to work."

"Yes, ma'am." He handed the baby back to her and left the room, Grandfather standing slowly from where he had been sitting and gathering his papers around him.

"Do you need some help?" asked Amanda, noticing worriedly that Grandfather seemed to be aging before her very eyes.

"I'm fine," he replied brightly, getting up as briskly as he could. "Don't worry about me, Lady Amanda. I'm just getting old, that's all."

"If you're sure..."

"I am."

"Then I'll see you later, Grandfather."

"Goodbye, Lady Amanda."

Amanda watched as the old man tried to walk proudly out the door, leaning heavily on the staff that told of his position in the mansion she owned and felt for the not the first time and things weren't quite as right as they seemed...

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

"Baron Kyle!!" cried a man, running into dinning room they usually used with all the servants sitting around Kyle and Martin who were eating on a raised dais. "Baron Kyle!!"

"What?" asked Kyle calmly, wiping his mouth and standing up slowly. "Is something the matter?"

"The field workers! Only half of those who were expected showed up!" explained the man quickly, gulping down a tankard of water Martin gave him before plowing on.

"What's wrong with that?" asked Kyle, tilting his head to the side as he did. "That just means it'll take longer than usual to bring the crops in..."

"Sir, a huge thunderhead is coming this way," explained the man. "The weather mage told us so. If we don't get it in before it hits, what's left of the grain fields will be ruined and useless to us!"

"How much can we get in with workers we have?" asked Kyle quickly, doing some calculations in his head.

"Maybe half at the most."

"Listen up, everyone!" said Kyle suddenly, going to the edge of the dais. "Whoever will go and work in the fields, skilled or unskilled, until the harvest is in will receive a double wage for the time that he or she works. I myself will be out there working and I've never touched a plow before in my life. Who will come and help me?"

"I will!" said Martin quickly, rising to his feet. "Double wage is something that can't be easily passed up."

"Aye, he's right!"

"Let's go!"

"Wahoo! I'll be able to get that dress for me wife!"

"Yeah, and maybe she'll let you out of the dog house for cheating on her."

"Shaddup!"

"Hey, settle down!" yelled Kyle over the din. "Out to the fields as soon as your finished and changed and we'll take count of who comes out there!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Thank you, sir," said the worker who had run it, bowing to him quickly. "Now if I may go back to work."

"Go," said Kyle with a nod. "We'll be out there in a second."

"Thank you, sir."

"You've never done field work before?" asked Martin, raising and eyebrow slightly. "This should be interesting..."

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

Lyssa patrolled the grounds of her fort, going over everything from the training drills to making sure they had sufficient stores of food and weapons for the weeks to come. They had planted some gardens around the fort as well as inside and had people who hunted for game for meat, but food was still tight and she had to make sure her fighters didn't starve.

"Commander," said one of her Riders, coming from the main gate at a trot. "There's a scout here to see you. He says he has news of Scanran movements."

"Up by the front?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Then let's go." Lyssa took off at a good jog, getting there quickly without even breaking a sweat. "What news of the Scanrans?" she asked immediately, seeing the woman had already had something to drink and was now waiting to give her report.

"They're scouting the country side in twos or threes," she replied quickly, going immediately to attention. "Mainly near the towns and villages with small amounts of fighters. How they know, I'm not sure, but they definitely avoided all forts or establishments that seemed to have any large amount of armed fighters."

"Where abouts were they scouting?" asked Lyssa, getting a map from a scribe who was standing near by.

"All the way from that fief that was burned down near Lynx mountain to up here at Pueton."

"What towns in between?"

"This one, this one, they glanced at that one but left when they saw the soldiers. This one was studied for awhile and this one was definitely looked at."

Lyssa looked at the towns the scout had circled and nodded her head grimly, dismissing her to go give her report to another fort. "Captain Eric, Captain James."

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Go get me that list of soldiers we're getting later this week. I want half of them divided evenly to go to these towns with a rotation of soldiers from this fort and them so no one gets soft duty for more than a few weeks at a time."

"Yes, Commander."

"But, Commander," protested Eric. "We need those men and women, we're not even up to standards with those on this list."

"We'll survive," she countered quickly. "These towns may not. Send a warning to the towns marked on this list. I want our guards here to be doubled at all hours and to have our best fighters doing a roaming guard every other day to watch for signs of the Scanrans."

Eric nodded, seeing the urgency in her eyes as she spoke and wondered what could trouble her so much that she would get that worried over it. "Yes, Commander."

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

Alyse saddled up her horse in the stables, Ronnie sniffing around the large stable as she did. Amanda suddenly jogged in, quickly getting her own tack out and saddling a mare who she was using as a replacement since Moonshadow had died. Levi followed soon behind, doing the same thing.

"Where are you going?" asked Amanda, noticing Alyse had paused what she was doing to watch them for a second.

"For a ride in the forest on the south side of the fief," she replied honestly, going back to what she had been doing.

"You shouldn't go by yourself," replied Amanda, looking fairly concerned. "Levi, go with her, will you? I'll be fine running this message to Sir Ivan myself."

"Oh, no," said Alyse quickly, not wanting to be any trouble. "It's alright, I'll have Ronnie with me..."

"As much as I love that dog, he's not going to be able to do that much," replied Amanda, shooting her a look. "Take him with you, I'll be safe staying to the roads with this swift ride of mine."

"If you're sure..." Alyse looked at Levi, hoping he'd insist he'd go with Amanda. Levi just shrugged, refusing to say a word.

"I am."

"Goddess speed," Levi called after her as she swung up in the saddle and set out at a swift trot, hoping to make it back before dark.

"Are you ready to go?" asked Alyse, swinging up into her side saddle with ease.

"Yes, milady," he said with a grin, getting on his shaggy coated mountain horse. "Ready to leave when you are."

"Cut that out," Alyse said roughly, guiding Fern out to the courtyard and through a side gate that led into the woods. "I'm not even technically a lady of this house and I wish I weren't treated as such."

"That's what Amanda always says," replied Levi with a laugh. "I'd say that's one of that only things you two have in common. That and your willingness to fight."

"We're cousins," shot back Alyse with a shrug. "We're not twins, you know. Why should we be that much alike?"

"Sometimes cousins are, sometimes they aren't," replied Levi quickly, trying to remedy his offense. "I have two who look exactly alike but their parents are completely different. I have two others that you would never guess that they were related at all in the way they look, act, or speak."

"So you're just saying we're like the last pair."

"Exactly."

"How fast can your horse go?" asked Alyse, coming to a fork in the trail she was following.

"Fairly fast, why?" replied Levi, slowing down beside her.

"I'll take right, you go left. First one to reach where they come back together wins. See you at the end!" Alyse took off and was soon gone in the ticket of green.

She urged Fern on all the faster as she lost sight of him behind her, figuring he had gone on the other trail with his horse in hopes of beating her to the spot. Even with her swift ride it would take her a few minutes before they arrived there. Maybe more, the way they kept having to jump fallen logs and skirt around rocks that were in the path.

"Easy girl," she said as Fern baulked at a jump, struggling to stay seated. "Easy, it's alright. Settle down. Come on, over the log."

Fern went at it again, easily jumping it this time and coming to the clearing where the trails met. Expecting it to be empty, she slid from the saddle and led Fern over to the stream near by to have a drink.

"Have a nice ride?" asked a voice behind her.

"Huh?" Alyse turned around to Levi sitting there with a grin on his face.

"I took a short cut," he said with a shrug. "Let her rest of awhile then we'll head back. And hopefully not at a full gallop this time either."

"How did you...?"

"I used to race this path with village boys," explained Levi with a shrug. "They never did understand how I always won, but it's really quite easy just to go straight through instead of following the winding trails."

"So I see," Alyse admitted with a shrug, getting back on Fern. "Ready to go?"

"As always, milady."

"Didn't we already discuss that?"

"We did."

Alyse shrugged and let it drop, leading the way back to the fief. They got back to where the trail crossed the main road, seeing someone galloping towards them in the distance.

"Amanda!" called Levi, recognizing the horse.

"Who is that?" she called back, squinting in the failing light.

"Levi and Alyse," replied Alyse, coming out to greet her.

"Come on," said Amanda, not eve slowing down. "It's getting dark and they're expecting us back at the fief for dinner!"

Alyse nodded, falling in beside her as Levi came and took the rear. She glanced over at Amanda, who wasn't looking that great after her meeting with the head of the other fief. Things were happening, big things, she could feel it. Now if someone would only tell her was going on so she wouldn't be so much in the dark...

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

Vixen sat patiently on the rafter of the room, watching below as not one of the thieves stationed below her around the pile of undergarments they had left lying on the floor moved a muscle from their hiding places. Mouse sat beside her, completely motionless as time passed and the bells tolled the hours as they passed.

At exactly the second bell from midnight a shadow slipped over the widow of the room, everyone holding their breath as a small figure entered the room with the stealth and speed of a black cat.

Vixen held up one hand, everyone with one eye fixed on her and one on the figure as it drew nearer to the pile, quivering with excitement as it did. Vixen stayed still, waiting....waiting....just for the right moment...

The figure leapt into the air, making a nose dive for the pile as Vixen brought her hand down in chopping motion, the room springing into motion immediately. A net came up from the floor, trapping the figure in it with a few of the undergarments as comfort as everyone else light lamps and candles while pointing rather sharp implements of death in his general direction.

"Who are you?" asked Vixen, sitting eye level with the little man from her perch on the rafters. "And what are you doing with our underclothes."

The man shrugged, his wrinkled face glowing with pleasure as he glomped onto a bra he had with him. "Me likes 'em," he said in rough English, obviously from the Yamanis islands. "These so nice....belonged to pretty girls....pretty girls make me happy...."

"More like horny," muttered one of the women below, aiming an arrow at the man. "Die, you old lecher."

"Die? Me? I no think so." The man dodged the arrow, escaping through the slit it made in the net. "Thankies much for you gift! I will take care of these preciouses like I did the rest!"

"GET HIM!!" Everyone chased the little man around the room, blocking off the windows and door so he couldn't escape. Unfortunately, he was amazingly fast and agile as he bounced from woman to woman, glomping onto a chest here and grabbing one of them there.

"He is so dead."

"I swear, I'll geld him myself."

"Only if I don't cull him first!"

"Ladies, ladies. Is enough of me to go 'round!"

"Unfortunately not, because we can only kill you once!!!"

"Kill? Why kill Jack? Has done nothing wrong, only wants to have some fun."

"Fun, I'll show you fun."

"Really? Whoopee!"

"Mouse," said Vixen, seeing they were getting nowhere. "Do me a favor and get him under control before someone gets hurt. Melly's got that look in her eyes and she may kill everyone to get to the pervert."

"Yes, Vixen." Mouse took a deep breath, singing softly as she sent her power in the direction of the old fellow, easily bringing him under her control.

"Everyone gets one shot at him without a blade," said Vixen, holding it by the collar so they couldn't kill him. "Then I have a nice punishment planned out for him already. Line up, and quick, we can't keep him like this forever." Everyone took a couple turns at slapping, punching, kicking, and generally abusing the perverted old man before Vixen cut it off and put him in a box lined with paper rolled into sausage shapes and nailing the lid on.

"Mail it to Scanra," she told Joe, who was standing outside the door as she had left him. "Don't ask what's inside or anything, just do it."

"Where in Scanra?" he asked, looking fairly confused.

"One of the training camps will do," she replied with a grin. "Where there aren't any women around for miles and miles..."

"If you say so..."

"I do."

"Alright then."

"Why to Scanra?" asked one of the women, looking rather miffed. "He'll just keep doing it there."

"Who are we at war with?"

"Scanra."

"Why wouldn't we want to send a distraction their way who is impossible to catch other than with magic?"

"Good point..."

"A round of ale for everyone!" called Vixen, feeling fairly happy with herself. "Let's go!"

"Aye!!!"

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

Jennifer sat out by herself with her goats and cats, eating a meager meal as she watched them graze on the endless blades of grass they seemed to love so. It was a peaceful afternoon, the sun soon to be starting its downward course in the sky and Jennifer planning to head back once it had completed part of its journey.

"Hey, girl," she said, rubbing Tira's head as the kindly goat butted her gently in the back. "How's your sisters doing?" The goat just went and ate some grass near by. "I suppose that means they're good..."

"YEEOOWWLL!!!!!!!!!" came the cry from Tigress as she shot back towards Jennifer from the woods to their left, cowering behind her nervously.

"What? What is it Tigress?" asked Jennifer, standing quickly and getting her staff from where it lay nearby. "Did you see something?" The cat refused to move from behind her, all the other animals instinctively migrating that way as well. Jennifer crept forward, slowly pushing away some leaves that blocked her view....

"GGGGGRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Jennifer leapt back, nearly getting hit by the enormous clawed paw that swiped at her from the cover of the woods. A giant bear over twelve feet tall lumbered forward, looking rather hungry as he eyed the goats that now formed a small huddle back behind Jennifer with the cats circling them slowly, keeping them all from escaping.

"Oh this not good," muttered Jennifer, pushing her long bangs out of her face as she did. "This is not good at all... ahh!!" She dodged to the side as the bear charged at her, quickly striking out with her staff and praying to whoever might be listening to bring her out of this alive.

The bear roared once more, glancing to where she had left a dent in his fur with her staff. He wasn't too happy about it either. Charging at her once more, Jennifer dodged the other way and struck out at his head as forcefully as she could. Thankfully, with the weighted staff, it was enough and the bear backed off in confusion.

"Stay put!" she commanded as she saw her cats start to dart forward. "Keep the herd in line, I'm fine!" The felines obeyed and went back to their spots, leaving Jennifer to deal with the bear who was quickly recovering his senses.

Jennifer tensed up as the bear charged again, ducking under the massive paws and hitting him low in the gut before dodging back out, taking a hit from behind that knocked her to the side and left a long gash on her back.

The bear paused, breathing heavily as Jennifer grimaced and got to her feet, ignoring the roaring hot pain that came from her back. Apparently he realized this was too much work for a meal and shuffled away into the woods, leaving Jennifer to wrap her cloak about herself to stop the bleeding and stumble away towards the hut with her cats bringing the herd up behind her.

"What happened to you?!" cried Stephanie when she spotted her from a ways away, blood dripping down her back and bruises forming from where she'd fallen.

"A bear," replied Jennifer, surrendering as the darkness crept over her vision knowing she was in good hands. "Stupid bear....tore my favorite.....shirt...."

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

Sarah and Jon went to the King, figuring their time was about up and they should give him an answer since he could have them hung for nothing at all. "You wanted to see me?" asked the King as they entered his study once more. "Presumably about the job offer as well?"

"Yes, sire," replied Sarah, bowing at the waist. Jon did the same, taking a seat that the King motioned to for them.

"What about it, then?" he asked, holding his hands out to them. "Do you accept the job or not?"

"We do," replied Jon quickly. "There's just one little problem..."

"What's that?" asked the King, leaning forward with a worried look on his face. "Please, tell me, hopefully we can find a way around it..."

"It's not really a problem," admitted Sarah, ducking her head slightly. "Ok, we don't want to leave until next spring. We've just got this...feeling that our past is going to catch up with us."

"You mean like friends and family you haven't seen for awhile?" asked the King with a shrug. "That's fine. We'll send you out with the troops when the first snows begin to melt and the pass opens up, alright?"

"Thank you, sir."

"Of course," he said, getting up and bowing to them as a sign that they were dismissed. "Now, if you please, I am a very busy man..."

"We will go," said Sarah with a grin. "Thank you very much, King Jonathan."

"You're quite welcome," he replied regally, sitting back down.

"That wasn't too bad," said Sarah as she shut the door, walking back towards the stables.

"He's alright," added Jon. "His clothes are gay looking sometimes, but since I'm still not used to the whole men in tights deal yet I guess that's to be expected..."

"I guess so."

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

Libby road beside Artman as they made their way to a small town where they were going to check on a report of a mad man. They were taking their time since there wasn't any real reason to be in a hurry and things would be able to hold together until they returned.

"So, how's Veety's ride?" asked Artman with an evil grin. "I mean, some gait's are easier than others and all..."

"He rides alright," replied Libby with a grin. "Though, I prefer him barebacked to saddled, but you know how it is..."

"I can't say I do," replied Artman, biting his lip to keep from bursting out with laughter. "So, it's smooth and steady?"

"Quiet." Libby nodded, bouncing up and down in the saddle some. "He never goes to fast when I don't feel like it and he never goes too slow when we're in a hurry. Really, he always gets it just right."

"Just right, you say?"

"Just right."

"I see."

"Artman?" asked Libby after a little while, getting a concerned look on her face. "You're turning bright red....are you alright?"

"I'm fine," he choked, on the very edge of falling of his horse from laughing so hard. "I'm fine, really, just....yeah...."

"What in the world is so funny?" she asked, thinking about what they had been talking about. "I mean, it was just the way I rode Veety.....oh my gosh..."

Artman let his laughter loose, actually falling off his mount and hitting the ground with a THUD as Libby sat on her mount and covered her mouth with her hand as she turned bright red.

"That is so funny," she said after a few minutes.

"You mean you're not embarrassed?" asked Artman, looking skeptical.

"Not really," she replied with a shrug. "It's just Veety, after all. But still....I can't believe I didn't realize it before....that is absolutely hilarious...."

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

Elizabeth sat sadly in her rooms one night, staring out the window at the beautiful sky as she tried not to cry. Amanda walked by her door, sticking her head in worriedly.

"Hey, sis," she said, coming and sitting by her on the couch. "What's wrong? You're usually trying to drive me crazy by talking about your latest crush right about now."

"There's no more guys up here," she complained. "Other than the commoners, I mean, and they all think I'm a demon in the flesh."

"Not that they're wrong," teased Amanda, getting a punch in the arm for opening her mouth. "I'm sorry. But how could you have gone through the guys in all the fief already??"

"I just have," she replied. "Well, I never actually got to some of them, but they didn't really catch my attention so I decided to spare them from the fate of their dear friends and family."

"Gee, that's nice to know," muttered Amanda, shaking her head slowly. "We're going to the palace soon, Elizabeth. Don't worry about it, you'll meet new guys once you get there."

"New guys?" she asked, perking up immediately.

"Yep," replied Amanda with a nod. "I know of one who wants to meet you already."

"That Baron fellow who asked us over to his place a little while ago?"

"Yeah, him," replied Amanda with a nod.

"I thought he was interested in you."

"Hardly, I think I scared him more than anything when we met."

"So what's to stop me from doing the same?"

"Not threatening his father to a war of wits."

"His father's dead."

"Exactly."

"Oh..."

"I have to go," said Amanda, heading towards the door. "To play chess. But we'll talk more later, ok?"

"Alright." Elizabeth laid back and smiled this time, contemplating all the fun she would have when she got to the palace. "New boys..." she whispered as she fell asleep lying there on the couch. "Lot's of new boys...."

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

Kyle walked around the wet courtyard after the thunderstorm that had lasted for days before it completely blown over. They had managed to get everything in before it came, but just barely. He hoped to never cut it that close again and inspected the blisters that now covered his hands from doing hard labor all day.

"Good morning, Baron," said a stable boy, bowing respectfully as Kyle passed his way as he did his morning chores.

"Good morning," greeted Kyle with a smile. He continued on his way to outside the walls, planning on visiting his hawks like he usually did most mornings. A blur caused him to shift his vision to his right, seeing an eagle come up on him fast and brake just in time to land roughly on his arm.

"Can I help you, winged brother?" asked Kyle, continuing on his walk.

'My nest,' said the eagle to him, a sad look in his eyes. 'It was damaged during the storm and killed most of our nestlings. A few of them are trapped, though, and we can't reach them from where we are.'

"Hang on," said Kyle, getting a pack he usually kept by the hawk cages for such emergencies. "I'm coming."

He ran through the woods as the half led the way, soon arriving at an old oak that had about half the limbs missing, a few obviously from the storm over the past few days.

"Where?" asked Kyle, getting out a stout rope and peering up into the high branches.

'There,' said the eagle, letting him look through his eyes. 'Do you see it now?'

"Yes I do," replied Kyle with a nod. "Let's go." He had the eagle secure the rope for him around the top most branch and started his long climb up, using the rope as a stabilizer from time to time. He reached the nest and began to pick it apart, rebuilding it on another branch a few feet above where it would be safe.

Coming to the place where the nestlings where, he easily plucked them free and placed them in the new nest as gently as he could. Giving them some fresh meat strips to keep them quiet, Kyle called to his friend, who had gone for his mate, and showed him what he had done.

'Thank you,' said the eagle as his mate checked on the nestlings to make sure they were ok. 'We will always remember what you've done for us.'

"No problem," replied Kyle, nodding his head. "I must go now. Come get me if you ever have a problem."

'We will.'

Kyle kept smiling as he made his way down and then back to the fief. It felt good to be a protector.

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

Lyssa stood with others on the wall of the fort, waiting anxiously if their help would be needed by those from a nearby town. The Scanrans were said to be close, but no one could really be sure until they attacked...

"There's the call!" cried one of the men with especially good hearing.

"Are you sure?" asked Lyssa, hesitating as she listened carefully. "Never mind, I hear it. Get ready to move out, those who were chosen! We leave now!" She mounted her mare who was waiting for her below and rode out the gates of the fort with three squads behind her all armed and ready for battle.

The town was ten minutes away and they galloped the whole way, not bothering to hide their coming as they did. Hooves thrummed the ground, giving the feeling of approaching thunder to those who were on foot.

"Attack!" cried Lyssa as they neared the town, letting lose a hail of arrows as they did on the Scanrans before them. They had just about broken through the towns defenses before they had arrived. "Don't let those escape!" she cried, seeing a few go around the back and try to get to the woods. "We need all of them that we can get!"

Lyssa soon found herself in the thick of the battle, hacking at a foot soldier who tried to pull her off her horse and direct those around her at the same time. Her mare reared up on her legs, lashing out at any who were foolish enough to get to close.

"Surrender!" she cried, seeing them box in the remainder of the Scanran forces as quickly as they could. "Surrender for the mercy of the Crown! Lay down your weapons and you will be allowed to live!"

Most obeyed, quickly throwing what arms they had on them aside and sitting down like good captives should. Some begged for the stroke of mercy and were given it, too ashamed to go back to their families in defeat.

"Are you sure that was all of them?" drilled Lyssa, seeing her Captains coming up behind her.

"We're sure," replied Eric with a nod. "That was all that were attacking, anyways. If there's any in the woods we'll find out in a second from Shad when he gets back."

"He went alone?"

"He took Carl and Nat with him, ma'am."

"Fine." She went and watched as they locked up those who were left alive, those who weren't detailed to that helping the towns people get their affairs back in order.

"All clear," said a darkly clad man coming up beside her so quietly she didn't eve hear him until he was right beside her.

"Good," she replied. "Spread the word, we're leaving as soon as we're done."

"Yes, ma'am."

Lyssa shook her head, things were beginning to snowball again. Very soon the Scanrans would start an all out war with the Tortallan people. What then? She wasn't sure she could handle that, and things were only going to get worse before they could get better.

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

Alyse sat outside in the courtyard near one of the open gates with her cape pulled tight about her as she did. Hoping against all hope, she whistled again. Maybe, just maybe he'd be able to hear her....he'd return....

"Ronnie?" she called, getting up and walking outside the gate a bit. "Ronnie, where are you?"

Silence.

"Ronnie?" she called a bit louder this time. "Ronnie, please come back. You're worrying me."

A cricket began it's song in the distance.

"Ronnie?"

An owl hooted.

"Ronnie??"

"Please, Ronnie!!"

Silence once more.

Alyse sat down inside the gate once more and huddled against the stone which was still warm from its time in the sun during the day. Ronnie had run off while playing with her outside earlier that day, and she hadn't seen him since. He normally didn't pull stunts like this, and his long disappearance was starting to worry her more than ever.

Something warm curled up at her feet, causing Alyse to look down in surprise. "Ronnie!" The dog barked and licked her hand, quickly grabbing her sleeve and dragging her towards the door. "What is it boy? Is there something you want to show me?" asked Alyse, looking rather puzzled. Ronnie barked and nodded, grabbing onto her sleeve once more and leading her down a dark path towards the south.

They came to an old abandoned barn with a light inside, Ronnie letting go and running inside without a second thought. Alyse followed him cautiously with one hand on a fan, the other opening the door wider so she could get inside more easily.

"Hello, there," said an old man who sat there with Ronnie to one side and a dame with a little of puppies on the other. "You must be this fellow's master."

"I am," admitted Alyse. "Is that your dog there? Are those his puppies?"

"She's not mine," he admitted with a shrug. "She's a wild half breed who roams around near the fief some. I feed her from time to time, and followed her here when I noticed her time was coming soon."

"What will happen to the puppies?" asked Alyse, sitting across from him on the ground, Ronnie immediately coming and sitting on her lap.

"She'll raise them to live like her unless you take them in a few days and give them to others to raise," he replied. "I don't care either way, since I don't own her or them. The choice is entirely up to you."

"She's so beautiful," observed Alyse, stroking the tired dame's head gently. It was a part wolf part mountain dog mini. Just a tad bit taller and bigger than Ronnie, she had a thick, rich silver gray coat that was her only sign of being part wolf. "I'll decide later. Are you staying here for the night?"

"Until I'm sure she's safe," replied the man with a nod. "You can come back tomorrow and check on her then.

"I will," replied Alyse with a nod. "Thank you, sir."

"My pleasure." She left without another word, Ronnie staying with his girlfriend for the night at her command. Puppies, of all things, it had to be puppies...

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

Vixen and her sisters sat at the table in their room, sharing a light meal of roast venison and rolls together before going on a run later that night. There was nothing much to do, nothing much to say, so they ate in silence other than the occasional comment or suggestion by one of them.

"Hey," said Mouse out of the blue. "Aren't we supposed to be doing something read soon?"

"Like what?" asked Allie. "Another run? After tonight and what some others are bringing in, we should be set for awhile..."

"Yeah, we don't have anything else planned for at least a month," added Vixen, checking the pocket calendar she carried with her.

"Not a run," replied Mouse, shaking her head. "I mean an important date, like a wedding we were supposed to go to or a birthday coming up..."

"Aw, shoot," growled Vixen, digging around in her pouch for a second. "Where is it, I know I had it...here it is." She pulled out a worn piece of paper, running her finger over it for a few minutes. "This is August....5 birthdays this month in the Rogue, 3 of them already past....one's this week for someone we don't really know and....son of a mee krob...."

"What?" asked Allie.

"It's Joe's."

"When?"

"The 15th."

"That's this next week!!!"

"I know that."

"I say we plan a party for him anyways," said Mouse, taking a pad of paper and a charcoal stick from her bag. "That day we don't have anything going on....so Vixen, you take him out for awhile doing whatever. I really don't care what, just don't tell us about it later on..."

"Hey!" Vixen glared at Mouse, who just smiled cutely in reply.

"Anyways, we could use this room for the party. I'll get some stuff to make a cake in the kitchen. Allie, you could decorate it, right?"

"If I had to."

"Vixen could provide some entertainment," said Mouse suggestively, ducking as Vixen tried to punch her. "Now now, Vixie dear, let's not get violent."

"I'm so going to squash you like a .....mouse," growled Vixen, stopping and grinning evilly.

"We could catch her in a mousetrap," added Allie, catching on quickly. She winked at Vixen, who nodded back quickly.

"But watch out for the mouseteeth!"

"And the mouseclaws, they hurt too."

"The mouseteeth leave bruises, though..."

"That's true. We'll have ourselves a mousehunt!!!"

"You both are so dead," said Mouse, getting up and pulling two daggers from somewhere on her personage.

"Look, it's mouseblades!" said Vixen, pointing at the daggers. She was right, it was the pair she had given Mouse with mice engraved on the blade itself.

"Die!!!!!!"

"Run!!!"

Allie went out the door as Vixen sprang out the window, pulling herself up onto the roof and bounding over to a pole she used to shimmy down to the ground. "That was close," said Vixen, meeting Allie in the common room below. "We'd probably better leave before the Mouse decides to hunt us!"

"Too late," came a voice behind them, a dagger placed right behind their necks.

"Nice Mouse," said Vixen shakily, holding her hands up. "Be a good Mouse and put the mouseblades away..."

"Mouse is going to have some fun now," said Mouse, pressing a little harder. "Upstairs. Now."

"I think we got caught in a mousetrap," said Allie with a grin.

"Why you little....!!!"

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

Sean road up to the small hut as he usually did, stopping outside the gate and dismounting there before continuing on and tying the beast to the gate. "Sister!" he called, striding up and knocking on the door. "Jen! Are you there?"

"We're here!" said a voice to his right. He turned and looked, seeing them sitting with their herds in the fields a little ways away. Jennifer still bore some signs of her encounter with the bear, but they were few and fading fast. Her bruises were mere shadows of what they had once been and the scrape on her back had been healing nicely under Stephanie's care. Still, they stuck close to the hut so she wouldn't have to strain herself until she was completely healed and spent most of the time not even a ten minute walk away at the most.

"Hello," he said, sitting between them on the ground and giving them both a one armed hug. "How are my two favorite girls in the world doing today?"

"Alright," replied Jennifer, wincing at his touch on her back. It was still rather tender most of the time and she had slept on her stomach for the last few weeks just so she wouldn't have to touch it to the sheets. "And you?"

"Couldn't be better," he replied. "What about you, Steph? Mum and dad were getting worried, they hadn't heard from you in awhile when I visited them a little while ago."

"I just forgot to send my monthly letters due to some circumstances," she replied with a shrug. "Tell them I'm fine and will write them later. It's just been busy around here, that's all."

"So I can see. I'll be sure to tell them."

"Why are you here?" asked Jennifer, nudging him in the side gently. "You usually send word your coming before you actually get here. But we haven't heard from you since the dance..."

"I didn't have time," he admitted sheepishly. "I was give a two day leave since something happened and they didn't need me at work for that long so I just packed up and came. I have to leave in the morning, but you know."

"Yeah. What news is there?" asked Stephanie, knowing Jennifer would be itching to know.

"None good, none bad," he sighed. "They have the nurse, the one they had to break out of that fief, but that's not much good to you at this point. They still haven't found someone to take the case to court for you, but they're still working on it. At least those two don't have to act as parents anymore with the nurse around. She was pretty bad off when I was there, but recovering quickly. The girl won't leave her side, they're practically inseparable."

"Then it's back to the waiting game?" asked Jennifer sadly.

"I'm afraid so."

"That's alright," she said, giving him a hug. "I like it her anyways."

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

Sarah galloped over the plains behind the palace, Jon just a few stride behind her on Offbeat and doing his best to catch up to her. "Hey, wait!" he cried, seeing her pull away some more. "Come on, Sarah! That's not fair, I can't go that fast on this old guy!!"

"I know," she replied with a grin. "Come on, I'll slow down for you." She did, reigning the mare in until they were even but still traveling at a swift canter.

"So, what do you think will happen now?" he asked, able to speak easily with her being that close.

"What do you mean?" she replied with a glance.

"I mean, we're here until next spring," he added, "When we leave, where are we going? Are we actually going to be near the fighting? Who's going to be with us? What's going to happen until then? Maybe we'll meet up with someone else from Earth and decide to quit the job because they can offer us better."

"Speaking of which," added Sarah. "How many do you think are here with us?"

"I don't know," he replied with a shrug. "What do I look like, a psychic?"

"You were asking me questions like I would know the answer to them," she shot back, speeding up some.

"Sorry," he shrugged, backing off some. "I know, I know. It's just, this is fun and all, but it would be nice to have some familiar faces around where they aren't criminals or hiding for their lives or anything."

"You mean someone normal like us?"

"Exactly."

"Maybe it will happen, someday," said Sarah with a shrug. "But I think this is pretty cool so I'm not complaining."

"Neither am I," said Jon quickly. "I'm just saying-"

"I know," she cut in, slowing down near a stream. "But there's not a thing we can do to change it."

"How do you know?" asked Jon. "Since this place has magic and all, all we need to do is find the right spell and *poof*!, we'd be back home."

"I doubt it," said Sarah. "But it might work."

"Would we have to take the others back with us?"

"Jon!"

"I know, I know, I'll be nice."

"Or you'll try to be..."

"Well, it's really all I can guarantee."

"Knowing you..."

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"I don't know, what do you think?"

"You're confusing me."

"Not like it's hard to do."

"Hey!"

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

Artman stood at the back of the fort, determined this time to get it right. He set the book down on the ground in front of him, setting the pages with rocks and taking care not to get dirt smudged all over it. He knelt before it, quietly reciting the words a few times to make sure he got it all right before he started.

"Ok," he whispered to himself, standing up and spreading his arms out wide as he prepared himself for the spell. "I'll show her, I'll show all of them. My spells *do* work, I just have to be careful, that's all."

Artman began to chant in a low voice, a flame appearing in each hand as he did. The flamed began to circle upwards, intertwining with each other over his head before spiraling down to the ground and forming a cyclone there, drilling itself deeper and deeper into the earth...

He raised his voice and his hands at the same time, hoping against all hope that he would be able to control the climax.....

KA-BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!

Artman noticed just how blue the sky was as he was shot upwards, eventually gravity taking control and plummeting back to the earth. He landed in what remained of the latrines, the insides of them splattered all over the back of the walls and building near by.

"You idiot," said Libby, having run over the moment she heard the explosion. "You moronic, insolent, idiotic nincompoop. You can't do anything right and you just imploded the camp's toilets! You are going to help clean all this up, and if you try to use your magic I'll skin you alive myself. Are we clear?"

Artman hung his head in shame, acting like a little boy who had been caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing. Which was exactly what had happened to, so...

"Wasn't that a little harsh?" asked Kel as Libby stalked back to her tent, thoroughly riled by what had happened.

"Nope," growled Libby. "You'll understand when you have to control one. Men are impossible, Kel, take it from me."

"Hey, I resemble that remark!" said Raoul, looking rather injured.

"As a matter of fact, you do," replied Libby, "Now, if you'll excuse me!"

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

Amanda sat by herself in her room one night, reading by the fire with one hand as she used the other to rock Justin to sleep in his cradle. Alyse poked her head in the door, smiling as she did at the sight before her.

"Hey," said Amanda, glancing up when she felt someone's eyes on her. "What's up?"

"Nothing much," replied Alyse with a shrug. "I was about to go to bed, but say your light on and thought I'd say goodnight."

"Goodnight, then," said Amanda, smiling as she did.

"Enjoy being a mom?" asked Alyse, indicating the cradle with her hand. "You seem pretty comfortable with the whole concept."

"I helped raise Ben, plus the other two," replied Amanda in a low voice. "If I didn't learn how to raise a child then, then I can't be taught anything at all."

"Then you're just used to it?"

"I guess so."

"Hello, ladies," said Levi, coming up behind them with something behind his back.

"Hello, and goodnight," said Alyse, quickly taking her leave. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Night," said Amanda, putting her book aside."

"See ya," added Levi, putting a box on the table before Amanda.

"What's this?" she asked, checking on Justin and finding him to be fast asleep sucking his thumb.

"A package that came for you," he replied. "I kept forgetting to give it to you today, so I thought I'd drop it by here now."

"Thanks," she replied, taking it and slitting through the bindings with the small dagger she always carried with her. Carefully removing the lid, she pulled out a wrapped up bundle of paper. She carefully pealed away the paper and held it up the light, completely in shock.

It was a silver chalice engraved with a picture of Lynx mountain on one side and Ginger Vale on the other. The handles were set with stones of sapphire and emerald, glinting in the flickering light.

"Wow," whispered Amanda, studying it in the light. "Look, every detail just as it should be from that view! I wonder who sent it."

"Look here," said Levi, pulling a note out from the packaging.

It read:

Greetings to you, Lady Amanda of Lynx mountain from Sir Chester of Ginger Vale.

You've probably heard of my wife's recent death within our family and it is a hard time for us, yet we must move on past it to new things. I need a strong woman to rule my household, and you need a strong man to protect you and those who follow you. If it would please you, I suggest a joining of our houses through marriage as soon as possible. Please, accept the goblet as a gift whether or not you accept my proposal as a promise of good relations whether yea or nay on your behalf.

Sincerely,

Sir Chester of Ginger Vale.

"You've got to be joking," muttered Amanda, tossing it into the fire without a second thought. "I'll have to send this back, regardless of the fact that it's absolutely gorgeous, with a note in the morning. You'll take it for me, right Levi?"

"Of course," he replied quickly, sitting by her on the couch. "Why did you refuse him, though?"

"You know why," she replied, putting the chalice back in the box and setting it aside, checking on the baby once more. "I don't need a male to protect me and this fief, I do quite well on my own, thank you. Besides, I don't even know the man past an informal greeting at some dinner awhile back. His wife was nice, though. A spunky little thing who never seemed to stop smiling. I was sorry to hear of her death, but still....that doesn't mean I'll go rushing over there to take her place."

"Good," said Levi, giving her a quick hug. "I- we need you here with us."

"Nice to know I'm needed for something," she said as he headed for the door, "Goodnight, Levi."

"Goodnight, Amanda."

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

Martin strolled in Kyle's office one afternoon, taking his time as he did while going through some files at the same time that he needed to give to Kyle for some tax reform or other.

"Baron," he said, looking up to find that no one was in the room with him. "Baron?" The door to the balcony was open and he walked over to it, seeing Kyle sitting there with a hawk on either arm and acting as a mediator between the two.

"Hello, Martin," said Kyle as he spotted him standing there, his mouth open wide enough to hit the ground if he wasn't careful. "These are my friends, Kiona and Tylon, guys, this is Martin, my friend."

"Hello there," said Martin, turning white as the two hawks actually turned in his direction and bowed their heads before returning to their squabble.

"Hey, hey!" cried Kyle, pulling them apart. "Enough of that! Stop it right now, you two! You're acting like nestlings, not full grown adults!"

"You can understand what they're saying?" asked Martin in amazement, hearing nothing but screeches and such himself.

"Of course," said Kyle. "You knew I was a Wild Mage, right?"

"I knew you had some Wild Magic," replied Martin shakily, getting a bottle of wine from the shelf outside and drinking straight from the bottle. "But I thought it was only a little, like some animal trainers have. Not enough to act like Daine the Wild Mage!"

"I don't have as much as her," said Kyle quickly, keeping the hawks from tearing each other apart. "And mine is restricted to birds of prey in general most of the time. I can talk with some birds who aren't, but it's not as easy and ends up giving me a headache most of the time."

"Oh," replied Martin, slowly getting his wits back together. "Then you can't grow wings and fly like she can?"

"Goodness, no," replied Kyle. "I wish I could, oh goddess, that would be so great, but I can't." Kyle glanced as Martin's hands, which were still shaking slightly. "I'm sorry I scared you, Martin, if you want I won't do it around you anymore."

"No, it's alright," said Martin. "It just came as a bit of a shock to me...that's all, really. I'm just fine..."

"You're sure?" pressed Kyle.

"Yes, I'm sure." Martin wiped off his brow, getting up and heading for the door. "I'm, uh, going to get back to work if you don't mind, sir."

"Of course," said Kyle with a nod. "I'll be along shortly."

"Very good, sir." Martin shut the door behind him, leaning against it weakly. "He can bloody talk to birds...." he muttered under his breath. "What next, feathers all over the place to make him feel at home? Good grief..."

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

Lyssa walked into the room that was always used for the meetings between the three central fighting forces in the area, noticing that she was the last to arrive of the three.

"Hello," said Alyse, smiling at her.

"Hello," replied Lyssa, returning the smile. "General." She nodded her at him, trying to be as pleasant as possible.

"Commander," he grunted, returning the nod. "Now that we are all here, we can get started. Today's meeting must be fast, there is only a little to go over but not much time to spare as well."

"I agree," said Lyssa quickly. "As for my area, we noticed more Scanran scouting parties than the usual raiding ones, and we've gotten word that they've been looking at some of the smaller towns along our area that don't have any military protect at the moment. I say we send troops to all the towns, no matter how small, or help them move elsewhere where they will be safer."

"The smaller towns are not worth the troop support," opposed the General, shaking his head angrily. "We need every man we can get for the fight, not for babysitting some little, on the side community that has less people in it than one of my squads does. It's not worth it."

"What are you trying to say?" asked Alyse with a frown. "That those who live in larger towns and near fiefs are more important that those who don't? Sir, those out of the way communities are the ones that provide most of the food and produce for the larger towns where there is no room to farm. What if a Scanran attack wipes out a community's entire crop? Then the people who would depend on them for food will have to look elsewhere, straining someone else's stores of food."

"Fine," barked the General, too tired to argue. "We'll set up a rotation as soon as possible. How are things going near Lynx mountain?"

"Falcon Ridge was sacked and burned to the ground, sir," said Alyse gravely, mouth frowning even more. "Only 20 of the large village survived, and one from the noble family was found as well."

"Who?"

"The baby, Justin."

"What about the rest of the family and the villagers? Dead?"

"Captured, we're assuming," replied Alyse. "There weren't enough bodies left to account for everyone in the town."

"Then the family has been taken hostage?"

"Yes, sir."

"How are things here?" asked Lyssa, genuinely concerned for once. "I heard they managed to almost sneak through the ranks recently..."

"We stopped them," replied the General proudly. "We lost about half those who went after them, but reinforcements are coming as well as more supplies. We'll send you your share of them when they come."

"Of course, sir."

"I must get going," said Alyse, rising to her feet and heading for the door. "The sun is getting low, and I must get back before dark."

"She is right," said Lyssa, getting up as well. "Until next time, sir, Alyse."

"Until next time."

"Bye."

Lyssa got to the stables and mounted her horse, galloping back off towards her fort with clouds of worry hanging over her head. She had faith in her leadership, and knew they could hold her own in a fight, but with the beast roaming their boarders and not knowing whence it would strike she only hoped she would have a fort when she returned...

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

Alyse walked to the stable stall where the dame and puppies had been moved so the old man could go back home and not worry about them anymore, a treat in one hand and a bowl of food in the other.

"Hello, there," she said softly, scratching the mom behind the ears while she fed her the treat with the other hand. The female had accepted her very quickly, with some help with Ronnie, and trusted her as completely as any dog could. Three puppies suckled at her tits, two boys and a girl.

The first boy was big and strong, and looked exactly like his mother did. His sister was a little smaller, but was strongly built as well with features that matched her father to the last detail. The last brother was a runt, with mixed features that made him look like a mutt without any definite breed or color for that matter about him

Alyse picked him up first, holding him in one hand up to her face so she could look him in the eyes. "What should I call you?" she asked him quietly, even though she knew she wouldn't be able to keep any of them in the end. "You're small, and all mixed up with your colors and such....Ronnie Jr., since your daddy doesn't have a little boy who looks like him to carry on the name."

She put him down and picked up the sister, holding her in her lap as she stroked her silky fur and tried to come up with a name. "You look just like your daddy," said Alyse, closing her eyes as she did. "But you're a girl, which is why I can't call you Ronnie Jr. So I'll call you.....Holly. That's what my last dog was named, she was a sweetie too."

Alyse put Holly down and reached for the last boy, letting him gnaw gently on her hand a she held him on the crook of her arm. "You're a tough little guy," she said with a laugh. "All big and strong, just like your mommy and daddy. I don't know what your mommy's name is, or if she's ever even had one, but we'll go ahead and call you..... Bruno. Just because I happen to like that name on you."

She put him down and reached for the food, leaving it where the dame would be able to reach it when she woke up from her next nap.

Walking down the hallway back to the fief, Alyse passed by Ronnie who was on his way out to check on them right then. "They're just fine!" Alyse called over her should, grinning when Ronnie barked in reply and continued on his way.

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

"Come on!" said Kara, pulling Joe down the length of the hallway.

"What's so important down here?" asked Joe, looking rather confused.

"You'll see," giggled Kara, stopping before the door to one of the normally empty guest rooms. "Go in there."

"In there?" asked Joe, looking even more confused. "Why in the world would I want to..."

"Just do it already!!" huffed Kara impatiently, crossing her arms over her chest. "Men!!"

"You learned that from Vixen, didn't you?" asked Joe teasingly, putting his hand on the doorknob. "This better not be some sort of trick..."

"It's not, just go!"

"Alright, alright, I'm going!"

Joe opened the door just a crack, seeing nothing in there but a bed, nightstand, and table. "There's nothing in here," he stated firmly, letting her see.

"But I counted them right, didn't I?" she muttered to herself, going back down and checking it over. "Yeah, sixth door on the right..."

"Honey," said Joe sweetly. "That's your left. Check it out." Kara held her hands up in front of her and frowned, turning rather red.

"Oops..."

"So it's that door that I'm supposed to go into?"

Kara glanced at it, seeing light come from under the door. "Yeah, that's the one."

"Alrighty, then..." Joe opened the door slowly, hoping nothing would fall on his head...

"SURPRISE!!!!!!!!"

"What the-!"

"Happy Birthday!" said Vixen, bringing the shocked Joe all the way in the door and shutting it firmly behind him. Helping him over to the table as his limbs still refused to work (his jaw as sliding across the floor at this point), she sat him down there and sat next to him.

"Happy Birthday!" said Mouse, putting large, vanilla cake with a pudding center in front of him.

Joe's eyes got huge, his mouth beginning to water. "You.....you made me a...."

"Pudding cake," finished Mouse. "Just the way you like it. There's nuts in the pudding and in the cake too, since you're always bugging me to put them there..."

"Thank you!!" said Joe like a little boy, glomping onto her for a second before letting go and cutting himself a slice real quick.

"Here you go, and Happy Birthday," said Allie, sliding a package to him from across the table. He took it and opened it, pudding smeared across his face making him look even younger and more innocent. The furred, leather handcuffs he pulled out completely ruined the effect, though...

"Uh, thanks," said Joe, turning a light shade of red as Vixen made she sure was busy doing something else at the time. "I think..."

"Here you go, Uncle Joe!" said Kara, giving him a small package she had wrapped herself.

"Why thank you, Kara," he said, unwrapping it carefully. Inside was a lopsided stuffed lizard she had sewn herself in her spare time. "It's so cute! I'll sleep with it forever."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Uncle Joey is so silly sometimes," she sighed, giving him a hug and  a kiss before leaving to go back to her nurse's side.

"Happy Birthday," said Vixen, giving him a kiss and handing him a long box about the length the one she had used when she had given him the rapier. Joe looked at it carefully, sending her a scolding look. "It's not another weapon, I swear," she said, glaring right back. "Open it."

"Alright..." He did, pulling out a brand new leather belt and sheath, inlaid with silver and turquoise at intervals, giving it a lizard-like pattern over all. "Sweet...."

"That's what I said when I fou- bought it."

Joe shot her a look. "Vixen, did you..."

"Vixen's a good little girl who wouldn't hurt a fly," said Vixen sweetly, backing towards the door.

"Vixen's also a liar who can't be trusted," added Allie, getting a glare thrown at her. To summarize what happened next: Joe chased Vixen. Joe caught Vixen. Vixen and Joe made up, you get the picture. For Joe, it was a very happy birthday. (As to whether or not the handcuffs got used....well....I'll leave that up to you to decide...)

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

Jennifer sat out in the fields by herself for the first time with her herd since the incident with the bear, it almost doubled in size since when she first got it. She had long ago give up on the names, there were just too many of them to remember.

She had been working for this fief, with or without pay, for 1 year and 4 months now. She had worked it out the night before in a fit of boredom, and realized that time was passing her by and she wasn't any closer to finding a solution any faster than she had been at the beginning.

This cell with invisible bars that had been created to keep others out was also keeping her in. She couldn't escape from it. Sure, she could run from this fief. Her friends, Tortal. Completely leave the country and find a new life elsewhere. It wouldn't be hard, others had done it before. But still, the bars would be there and she would never be truly free.

Chocolate curled up in her lap, making her smile for a minute. At least her friends didn't care what the others had said. They had believed her, and helped her survive this far. Still, to be free again...

Jennifer glanced at the sun and got up, sending the cats to round the herd up as she walked back to the fief with all of them obediently following her. They still needed her, her cats still needed her. She could wait if she needed to, to be free...

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

Jon walked along the halls of the palace, holding the map Sarah had drawn him in his hand and looking completely and utterly lost. "It'll be easy, she said," he muttered to himself. "Just follow this and it'll be easier than trying to get around Providence. Yeah, right. That's what she thinks..."

Jon wandered through a hall of stern looking Kings and Queens, staying to the middle and wanting to shrink in on himself from the looks they were giving him. Or at least he thought they were looking at him. Maybe they weren't....what if there was someone behind the picture was the specific purpose of staring at people all day long... ..just to give them the creeps....

"Snap out of it," he told himself quietly, turning and coming to another intersection. "Like they'd actually waste money on something like that....or at least I hope they wouldn't..."

"Do you need some help, young man?" asked a maid, seeing him look down each corridor intently like it might just reveal which way he should go.

"Uh, yeah," said Jon. "How do I get to the stable man's rooms?"

"To the left, up the stairs, another right a few halls down and three rooms from there," rattled of the maid with a grin. "Good day, sir. And good luck."

"Now," said Jon as he reached the stairs. "Did she say up or down? I think she said up....but down makes more sense, he's a servant, isn't he? Ok, I'll go down..." He went down the stairs, coming to a catacombs with tombs on one side and a wine cellar on the other. "I think I made a wrong turn here..."

"Hey, there," said an old man, hobbling up to his side. "I think you did. Go up stairs, there's naught down here but spirits and....well...spirits of other kinds the King likes."

"Thanks," said Jon, heading back up the stairs. The problem was, he didn't remember how many flights he was supposed to go up anyways. "Why am I even on the stairs?" he wondered aloud. "I thought his place was on the ground floor. What the heck..." He got off the stairs and took a right, then a left, then another right, coming to the pages wing.

"Something for you, sir?" asked a strict looking man with several boys behind him.

"Uh, where am I?" asked Jon, trying not to look like a complete idiot. "I mean, I remember seeing this place before but I am so lost so if you could just-"

"You're in the page's wing," said the man. "Now leave, you have no business being here."

"Whatever," said Jon, turning around and leaving quickly. "You'd think people here would be nicer considering they're paid so well..."

He went right, the left, the left again, coming to the back gardens and wandering outside. He put the paper in his pocket and looked around, having it knocked out by accident when someone ran into him on their way back inside.

"Sorry, mister!" yelled the boy over his shoulder, continuing at his fast pace.

"You'd better be," growled Jon, standing up and dusting himself off. "Now, where is that....hey!" He looked around, trying to find it on the ground but not seeing it anywhere near by. "Oh well.....where was I going again?"

Jon sat down and tried to remember, seeing his horses grazing under some trees in the distance to get out of the hot sun. "Oh well, I guess I'll just go take a nap with them and say I got lost later."

So, that's what he did.

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

Libby and Artman galloped across the plains on their horses, keeping on the look out for Scanrans and making their way to Riversedge as quickly as they could. There had been a reported Raiding party coming that way and with only one squad to defend it, they had decided to go there first to make sure things were alright.

There were supposed to be attacks elsewhere as well, but they would hit each place as they went, and hopefully everyone would be able to repulse the attacks or wait until they got there to help before collapsing under the Scanran's force.

"Which way?" asked Artman, seeing the road diverge to the right or left up ahead.

"Right," said Libby steadily, checking her map real quick."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Alright, right it is." They continued to the merchant town. They wouldn't have long, maybe not even a chance to sleep for a few days while running back and forth between the places, but nothing would stop them from their mission. Others needed help, help maybe only they could give, and while they still could they were sure as heck going to give it.

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

Amanda stood on the wall of the town, waiting, watching as always. She could feel something happening, something was going to happen...

"Amanda!" called Alyse from below the wall. "Come on down to eat, Grandfather is getting worried about you."

"I'll come in a minute," she replied absently, still facing outwards towards the road. "Go, I'll be there."

"Milady, we're watching as carefully as we possibly could," said the head guard for that watch, getting frustrated with her. "There is no need for you to be worrying like this. Now please, do as your sister asks leave this job up to us."

"If you insist," said Amanda with a smile, shrugging her shoulders as she made her way for the stairs. "I'll leave now."

"My thanks, milady."

"Of course."

Amanda walked into the dinning hall where everyone sat, servants and soldiers included, and took her place on the dais above with Grandfather, Levi, Elizabeth, and Alyse. "Sorry to keep you waiting," she apologized, bowing to them courteously.

"That's alright," said Grandfather with a knowing smile. "Now eat, before your supper gets cold."

"Yes, sir."

"What were you doing up there?" asked Levi curiously, taking sip from his drink. "You're not expecting anyone, are you?"

"No," she replied quickly. "I was just feeling like something's about to happen and needed to be there when it did."

"Internal instinct," said Grandfather sagely. "So you decided to ignore it?"

"Just for the moment," she replied slowly. "I'm sorry, but I think I'll be going out there tonight. My feelings are rarely wrong when it comes to this sort of-"

"Lady Amanda, a message from the General!" cried a servant boy as he ran in the room hastily, giving them a quick bow. "You're needed with reinforcements immediately at Counterspoint. The Scanrans have made a double pronged attack here and another place, leaving the other forces to busy to back them up."

"I want the three Squads trained for battle suited up and out there in three minutes!" ordered Amanda, getting up and heading for her room. "Levi, you're with me-"

"I'm coming to," said Alyse, getting up and heading for her room real fast.

"Fine."

"Me too," said Elizabeth, starting to get up."

"No," said Amanda, pushing her back in her chair. "You're not going with me this time."

"Why not?" asked Elizabeth, but Amanda had already left for her room. "That's it, I'll make her let me go and not be treated like some young child..."

"Are you sure that's such a wise idea?" asked Grandfather, getting up as well.

"Of course," said Elizabeth, running for her sister's room. She opened the door as Amanda stepped out, chain mail shirt on with weapons in hand and her helm under her arm.

"You're not coming," said Amanda, seeing her standing there. "And that's final."

"Why?" asked Elizabeth angrily.

"Liz," said Amanda, gently, putting her hand on the younger woman's arm. "I need you here. One of us has to lead the soldiers, one must lead the people. If something happens to me, it's you they'll look to next. Both of us can't be put at risk like this. And I have to go."

"Fine," sulked Elizabeth, knowing Amanda was right.

"Take care of her," said Amanda to Grandfather, seeing Alyse and Levi coming down the hall towards her ready to go in their own armor and chain mail with weapons secured in place. "Let's go!"

They ran downstairs, getting their mounts from the grooms and waiting for the others to get finished, quickly riding out the open gates the moment they could. "Bye!" shouted Elizabeth from the battlements as they did. "And good luck!"

"You too!" Amanda shouted back, saluting her briefly before turning her attention to the men who were now under her control. "We'll go by the west road and hopefully take them by surprise!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Are you ready for this?" asked Alyse, bring her mount even with Amanda on the right side and Levi taking the left.

"Yes," replied Amanda steadily, eyes on the road. "I want those murderers gone from our lands. And that's what I plan to do."

"That's big words for such a small party as we have," commented Levi, checking to make sure he had everything he needed.

"Surprises come in small packages," replied Amanda roughly. "They're in for a surprise alright."

But not as big of a surprise as they would receive when they came home.

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

There's the 23rd chapter. Please review, just because you love me and all. This would've been up earlier, but due to some circumstances and such it just couldn't be done. I tried to write and it came out all depressing, so, yeah, I hope this is good and let me know what you think.

~crosseyedbutterfly~