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!*

24.

Sleep.....I'm giving up sleeping early for you guys on a three-day weekend, so you'd better be thankful here! Thanks to those of your reviewed, etc, you know the drill. I don't think I said this yet, so I'll say it now. I have a beta reader who is slowly going through the chapters and fixing all my spelling and grammar mistakes right now. As soon as she is finished, I'll go back through and fix everything and you can read it all front to back just for old times sake. Now stop bugging me about it!

One more thing, for those of you who have read Lady Knight and maybe wondering about some of the things that are happening in this chapter, it was written and planned out long before the book came out, I swear! Ask any of the characters that have been helping me write it, it's true. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, just ignore and understand that I haven't had a full nights sleep for over two weeks or so.

Now Read!

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Libby looked at the wrapped up metal creation with a shudder, turning and looking at the others as Artman went over it carefully as best he could with his magic. They had arrived just a little while after the fighting had stopped, having been at all the other places that day and helped them out before coming here to check on Raoul's group.

"Here," she said, touching Kel's shoulder gently. "Relax for a second and I'll help you out with some of those bruises."

"Thanks," said Kel, feeling her cool magic pass through her body and mend some of the damage that had been done. "But shouldn't you save this for others?"

"I have more magic than I know what to do with the majority of the time," said Libby with a shrug. "Don't worry, there's plenty to go around."

"Alright." Libby continued through the men, touching their foreheads or shoulders one at a time and doing a quick check of their vital systems before moving onto the next. She had already attended to Dom, and made sure he was stable before sending him onto a town where he could mend on his own.

"You've got another call," said Raoul tiredly as he came up behind her after she had finished, a messenger boy at his side. "From Counterpoint. They were hit hard earlier today. No one has heard yet if things went well there or not, but reinforcements were sent from Lynx Mountain, the fief nearest to it, and hopefully we'll get some news when their troops return home."

"We'll leave now," said Libby with a nod, touching his shoulder as well and giving him a boost of energy before collecting her things and Artman and riding out into the night, following the small boy before her on an unmarked mare without saddle or bridle.

"Do you think we'll be there in time?" asked Artman, starting to sound somewhat sleepy.

"I don't know," replied Libby, feeling strangely awake. "I've heard of Lynx Mountain before, though, and it's supposed to have very well trained fighters. I'm sure they were fine and only need us to come in as a cleanup crew."

"I hate doing that."

"Just make sure you don't blow anything up."

"I won't- hey!!!"

"Heh."

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

Elizabeth sat by herself in a small restaurant outside of the main walls of the fief in a market place of the town, enjoying a small meal and a cup of tea as she did. Amanda had been gone for over a day now, but she wasn't worried. They were all fine fighters, and would stay until they were sure their help was no longer needed.

She sipped her tea and toyed with a dart in one hand, her mini crossbow on her arm in case of trouble and a dirk hidden in her skirt besides. One could never be too careful these days. Besides, she wasn't supposed to be outside the walls without a guard, and since she didn't she figured she might as well be prepared for trouble.

Elizabeth was just about to order a dessert when a trumpet blast from the gates caught her attention....the gates were being closed. She rushed to the front of the place in time to see a Scanran coming riding down the streets wielding a double headed axe and chopping down any within his reach. Liz quickly loaded a dart and took aim carefully, punching through his throat on the first try and watching him drop like a stone from his mount.

Several more riders came down the street, taking children and women on their saddles and leaving the men to die in the gutters with arrows in their backs and swords through their middles. Elizabeth had to do something.

Running out into the street, she began to load darts and fire them as quickly as she could, taking out as many of the Scanran scum as she could with what ammo she did have. Ducking under a swing from a spear, she shot the man in the middle of his forehead and got out of the way as he fell towards her into the dust.

"Hey, there, little lady," said a rough voice in Scanran as she was lifted up from behind onto someone's saddle, using her gift to freeze the horse and it's rider as best she could.

"It's the Lady," said one of the men, recognizing her somehow. "Tie her up and leave, that one will be worth much to us later on."

"Leave me alone!" cried Elizabeth, biting and thrashing every which way as her hands were tied behind her and her feet together, then lashed behind some Scanran soldier and trying to breath as he galloped out into the night.

"Don't worry," he said chillingly, everyone else leaving as well. "We've got what we came for, something to bargain with. We'll take real good care of you, little missy."

"Bastard," growled Liz, spitting at him.

"Feisty little on, aren't we?" asked the man with a sly grin. "I likes 'em feisty.. ...."

"Behave," said one of the others, giving him and evil glare. "She is not yours to pleasure yourself with. Orders are orders."

"Yes sir."

Grandfather expertly organized everything out as the guards who had been watching the front where exchanged with fresh ones and people went out in crews in start cleaning this up. "How many dead?" he asked the man put in charge of digging the graves, seeing the few lined up on the road covered in sheets.

"Ten, sir," said the man. "Not as many as were expected, but still mainly villagers who were caught unawares by those who got through."

"I see, how many missing?"

"Captured, at least 5 or 6, maybe more."

"Grandfather!" cried a small girl, running up with her older brother behind her. "Where's Lady Elizabeth?"

"Inside resting," he said confidently, knowing she had been asleep when he checked on her last. "Don't worry about her."

"Are you sure?" asked the young man. "I could've sworn I just saw her dragged off with the Scanrans..."

"The soldiers from Counterpoint have returned!" came the call from the wall, distracting Grandfather from the young man.

"Have a meal set for them immediately," ordered Grandfather. "Grooms and servants should be ready to attend to them when they ride in!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Have Lady Elizabeth brought from her rooms so she will be here to greet them," added Grandfather, leaving heavily against his staff.

"Aye, sir!"

"I'm telling you, sir," cried the young man in exasperation. "She was carried off North!!"

"We'll see about that," said Grandfather, hoping it wasn't true. A servant boy arrived at his side just as Amanda road in; Alyse, Levi, and the others right behind her.

"Hello, Grandfather," she said with a nod, dismounting and letting the mare be taken off for a good grooming and such. "What's all the fuss about? I saw some bodies lying along the road...."

"We had a small attack," said Grandfather, signaling for the boy to wait just a second longer. "But it was taken care of, milady. Yes, young one?"

"Lady Elizabeth is not in her room, sir," said the boy seriously, handing him a slip of paper. "This was found on her bed." Grandfather scanned it quickly, his face turning white as he did.

"You're sure that's who you saw?" he demanded suddenly, turning to the young man.

"I'm sure," replied the young man seriously. "Lady Elizabeth has been captured by the Scanrans."

Amanda spit out the water she had been drinking, letting it dribble down to her sweat-soaked shirt. "What?! Get me a horse and food, I'm leaving now to go after her!!"

"No!" commanded Grandfather, two guards coming and grabbing her on either side so she couldn't escape.

"Let go of me!" yelled Amanda. "I'm going after her whether you like it or not. Let me go or I swear-"

"You can't," said Grandfather, leaning over and meeting her eye to eye. "I know, this is grievous news and it hurts us all, but she is too far gone by now, and we don't have the means of getting her back."

"Then let me go," said Amanda seriously, standing still for a moment. "And I'll get her back myself."

"I won't let you."

"ARGGH!!!" Amanda heaved against her captors, nearly throwing them off and soon finding herself wrapped up in a length of rope and carried off to her room as she yelled and bit at them the whole way, doing her best to get free.

"I'm sorry," whispered Grandfather as they lay her on her bed, untying her so she'd be able to get free in a few minutes. "With her gone, it makes you the only living blood relative and you are now officially in charge of this fief by yourself. I can't let you run off and get killed."

He and the others left, Levi sitting sadly with his back to her door as Grandfather locked it from the outside, leaving her there by herself for awhile.

"I know," said Grandfather when he saw his son's face. "But we had no choice. Stay here and keep an ear out for her, ok?"

"Yes, sir."

"Here's the key if you need to get in there."

"Alright." Levi sat back once more as he heard the sound of someone sobbing violently on the other side of the door. Sighing, he wished more than ever right now that he could help her, and realized more than usual that he couldn't.

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

Alyse walked slowly down the halls of the fief, letting her supper settle itself in her stomach and enjoying the feeling of fresh clothes against her skin. Everyone was upset about the disappearance of Elizabeth, herself included, and she could see where Grandfather was coming from. But she could also understand Amanda's wish to go and save her 'sister'. Still, it would be suicidal to attempt such a thing at this point, and Alyse considered it wiser to stick around and do what she could for the good of the people rather than one person alone.

She walked outside into the sunlight and quickly found herself recruited into a team of people for helping rebuild a shop that had been burned down by the Scanrans. Sawing, hammering, chopping, whatever they asked her to do she did it. Although, it was more often splitting logs because it took less time with her gift and they were perfect every time.

"Hey," said Grandfather, seeing her out there as he roamed the town. "Why don't you head back and take a nap, alright? They're doing alright out here, and you need your strength for later."

"Ok." Alyse headed back inside and to her room, stopping by Amanda's briefly to see Levi was dozing outside with the key in hand, the door still locked shut and the sound of someone rifling through things on the other side. Leaving him be, she went into her room and soon fell asleep, not waking until later that night by a sound outside her windows.

Looking down, she thought she saw a caped figure disappear into the woods below. Figuring it was just a trick of the light, she went out into the hall and saw Amanda's door was open. Getting curious, Alyse stuck her head inside and glanced around, surprised at what she saw.

Weapons were missing from their wracks, and other than her sword it was the ones Amanda usually fought with. Her pack and light armor were missing as well, and a the food that had probably been given to her earlier on in case she was hungry.

Seeing a boot hang off the couch, she went over and found Levi lying there, stirring as if he was just about to wake up from a heavy sleep. The chill in the room she found was due to the fact that a window with a rope hanging out of it was left open, and a scrap of fabric with the heavily scented liquid on it told the tale of how Levi fell asleep.

"Ugn...."

"What happened?" asked Alyse, giving him a glass of water to clear his head.

"Amanda..." he said groggily. "I fell asleep and when I woke up, it was really, really quiet so I slipped in to make sure she was alright. She was sitting here and I sat next to her. Before I knew what was happening next, she had something pressed up against my nose and was saying she was sorry but she had to do this. She took my key ring and left, using it to get out through the windows right before everything went black."

"So she ran?"

"After Elizabeth, I assume," added Levi, getting to his feet quickly. "I'm going after her."

"Me too, then," said Alyse, quickly going and getting some things together from her room. Grabbing Amanda's sword as a last minute impulse, the two of them fled into the night before they could be missed, leaving a note for Grandfather in their wake as they did.

The hunt was on. And their chances of finding both sisters alive were not on their side.

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Lyssa paced endless by the front gate for more news to come in. The King's Own fort had been fine, as well as the mines and towns near it. Now all that was left was Counterpoint and Lynx Mountain. If that fief hadn't come through, that town would be nothing but a pile of ashes right now, and she had no way of knowing until the message came.

"The messenger was spotted, ma'am," said a scout, having rode in hard from a few miles away. "He'll be here any minute."

"Good," said Lyssa, hurrying down the stairs to wait. "Get something to drink and food prepared for him, he'll be exhausted by now."

"Yes, Commander."

Lyssa leaned on a post by the gate and waited there impatiently, several of the troops heading for the garrison in case they had to suit up real fast in order to go save some other town. The messenger came into view, galloping the whole way as his mare sped him on to the open gates of the fort.

"Easy," she said, taking the reins from the rider as another helped him down. "What news do you have for me?"

"Counterpoint is fine," he wheezed, taking the water and gulping it down as his horse was led away. "Lynx Mountain was hit with a side attack, but they were able to repulse it even with part of their force missing and all it well across the board."

"Good," said Lyssa, immediately relaxing. "Gale, take this fellow to the extra rooms and let him sleep there until he is ready to leave."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good news?" asked Eric, seeing her walk up with a steady, relaxed look on her face.

"Alls well everywhere," she sighed with a nod. "We made it through with all forces intact and I'm assuming only a few casualties."

"That's good," said Eric with a nod. "So, what's supposed to happen next."

"The same thing we always do," replied Lyssa with a shrug. "We wait."

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

Jennifer sat beside the fire as she patiently roasted the meat from the sheep Stephanie had slaughtered that day, keeping an eye on the bread that was baking at the same time. Stephanie sat near by, cleaning the lanterns they used and giving them fresh wicks as well as more oil from a jar.

"How much longer?" she asked, taking a sip from her glass of fresh cider. Chris and his father had been up to visit briefly a few days ago and left them with three new skins of apple cider, something neither of them had had for awhile.

"Just a few minutes for the meat," said Jennifer, adding some more seasoning to it. "The bread's done, though." She took the loaf and brought it to the table, quickly cutting a slice and putting it before Stephanie. "Well, what do you think?"

Stephanie broke off a piece and popped it in her mouth, cooling it with a sip of cider. "I still don't know how you do it," she said, shaking her head with a grin. "I've made this bread and that meat for years, but somehow whenever you do it you create a masterpiece!!"

"You like it, then?"

"As always."

"I just add some other stuff to it," said Jennifer with a shrug, bringing the meat off the fire as well and over to the table. "You could do it too, if you really wanted to..."

"I don't have the cooking talent that most of my family possesses," said Stephanie shortly. "I'd end up doing something wrong and make it all inedible, that's for sure."

"You can make better chocolate truffles than me," said Jennifer comfortingly. "And caramel candies, too..."

"That's the way my mom is," said Stephanie ruefully. "She can make all this candy and chocolate stuff, and it's all really good, but she can't cook a decent meal to save her life."

"Just eat and be thankful that you can make something that everyone likes period," said Jennifer with a grin. "I knew some people who couldn't cook at all back home."

"Really, now?"

"Yep," replied Jennifer with a nod. "One time, me and a friend tried to bake some cookies, her name was Nicole, but somehow they all ended up burnt and tasting like salt... she said it was my fault, but I think she got her measuring things mixed up again."

"Figures," said Stephanie. "She was probably really good at some other things, though, right?"

"Yeah, she was."

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Sarah walked in the Dancing Dove first, making sure things had settled down before Jon followed and went over to Vixen's table, having a seat there. A blond boy, who was actually closer to a man, sat there as well, talking with the three sisters quietly.

He seemed familiar enough with them, his green eyes serious but with a twinkle in them that wouldn't go away. Still, he didn't have the look of a thief about him and Sarah wondered what an honest guy would be doing in a place like this.

Then again, what was *she* doing in a place like this.

"Gimme just a minute and we'll get caught up with you," said Vixen to the pair, letting them take a seat. "This'll only take a minute or two more."

"So, there is no word on when this might be coming through?" asked the youth, a sad look coming across his face.

"I'm afraid not," said Vixen, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Sean, we all want her to be a free citizen again, but without any way to get it to the top courts…"

"I know, I know," he said, slowly getting up from his seat. "I can't get away to visit Jenny anytime soon, but if you could get this to her for me-"

"Is he talking about our Jenny?" asked Sarah, having been listening to one side.

"Yeah," replied Vixen, Sean getting a confused look on his face.

"Huh?"

"Sarah and Jon, meet Sean: Jenny's boyfriend here in Corus. Sean, meet Sarah and Jon, two of Jenny's old friends from her homeland."

"Oh, so you're some of those sucked into Tortal, or whatever," said Sean, sticking his hand out. "Nice to meet you."

"Same here," said Jon flatly, shaking his hand. "It is too bad what happened to her, but as we all used to say back in the band room, she is the Corruptor…"

"You know we were all just joking about that," stuck in Vixen with a grin. "She couldn't corrupt a fly."

"I don't know about that," said Jon with a grin. "She seems to have done well enough with this guy…"

"Would you like to go visit her?" said Mouse out of the blue, holding the letter in her hands. "I mean, you could go deliver this for us, then make sure she's ok, and get to see her for the first time since we all….left."

"It would be nice to see her again," admitted Sarah. "And it's not like we have anything to do right now."

"We'll go," said Jon. "How about giving us some directions there?"

"Sure," said Vixen. "Go ahead and go, Sean, we'll make sure they take this to her."

"Thanks again, Vixen, for all you've done!"

"It's your sister that's keeping her safe!"

"True…"

"How about those directions sometime in this lifetime?"

"Hold your horses!"

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Vixen stole into the stable of the Dancing Dove, quickly going to the stall where her mare was kept and giving her a sugar cube to keep he quiet. "Easy, girl, easy," whispered Vixen, patting her neck softly. "Come on, we're just gonna go for a short ride without everyone else following for once…"

"Mind if I come?" asked a voice by the door. "Allie has the main room covered, and I'm not working the bar for awhile…"

"Sure, Mouse," said Vixen, looking at Baby who waited for her master across the stalls. "I'm just gonna go bareback since it's only for a short ride."

"I always ride bareback," Mouse reminded her with a grin. "Whether horse or-"

"Enough," said Vixen, holding her hand up as she turned a nice shade of red. "I don't want to know about that kind of stuff. Let's just go."

"If you insist…"

"I do!" Vixen swung up onto her mount and trotted out the back entrance to the Dancing Dove, taking side streets and side gates until she reached the  outskirts of Corus and was galloping freely through the plains.

"Wait up!" called Mouse, a few lengths behind her on Baby.

"So," said Vixen after she had slowed down, the two of them trotting side by side to a stream nearby. "Jenny's still in exile, Sarah and Jon are going to war, and we're stuck here minding the Rogue. What else could possibly go wrong?"

"We could go through another Scanran take over," said Mouse sweetly, giving the world her ever-innocent smile. Too bad it wasn't real as well…

"True," admitted Vixen. "We haven't lost anyone lately, but we still have Kara and her nursemaid…"

"Admit it," said Mouse teasingly. "You like having that little rug rat around sometimes."

"So do you, Mama Mouse," said Vixen right back, giving her a look. "You're the one that raised her, not me."

"Oh, you and Joe didn't like being her Uncle and Aunt, even though you're not married?"

"Better than being her mother without a husband."

"Shut up."

"Oh, what'cha gonna do?" asked Vixen wickedly, turning back towards Corus. "Bite me with the mouseteeth? Or maybe you'll set a mousetrap!"

"Why you little fox…."

"Sly as one too!" Vixen took off towards Corus as Mouse chased her the whole way, laughing as threats rang out behind her from the angry thief sister.

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Kyle stood at the edge of the stable lot, watching as the young man before him practiced tricks on his mount, preparing for the riding performance that night. "Impressive," said Kyle as the man came to get a drink from the barrel he was leaning on. "Do you think you could teach me some of those tricks?"

"Free of charge?"

"I am housing you here and letting you put on a public performance without fee."

"Alright, what do you want to learn?"

"What can you teach me?"

"I don't know, let's go have a try at it and see."

The man, whose name was Quinn, walked out to the middle where his horse waited for him, Kyle following closely behind. "Are you sure?" asked Kyle carefully. "If you don't want to, I'll understand…"

"You should be able to do a few of these," said Quinn with a shrug. "The trick's in your strength and balance, and you seem to have a good measure of both."

"Thanks."

"You there, get me my extra mount if you would, please!"

"Aye, sir."

"Thank you kindly. Now, look here, Baron, see how her saddle has these straps on it?"

"Yeah," said Kyle, noting the one right below the top edge of the front and the back. "What about them?"

"You use them like this," said Quinn, looping his hands in them as his mount rode by, using the momentum to easily swing himself up into the saddle. "No stirrups, no mounting block, and no having to stand still."

"I see," said Kyle, watching him do it again, before attempting it himself. The mare rode up to him, he slipped his hands into the loops, and…

Thud!! Kyle stopped rolling a few feet away on the other side of the horse, lying there panting as Quinn rushed over to check on him.

"Are you alright, Baron?" he asked worriedly, sticking his hand out to help the younger man.

"I think so," wheezed Kyle. "What did I do wrong?"

"First of all, you swung late," said Quinn with a nod. "Secondly, you swung too high. Went over the bloody horse, you did!"

"No kidding?"

"Seriously. A good flight, you had."

"Oh."

"Ready to try it again?"

"I guess so." Kyle got to his feet, taking a gulp of water before heading out to the center of the ring once more and waiting for the mare to come by, watching Quinn one more time before attempting it himself. The mare rode by, he slipped his hands in the loops, jumped…. Kyle landed in the saddle, but was unbalanced and quickly tumbled from it on the other side, rolling around in the dust some more before he came to a halt.

"Not bad," said Quinn with a grin as he helped him to his feet again. "You got better that time, Baron, you really did. Want to stop now, or are you willing to give it another go?"

Kyle's traitorous mouth said he'd go again, even though his body and head were screaming at him that this was enough. Unfortunately, he had never been one to listen to reason, even from himself…

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

Libby sat in the main medical building for the town, tending to the wounded and healing those that she could before their life was gone forever. Handing a baby she had just checked back to it's mom, she headed down stairs and waited in the main room, having seen a Scout ride in and knowing he would have more information as to who would need their help.

"Come on," said Artman, meeting her there. "Let's go before they come calling for us. The guy looks beat enough as it is." Libby just sniffed and walked out the door, leaving him to trail along in his wake. She was still angry at him for several things that he had said to her lately, and wasn't about to let it go right now.

"There you are," said the Scout, glad to have them come to him instead of the other way around. "There was only one other place hit, Lynx Mountain, but they weren't hit hard and only lost a few men before the attackers were repulsed. They're drawing everyone in from the town outside the walls to inside the main ones and the few that were injured are being taken care of by the healers that they have there."

"Then they aren't in dire need of our help?" asked Libby.

"No," replied the man with a nod. "It was requested by one of the Generals that you stop in there to make a quick check before heading back to your base, but you can stay here until you're are finished before you do so."

"Thank you," said Libby with a bow. "We appreciate it a lot."

"Yeah, what she said," mumbled Artman.

"I'm going back to the infirmary," said Libby to the Captain who was there. "If you need anything else, that's where I'll be found."

"Yes, ma'am."

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

Liz woke up, still feeling fairly drugged, chained to a pole in a long tent with others near by. Shifting around some, she heard the constant barrage of rain overhead (probably the reason for the tent) and could also make out the forms of guards standing right outside the walls in the rain, all bearing weapons and keeping watch constantly.

Great, there was almost no chance of her being able to escape with conditions like this...

Glancing around, Liz could feel her eyes adjusting to the low light, making it easier for her to see. There were people around her, mostly asleep or lying down resting, and none of them were younger than 16 or so. Maybe there'd be someone here she knew, maybe she'd find someone who had been lost alive...

Getting up and stretching out her legs, Elizabeth tested the length of the chain, seeing how far she could go without straining it too much. People smiled wanly at her or ignored her as she trudged by, they had probably seen it before. New people coming in, some taken away and some doomed to stay here until they starved. So many dead, so many lost, an air of despair hung everywhere with in the small confines.

Elizabeth stopped by one in particular, some how recognizing her despite the dreary surroundings... "Lady Hope?" she whispered, kneeling down by the woman.

"Hm?" Hope raised her head, seeing Elizabeth beside her in the exact same condition she was in. "Oh no....not Lynx mountain too...."

"No, no," replied Elizabeth quietly, shaking her head. "I was one of the few caught. Lynx Mountain still stands, and so will your home one-day with your son in charge."

"Justin? He is alive?" asked Hope suddenly, sitting up as fast as she could. "My baby, my baby is still alive??"

"Amanda took him in as her own when you were captured," said Elizabeth kindly. "How many of those taken from your family have survived?"

"Two, me and my husband."

"Where is he now?"

"Out doing labor duty."

"Do you know where we are?"

"Right before the boarder into Scanra. The river is near by, and they've been using this as a secret camp for sometime now, I think."

"Goddess speed to my sister, then," whispered Elizabeth, closing her eyes as she rose to her feet.

"How do you know she will come?" asked Lady Hope.

"She will come," replied Elizabeth confidently. "If there's one thing I know about Amanda, she won't leave family (real or not) hanging. She will come."

At that moment Amanda was quietly making her way through the woods several miles away from Lynx mountain and growing ever closer to Elizabeth and the Scanran camp. She had been tracking them since she left her fief, wearing soft boots that let her run noiselessly through the woods. Her bow was strapped to her back with arrows, her sais in their sheaths on her boots, a pack on her back with supplies and wound treatments, a staff in her hands, and a cape around her shoulders.

She came to a stream and stopped, the rain started to patter down lightly from overhead. Great, she'd have to hurry now if she wanted to use the tracks to find where Elizabeth had been taken. Getting a quick drink and refilling her flask, she figured it was about mid-morning but with the storm heading in it was looking closer to the middle of the night.

Scampering through the under brush, taking care to keep low and her senses about her, Amanda came upon the first of the guards. He was standing there with his hands crossed over his chest, a good guard except that his eyelids were drooping and he yawned every five minutes.

Amanda took out her bow and put an arrow to the string, quickly taking aim and loosing the arrow... Zip! Thunk! The guy dropped like a rock with the arrow punched throw his neck to the fletching, only a little blood splaying to the sides as she crept out into the opening, taking her eyes off her surroundings long enough to rifle through his belongings real quick.

Too bad even that was too long. A shout to her right and the sound of several feet crashing through the woods caused her to back up....right into the arms of some Scanrans who had gotten around behind her. She killed one with a sais through his jugular artery, and the other was knocked back with a hard whack to the head. Backing away from them, her eyes narrowed and flashed between green and blue as more came and surrounded her, bearing weapons of all sizes and types.

"Well," she said to herself right before she was thrown into the fray. "This is going to be fun...."

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

Levi stalked quietly behind Alyse, traveling at a good pace as the rain started to pour, knowing they were getting ever closer to Amanda and Elizabeth by following the trail of the Scanrans themselves. Levi knew the woods well enough that he had taken them through a couple short cuts, each one putting them closer to their friend. Each one putting them closer to their enemy.

"Wait," he said in a whispered, his ears picking up something in the distance. He stooped over so no one would see him and ran past the stream that was before then, going forward to whatever it was that he had heard...

Alyse followed close behind him, easily scaling the tree he pointed to and going out on a well-covered limb to see what was happening. He was soon up there with her and took in the sight below, wondering what they should do.

Amanda stood in the middle of a clearing, dead men littering the ground around her and a few wounds bleeding freely on herself as she stood her ground with another five or six Scanrans still surrounding her. Obviously, they didn't feel like going and telling their superiors that she had managed to kill over half the guards by herself, so better kill her and say there were several others as well.

They watched for a moment as another man lunged at her from behind, Amanda sensing it somehow and dodging the blow, quickly sending him to the Black God with the others and waiting for what those who were left would do next.

"Amanda!" yelled Levi from above, taking out her sword and tossing it to her before jumping down and standing back to back with her in the pouring rain. Alyse leapt down as well, landing to one side and staying there, crouched and ready to attack. She had known there would be fighting, but this was getting a little past her comfort zone. Winning wouldn't be a problem with this many to attack, their problem would be if more showed up and they were pressed even more.

"Thanks," murmured Amanda, her hands tightening on the handle as she drew it from its sheath. "Let's go." She darted forward to one side, the other two going different ways and dispersing themselves between those who were left, taking care of them as quickly as possible. Alyse used her gift and fans at the same time, knocking them back or slicing them in half as she felt like it. These people had tried to invade her home. These people deserved to die.

When it was over, Levi put his weapons away and helped Alyse get her fan out of a tree where it had gone clean through a Scanran and stuck itself there. Amanda stood alone in the middle of the group, her senses still in attack mode and waiting for something happen next.

"Amanda," said Alyse, touching her shoulder gently. Amanda whirled around, but stopped well before she did any harm, nodding her head and putting the sword away.

"Thanks," she said softly, picking up her things where she had thrown them to the side. "Help me drag these parasites into the bushes, I don't want anyone to know we were here."

"Then you don't think word of this attack has spread any?" asked Levi grimly as he dragged on himself off to the side.

"No," replied Amanda. "These may not have even been guards for the camp, just look out for any trouble that might be headed their way far from the camp. The rain will wash away our tracks, especially the way it's coming down now. Come on, we need to hurry."

"Aye," said Alyse with a nod, wiping the blood from her hands before helping with another corpse.

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

Lyssa stood there in disbelief as she listened to the Scout's tail of the sisters, their cousin and the Headman's son. "You have to be joking," she said quietly, shaking head she did. "Those fools! First the one is captured because she can't obey the rules, then the other runs off to save her. And of course, her dear cousin and friend have to run along behind her to make sure she doesn't get into trouble. Good goddess, what are these people thinking!?"

"They aren't," said Eric from beside her, a serious look on his face. "They're just following their hearts and not their heads."

"If they have anything in their heads to begin with," sighed Lyssa in aggravation. "I'd never have expected something like this from Alyse. She was so level headed and calm, not one easily excited or to rush into things without thinking them through first... Levi, he would be the sort to do that, and Elizabeth would obvious never follow the rules if she could help it, but still!! That's an entire family of nobles gone with no clear heir in sight if they don't come out of this alive!"

"Settle down," said Eric gently, putting a hand on her arm. "We'll have a roaming guard check for any signs of them every day, and with orders to help them if they're found. Other than that, there's really nothing we can do."

"Go set it up," said Lyssa, dismissing him with a wave of her hand. "Oh, of all the times......still, I really can't blame them. If it were my sister or friend in trouble.....I would probably rush in after them too...."

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

Jennifer cuddled her new kittens gently, patting Snowball on the head as the mother nursed them on a blanket. There were five in all, two girls and three boys, and no where to put them as well. She was going to head to the fief in a few hours and give them away, hoping they would find good homes there and make themselves useful as mousers. Their parents, or at least mother, certainly had.

They weren't exactly sure who the father was yet. It obviously wasn't any of her brothers, and it's not like she could tell them who the daddy was herself. Oh well, maybe they'd figure it out eventually, but in the mean time she had to take these little bundles of fur to the market place!

Loading up a small basked with the mother and kittens inside, Jennifer strapped to the back of her mare, Jewel, who had been used often to get supplies from the town or the fief when needed. She swung herself up onto Jewel's bare back and took off at an easy trot, doing her best not to disturb the kittens and their mommy.

It was only a twenty minute ride or so, but she enjoyed it just the same. Fall was there, with the leaves changing colors that time in August, and September quickly approaching as well. The air had a crisp feel to it, and at times she felt younger and more energetic, like those little tots who run around for hours and hours at a time without getting tired at all.

She road into the side gate that most servants or workers used and went to see Kasumi in the barns, taking the basket of kittens with her.

"Hey, Jen!" greeted Kasumi warmly when she saw the small goat herder, shaking hands with her. "How have you been?"

"Fine," replied Jen softly, keeping her voice as low as she could. "I just came by to see if anyone wanted these kittens. I already have the five, and these would just be too much for me to keep..."

"Let me see," said Kasumi, picking up on gently and holding it before her face in her hands. "Hm, good teeth and eyes, they still have their claws...who's the parents?"

"Snowball's the mom, obviously," said Jen, pointing to the cat in the basket. "We don't know who the dad it, but if he's a loner in the woods or the fields, he has to be in somewhat good condition to have lasted this long..."

"True," said Kasumi with a nod, flashing her a white smile against her dark skin. "Come, I think I know who will want these. I'm keeping one, that's for sure."

"Which one?" asked Jen, sticking close to her side as they walked through the courtyard.

"The all white one like her," said Kasumi, showing her the one she already held in her hands. "Turn right here. Hey, Carlos, you here?!"

"What?" asked a young man, swinging over the edge of the loft above them and landing with cat-like grace on the floor in front of them. "This had better be good, 'Sumi, I just got to sleep and it's my day off."

"Look at these fine young kittens," said Kasumi with a good-natured grin. "No charge at all, Carlos, you want them?"

Carlos picked up one and inspected it, pleased at what he saw. "I can take three," he said with a shrug. "That's what I've got room for in the mousers that roam the grounds and the house. I'll have the calico, the all black one....and this sweet little gray striped one."

"That leaves you with one," said Kasumi, checking the sun's position outside. "Oops, I gotta run. Why don't you take him back home and give him to Chris or something? I'll catch ya later, bye!"

"Bye," replied Jen, waving briefly before heading back to the horse at the stable. "Well, little one, I guess you're stuck with us for awhile. What should we call you? Um..." She looked at his brown coat and white paws. "Boots," she decided at last with a grin. "Just like Puss in Boots."

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

"Hey, there," said Jon, feeling a horse nudge his leg as he lay with his eyes closed under a tree in the mid-morning hours. He chewed thoughtfully on a piece of grass and opened his eyes as the nudge came again, more forcefully this time.

"What?" he asked, sitting up and seeing Mandie and Offbeat standing there, looking at him expectantly. "Oh, alright..." He moved over, making room for them in the shade. Sitting with his back to the tree since there was really no room for him to lay down all sprawled out anymore, he began to hum some song from Blink 182 that had been stuck in his head for awhile.

Mandie suddenly bit down on his hand, a sign that he should stop before she decided to draw blood. "Alright, alright," he muttered. "Go get your beauty sleep, Princess Mandie, not like you need it or anything, you're a horse..."

Offbeat snorted, as if to say, 'What's that supposed to mean?'

"A horse is a horse is a horse," said Jon with his hands out before him in a gesture of peace. "No offense, but to me you all look pretty much the same."

Mandie shook her head angrily, eyeing him like she just might snap and bite off his head from that remark.

"Alright, alright, whatever," said Jon, sighing and closing his eyes once more. "I'm wrong, sure. Just don't bite me, you left a bruise around the teeth marks last time!"

Mandie whickered to herself, seemingly chuckling at him without being too obvious while Offbeat laughed outright, making him frown angrily.

"What's so funny?" he demanded, starting to get up from his seat. "Horses, they're all the same, you-"

"Jon, you're arguing with animals," said Sarah from the other side of the tree where she had been sitting all that time. "Let it go."

"That's it, the whole world thinks I'm an idiot today," he muttered, getting up and stalking back to the house, followed by the sound of human and horse laughter from behind.

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

 Allie shooed Kara before her into the room, shutting the door behind them and locking it so no one would be able to get in or out without the key. "What are we doing, Auntie Allie?" asked Kara sweetly, sitting herself upon the bed.

"Well, remember how you said that you wanted to be just like us when you grow up?" asked Allie, pulling a bag she had with her up onto the table. "Well, now's your chance."

"Oh, goodie!"

**Two Hours Later**

Vixen and Mouse searched the tavern from top to bottom, followed by a very worried Sana who leaned on Joe for support in her still weakened condition.

"Kara, Karalee?!" called Vixen, starting on the upper, floor. "Where are- Kara!" There she stood in the middle of the hallway with a red cape on, her hair all curly and tied back with a red bow. Suddenly, she whipped the cape off as if on cue and stood there in a leather suit with knee-high, high heeled boots, a whip, and black leather gloves that went to her elbows.

"Oh my," said Vixen, standing there with her mouth open as Joe, Mouse, and Sana caught up, all have similar reactions as well.

"Kara!!"

"Mithros...what happened to her?!"

"Good Mother goddess, Kara, what have you done?!"

"She's such a perfect little Mistress, isn't she?" asked Allie, appearing beside them from a shadowy corner.

Vixen frowned, understanding everything now. "Allie..."

"What?" she asked innocently, smiling all the while. "She said she wanted to be like us, so I helped her along the way..."

"You made her like you," said Mouse in frustration. "Not like us. You wouldn't catch me dead in that thing, I tell you."

"Sure...whatever, but she likes it! Don't you, Kara?"

"Auntie Allie? The back's starting to give me a wedgie again," said Kara with a frown, dropping the whip and trying to 'fix' it. "It's too tight, too, I can hardly breath..."

"That's it," said Mouse, going and taking the younger girl back in the room to change. "Come on, Kara, let's get your clothes back on."

"You will not do that again," said Vixen pointedly, glaring at Allie.

"What?" asked Allie with a shrug. "It seemed like a good idea at the time, and she did look cute in the outfit..."

"She's not even ten years old!!" exploded Vixen, Allie drawing back against the wall. "Leave her alone, Allie, she's not some doll you can just dress up like a Mistress and play with. She's a human being, not a pet!"

"Aw, Auntie Vixie looking out for her well being?"

"Better than you are," cut in Sana, a hard look in her eyes. "Don't do that to her, she's a noble woman and will have her fief back someday."

"I'm still waiting for us to make some progress there," said Allie boredly. "Alright, I'll leave her alone. I admit defeat. Whatever."

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

Kyle got up early and dressed before his servants could awake and start fussing over him, helping himself to some fruit in a bowl on the way down and taking his rapier with him as he went. A guard he had gotten to know fairly well was practicing in the main courtyard that morning, a Kyle went over to him, figuring he could use a warm-up as well.

"Hullo, Wesley," he said, getting his attention as he removed his outer tunic and started to do some drills.

"Good morn', milord," said the man with a smile, stopping what he was doing for a second. "What brings you down hear to see me on this fine morning, sir?"

"Just a chance to try my skills against yours," said Kyle recklessly. "Again, that is."

"Milord, I've sent you flying four times now," said Wesley with a frown. "Isn't that enough for ye yet? Are ye daft or something?"

"Not at all," replied Kyle, shaking his head. "I just feel like seeing if I've improved any since then."

"You mean to see if you'll fly in 10 minutes instead of five."

"Exactly."

"As milord wishes..." The two men finished their warm-ups and stood facing each other ready to go. "Ready, sir?"

"Aye."

"Then begin." Kyle attacked quickly and fiercely, but Wesley easily evaded the dancing blade and nearly scored a mark himself, causing Kyle to leap back some. They stopped and circled each other for a minute, Wesley attacking first this time. He came slower, but with less warning. Kyle couldn't tell what he was going to do until the last second, barely having time to dodge out of the way and keep himself in one piece. Wesley spun around and hooked Kyle's foot with his, twisting it and sending him flying onto his back.

"Not bad," said the guard, helping him to his feet. "Mayhap you'll do better next time, milord."

"Maybe," replied Kyle, wiping the sweat from his face and taking a sip from the flask that was offered to him. "Thanks again, Wesley, for humoring me in this endless need of mine."

"Anytime, milord. 'Tis a pleasure to send ye a flying. Especially on such a glorious morn as this."

Kyle smiled and laughed. "I'm sure it is."

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

Amanda easily found the way to the camp, first checking out how many guards there were and what their rotation was. Once every two hours, from what they had gathered by sitting there and watching through most of the day. That should give them enough time...

It was getting close to dusk now, the light fading away as Amanda fit an arrow to her bow for the first guard, Alyse standing beside her in the tree just in case she missed and needed a back up shot. But Amanda never missed her shots. Three guards went down, all of them just in the right area for them to move through and get to the only tent in the whole camp. If Elizabeth was somewhere in that camp, it would probably be there.

Levi and Alyse covered her back with bows (Levi using hers) as she crept through the brush to the tent, slitting the throat of the guard on her side before he could make a sound and dragging him off into the bushes where he was hidden from view. Slitting the side of the tent so she could get in, Amanda stayed to the shadows and motioned for those who saw her to keep quiet.

Levi and Alyse came in as soon as they could safely make it, starting with the ones closest to them and setting everyone free. Chains were muffled with the trio's capes as Levi picked them open, just shrugging with a goofy smile when someone asked him how he knew how to do that.

There had to have been about 25 in all. Amanda got to Lady Hope and her husband, who was halfway down, and gladly embraced her, knowing all along that they'd see each other again someday. "Is Justin really ok?" were the first words out of her mouth, a ray of hope shining in her eyes.

"Yes," replied Amanda sincerely, helping Levi set her free. "Do you think you can walk?"

"All of us can," said Lady Hope sadly. "Those who can't work for their food in building this camp/fort thingy are sent somewhere else, the young ones as well."

"Is Elizabeth here?"

"Down at that end."

"Is she alright?"

"She's in better condition than most of us. I think they were planning on using her for barter real soon."

"Thanks."

Levi and Alyse finished freeing the first half of the people while she went and freed her sister, waking her up by shaking her shoulders gently. "Get up, Liz, come on, we're getting you out of here!"

"Hm...?" Elizabeth opened her eyes, immediately giving Amanda a death-grip hug. "I knew you'd come for me, but- you're bleeding!"

"Don't worry about me," said Amanda, shrugging like she always did. "Come on, you've got to help Alyse get the first group out of here."

"If you're sure..."

"I am."

"Alright."

"Which is closer?" asked Amanda urgently as the first group huddled around the entrance she had made, about half of their time spent already. Dinner would come in an hour with the guard change, and then the night shift of workers would start. They had to be long gone by then, or else they might not make it. "Lynx mountain or one of the forts?"

"The fort by Commander Lyssa," said one of the men immediately. "I can take you there..."

"I know the way," said Alyse with a nod. "We'll go first, you stay and help the second group get in, alright?"

"That's fine," said Amanda with a nod. "Hang on just a second, though..." She peeped her head out the makeshift-door, checking for anyone at all....they must really not like this side of the tent for some reason. A putrid smell wafting to her face told her why, the latrines were on this side of the camp. What fun...

"Go," she said, shooing them out the entrance silently. "Run and don't look back. Help those that can't make it, but don't stop until you've reached the fort. Go!" Alyse nodded and disappeared into the woods, followed by those that made up their group.

Amanda and Levi went to the others who sat there mutely, hope shining in their eyes but not daring to make a sound less they give themselves away. Amanda reached the last pool that was driven into the ground, four young men sharing it with extremely short chains and more locks than the others had had.

"Careful," said Amanda just barely above a whispered, holding the shackles so they wouldn't clank while Levi finished his business of unlocking them. "Just relax, we'll get out of here in just a second..."

"Lady Amanda?" the man gasped, obviously taken back in surprise. "But how did you-" Amanda clamped her hand over his mouth, fearing the guards had heard his exclamation.

"Who are you?" she hissed his ear. "I don't think I know you from anywhere...do I?"

"It's me," said the man, lowering his voice. "Faleron."

"What?!" This time Levi clamped his hands over her mouth, Amanda about ready to pass out from the shock. Faleron was dead!! Or at least they had said he was... Levi let her go, sure that she would control herself this time. "Look, you can explain things late, right now we're busting out of here."

"Right."

The other three were freed and they waited until it was clear to bolt through the small opening they had in the tent to the woods. The man who had said he knew the way went in the lead, Amanda hanging back and covering their trail as she went, Levi helping her catch anything she missed along the way.

"Do you think we'll make it?" he asked, keeping his eyes and ears open for any trackers they might have.

"I don't know," replied Amanda quietly. "We have another fifteen minutes at the most before they discover they're gone. Come on!"

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

Alyse and Liz ran in the front of the group, everyone else staying close behind them as they sped through the woods, not stopping for anything as Amanda had said until they finally made it in front of the fort. The moon was high over head by then, some of the older ones barely standing at all with the help of those around them. They bunched up together, quickly making it to the gate and being called to a halt before they could even lay a finger on it.

"Who goes there?!" someone high above them demanded, several archers ready with arrows on their bows pointed at the group of freed prisoners and their leaders in case in was a trap.

"It's me, Lady Alyse of Lynx Mountain!" called Alyse, stepping into the torchlight. "We need in immediately, there are those with me that require medical attention at once!"

"Yes, milady!" The gates were opened and Commander Lyssa summoned, quickly giving the Lady and her cousin hugs before giving out orders for those with her to be cared for as quickly as possible.

"How did you make it out alive with so many prisoners?" asked Lyssa, motioning to the group of 10 that were with them. "Seems somewhat noticeable to me."

"Amanda got us out and covered our trail," explained Elizabeth quickly. "There are more coming..."

"More? When?"

"We don't know," replied Alyse quickly. "Levi and I caught up with Amanda near the camp and she found a way in, freeing half the prisoners with our help and sending them with me and Liz, who she freed as well. The rest were to follow as soon as she could, but I don't know when that will be..."

"Eric!" she snapped, getting the Captain who was closest to come at a jog.

"Yes, Commander?"

"Go and get the 5th, 6th, and 10th squad ready now!"

"But, Commander-"

"I said now, suited up and ready to go as soon as they can!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"We'll have a constant patrol out of them," said Lyssa quickly, seeing the look on Alyse's face. "Show me the route you took on this map." Alyse pointed it out, feeling the exhaustion of not sleeping for several hours come over her. Lyssa noticed this and sent the two of them to her quarters to rest with an extra bed for one of them put in there. She would take care of things. If the older sister was anything like these two, she would do all she could to make it out alive. And Lyssa knew she'd do everything in her power to help them.

Lyssa and the three squads took three different places along the route, lying hidden in certain parts along the trail in case there were Scanran Raiders about as well. All they had to do now as wait.....and wait they did.

The noon sun rose and started to set, causing Lyssa to get fairly worried. She was the closest one to Scanran fort, and they should've reached her by now...

(Now to the escaping peoples on the run)

The prisoners ran in a haphazard formation, avoiding clear spaces and staying as low as they could as another rain of arrows came from above. Levi and Amanda ran along the in the back, doggedly turning and shooting when ever they could with the few arrows they had left. A huge clearing was up ahead and Amanda wasn't looking forward too it, out in the open they were sitting ducks for such attacks. The Scanrans had been on their trail for two hours now, and so far they had lost two older folks from arrows that killed them immediately.

"AHHH!!" Amanda growled as she snapped the shaft off the arrow that had just entered the back of her leg, easily pulling it out and continuing to run, ignoring the pain that was now coursing through her.

A few of the faster Scanrans came at them from the side all of a sudden, Levi and Amanda taking the three out before they could do much damage, but still losing another person in the process, a girl who had been shot through the head and couldn't have survived at all.

Running by two of those taken down, Amanda grabbed their quivers and slung them over her shoulder, her eyes beginning to flash again.

This was making her angry. She had been running from these soldiers too long, something had to be done about it...

(Back to Lyssa and her soldiers...)

Lyssa had gone back to where the group closest to the fort was, taking the group in the middle with her. Getting off her mount and standing with the others that were waiting for any from the scouts in the trees, she heard something. Like a far off scream that seemed to be getting closer, and the pattering of several feet at once from a distance...

"There they are, ma'am!" cried one of the soldiers, seeing the fleeing prisoners in the distance with a pack of Scanrans right on their tail.

"Wave the flag so they'll know we're here!" commanded Lyssa, dropping back some.

"Help!" came the cry when someone spotted the flag, one of the few left with enough breath period to yell. "Please, help us! We've got Scanran scum right on our butt!!!"

"Archers, go forward and take out those you can from a distance!" called Lyssa, running forward again with her bow in hand. She watched as those from the group running towards them finally made it to some sort of shelter....the last one being Levi who shook her hand warmly.

"You have no idea how good it is to see you," he gasped, leaning on a tree so he had some cover. "Where's Amanda? I didn't see her-"

"Oh shoot," growled Lyssa, pushing Levi back as she took off out into the field, seeing a figure standing behind a boulder with a bow and a few things of arrows shooting constantly at the Scanrans. Whoever it was never missed their mark, but they were also fairly out in the open and already had an arrow sticking out her shoulder that she hadn't bothered to remove.

Levi struggled against the grip of the soldiers who held him back as he watched the Commander run forward, determined to go help his friend but too weak to do so at this point.

"Die," said the voice in a low growl, somewhat familiar to her but from where she couldn't place it. "You've killed innocent people, people who didn't deserve what you did to them! You invaded my home when I wasn't even there to protect it! Scum of the earth! Die!" The commander shook her head at the person's courageous but stupid stunt and shot a few arrows of her own, trying to take out the archers in the front.

Lyssa tackled the woman, whoever it was, to the side as a rain of arrows came at them both, giving them the full cover of the boulder. Except for one of the woman's hands that is. She pulled out the arrow that pierced it's middle and herself, and then the one in her shoulder, ignoring Lyssa completely as her eyes continued to flash back and forth between the two colors.

Lyssa was in shock as she recognized the person as one of her best friends from Indiana before she had moved. "Amanda!?!?!"

Upon hearing her name, the noblewoman snapped out of it an turned to her rescuer and long time friend back home. "Huh?! Lyssa!"

"Oh crap..." They both moved and ran for cover back with the others as a rain of arrows and spears came at them this time, easily reaching over the side of the rock they were behind. Amanda fell behind, her leg and shoulder slowing her down from the pain as she staggered into the camp, Lyssa helping her the moment she rid herself of her weapons and her got into cover.

"Amanda!" cried Levi, coming and helping her on the other side. "Come on, we've got to get you to a healer..."

"We don't have one at the fort and the nearest one is at Counterpoint," said Lyssa automatically, shaking her head as she did. "We're due to get one since the last was killed fighting, but things are slow up here."

"We'll ride to Lynx mountain, then, and then I'll go back and get the healer there," said Levi, picking up Amanda in his arms, her head lolling to the side as she struggled to remain conscious.

"I'll take her to Lynx Mountain," said Lyssa, taking her long time and now just found friend from him and going to her horse, getting help from Eric in mounting. "Meet us there. Eric, get that man a horse and help these people get to the fort safely then send Elizabeth and Alyse to Lynx mountain."

"Yes, Commander!"

"Let's ride!"

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

Libby slept soundly in her bed, the long day's work of taking care of all those people finally beginning to wear on her. Tomorrow, they would finish up here and head to that other fief. No more news had come in, so she assumed everything was fine and slept confidently that no one needed her help right at that moment.

KNOCK!! KNOCK!! KNOCK!!

Libby groaned and rolled out of bed, rubbing her eyes as she went to the door and opened it, seeing a guard and a young man who was panting for air with a worn look to him standing there before her. "Yes?" she asked, yawning.

"Are you the Brazir Mage?" asked the young man.

"Yes," she replied. "What do you need?"

"Lady Amanda is going to die from trying to save her sister if you don't come at once," said Levi, pulling out the door. "Please, you must come and heal her before it's too late!"

"My power is low," she admitted, ducking back in the door long enough to get her outer tunic, cape, and bag. "But I'll do what I can for her. Where's the horses?"

A stable hand stepped up, a fresh mount for the man and Veety's reins in one hand. "Right here, milady."

"Thank you," said Libby, mounting in one smooth motion. "Tell my partner to come after me tomorrow, he needs his sleep for tonight or he'll be a complete jerk tomorrow. Let's go!"

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

Jennifer stood with her herd close to the road by the hut, letting them graze there for the day so she could get back with plenty of time to spare for making a big dinner. She just felt like it tonight. No real reason in particular, she just wanted to cook a whole meal for once.

Two figures in the distance caught her attention just as her mind turned to Boots, the kitten who had been living with his mother since neither one of them had had time since then to go back the fief and find him a home. As the two figures approached, she noticed that they were vaguely familiar, one with spiky hair that was brown and the other with longer hair down to the shoulders...

"Is that our corruptor?" asked one of the figures, a guy who wasn't much older than she, as he dismounted before her.

"Jon?!"

"The one and only."

"Hey," said the girl, getting down as well.

"Sarah!?"

"Of course, who else would it be?"

"Well....I'd don't know....just....yeah. I'm so glad to see you!" She gave Sarah a hug and kept her distance from Jon, since he knew where she was ticklish and might try to use it against her. "How did you find me?" she asked, looking rather puzzled as she thought about it.

"The Rogue friends of ours told us," said Sarah with a grin.

"Yeah," said Jon, rolling his eyes. "Then same ones that threatened to take my manhood..."

"What?!"

"Ignore him, he's being paranoid again," said Sarah with a shrug.

"I am not!"

"Anyways," said Jennifer, hoping to change the subject. "How did you guys get back here? You have to go through the fief to get to this road..."

"We have a letter for your friend Stephanie from her brother, Sean," explained Sarah. "Who, by the way, is a very cute guy. You are one lucky girl, Jennifer." Jenny just blushed and ducked her head, going on back to the hut.

"Come on," she said, having the cats round up the herd. "You can have dinner with us tonight."

"Thanks," said Jon, rubbing his stomach. "The palace food it good, but I'm sure yours will be better."

"Thanks."

"How many cats do you have?" asked Sarah after the herd was in its pen and they sat around the table inside, sipping mugs of coffee and watching as Jennifer prepared their meal.

"Five," she replied quickly. "And one kitten. But we're not sure what to do with him since we can't keep him."

"Too many?"

"Yeah."

"Let me see him." Jennifer got Boots out of his box with his mother and took him to Sarah, being extremely gentle the whole time.

"Aw, he's adorable," cooed Sarah, putting the kitten in her lap. "I'll take him off your hands if that's alright with you."

"Only if you really want to."

"I do."

"Then he's yours."

"Hey, who's the company?" asked Stephanie, coming in the door and taking her usual seat by the fire.

"I'd like you to meet Sarah and Jon, two old friends of mine," explained Jennifer, not even bothering to lower her voice like she usually did. "The Rogue friends of mine sent them to check on me, and they have a letter from Sean for you."

"Nice to meet you," said Stephanie. "You can call me Steph. Where's the letter from that not so bright brother of mine?"

"Right here," said Sarah, fishing it from her pocket. "And thanks for letting us just barge in on you like this."

"That's ok," said Steph. "I see Boots has found his way to you."

"Yes, we'll be taking him with us, if that's alright..."

"Fine," said Steph with a shrug. "He's her cat, and I just feed them."

"Oh, ok."

The four of them spent a fairly nice evening together, catching up on things and getting the latest news on what was happening with the Nurse and Kara. Jenny was just glad to see some more people from her world again. To her, it made this world seem even more like home..

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

Sarah sat on the doorstep of the bunks they were staying in, the kitten in her lap feebly pouncing on the piece of string Sarah was wiggling under her nose. "Very good, Boots," she praised the kitten, scratching him behind the ears. "You're such a good little kitten, yes you are!"

Boots meowed softly and looked up at her with big, round eyes.

"Aw, is Boots hungry?" The kitten seemed to nod, jumping around a bit. "Alright, come on."

Sarah boosted him onto her shoulder, his tiny claws keeping him in place as she got out a clean saucer and poured him some milk, putting it and him on the counter to lap up.

"That's a good Boots," she cooed, watching as his little pink tongue flashed back and forth between the bowl and his mouth to fill his tiny tummy.

Jon was outside in a pen with Mandie, knowing it was time to start getting her used a bridle and wondering how in the world he was going to do it. Using a sugar cube to get her to come over, he patted her neck with one hand and started to put a halter on her with the other, moving slowly as to not startle her too much.

Mandie backed away immediately at the touch of the soft leather and refused to let him put it on her head, prancing and rearing up on her hind legs as he tried to get close enough again and again, only to be repulsed by her flailing hooves and snapping teeth.

"Come on, girl," he groaned, leaning up against the fence post wearily. "I promise it's for your own good. No one can ride you or use you for anything useful if you don't get used to it. Besides, I'm trying to be nice about this. I could be really mean and just shove it on and force you to wear some old rope on that might hurt you and all."

Mandie seemed to consider this for a moment, her head tilted to the side before trotting over and letting him put it on her head. He did it gently, trying not to scare her or anything.

"Alright," he said, "Now you have to learn how to- wait!" Mandie bolted to the other side of the pen, shaking her head as she did.

I've got the halter she seemed to say. That's all you said I had to do, so that's all I'm doing!

Jon sighed, scratching his head as he did. This could be harder than he thought...

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

Mouse sat with Sanalee during the day, watching as Kara played nearby and making sure their older charge was doing well with her recuperation and all.

"How are you feeling?" asked Mouse as Sana woke up after a long nap, getting her a drink of water from the nightstand nearby.

"Better," she replied, sitting up slowly and looking around the room for Karalee. Finding her playing in the corner with some dolls, she sighed and relaxed, getting up out of bed and sitting at the table with Mouse.

"Why is your name so similar so Kara's?" asked Mouse out of the blue, feeling like it was time someone tried to figure it out. "I mean, I can understand the whole 'Yanalee' and 'Karalee', them being mother and daughter, but yours..."

"All females in our family have a four letter name, with two vowels and two constantans put in the same order with 'lee' tagged on at the end," explained Sana, shrugging her shoulders as she did.

"Our?"

"Yeah," replied Sana sheepishly. "I'm Yanalee's cousin....youngest one on her mother's side..."

"Wait, so you're related to Kara by blood?" asked Mouse quickly. "I thought there was some accident several years ago that killed all the aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and such, except for her and her husband and child because they were away. At least on the mother's side."

"That's true," said Sana slowly. "You see, I was supposed to be there that day, so they automatically counted me dead with the others. I was a Rider once, one of Buri's best, but something held me up from arriving on time for that particular banquet. When I was proclaimed dead, I rode to see Yana, and she gave me the job of a Nursemaid for her soon to be born child. That's how I was hired for the job."

"And that boy who claimed to be your brother who disappeared the night after we returned here?"

"He was a young one I took care of when he was little," explained Sana slowly. "So I called him little brother, to make him feel like he had family around. But he's too independent to work for others for long, and I was surprised that he managed that long at the fief without me around to keep him in line."

"I see," Mouse sighed, getting up and pacing around for a moment. "You do realize that that makes things just a little more dangerous for us, right?"

"Yeah."

"I mean, if it gets out that you never really died, and that your cousin kept it under wraps for you....shoot, this whole mess has too many loops for even me to follow at once..."

"I'm sorry," said Sana, lowering her head some. "Really, we don't mean to put you through this much trouble."

"Trouble is what being in the Rogue is about," said Mouse quickly. "This is just a...shock.....that's all..."

"Then you will tell the others?"

"I'll have to."

"That's fine." Sana went to lay back down, Kara coming up and laying with her as the two fell asleep.

"Everything makes sense now," murmured Mouse as they dozed off, fighting the urge to do the same. "Yet, it really doesn't..."

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

Kyle laughed from his perch high above the ground, feeling his heart race as the hawks swooped around him and he jumped from mind to mind without end. One minute he was plunging from a dizzying height towards the ground. The next, he was soaring high in the sky. This one was doing quick darts through the trees. That one was enjoying a nice, lazy circle in the sky.

"Time passes too quickly for its own good when you're flying," he murmured to himself, pulling himself back and going through the bag he had beside him, knowing he was going to be late already and he should send a message to Martin so he would know not to get worried about him. "Yaro, come here, will you?"

A small falcon came and landed on his arm, watching as he wrote something on a slip of paper, rolling it up and giving it to the bird to deliver for him. "Hang on," he said, slipping into the falcon's head. "I'll go with you and show you who to give it to. Head west, winged friend."

The falcon nodded a did so, soaring over the town to the small garden Kyle knew Martin would be in, sending Yaro in there at a slow pace so as not to startle anyone.

Martin was sitting with his father and some other fellows when the falcon approached him, scaring him at first since birds of prey rarely offered to come anywhere near humans, then relieved when he read the note it gave to him.

"Tell Master Kyle that he'd better not be too late because he has some dinner guests tonight," Martin told the bird, ignoring the confused looks of the men around him. The falcon nodded and took off. "Now, gentlemen, where was I? Oh yes..."

Kyle laughed from where he was at what he had seen before packing up his things and heading down the tree to the mountain, and then to the fief below.

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

Libby was flushed with frustration by the time she got into the room, everyone one of the servants but the old, kindly one they called Grandfather had questioned her being there until he sent them away and led her to the room himself, just to make sure she didn't run into anymore trouble.

The patient was on the first floor, although (as Grandfather had explained) her room was on the third floor, they were worried about her being moved too much and simply had her put in his son's room, which was on the ground floor, and his son (who was the one who had gotten her) moved to a couch in the study for the time being.

An older woman was fluttering around dressed in a healer's garb, doing what she could to relieve the figure in the bed of the room of the ailments she had. "What's wrong with her?" asked Libby, still not able to see the face and ignoring the other three in the room. She began to pull out some bottles and herbs of her own, knowing at least a few of them would be used in the time to come.

"An arrow wound to the right shoulder, right hand, and back of the left leg below the knee. Several slashes and cuts in various places, mostly from sharp weapons swung at her, and lots of blood lost. A fever that I can't get to go down and going delusional as well," replied the matron systematically. "That, and several bruised bones and muscles. Maybe some internal bleeding, I can't be sure, and cracked bones in certainly a possibility too."

"How did she get all this?" demanded Libby, looking up from her sack of supplies for a moment.

"Fighting Scanrans." The healer gave her a look, saying there was probably much more to it than that but now was not the time.

"A noble lady?!" Libby gave the woman a look of disbelief.

"Yep." Libby quickly went to the beside of the lady, knowing something had to be off. There had to be a better explanation for this she reasoned; brushing the long, tangled hair of the woman out of her face before she realized who it was in surprise.

"Amanda?!" she exclaimed, immediately turning her head to where the others stood. "Elizabeth?! Alyse?!"

Elizabeth's head shot up, almost asleep in the chair she was curled up in at the moment. "Huh?!"

"Is that you Libby?!" The sister and cousin were amazed, but too tired otherwise to do more than drop their jaws and stare. Levi stood beside them, looking very confused and completely exhausted from not sleeping for two days straight or more. (Poor fellow....)

"Of course it's me," she said a tad bit sharply. "You know what, I'll find out whatever the heck is going on later. Right now, I have to save her."

"Then do it!" exclaimed Liz.

"I will!"

"Ok!"

"Fine!"

"Ok!"

Libby went and knelt by the bed, doing a quick internal diagnostic of her own before deciding what to heal and what would have to heal on it's own. "Patch all the wounds with the salves from the green and blue bottles," she murmured, the matron writing down everywhere. "Give her a sip from the red flask with yellow stripes, that will help with the fever and delusions. Keep water in her and give her a spoonful of syrup from the brown bottle to keep her asleep. I'm going in to see what I can fix. And get those three out of here and in bed! They're going to make themselves sick if they don't from the looks of it."

"Don't over reach yourself," warned the matron before Libby went into a full trance, listing the injuries in her head. "It's not worth the risk. Even for a noble, or more importantly a friend."

"I know," whispered Libby, her head sinking rest on the bedspread. She had fully tranced, and no one knew what would happen when she woke up. All they could do was hope...

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

Amanda could feel the cool sheets underneath her as she tried to move, her shoulder automatically flaring up in pain and her right hand bound so tight it was numb. Her vision dark and blurry as she opened her eyes, giving them time to clear out and focus themselves before trying to look around the room she was in.

It wasn't hers, that was for sure. A dim lamp on the table showed that others were in the room, walking around and talking quietly, glancing at her occasionally or keeping their eyes elsewhere. Elizabeth was there, Alyse as well....but she couldn't place the other two. A man and a woman dressed in Brazir clothes. Some how, she felt like she knew them, but couldn't quite remember. She could feel the bandages that bound her body as she tried to sit up, almost covering from head to toe by the feel of it too.

"Easy," said the one woman, immediately at her side with a cup in her hands. "Here, let's get your pillows up for you....there, now drink this."

Amanda looked the woman in the eyes, recognition dawning on her face. "Libby?!" she rasped, her throat too dry to talk properly. She looked at the other guy, recognizing him as well. "Artman?!"

"Yeah," said Libby, patting her head. "Poor Manda, got herself all scraped up acting like a good big sister."

"You know, I'd tickle you if I weren't in so much pain," growled Amanda, sipping the drink and almost spitting it back out. "Ung!!! What is this stuff?!"

"A special drink just for you," said Libby with a wink, "Drink it, I promise it will make you feel better."

"Sure it will," muttered Amanda, plugging her nose and forcing herself to chug it down as quickly as she could. Amazingly enough, when she was through (and after stopping herself from gagging it up a few times) it cleared her head and lessened the pain, giving her more energy to move around some more.

"How are you feeling?" asked Elizabeth, coming and sitting next to her on the bed.

"Fine," said Amanda, inspecting her right hand. "I got an arrow through it, didn't I?"

"It'll be fine," said Libby with a smile. "We've swapped stories since you've been out. So, you're the renegade Lady of Corus, are you?"

"What are you?" asked Amanda sarcastically. "Some desert fairy?"

"Ever heard of the Brazir Mage?"

"Yeah, everyone talks about them," admitted Amanda, shifting around on her bed some.

"That's me and Artman."

Amanda sat up straighter, ignoring the fire that shot through her body as she did. "No way!!"

Libby giggled. "Yes, way."

"Then why am I still hurt and in pain?" asked Amanda quickly. "You fixed a man's severed spinal cord!!!"

"Your major injuries are gone," said Libby with a grin. "Which will help you recover more quickly. However, all your surface wounds have been left as they are so you can remember what it feels like and maybe not be quite to stupid next time you run after someone like that."

"What, you're saying that I shouldn't have gone after Elizabeth?" asked Amanda angrily.

"No, what I'm saying is that you took some risks that you could've avoided," Libby admonished her gently. "What the heck was up with the standing there with almost no cover and shooting at the enemy when there was a place of safety, like, 200 feet behind you??"

"She has a point," said Elizabeth, frowning as she did. "I knew you'd come after me, but you didn't need to do stuff like that!"

"Eh, shaddup," growled Amanda, shrugging her shoulders as she did. "You were the one that should've been inside the walls to begin with. Grandfather told you not to go out into the town below until we got back! So technically, this is your fault that I got hurt like this."

"My fault?! For you standing there and doing something extremely pointless and careless?!"

"Careless, yes, pointless, no. I was able to take out several of the bastards before I was tackled."

"Which, by the way, you should've have been able to do, physically speaking," said Libby quietly. "Your give actually gave your energy and strength when your natural reserves of it ran out."

"Eh." Amanda shrugged, looking around the room suddenly. "Hey, where did Commander Lyssa go anyways? And what happened to the prisoners?"

"Back to her fort. The prisoners who made it are all here being taken care of by Libby," said Alyse quickly. "Lyssa said she'd be back in a few days to talk to you. What does she want to know?"

Amanda smiled. "You'll see. How long was I out?"

"Three days," said Libby. "Thanks to my wonderful syrup, that is."

"Could you at least tell me if these wounds are going to scar?" asked Amanda lightly, knowing she probably deserved the pain right about then.

"Every single one of them," replied Libby with her cute and fluffy grin.

"How does she act so scatter brained and Libby-like one second, then get all serious nurse-ish the next?" wondered Amanda aloud, getting a pillow in as everyone else laughed. (Everyone, but Libby, that is. ^_^)

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

Alyse walked down the halls of the mansion by herself, her own bruises and scrapes stinging irritably as she made her way to Infirmary they had created for those who had been saved. Libby had said someone down there was asking for her, and she might as well go and see who it was as long as she had the time for it now.

Being shown to a small room along side the main Ward, she saw a man sitting by the window that looked fairly familiar. Shutting the door behind her softly, he didn't even hear she was there. Still staring out the window with that ever-sad gaze. A look of hopelessness and despair.

"You wanted to see me?" she asked, getting his attention. The man stood up and looked at her, searching her face for something. For some sign that she recognized him. "Do I know you?" she asked at least, frowning some.

"Have I changed that much?" he asked in a low voice, holding his arms out slightly. "Look at me, Alyse, who am I?"

Alyse's eyes opened wide, her hand flying to her mouth as she backed up to the door, her other hand on the knob and preparing to bolt back to her private rooms.

"Wait!" cried Faleron, catching her sleeve. "Please, Alyse, I know.....I know this hard for you. For both of us. But....can't we just talk for a minute?"

Alyse nodded mutely, slowly going and sitting in a chair a few feet away. "How?" she asked after silence had hung between them for a few moments. "They said you were dead, that only a few survived..."

"Those who survived where spies of Maggur's," said Faleron slowly, rubbing his temples as he did. "We were invited to stay at the fief, then trapped in our rooms as the rest of the fief burned to the ground in the 'attack' by the 'Raiders'. The old man of the place was a Scanran supporter and took most of his possessions north with the help of some mages he hired so he could be under the rule of Maggur. Apparently his grandfather or something was a Scanran who had turned on his people and gotten to be a Tortallan noble that way."

"The eldest son was the only one to 'make it out' of the fire, and he claimed it was an accident so no investigation was ever made. We were chained and tied together, each one searched and questioned for anything that they could use to prove it really happened. They took the ring I was going to give to you....I assume they gave it to you when they gave you the 'bad news'...."

Alyse wordlessly pulled it out from under her top on the chain she used to hold it, handing it to him after she had taken it off.

Faleron sighed, understanding what she was trying to say, but went on with his story for the time being. "They quickly took us up North, drugged the majority of they way, under the guise of  Merchants and then had us beaten, tortured, or even killed for information concerning the Tortallan army and it's movements. None of us said anything, and most of us didn't survive. When they realized we weren't going to talk, they had us start building that camp for them. Over half of us who were left died from disease or starvation, and only three of the four of us that were left made it out in the escape alive."

"Faleron," said Alyse softly, lifting her head to meet his eyes with hers. "I'm sorry that something like that happened to you....I really am, you didn't deserve to go through that.....but things can't go back to the way they were..."

"I know," he said with a nod.

"No, you don't," replied Alyse, blinking the tears out of her eyes. "Do you know how long I mourned over you? How long it took before the hole that was in my heart could even begin to heal? I had to let go of you, Fal, make you dead to me in order for me to even begin to hope of living a normal life again. You have a special place in my heart, Faleron, you always will. But I can't love you anymore."

Faleron sighed, looking at the ring that lay in his hands and knowing that something like this was going to happen. "Then we are still friends?" he asked hopefully, reaching his hand out to her.

"Friends we will always be," she replied, squeezing his hand gently. "But nothing more than that."

"I understand," he said, rising to his feet. "Thank you, Alyse, for listening to me." Alyse nodded and left the room, knowing she had done the right thing, but feeling right then like her heart had been ripped in two...

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

Lyssa rode up on her horse into the fief, Grandfather waiting for her out front from the message she had sent ahead of her. "Glad to have you back, Commander," he said, bowing respectfully.

"Thank you," said Lyssa, bowing in return. "How is Am- I mean Lady Amanda doing since she got back?"

"Much better," replied Grandfather with a grin. "She hasn't left the room yet, the Brazir Mage won't let her yet, but she has limped around a bit and is able to get some food down occasionally as well."

Lyssa sighed, smiling as she did. "I'm glad to hear it. Anyway I could go see her right now?"

"Of course," said Grandfather, a twinkle in his eye. "She's always glad to have some company." He led the way to the room, going through the servant's halls and arriving at one of the large rooms towards the back, opening the door before her and closing it afterwards.

"Hello, Lyssa," said Alyse from her place by the window, brightening up some. "How have you been?"

"Fine," said Lyssa with a grin, wondering if there was a way she could get her to leave so she could speak to Amanda in private.

"Hey," said Amanda from the bed, sitting up and propping her pillows up behind her with her good arm. "How do you know Alyse?"

"She and I met on the Procession," said Lyssa with a smile. "Although, I was surprised when they told me she was your cousin..."

"Alyse," said Amanda suddenly, deciding it was time they both knew the truth. "Think way back to right before *it* all happened, when we were back in the band room the night before and I was talking about a friend of mine that was going to visit. Well, that's her. Lyssa Freeland of Indiana." She turned to Lyssa, who was looking very confused. "Lyssa, remember that friend of mine who was a Champion horse rider and had that cabin that I stayed in with her family? Well, that's her. Alyse Schuver of North Carolina."

Both young women stood their mouths open, going back and forth from staring at Amanda to each other and then back to Amanda again.

"You mean that...

"She and I..."

"Are from the same world," finished Amanda with a nod, hearing someone knock on the door. "Come on in."

"Hey," said Libby, sticking her head in and Elizabeth bouncing up and down behind her. "Can we come in?"

"Of course," said Amanda, "You guys know Lyssa, right?"

"Of course," said Libby with a grin. "I healed her awhile back from an arrow wound.

"Oh, so you'll heal her but you won't heal me," muttered Amanda mockingly.

"Yep, pretty much."

"Hey," said Elizabeth, seeing the looks on Lyssa and Alyse's face. "What's going on here?"

"Lyssa," said Amanda, smiling as widely as she could. "Meet Elizabeth Davis and Libby Daugherty, are also from our world."

"Our world?" asked Libby, her eyes going wide. "You mean that she's..."

"From America as well," admitted Amanda. "She's that friend that was supposed to come to the band room that day and meet you all. Apparently, she got detoured along the way."

"Wahoo!!!" cried Libby, dancing around the room. "Yes! One more down, only 7 left to go!!"

"What's she talking about?" asked Lyssa, backing up some from the still celebrating mage.

"Um, there's 13 of us here in all," explained Amanda, having heard the whole story about the Lady Mage the other night. "Including her and Artman, the other Mage, so right now she had four of us that she knows of other than two and it makes her job that much easier."

"And those four and now you, me, Elizabeth and Alyse."

"Exactly."

"I see..."

Everyone watched Libby dance around some more, sweating when several little bunnies appeared out of nowhere and began to dance as well, doing the Bunny Hop around the room in circles.

"I think I'm gonna leave now..." said Lyssa, making her way to the door as the rest just kinda sat there and watched, wondering if the insanity would ever end.

"Later," said Amanda from the bed, waving as she did. "Keep in touch, alright?"

"Alright. Bye." Lyssa practically ran all the way to her horse and galloped out the front gate. That was the weirdest thing she had ever seen the whole time she had been in Tortal, and she hoped to never it again either...

(A/N: The reason that it's not the weirdest thing in her whole life is because she's a guard girl, and goodness knows they're weird enough as it is being band geeks like the rest of us. Just thought you'd like to know that! ^_^;;)

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

Jennifer was lying in the field when the Tomcat came by, his fur kind scruffy with an orange coat and a white splotches here or there. He found Snowball and went up to her, licking her head affectionately before moseying over to Jennifer and sniffing her hand for a few seconds, deciding she was alright and letting her scratch him behind the ears before going back over to Snowball and sunning himself lazily beside her.

"I take it that's the father of the kittens?" Jennifer asked Snowball, getting a meow in reply. "And it he staying here for awhile?" The Tom cat got up and looked around, meeting up with the other cats and only having a problem with Caramel and Tigress who pulled the big brother big sister act on him before he convinced them he was alright and they accepted him into the family. The six of them romped around awhile, wrestling with each other and acting like kittens all bouncy and full of energy as they pounced and prance on each other.

"Great, one more cat is all we need, right?" murmured Jennifer, her eyes half closed as she resisted the urge to sleep for the moment.

The Tomcat seemed to shrug, curling up with Snowball and the rest of the cats in the sun around her as they all decided it was time to take a nap. "Oh, well," said Jennifer, shrugging as she did. "I guess I'll have to name you now. Hm....*yawn*....Tom sounds good....*yawn*.... Yeah, I like....*yawn*.... the name Tom....zzz....zzz...."

Aren't they so cute??

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

Sarah sat beside Jon in the Mess Hall at the Rider's facilities, eating with Onua, Sarge, and Penny up on the dais for their evening meal. Things had been going well since they had visited Jennifer at her home, enjoying the meal of homemade soup and fresh bread with a pie for dessert that she had set before them.

The kitten was fine, getting bigger everyday and more courage to explore more and more of the place as long as Sarah was near by to protect him from anything that might scare him in the big world he found himself in.

Jon, unfortunately, had collected several nice bruises from trying to teach Mandie to obey simple commands, and even tried to put a saddle on her once. Not exactly the smartest thing he had ever done, but knowing him...yeah...

"Hello," said Stephen, appearing out of nowhere and sitting down with them at the table. Onua stopped chewing the bite of bread that was in her mouth and looked at him strangely.

Swallowing it, she sighed and shook her head. "How do you do it?" she asked. "I didn't even see you come in and the only door is right there!"

"You'll find out someday," he replied with a wink, rocking back in his chair legs as he did. "I just wanted to talk with these two for a moment about their new job up north next spring. Is that ok?"

"Sure," replied Sarge, continuing his discussion with Penny about different ways to heal a festering wound. "Go right ahead."

"I've spoken with some horse breeders around here, and they've decided on a list of about 50-60 new horses that you're going to get," said Stephen, sitting the chair back down on all four legs. "Plus what you are taking from the royal stables....yeah, we're going to get you two some new helpers. Not Tanner, he's needed hear with me in the stables. There's a few applicants come in for the job, but I'll have to go through and interview them before anything is complete. There's a place already set aside for you to use for their grazing grounds once you head up there, and the buildings for it are being made right now."

"Cool," said Jon with a shrug. "Is that all we needed to know?"

"Yeah, pretty much," replied Stephen with a shrug. "There is one request that have, learn to shoot a bow or fighting with a spear just in case, alright? It could come in handy, that's all I'm saying."

"So, we're close enough to the front that we could be seeing some action?"

"It's a very slim chance, but the chance is still there..."

"Alright."

"I have to go now, bye guys!"

"Bye."

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

Joe stood facing Sanalee in the courtyard behind the Dancing Dove, his rapier out and waiting for her to finish her usual exercises to warm herself up. She had borrowed an older rapier from one of the thieves and was standing there in a defensive position when Vixen signaled for them to start, backing up quickly as she did. Levi came forward smoothly, not really trying to beat her as much as test her as he tried to find holes in her defense and use them to his advantage.

There were few to be found, though, and he figured they were about equally matched as she began to attack back, catching him off guard at times and nearly ending the match at some points.

"Time," called Vixen after several minutes, going and standing between the two of them. "Gee whiz, I hope the two of you never actually fight because chances are you'd both end up dead. Needless to say, that wouldn't be a good thing..."

"Not bad," admitted Levi lightly, shaking hands with the ex-Rider. "Who taught you to fence so well?"

"I had a few lessons from Lady Alanna," admitted Sanalee with a shrug. "But mainly I taught myself with drills and lots of practice matches."

"Cool. Fencing ran in my family."

"Nice. Who got you the fancy blade?"

"Our ever dearest Vixie."

"Oh really?" Sana and Vixen exchanged glances, Vixen blushing slightly. "So, how did you do that one move? The one where it looked like you were going right, then darted left real fast."

"Oh, that one? That's real easy, you see ...."

Vixen walked off and left the two of them to discuss how to fence while she went back inside to rule the Rogue from her chair as she always did. To her, fencing was much to complicated and made her head hurt. Why learn all those moves when you can just toss and dagger and be done with it?

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Kyle sat in his office reading the letter he had gotten from a fellow he knew up north, fighting with his emotions over the news he had heard. Lynx Mountain had been hit, and one of the ladies wounded from something bad enough to need the Brazir Mage to come and heal her.

That was all that was really known, other than the fact that they were still planning to come south for the winter. He wished some how he could get more news, but that was impossible past going North himself and visiting them at their home. Chances were they'd leave before he did anyways and end up missing them on the way there as well.

He shook his head and tossed the letter into the fire, watching it burn to help relieve some of his tension. Only it didn't really work. Growling in frustration, Kyle called for Martin and began to make his plans, deciding things as he went and doing his best to remember everything that had to be done.

"What is it, sir?" asked his ever-faithful servant, appearing in the doorway.

"I'm leaving for the palace tomorrow," said Kyle quickly. "There's new from up north and the only place to find out more will be from there."

"And I'm to stay here this time, correct?"

"Yes, Martin. I'll stay in contact with you as best I can, and let you know if anything happens there that might require your attention."

"Very good, sir. I'll have your thing prepared and an escort arranged so you won't have to travel alone."

"Thank you, Martin."

Kyle sat back in his chair once more after he had left, going over everything in his mind. If he heard worse news at the palace, he would directly north and see if there was something he could do. Or should do. Mithros, he hated it when he couldn't get all the facts like this.....

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There's your chapter number 24 my friends! Thanks to those of you who reviewed, as always. Please, review after you've read this. It does make me feel oh so warm and fuzzy inside...^_^ Much thanks to those who contributed their parts to this chapter, I luv you guys!

~Crosseyedbutterfly~