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!*

26.

I is back and better than ever!! Needless to say, I've a great four day weekend (during which I went to the Renaissance Fair, I got to carry a real sword all day to! ^_^) not to mention that other great things have been happening this week. ^_~

Congrats to Libby once more, she knows what I'm referring to. (You've made us wait so long that I'm allowed to do this!! *evil grin*) Really, if I'm sounding a little off the wall right now I blame it on the very long recital going on in my house for all these piano and voice students and the fact that I had some funny ice cream today!! ; p

Now, on with the show!!!

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Amanda galloped down the road on the same horse as Elizabeth, her younger sister fast asleep in the saddle in front of her while sitting up and leaning on Amanda for support. Hers had thrown a shoe not three days into the journey and they had been sharing since then. They were in view of the palace, which was a welcome sight after several days on the road, and all in the group were looking forward to hot meals and baths without the 'dirty old inn' feel that night.

"We're going on ahead," said Amanda to Libby and Artman behind her, Levi coming up so he could follow her. "Stay with the wagon, will you? I just want to her to a bed before she falls off or something."

"You could put her in there, you know," said Libby teasingly, motioning to the wooden box on wheels that now carried most of their belongings.

"On top of what, the trunks?" scoffed Amanda, eyeing the already too full vehicle and knowing it would hold no more. "Then you'd get to drag it back because the wheels would fall off. We're going because my shoulder's starting to bug me again and I don't know how much longer I'll be able to hold her."

Libby grinned evilly, a strange light coming to her eyes. "You know," she said, trying to sound thoughtful. "I could just give you another tonic..."

"Let's go," muttered Amanda to Levi before she could say another world, getting a good distance away before she even dared to slow down and even then it was only a bit.

"Come on," said Levi lightly as they got to the main courtyard. "Her stuff can't taste that bad...." Seeing Amanda glare at him rather pointedly, he dropped the subject like a wet rag and went about his business taking the horses and putting them up, Amanda waking Elizabeth long enough to get her off the mare and into a guard's arms who had agreed to carry her to their rooms.

"Greetings, Lady Amanda," said a familiar voice behind them. She turned and saw the King and Queen standing their patiently, both dressed rather casually for once and waiting patiently for her to respond.

"Your highness," she replied, bowing at the waist. "Your ladyship. Were you waiting for me or is something else keeping you here at the moment?"

"We were waiting for you," admitted the King with a nod. "There are many things for us to discuss, but I understand you have some...interesting news for me first."

"I assume you've already heard of our 'adventures' with the Scanrans," said Amanda, toying with a dagger harmlessly as she did.

"Of course," said the King. "Once the word got here it spread like wildfire. You have become a hero to some and a heretic to others."

"Wonderful," murmured Amanda roughly, shrugging as she did. "Look, we found three of your soldiers from that fire at that fief with the raid when all but that one fellow were killed. Does the name Faleron of King's Reach ring a bell, milord?"

"He's dead," said the King immediately, shaking his head as he did. "What are you getting at, Lady Amanda?"

"That he's not dead," replied Amanda slowly. "Look, they're traveling with my cousin and will get here in a few days. If you want to send someone to check on them, be my guest but you'd better treat those three well. They've been through a heck of a lot more than anyone should ever have to endure, Sire."

"I'll consider what you've said and we'll discuss some other matters later," said the King quickly, heading for his chambers once more. "By the way, when your new acquaintances, the Brazir Mages, get here we will be holding a feast for them. I would suggest you freshen up and prepare for it."

"Thank you sire," sighed Amanda, bowing once more and heading for her rooms as she did. "I will..."

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

Libby and Artman finally reached the gates of the palace, their escorts heading for their stables in which to put their horses and the grooms taking care of the wagon which was brought in as well.

"Some of that is for Lady Amanda and her sister," said Libby as she dismounted Veety and sent him off with a groom, stretching out a bit after she did. "Some of it is ours. It's marked, just go by what the tags say."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Where to now?" asked Artman after having stood there a moment, looking as lost as ever.

"Baka," said Libby in a growl, checking to make sure all her bunnies were with her as she did. She now carried two bags, one with Pinky and part of her off spring and Rose and some of her offspring. The rest had either been given away or sold somewhere or another to villagers along the way. Those that were left had been neutered or spayed (for obvious reasons) and wondered what she was going to do next herself.

A servant made that choice for her by beckoning for them to follow him into the palace and towards the King's rooms. "His Majesty wishes to see you," he explained pertly, stopping in front of the appropriate door and holding it open for them. "Milady, sir, please go in and wait for his Highness there."

"Thank you," said Libby, giving him one of her cutesy smiles before going and having a seat before the desk in the room. Artman wandered around for a bit (still looking very lost)  before he sat down in a chair beside her and waited for the King as well, fidgeting with the belt of his robes as he did.

"Hello, there," said the King as he walked in the door, bowing to the two mages who got up and bowed as well before taking this seat behind the desk. "We're glad to have you back and pleased to see you've been doing so well, too. How are things for you on the Northern boarder?"

"Busy," admitted Libby as she settle back into her chair. "We're kept on call all the time and sometimes don't get a break for days. But I like it."

"What are you, sir?" asked the King, turning his attention to Artman. "How fares things for you?"

"Oh me?" asked Artman, his gaze flitting back and forth between the two for a second. "Oh...it's alright I guess... She is right that we do sometimes go for days without end, but I do wish people would just let us sleep sometimes."

"If they let us sleep their homes and families might be stolen into slavery and towns burned to the ground," retorted Libby, glaring at him as she did. "If losing some sleep means I can save someone else, I'll do it."

"Oh..." muttered Artman, hanging his head and looking away as he did. "Right..."

"There will be a feast in an hour to celebrate your return," said the King abruptly, hoping to steer the topic away from something the two might fight over. "It would be advised, there fore, that you be on time and to take what time you have to freshen yourselves up a bit."

"Of course," said Libby with a grin, petting Pinky absently as she did.

"Good," said the King, rising from his seat as he did. "I have a few things I must attend to before the feast, so if you'll excuse me..." He got up and left, Libby and Artman following soon after and heading straight for their rooms.

"At least you don't have to wear a striped dress this time," said Artman, trying to lighten the move."

"Oh, shut up."

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

Alyse and the three soldiers with their two escorts rode in a few days later, immediately being ushered into the throne room with it's usual mix of peasants and courtiers. "Announcing Lady Alyse and her three escorts!" cried the herald, letting them in the door stiffly and closing it behind them as well.

Alyse walked carefully down the isle to the throne, keeping her friends back from greeting her with a few well placed gestures and looks. If she was to be hung for this, she didn't want their names to be tarnished as well in the process.

"Your majesty," she said, going down into a deep curtsy before them. "Milady."

"Lady Alyse, replied the King gravely, nodding to her as she rose back to her feet. "Who are your guests that you bring with you?"

"Faleron of King's Reach, Sire," she replied evenly, the three of them removing their hoods at the same time. "As well of two other soldiers who were claimed to be dead."

A gasp arose from the crowd as everyone strained to see those standing there behind her. "It is him!" cried one of the young Knights, coming out of the crowd with a frown. "He was the same year as I when we graduated to Squires, and took the Ordeal the same year as well."

"We have heard your story already from cousin and wish to confirm it only," said the King, rising to his feet as silence settled back over the crowd. "Is it true that that night you were not attacked by raiders, but by Scanrans sent to come and help a noble who supported him flee north?"

"Yes, sire," replied Faleron steadily.

"And is it true that you've been captive for several months at a camp the Scanrans had and only you three survived?"

"Yes, Sire."

The King smiled and turned to his Queen, who nodded her approval. Extending his hand, he walked towards them slowly. "Then be at ease," he said, shaking Faleron's hand firmly. "And know that you are welcomed back home with open arms."

A cheer went up around the room as Alyse's friends all came and flocked about her, greeting her warmly (Yamanis and Tortallan alike) before demanding more about the story.

"Glad to be back?" asked the Queen, drawing her aside for a moment with a small grin.

"Yes, I am," admitted Alyse. "It's been crazy up there, I was hoping for some peace once I got here."

"You'll never get it as long as you keep doing the amazing things you and your cousins do," replied the Queen teasingly, "But it was very brave what you three did. You should be proud of yourselves."

"Thank you," said Alyse, curtsying as she did. "I assume you're going to let them at me now?"

The Queen smiled. "But of course." Alyse kept herself calm as she was once more enveloped by the large crowd demanding to be told the story or for the others to drop it for the moment. And they said noble's had it easy...

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

Lyssa wearily stabled her mount herself in a stall at the Royal Stables, a hot bath in mind as well as a good meal as her escorts waited patiently for their next order, their horses and belongings already taken care of.

"Go and rest for today," said Lyssa at last, putting the last bit of tack up and putting a bag over one shoulder and another under her arm. "But leave bright and early tomorrow for the fort. They will need every man and woman they can get, understand?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Then go." Lyssa started out for the Rider's quarters, already having her room assignment from a servant who had met them by the gate when they first arrived. Putting her things in the small bunk and getting some food from the kitten, she stopped by the baths real quick before drying off, dressing in something that was clean, and heading for the palace to see who she could find to talk to.

"Hey," she said, seeing Alyse coming the other way towards the Noble's stables with an apple in her hand. "Going to see Fern?"

"Yeah," replied Alyse with a small smile. "When did you make it in? Yesterday or today?"

"Today, just a few hours ago," admitted Lyssa with a shrug. "You're not hanging in the wind by your neck, so I'm assuming things went alright?"

"Yes, they did," replied Alyse, nodding slightly. "They're trying to track down the guy who told them the fief had burned to the ground now, turns out he disappeared awhile ago."

"Interesting," said Lyssa with a grin. "I'll let you go visit your horse now, since you did bring her a treat and everything. Later."

"Bye."

Lyssa wandered down the halls for awhile, saying hi to someone she knew every now and again, even seeing the Lioness briefly before she was ushered into some meeting. Figuring it couldn't be too hard, she asked around until she found someone who could tell her where Amanda and Elizabeth's rooms were.

"Anyone home?" asked Lyssa, sticking her head in the open door and seeing Amanda sitting with her back to her talking with Levi while trying to sort out some paper work at the same time.

"Hey," said Amanda, flashing her a smile before turning around and going right back to work. "You finally made it."

"Yeah, I did." Lyssa came around and sat next to her, examining what they were all looking at. "What are those??"

"Tax files for the fief," replied Amanda with a groan. "No one's bothered to go over them for years, so we figured we would as long as we're here and have the time."

"Desk duty?"

Amanda nodded slowly. "Pretty much."

Lyssa grimaced, getting back up and shaking her head as she did. "I'm sorry, Amanda."

"So am I. By the way, are you planning on telling you....secret to anyone anytime soon??"

"Not really," admitted Lyssa with a shrug. "At least not yet. It's fine if the King knows about you, but I think the rest of us should definitely keep it under wraps. At least for a little while, anyways."

"I agree."

"I have to go meet with Onua," she said suddenly, hearing the fourth bell for the afternoon. "Later."

"Bye."

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

Kyle paced up and down the halls of the palace, knowing the two sisters had to be there somewhere. He could've sworn he'd seen the older one a few times, but she just seemed to vanish right before his very eyes. Then again, there was this strange girl he kept seeing at a distance who looked exactly like Elizabeth, his last girlfriend in the 'real world' before he had been sucked in...

Catching something out of the corner of his eye, he saw her pass him in the hallway with Levi, talking quietly about whatever they were carrying in those large files in their hands.

"Lady Amanda!" he called, quickly getting her attention and coming up beside her panting slightly and giving her a quick bow. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to find people in this humongous palace??"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do, Baron," she replied with a sigh, bowing her head slightly as she did. "Can I help you with something."

"I was just wondering as to the whereabouts of your sister, Lady Elizabeth," said Kyle, drawing himself up and waiting patiently for the answer. He looked like a peacock waiting for the chance to spread out his tail and show the world his splendorous brightly colored feathers.

"Where is she today?" murmured Lady Amanda to herself for a moment as she tried not to laugh, furrowing her brow as she did. "Did she...? Oh, right! I'm sorry, Baron, but she's at Lalasa's today getting herself fitted for some new dresses."

"Oh..." said Kyle, immediately deflating slightly. "Well...thanks anyways. Do you know when I might be able to meet with her?"

"She's going to be at the masquerade tomorrow," said the Lady quickly, biting her lip as she thought about it. "Yes, she'll be there. Find me and I'll show you where she is and you can meet her there, alright?"

"Alright!! Thank you very much, Lady Amanda!!"

"Anytime!!" she called back to him as he took off down the halls, heading for his rooms to go and get his purse so he could go shopping. He hadn't planned on going to the masquerade...it was time to buy a costume!!

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Vixen watched greedily from her window as more Noble's and rich merchants rode into town; the horses, wagons, and carriages clogging up the normal, everyday traffic. She could see their fat purses from there and wondered if she could get a few snatches in if she really wanted to. Seeing one of her thieves almost get trampled from trying it, she decided against it and continued to sit there, flipping a dagger lightly in her hand.

"It will be a good season for thieving," she remarked to Allie, who had just come in the room.

"You're telling me," replied Allie, taking a pouch from her shirt and dumping it on the table. "That's just from this morning at the Dragon's Lair, that new inn on the outskirts of town."

"It's almost full, then?"

"To the brim, I think they're putting people in the stables just so they'll have room for everyone."

"Great..."

"For us, yeah," replied Allie with a toothy grin. "I don't think I can say the same for them, though."

"True," admitted Vixen, nodding her head slowly. "It should be interesting, with all these new merchants here and all. I'll have to send someone out to check out what the new wares might be."

"That, and what's the easiest way to get them, too," added Allie. "Do you want me to go find some good sneaks to go right now?"

"Wait until tomorrow," said Vixen over her shoulder, seeing one man come in with several large metal weapons in his wagon and heading for Raven Armories. "Give those merchants a sense of...security before we take it away from them."

"Alright," said Allie, taking the pouch from the table and counting out the coins she had taken. "Hm...four gold nobles....ten silver nobles...two double heavy gold nobles..."

"A good season for thieving is the best season of the year. I don't care if it has three feet of snow and night's so cold you can see your breath when you wake up in the morning, it's still a good season," commented Vixen, getting up and heading back down stairs, leaving Allie to count the spoils from her endeavors and figure what she owed to Vixen as well. Being in charge was nice, especially when your organization was so...profitable as well.

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

Jennifer quietly walked down the halls of the fief behind Stephanie, knowing she would have to do most of the talking this time and preparing herself with the story she had Steph had created to deliver to the old man as to why she had to leave so soon on such short notice.

*creak*

"Come in," said a voice from inside the room, as dim as ever with only a few candles and the fire to keep it lit. "Oh, hello again you two. What can I do for my best herds on the entire fief?"

Stephanie smiled and stepped to the side, letting Jennifer do all the talking for once. "Thank you, sir," she said in a low voice, bowing at the waist as she did. "I do appreciate what you've done for me, giving me a job here and all, but I'm afraid I have to go home now."

"So soon?" asked the old man, pushing himself ever so slightly up in his seat and looking at her with inquisitive eyes. "Why?"

"My father died," she replied softly, eyes cast down as she did. "I'm sorry sir, but I am needed back with my family to help them get through. You see, they run a farm and with me, the oldest son, gone and the other off at some school for mages... Well, you can see what the problems would be."

"Then you may go," said the old man, writing something on a slip of paper and handing it to her as he did. "That is very sad new, Jen. I'm sorry to see you leave in the face of such a tragedy. You've worked well for us, Jen, I hope relations between us never change. If you are ever in need of some work, please come here and I will make sure you're taken care of."

"Thank you, sir," said Jen in surprise, bowing as she did. "Thank you very much. I was not expecting such a generous gift."

"Think of it more as a promise," replied the old man, sighing as he leaned back in his chair once more. "You make take your leave of me and this fief now, Jen. That is your final pay slip. Use it will."

"I will, sire," promised Jen, slipping back out the door with Stephanie right behind her.  She took the slip from the smaller girl and studied it for a second, whistling low as she did. "What?" asked Jennifer, looking rather confused.

"This is doubles your last pay for you," replied Stephanie. "And for the full quarter too, even though you only worked half of it."

"That was sure nice of him," said Jennifer in surprise, stopping right in the middle of the hallway as she did. "I wonder why he did that?"

"He's just a nice guy, that's all," replied Stephanie with a laugh. "Come on, we've got to get that cashed, get you some supplies, and get your things packed before we can go."

"Alright," said Jennifer, letting herself be led down the halls. "And, Stephanie?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

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

Sarah stood in the door way of their room, whistling softly for their kitten to come back as she always did. She appeared at Sarah's feet with a mouse in her mouth, proudly putting the small rodent before her masters with an air of completion and satisfaction that made Jon snort and Sarah stifle her laughter.

"Thank you," said Sarah, leaving the mouse where it was and picking up the kitten before putting her on her shoulder. "You're such a good kitten, yes you are. Sweet little thing, did you get that little mousey all by yourself? What a brave little hunter you are, oh yes indeed..."

"Yeah, right," muttered Jon from his seat at the table. "I saw two rodents yesterday in the barn. Where was she then??"

"She's just a kitten," scolded Sarah, glaring at him slightly. "Come on, Jon. Let her alone. I mean, it's not like you do anything around here right now."

"Aw, hush," sighed Jon, burying himself in another letter. "I do more than you guys give me credit for."

"Sure you do..."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!"

"I dunno, Jon, what do you think it means?"

"Fine, what do you want me to do?" asked Jon, standing up as he did. "Name it and I will."

"Get rid of the dead mouse for me," said Sarah sweetly, taking the kitten with her towards the Mess Hall. "I'm getting our little fearsome hunter here a dish of milk for her hard work."

"Hey!" cried Jon. "She's your kitten..."

"You said you'd do anything I said."

"But I...you little....but that doesn't....son of a .....ARGHH!!!!"

Sarah smiled and walked out the door, running into Onua along the way as she did.

"Is Jon having problems again?" she asked, grinning as she scratched the kitten behind the ears. "I could hear him give some huge growl or something just a little while ago all the way from my rooms..."

"Yeah, he tends to do that sometimes," said Sarah with a wink. "Or little helper caught us a mouse today. Isn't that right, sweetie?"

"Oh, she'll grow up to be a fine mouser," said Onua, taking the kitten for a moment and letting her crawl around her shoulders for a few minutes. "Strong little bugger...fast too."

"Yes, she gets around," added Sarah. "Jon should've disposed of her kill by now and we're going to go get her a treat for it."

"Then I'll let you get back to that while I go to teach my next class," said Onua, giving the kitten back and dusting off her hands after she did. "Healing herbs and edible roots, fun fun fun."

"Could be worse," commented Sarah, turning to leave.

"How so?"

"It could be Health Class."

"....huh?"

"Oh....never mind..."

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Amanda tied up her last set of strings and looked at herself in the mirror, grimacing as she did. She hated dresses, hated them with a passion too...and that son of a mee krob King wasn't letting her off the hook this time, either.

Taking her mask from the desk, she went out into the hall and found Levi waiting there for her, already dressed as a joker with a hat of bells and everything to complete the ensemble. She was dressed in several shades of green, her mask that of a dragon with far more sparkles than she thought was possible to begin with.

"Ready?" he asked, holding out his arm to her.

"Ready," she replied, taking it lightly and heading for the main ball room, slipping in one of the side doors and giving their greetings to the King before talking to some of the few they knew and then slipping back out again.

"I've made my appearance," she said as she took off the mask in the hallway, letting down her hair as well as it fell around her shoulders in semi-curls that had worked their way in some how while up in the bun.

"Lady Amanda?" asked a voice down the hall. Amanda turned to look, seeing the Baron coming towards her, dressed as 'Prince Charming' with a crown and everything.

"Hello, Baron," she said, giving him a slightly curtsy. "That's right....you wanted to meet my sister tonight."

"Yes," he replied with a bow. "Could you tell me where she it, by chance?"

"Come and I'll show you." Going back to the door way, Amanda searched the crowd, soon finding Elizabeth among a knot of young suitors who were all vying for her favor in one way or another. "She's right there in the dark red....do you see her?"

"The one with the mask off?" he asked, his face going unusually pale.

"Yes."

"And what did you say her name was again?"

"Elizabeth."

"Elizabeth Davis by any chance??"

Amanda's eyes shot up, meeting his quickly as she realized something that she never would've guessed before. "Levi," she said quickly. "Go on back to the rooms. I'll meet you there."

"Is anything wrong?" asked Levi, sensing some tension of some sort between them.

"No," replied Amanda, giving him a quick smile. "It's just something regarding my sister. You understand, right?"

"Yes, milady. I will be waiting for you there."

"Then you know what I'm talking about?" asked Kyle the moment he was out of earshot, keeping his voice low in case someone might overhear as well.

"I do," replied Amanda seriously. "You're Kyle from Providence, aren't you? The new guy Liz was going out with before we were sucked in."

"Then you must be her 'guardian' of sorts, the baritone player," he said with a grin. "I do remember you, now that I think about it. Once at practice when I came by to say hi to her and you were both lying in the grass in the shade. You didn't see me because you had your eyes closed at the time."

"I do remember that," said Amanda, smiling all the more as she did. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go say hi to her."

"Do...do you think she still thinks about me any?" asked Kyle suddenly, sounding rather embarrassed as he did. "I mean, with all the attention she gets..."

"I'm sure she does," replied Amanda with a shrug. "Go, now, or you'll never find out, will you?"

"I guess not..."

Amanda smiled once more and disappeared down the hall back towards her quarters where she could change out of this dress and into something a lot more *comfortable* and *practical* as well...

Her sister was going to have fun tonight. She just wasn't sure how much it would be...

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

Libby carefully followed the map Dom had given her to the ranch he said he'd gotten Veety from, taking a wrong turn once or twice along the way. Considering the fact that she was getting out of some ball to go do this, she really didn't mind and kept right on going. After retracing her steps several times, she found it along side the road with nothing but a small town in sight for miles around.

It looked entirely deserted, with the front door of the barn hanging off it's hinges and the front door cracked up. The windows were covered with dust and a dry, musty smell of old hay was everywhere, giving it an abandoned feel.

"Alright, you detective bunnies you!" she said briskly, knowing there was only one way to handle this situation: send in the special bunny forces!!! "Come on, form up into squads of three with one leader apiece!! Hurry up, times a wasting here!!"

The twelve or so bunnies she had left quickly hopped into groups of three, each one headed by one of the original four. "Ok," said Libby, nodding her head happily as she did. "Go out and search the grounds. Leave no hay unturned! No room not search! No stone left unturned! If there's anything you find of interest, come and tell me immediately. Understand?? Good, now go!! Hut: two, three, four!!! Hut: two, three, four!!! Come on, get a move on here you lazy rascals!! Hut: two, three, four!!! Hut: two, three, four!!!"

Pinky nodded in agreement with a Sherlock Holmes hat on her head, leading up the search by starting with the main house as the rest spread out over the grounds. They moved in perfect time with each other, doing the little 'hut! hut! hut!' thing the FBI does in perfect time, too. Libby tethered Veety to a post in the front yard and waited patiently for her bunnies to return. She didn't have to wait long.

By what Pinky had signaled to her, none of the rooms in the house had been entered for quite sometime. Everything was covered with cobwebs and dust and all the furniture or useful tools had been removed. They did find a chair in one room, but that was it.

Pinky Jr. reported in next, having searched the barn with Rose's team as well. There was nothing in there other than some old bales of hay in the main loft and a few horse droppings in some of the stalls. Whoever had been there last had taken everything with them, leaving nothing for those to come after.

Dusty came up next, his group having searched the tall grasses in the fields with the remaining groups or the area around the barn and house. Nothing. Everything was over grown and unkempt. Whoever had been there last hadn't left much a clue as to who they were or where they had gone.

"That's not fair!!" huffed Libby, stamping her foot in aggravation. All the bunnies immediately backed up and gave her room. Once she had thrown a tantrum and a poor little bunny had gotten in the way, his ear bent permanently from being jumped on a few times. Of course, she had felt horrible for it, but there was no way to correct it.

Gathering the bunnies back up after she had settled down a little (and jumped around a few times to deal with her frustration), Libby loaded them all back onto Veety and mounted him herself, heading back towards the palace as fast as she could with the load he was carrying.

Dom was going to have a bone to pick with her when she got back...and it wasn't going to be pretty either...

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

Alyse and Yuki walked slowly along the cold streets of Corus in the dimming light, wrapped tightly in their layers of kimonos and cloaks with hoods to keep off the evening's chill. They had had dinner together and stayed out of sight of most of the others from the palace so people wouldn't ask them about the masquerade and then expect them to be there later.

"So, you are going to explain now," said Yuki calmly, keeping her fan in front of her face as she did. "You have told no one of what happened up north with Sir Faleron."

"I will tell you," conceded Alyse, knowing she would have to eventually. "You have heard what happened to his troop, right?"

"Attacked by Scanrans, some killed and others captured. He was one of the later," replied Yuki immediately. "Then those who were captured were kept at a Scanran camp until they died or when your cousin rescued them with your help earlier this fall."

"Yes, that's right," said Alyse with a nod, keeping her face completely blank as she did. "He's been gone for almost a year, Yuki. A lot can happen in a year..."

"Did you find someone else?" asked Yuki, raising an eyebrow as she did with a smile playing on her face lightly. "I could understand you two not getting back together then..."

"No, there is no one else," replied Alyse honestly, shaking her head as she did. "I accepted his death, Yuki, and with it the realization that he and I could never be together again."

"So, since you accepted this you can no longer be with him in that way," said Yuki slowly, starting to comprehend what Alyse was trying to say. "I do understand, Alyse, why it must be this way. But are you sure that there would not be some way to change your heart...?"

"He is as wonderful as he ever was," replied Alyse evenly, "And we will still be friends as we always have been. But no, my heart gave him up and it can't just accept him back like that."

"I understand," said Yuki again, nodding as she did.

"I wish I could change what had happened," said Alyse sadly, "And if I hadn't shut him out for good I would gladly go back to the way things were before. But I had to in order to keep myself sane enough to live after we thought he was dead."

"You did what you had to," replied Yuki firmly. "If N-.....someone close to me were to be killed like that, I do not know if I would be able to accept it as you did."

"Slip of the tongue?" asked Alyse teasingly as Yuki covered her face even move with the fan, her way of being embarrassed.

"In a way," replied Yuki shyly.

"I'm just glad that you do understand, and do not think of me as some sort of monster," said Alyse, changing the subject for the sake of her friend. "To have something like this get in between our friendship..."

"Nothing ever will," replied Yuki firmly, taking her arm and leading her to a small shop on the corner of a street. "See other there? Let's go get warm before heading back to the palace."

"Alright," agreed Alyse, letting the smaller girl lead her along the streets with out any resistance at all. It was nice to get some things off your chest when you needed to, especially to someone who wasn't 'family'...

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

Lyssa slowly knocked on the door a servant had directed her to, being let in by a guard at the door and jumping slightly when it closed loudly behind her. "Hello, Commander," said the King, rising from his seat when he saw her and bowing to her respectfully. The Queen rose from her spot next to him and curtsied before taking her seat once more.

"Sire," replied Lyssa, bowing as well. "I got your message early this morning. Was there something you wished to speak with me about?"

"Yes," said the King, sitting back down and motioning for her to have a seat as well. "You see, Commander Lyssa, you have many talents in being a leader and we need some of those talents here in Corus right now."

"Aren't I of better use out in the field commanding my fort, Sire?" puzzled Lyssa, giving him an odd look.

"We're not sure," admitted the Queen with a shrug. "All we know is that not only can you lead, but you can train as well. Right now, all of our best trainers are out in the field heading forts or training the villagers out there."

"And I'm the one who would be easiest to replace," guessed Lyssa, wondering if she should be hurt or honored.

"Actually, you're the third one we've offered this job too," admitted the King slowly. "They were are usual trainers, ones who have been here in this command far longer than you have. All of them wished to remain with their forts, though. So, it's up to you."

"I...I don't know what to say," stuttered Lyssa, trying to find the words to say what she was feeling right about then. "I mean, it would be a new opportunity, and I'm sure you could use the help...but still, my soldiers..."

"I understand," said the Queen, stopping her from saying anything more. "You have a week to decide. Either way, we will respect your decision and go along with it as it stands. Will that be enough time for you to decide?"

"Yes, ma'am," said Lyssa, nodding her head carefully. "Thank you very much, your majesty."

"With a decision such as this you should be given more time than a few minutes to decide," said the King stoutly, standing up slowly as he did. "Thank you, Commander, for coming and speaking with us. Now, if you will excuse me..."

"Of course," said Lyssa, getting up and bowing low. The King did the same, the Queen staying where she was and exchanging nods with Lyssa from her seat. "Good day, sire, milady."

"Good day, Commander Lyssa."

Lyssa turned around and walked out of the room, her mind brimming with thoughts as she tried to sort through them all and wondered what in the world she was going to do now...

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

Kyle stood beside one of the pillars in the ball room, gently sipping from his glass of champagne while he watched Elizabeth in the distance. She was dancing with another young man, probably a squire or a young knight who hadn't heard of her 'reputation' as of yet. He wondered if she would still remember him as he swirled the liquid around slowly, studying it for a few minutes before he drained the rest off in a single swig and made his way through the crowd.

Adjusting his 'Prince Charming' outfit and putting his mask in place he cut in between Elizabeth and her partner and took over, gently twirling her to the middle of the floor without saying anything at all.

"Who are you?" asked Elizabeth, her smile obvious with her mask only covering part of her face.

"A certain Baron who's been wanting to get to know you for awhile," he replied lightly, figuring he could let his secret stand for a little while at least. "I know your sister, I invited her out to dinner on-"

"The Progress," finished Elizabeth, letting her smile turn to a sly grin. "Are you at least going to show me your face?"

"Not yet," replied Kyle with a cunning grin. "In awhile, though, I promise you, Lady Elizabeth."

"That's good enough, then," said Elizabeth with a small nod, searching his eyes for a few moments. "Have we ever....met before?"

"Quite possibly," replied Kyle with a shrug. "But never as 'nobles', I think milady."

"What do you mean, never as 'nobles'?" questioned Elizabeth, tensing up for a moment.

"You shall see," replied Kyle lightly. "Do not fear, milady. I am harmless, I assure you. And if not for fear you hurting me, then for fear of your sister emasculating me with a dull blade if I dare lay a finger on you without your permission."

"She might actually do it too," added Elizabeth with a knowing smile. "It is nice to know that your are practically untouchable, though."

"Except by me."

"...I suppose so."

The song ended and Kyle led Elizabeth over to the drink table and got them both a goblet of spiced, warm wine to drink. She took his arm and they wandered around the outskirts of the room some, chatting lightly and generally enjoying each other's company.

"Can't you please tell me who you are?" asked Elizabeth as they entered a secluded corner of the room. "I feel like I've known you before now..."

"Maybe that's because you have," admitted Kyle, removing his mask slowly. Elizabeth's mouth dropped open as her eyes opened wide in surprise.

"Kyle Hendson?!" she whispered in amazement, practically frozen in her spot as she looked him in the eyes, knowing in her heart it was him. "But you...how did you..."

"I was brought here as well, and adopted by the late Baron Emery since he had no children of his own," explained Kyle slowly, putting his hands on her arms as he did. "Since then, I've been doing what I can to get along here and just tonight found out who you really were with some help from you 'sister'. Remind me to thank her for that later, for bringing me to you from the start."

"I will," whispered Elizabeth, still in a daze. "But...why didn't you tell me to begin with??"

"To see if you had changed," admitted Kyle, drawing back some. "To see if I had changed."

"And what's going to happen now?"

"Well, I could kiss you," said Kyle with a mischievous grin, sending pleasant shivers down her spine as he did.

"Not if I beat you to it."

They ended their 'session' several minutes later and went back out into the ball, having several more glasses of wine, him taking her back to her rooms a few hours before dawn and goodness knows what happened from there.

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

Bryanna and Karalee tripped down the roads of Corus, going on a free day together away from the Rogue for once. They had stopped by Madame Cooper's shop already and gotten some supplies the owner needed as well as a treat for Kara which she was now sucking on happily as they went.

"Oo, dollies!!" said Kara as they passed a china doll shop, Kara stopping and staring longingly at the dolls as they did. "They're so pretty, Momma Mouse. Can I go in and look at them?"

Mouse hefted the purse she had just nicked in her pocket and figuring it would be enough, nodded her head consentingly. "Go on," she said, opening the door for the younger girl. "Go find one that's your favorite."

"Alright!!" Kara skipped in and looked all around, gazing at the painted faces and lacey dresses with wide eyes as she did. "Wow....there's so many..."

"Take you time," said Mouse as she nodded politely at the stone owner. "We have all afternoon before we have to be back."

"Yes, Momma Mouse."

"Darling little girl you've got there," said the store owner, an old man with a wizened face and bright eyes that shone softly in the flickering lamp light. "She yours, ma'am?"

"No," said Mouse, shaking her head slowly. "A....friend's who passed away recently."

"Oh, sorry to here that," said the old man, nodding his head understandingly. "Then you took her in with your family?"

"Just until her relatives can be found."

"I see."

"I want this one, Momma Mouse! I like it the best!!" cried Karalee, coming up holding a small doll lovingly in her arms. "Please, Momma Mouse, can I keep it??" The doll was one of the few soft bodied in the whole store, with a china face and a head full of curly blonde hair. It's dress was that of a commoner, soft and well worn with soft low boots to go with it.

"Are you sure?" asked Mouse, having thought originally the girl would want one of the expensive ones with satin gowns and full china bodies. "There are other ones you can choose from..."

"I want her," said Kara firmly. "She looks like everyone at home, and I don't want her to feel different from everyone else!"

"If that is the one you want," said Mouse, starting to pull out the purse she had gotten out in the street. "Then that's the one we'll get."

"Yea!!!" Mouse put the coins for the doll on the counter and left with Kara carrying the doll in her arms proudly as she did.

"Be careful with that," said Mouse gently, showing her how to prop the doll's head up with her arms. "What are you going to name her?"

"Mousey-kins!!!" said Kara quickly, giving Mouse a huge grin as she did.

"Oh goodness..."

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

Stephanie and Jennifer went through the younger girl's things, packing them in the few bags Jennifer had and putting them in the cart that waited for them outside. Jewel, the horse Sean had given her for her birthday, was already hooked up to the cart and the cats sat in the back in their baskets, meowing impatiently as they did.

"Alright, alright," said Jennifer, putting her bag with her clothes in it in the cart and heading up the stairs of the fief for the last time. "This is the last load, guys, I promise."

"What's left to pack?" asked Stephanie as she followed her. "Come on, Jen, what else could there be to pack?? You have your cats, your clothes, your personal things, the staff Sean gave your, your horse is pulling the cart...I can't think of anything else."

"The pots and pans I got that are in the other room," said Jen, opening Stephanie's room door quickly and keeping her voice low as others were around. "Remember? The nice ones that are hand made and personally constructed by that smithy in town??"

"Oh yeah," said Stephanie, helping her put them all in a wooden crate with straw to keep them from knocking up against one another. "Alright, let's get this down stairs and into that cart."

The crate was fairly heavy, being full of iron pots and pans, but between the two of them they easily got it down the stairs and to the courtyard into the cart. "That's it," said Jennifer, securing the back latch on the cart and tying everything down with some lengths of rope. "Well, I guess I'm out of here."

"I'll ride with you to the fork in the road," said Stephanie, knowing she had a couple of hours before she had to head back to the fief. The sheep and goats were already in the barn and a couple of servants had offered to watch them while she was busy, freeing her up to help Jennifer with her packing and all.

"Thanks."

The two of them road in silence at first, hardly noticing the road flying away beneath them as Stephanie was beside her on a mare she borrowed from the barn. "I guess this is it," said Jennifer, seeing the fork up ahead about 30 min later and letting the horse slow to a halt right before it. Both of them got down and stood there for a moment, just kinda looking around.

"You've been a good helper and friend," said Steph after a few minutes, holding out her hand as she did. "Take care of my brother, will you?"

"I will," said Jennifer, trying to keep back the tears that flooded her eyes as she took her friend's hand. "If I ever need anything, I'll know who to come to."

"Of course you will!" said Stephanie quickly. "You come see me when ever you're in the area, alright?"

"You bet I will," said Jennifer, giving her a hug. Stephanie hugged her back and the two friends reluctantly let go after awhile, knowing she had to go. "You come see me and Sean sometime in Corus, alright? We'll both want to see you, you know."

"I will," said Stephanie with a nod. "I haven't been there in years, I suppose it is about time I came and visited my family."

"Good bye," said Jennifer getting up back in her seat in front of the cart and took the reins in hand, exchanging one last wave with Stephanie before she urged Jewel to a trot down the road to the right, never to return again to the fief where she had spent a good part of her time in Tortal at.

"Bye," called Stephanie softly, knowing she had just lost someone who had helped at a little color to her life that she hadn't realized she would miss until it was gone...

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

Jon walked down the halls of the palace, mainly staying in the King's Own and Rider's areas as he was more accepted there and rarely ran into the snooty nobles who snubbed him and gave him dirty looks for daring to intrude into their perfectly harmonious and privileged lives. Although, there had been the masquerade the night before and most would still be asleep after their late night activities, making it relatively safe for once.

Heading back for the stables after he had familiarized himself with those two fairly small areas, he ran into a Commander from the Rider's as he came around the corner, knocking her over as he did and knocking the tack she had been carrying from her arms and on the ground everywhere.

"Oh, sorry," he mumbled, getting up quickly and gathering her things together as she stood up slowly, still rather stunned from the impact. "Uh, here you go....miss..."

"It's Commander Lyssa to you, boy," she snapped, her blue eyes ablaze as she pushed her shoulder length brown hair from her face. "What were you thinking, just running into people like that?? You should watch where you're going, more often!!"

"I said I was sorry!!" said Jon, finding her to be a good bit shorter than him as she stood up and dusted herself off quickly. "I guess I didn't see you coming..."

"Are you making fun of my height?!" demanded Lyssa, taking the tack from him roughly and easily swinging it over the side of the stall which was the same height as her. Jon sweated nervously and backed up a few steps, wondering if he hadn't bitten off more than he could chew. "I've taken down guys bigger than you, boy, I'd suggest you back off while you still have the chance."

"I'll just shut up now and leave," said Jon, pointing over his shoulder as bowed respectfully and leaving as quickly as he could. "Little touchy there, aren't we...?"

"Hey, I heard that!" yelled the Commander behind him, probably debating whether or not he was really worth her to chase him down and beat some manners into him.

"Sorry!!" Jon rounded the corner and slowed his pace, stopping to say hi to some of the mounts he knew along the way as he did. "A feisty one," he explained to one of the horses as the beast gave him an odd look. "I didn't do anything, I swear!!" The horse flicked it's ears as if to say 'Yeah right.'

"Hey!"

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

Elizabeth woke up late the morning after the masquerade, starting to sit up as she usually did, suddenly finding that her hair was being weighed down by someone beside her and her usual night clothes were nowhere to be seen.

Glancing over, she saw Kyle asleep beside her in the bed, the night's events quickly flooding her memory and causing her to fall back onto her pillow as she silently relived them for a few moments.

Hearing someone moving around the main room outside her door she suddenly panicked and (getting her hair back) grabbed her robe from the chair and covered herself with it before trying to wake Kyle so he could hide.

"Morning, sugar," he said, seeing her bending over him as he woke back up. "Come on, hun, I'm completely awake after last night if you're-"

"My sister's out there and she'll kill you if she finds you in here," said Elizabeth, pushing him off the side and wincing at the bang he made as he landed on the floor.

"You alright in there?" called Amanda from outside the door, having paused in her activities for a moment. "What was that noise?"

"I fell," called Elizabeth, making some noise with the sheets as she quickly tried to make the bed look semi normal again and hide Kyle's clothes which were scattered around the room. "I just forgot where the edge of the bed was, that's all."

"Alright," said Amanda, seemingly going away from the door some. "As long as you're ok..."

"I'm fine," replied Elizabeth, holding her breath for a few moments as she waited for her sister to leave.

"Is it clear?" whispered Kyle as he peaked his head over the edge of the bed, having covered himself with the sheet that had gone down with him as well.

"I dunno...hide!!" The foot steps had come back quickly, it obviously being Amanda as she opened the door and came in, some mail in her hands.

"Have a nice night?" she asked, casting an uninterested eye over the room. "Did Baron Kyle come up and introduce himself or not?"

"He did," replied Elizabeth with a mischievous smile as usual. "We found another one, alright."

"Then you recognized him?"

"Yeah."

"Cool. Here's some letters for you from the fief and other friends," replied Amanda, putting the sealed envelopes on the table by the door. She leaned on the frame and checked over the rest of them to make sure she hadn't missed any while Elizabeth sat nervously on her bed, waiting anxiously for her sister to leave. "I guess that's it," said Amanda at last, seeing Elizabeth looked rather relieved as she started out the door.

"Alright," replied the younger sister, going and checking through the notes she had gotten real quick. "Thanks, sis."

"No problem. And Kyle?"

Kyle unthinkingly stood up, the sheet still wrapped around him middle. "Yes, milady?"

"Your servants are looking for you," said Amanda with a grin. "Someone didn't return to their rooms last night."

"Oh shoot..." whispered Elizabeth as Amanda gave her a teasing look, probably already knowing what happened last night. "Are you...mad?"

"No," replied Amanda, looking at the letters she had gotten again. "A little annoyed, yes. But if you think you're getting out of marrying my sister, Baron, you're insane."

"I wouldn't dream of it," replied Kyle quickly, paling as he did.

"Have fun," said Amanda, quickly closing the door behind her as she did. "Later."

"Later, Amanda."

"Bye, Lady Amanda."

"I think she took that rather well," said Elizabeth, looking a little annoyed as she did. "I was expecting some huge explosion...."

"Oh well," said Kyle, pulling her close as he did. "Now that that's over..."

"Behave!" called Amanda from in the main room. "I have to leave for awhile, you two."

"Yes ma'am," Elizabeth called back rather mischievously. "We will..."

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

Libby stomped down the halls of the palace, Artman seeing her as she came into their rooms and tried to stop her for a moment.

"Out of my way!!" she cried, shoving him to the side as she did, her eyes a blaze with fury. "I'll kill the bastard for making a fool of me, I swear I will!!"

"Kill who?" asked Artman, watching as she threw her bags on her bed and left her bunnies there as well. Reaching out to grab her arm, he was smacked back and left standing there in surprise as she fumed out of the room just as quickly as she had come.

"What was that all about?" Artman asked the bunnies. Pinky hoped over and stuck her tongue out at him, peeing on his foot as she did. "Hey!! Why you little rodent..."

"And don't you dare touch my bunnies!!" roared Libby as she blew back in for a moment, grabbing the map she had left in her bag, hitting him over the head with a mallet and leaving once more in a flurry of rage.

"Owies..." X_X;;

"Where is he..." muttered Libby under her breath, knowing Dom would probably eating in the mess hall for the King's Own before he headed out with the rest of the King's Own troop back to the fort after his full recovery that week.

She zoomed into the large room full of eating men and quickly found Dom among them, eating his lunch with a few other King's Own and a woman she had met before but couldn't put a name to at the moment.

"You!" she cried, lifting him from his chair by the collar and shoving the map in his hands, forcing him to face her as she did. "What's with the map that leads to an abandoned farm. First off, you got the road names wrong and it took me hours to find it. Second, there's no one there!!"

"What's she talking about, Dom?" asked the woman, getting up and standing between them as she did.

"That's where the farm is, right Onua?" he asked, showing her the map as he did, the one he had drawn for Libby while out at the boarder one night at her request.

"It was," she replied, handing the map back to him, "But we closed it due to the fact that we no longer need it."

"Oh..."

"So you sent me all the way out there for nothing!" cried Libby, still rather upset about the whole deal.

"Explain," said Onua, turning to Dom first.

"I got that horse Veety from you, right? So, she heard the name and asked where I got it so I told her and gave her a map, telling her about the two who had named him before me. So, she wanted to find who they were because she once knew someone named that and since it's an unusual name she wanted to meet the people in hopes that she might know them."

"That's it?" asked Onua, looking a little suspicious. "They're still here, the two who ran it before I mean. They're on a trip right now, but I'm assuming you want to meet them, ma'am?"

"Yes, very much," replied Libby, calming down a lot. "If that wouldn't be too much trouble..."

"I'll send you word when, then," said Onua, getting up and heading for the door. "I'll send them word right now."

"Alright." Libby smacked Dom one last time over the head and left the mess hall feeling like she had accomplished something that day. Finally, she was getting somewhere.

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

Alyse woke up late the day after she and Yuki had been out so late together and stumbled into the main room, the smells of breakfast dragging her from her bed and enticing her to the table.

Glancing up, she was surprised to Amanda sitting there. Dressed and ready for the day, the older girl munched on a muffin while writing quickly in one of he black books, this one with a silver clasp to make it different from the rest.

"What are you doing in here?" asked Alyse, sitting across from her and helping herself to the eggs and bacon from a steaming platter. "I didn't even hear you come in this time."

The girl muttered something about lover birds having taken over her rooms and Alyse sat there for a moment in confusion, trying to sort it all out in her head.

"Wait a sec," said Alyse after a few moments, completely lost once more and unsure at all about what was going on. "What do mean? Lover birds?"

"Don't ask," replied Amanda, glancing up and giving her an odd look. "For once Alyse, just don't ask and you'll be much better off."

"Alright," replied Alyse, shrugging as she did. "Whatever." Things in their little dysfunctional family did get out of whack sometimes and she figured it would be safer this time just to let it alone, whatever it was that had driven Amanda out of her rooms for once.

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

Lyssa and Alyse met each other at the practice courts around noon, bows in hand and a quiver a piece as they went out and set up down at the shooting range. Most everyone was inside doing their usual routines, not bothering to go out and stamp down the light snow that had fallen the night before so they could shoot there.

"Lazy peeps," said Lyssa, shaking her head as she did. "Oh well, at least we have the whole place to ourselves."

"That's true," said Alyse with a shrug, stringing her bow as she did. "It is nice not having to worry that some novice will shoot you while waiting for them to finish their rounds. Clumsy fools, they point the arrow while it's notched at people without even realizing it. You could kill someone doing that."

"Yeah, I've done it," muttered Lyssa, remembering all the Scanrans she had shot for a second before shaking it off and setting up the targets for her and Alyse to use.

"Want to switch this time?" asked Alyse, holding the long bow out to the shorter girl. "The string shouldn't snap this time, I checked it and everything."

"Alright, I believe you," said Lyssa, trading her recurved for the long bow. "I know it wasn't your fault last time, and it didn't really hurt..."

Alyse gave her an amused look. "Oh really now?"

"Ok, so it hurt a little..."

"Hm, sure it did."

"Alright, so it hurt a lot, but it's not like I'm not used to pain. I used to be a guard girl and break bones regularly you know," groused Lyssa, pulling back the bow and shooting towards the target. Just missing the inside dot, she waited for Alyse to shoot as well. Hers came inside the dot, but not quite at the center as usual.

"It's odd not to have the bow nearly resting on the ground," admitted Alyse as she shot again. "The weight's about the same, as is the pull, but I still can't get over how small it is..."

"We don't have time to haul around these huge things," said Lyssa, hitting the bulls eye of the target with her next shot. "I mean, come on. I'd trip over it if I had to carry this thing instead of my recurve on my back all the time."

"You'd get used to it, I'm sure," said Alyse with an amused grin. "After all, I think there are shorter ones for people who are lacking in stature..."

"Hey! You're the second person this week to make fun of my height," said Lyssa mockingly. "What's with tall people poking fun at those of us who are vertically challenged??"

"It's just so easy to do," replied Alyse, making a bulls eye as she did. "Who else made fun of you?"

"Some smart mouthed stable boy," said Lyssa a tad bit angrily. "I should've pounded him into the ground, but I didn't. Hm, I think I'm going soft here..."

"No you're not," Alyse assured her quickly. "Trust me, you're not. At little lenient, maybe..."

"Gee thanks," said Lyssa sarcastically, trading bows back with Alyse. "No, but really. I haven't been running a fort for only a few weeks and already I'm losing my touch."

"You're fine," said Alyse slowly. "You'll be right back on the ball with in a week of getting there, trust me."

"Why should I?"

"Because Amanda taught me how to me always right!" ^_^

"Right..." -_-;;

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

Kyle wandered aimlessly down the halls of the palace, a goofy smile on his face as he let his thoughts roam freely on the events of the night before. He had checked back in his rooms just a little while ago, then bathed and changed clothes before deciding to go for a walk to clear his mind for awhile.

Marrying Elizabeth. Now there was a strange concept, completely new and alien to him for once. He had never really seriously thought about marriage completely until now...oh well.

"Hello, Baron," said a voice to his right, bringing him back to the land of reality for a moment. "You seem to be in a good mood today."

"Hello, Commander," he replied, turning to look at her with a bright smile. "Yes, things have been going well as of late, that's all."

"I see." Lyssa hadn't seen Amanda for the last two days, and so hadn't heard of his 'addition' to their group. And since he and Elizabeth had been rather...busy the night before she hadn't told him about the others that were there as well. "Anything in particular?"

"Not really," he lied with a shrug, assuming she wouldn't be able to understand the whole concept very well. "It's just been a good day, thank you. I do have some things planned for later this week, but I was hoping we could get together for another fencing match sometime soon."

"You keep eating dust whenever we do that," said Lyssa, wincing slightly as she did. "Are you sure you want to go for another round?"

"Of course," said Kyle with a wide grin. "It's the only way I'll ever learn."

"You haven't learned anything at all if you're still coming back for more," shot back Lyssa, fighting a smile as she did. "Alright, later at the practice courts in the afternoon. I'm always there training with some friends or by myself, Baron."

"Thank you, Commander."

"The pleasure will be mine." Lyssa grinned slyly. "Especially when you eat the dust once more, sir."

"Getting a bit cocky, are we?" asked Kyle, shaking his head mockingly. "We'll have to fix that somehow..."

"You won't be the one to do it," said Lyssa firmly. "I've gotten some pointers from a friend who is one of the best there is."

"The Lioness?"

"No, she's not a knight or a rider. I doubt you know her."

"I might, Commander. But that's fine. I must be going now, I'll see you then ready to eat more dirt as always."

"Be sure to come with an appetite, seeing as you might be eating more than normal," added Lyssa over her shoulder, going in the opposite direction.

Kyle laughed to himself, knowing she was just mocking him as always. "I will.

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

Vixen and Joe sat together in the main room of the Dancing Dove, the area around them more secluded than normal and a candlelight dinner set between them as well. Everyone else was out that night doing this or that, doing their job or having a good time somewhere else at someone else's expense, as thieves are apt to do.

"You know, you look absolutely beautiful tonight," said Joe softly as he looked into her eyes lovingly. "I could never find someone as beautiful in this whole world if I tried."

"Liar," she growled softly, not really meaning it at all. "I think someone's trying to get on my good side."

"I already thought I was," said Joe, kissing her deeply before she could protest at all.

"That's not fair," protested Vixen after they broke apart, feeling very weak in the knees and glad she was sitting down. No matter how many times he did that, it still left her breathless. "You know one of my weaknesses, but I don't know any of yours."

"Yeah you do," he said with a wink, "You just haven't realized it yet. Or maybe you have you just don't want to exploit it as of yet...hm?"

Vixen went red just thinking about it, being pretty sure that she knew exactly what he was talking about. "Hm....I dunno, do I?"

"I think you do, foxy lady that you are."

"Absolutely."

"My foxy lady that you are, then."

Vixen snorted. "Only in your dreams, bud."

"I know," he replied with a wink. "But I can keep dreaming forever, right?"

"Hm....if you want." Vixen drew back a little, a teasing smile flitting across her face. "Personally I would think you'd prefer the real thing...but dream on if that's what you want..."

This time Joe went beat red, surprised by her openness for a moment there. He got control of himself and leaned towards her, a sly look on his face. "Could I get the real thing?"

Vixen leaned forward...her nose practically touching his.... "Not in this life time, Joe."

"Aw man..."

"Poor Joe," teased Vixen lightly as she kissed him on the cheek. "All the dreams in the world and no way to fulfill them."

"There are ways to," he protested lightly, shaking his head as he did. "Just not....legally that is..."

"Since when is anything here done legally?" Vixen reminded him mockingly.

"So you wouldn't kill me for it?"

"No, I would," she replied quickly, giving him a sly smile. "But it would be interesting, none the less."

"Oh..."

"I'm just teasing you, you know," she said, accepting a kiss from him as she did.

"I know," he said, looking at her with a wicked gleam in his eye. "You foxy lady you...I'll catch you someday."

Vixen smiled right back, laughing as she did. "Or so you think..."

"Oh, I know I will," he said, "You're already in the trap, all I have to do now is close the door without you bolting out."

"Good luck, you'll need it."

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

Jennifer stopped at a small town for dinner, planning on spending the night there at a small inn Stephanie had told her about. The owners were friends of the family and would most likely give her a discount for being friends with that family as well.

"Hello, sir," she said to the first man she saw, an older fellow with some gray in his beard and his hair thinning some on the top. "Can you tell me where I can find Jacob's Inn?"

"It's over there a few blocks to your right," he said, pointing down a street near by. "If you're planning on staying there, though, don't. It's been overrun with rats and mice recently and no one has mousers good enough to rid the place of them all."

"Really," said Jennifer, looking at her cats in the back. "Alright, thanks for your help, sir."

"Your welcome, little missy."

Jennifer continued her way down the road he had pointed to, easily finding the Inn a few moments later and hitching her cart and horse in front of it before going in search of the owners. She found them just inside the front door way, arguing with a rich looking noble over something.

"You can't just dump us like this!" cried the woman, obvious being in her mid 50's or so with wispy white hair and wrinkles all over the place. She looked like a motherly sort of person with her apron still bearing flour prints on it from the last time she had been cooking and such.

"Yes, I can," said the noble, a stern fellow about her age with dark eyes and hair with a hawk nose to match. "You've cursed this place somehow, though what it was I don't know, and I won't have you doing the same to other's businesses. If you cannot rid this inn of the rodents before the end of the week, you will be kicked out of this fief and be left with nothing but what you can carry with you as you go!" He turned on his heal and left, pushing past Jennifer as if she were just a piece of furniture or something as he did.

"Jerk," she muttered under her breath, glaring at him from behind before turning around and looking over the distraught pair once more. The man looked about the same as his wife, wearing home-spun clothes and balding on top with wispy white hair around the crown. He was clean shaven, his face bearing the marks of time and the wearing of the years on his body. "Hello there sir, ma'am."

"Who be you?" asked the man, looking at her oddly as he did. "Did you not see the sign, miss? This place is closed until we can take care of a problem we have here."

"That or they kick us out," added his wife sarcastically. "My lands, that man gets worse every time he comes around here, I swear."

"I've heard of your problems, and I know it's closed," said Jennifer, watching as some mice scurried across the floor. "I just thought I might be able to help."

"How so?" asked the wife quickly, coming and clasping her hand as she did. "Oh, miss, we would be so grateful if you did, but we've tried everything from charms to bringing cats in with this place."

"You've never met my cats," said Jennifer with a grin, going out and getting the cages from the cart. "This is Snowball, Chocolate, Snickers, Caramel, Tigress, and our newest member a Tom cat who's Snowball's mate."

"They good mousers?" asked Jacob, which is what the man's name was, looking over the cats skeptically.

"The best," said Jennifer quickly. "Just give them a day or two, please? I mean, what's the worst that can happen?"

"They get eaten by some huge two-foot rat and you blame us," said the wife, obviously as skeptical as her husband.

"They won't," said Jennifer firmly. "I promise."

"Alright, if you say so..."

"I do."

**three days later**

The three of them went into the inn, having locked the cats in for three days with some food and water left for them in various places, hoping to find them all still alive when they got back. Jennifer had stayed with the pair, telling them of how she had learned of them and hearing several amusing stories of Stephanie and Sean as children after she did.

"Here goes nothing," said the man, opening the door slowly as he did.

There was nothing in sight. No mice. No cats. No nothing. They began to search the entire place, going from room to room starting with the top floor and then working their way back down. In every room there were some dead rats and mice littered across the floor, but that was it.

"Here Tigress, here Caramel," called Jennifer as they went back downstairs, getting slightly worried that she hadn't seen any of her cats yet. "Come on guys, where are you hiding?"

They searched the main floor next, seeing the exact same thing over and over, only in greater numbers this time but still no cats. "Is there anything else besides these two floors?" asked Jennifer in exasperation, sitting down in a chair in the main lobby as she did.

"The stable and the cellars," said Jacob, getting some lanterns and lighting them quickly as he did. "Come on, we'll go look at them now."

"Oh, ok." They went to the stables first, seeing more dead rodents strewn about the floor especially around bins of grain or feed that were normally used for the horses that were kept there occasionally.

"Now, to the cellar," said the wife, who was named Irene, leading the way to the kitchen in the back and opening a door that lead down into the ground far below the house. "Watch your step, miss. The stairs aren't in the best of conditions, and them rodents like to trip you up when they can too."

"Alright."

Slowly they descended into the underground rooms used to keep the canned goods and such fresh for when they were needed, the first one packed with cans of vegetables and fruits and preserves along the walls in shelves and such. The ground was covered with the dead remains of rodents freshly killed.

"Looks like those beasts of yours had themselves a huntin' party," said Jacob in a low voice, shaking his head as he did.

"Yep," replied Jennifer, her mouth dry as they went into the new few rooms. Everywhere they went the piles of the dead got thicker, a foul stench rising from the rotting remains.

The last room was where they kept the meat, all long eaten by those rodents who had forced themselves into the place. Tigress greeted them at the door, her stomach fairly swollen and a three foot long rat tale in her mouth. She held it like a trophy, placing it respectfully at their feet.

"Wow," whispered Jennifer, seeing what was left of the small animal they had gorged themselves on. It would've been two feet tall sitting on it's hind quarters, and maybe two in a half feet long from nose to end. "That is one huge rat." The rest of her cats where either asleep or exploring the rest of the room quietly, fat and sleek from their long feast of rodents meat. "I think your rodent problem is done, sir."

"So do I....uh, thanks..."

"Let's get out of here," said Irene, backing out of the room slowly. "All this foul smell and dead things, I'm gonna lose my stomach from it soon."

"Me too," said Jennifer, following her closely up the steps with Jacob in the lead. "Come on, guys! We're out of here." The cats obediently followed, lazily loping their way up the steps and into the sunlight of the room above.

"We thank you for your help," said Irene gratefully once she had regained control of her stomach once more. "I hope we didn't detain you too long..."

"Oh, no," said Jennifer with a shrug. "I'm glad to help any friend of Stephanie's. She's done a lot for me, and I feel like I'm just repaying the favor."

"Here," said the man. "Take this." He handed her a woven bracelet of thread, a small bead of silver in the center. "Just something for you help, miss."

"Really, I couldn't..."

"Take it," said Irene firmly, closing Jennifer's hand around it as she did. "Please, you deserve it after what you've done for us."

"Thank you." Jennifer mounted her cart, getting it in position and readying herself to travel once more. "Good by, Jacob and Irene. Good luck with your inn!" She nodded at them one last time before turning around and heading down the road once more.

"Safe travels, friend, you are always welcome here! And once more thank you for what you've done!"

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

Sarah walked into Onua's office, a confused look on her face as she did. "What did you want?" she asked, sitting in her usual chair as Onua beckoned for her to, putting away whatever it was she had been working on.

"I trust you had a safe trip," she said, adding the folder to a file in a drawer by her desk.

"Of course," said Sarah. "The Ranch owner was very helpful with his tips. But what's this about setting up a meeting of some sort?"

"Someone was looking for you while you and Jon were gone," explained Onua, shrugging her shoulders as she did. "Something about that horse you named Veety. I didn't really understand what she was getting at, but seeing as how you aren't from this world I thought it might be one of your friends in search of you."

"Cool," said Sarah, raising her eye brows as she did. "When would be a good time for you in case it's some psycho killers and not friends of ours?"

"About a week from now in the rider mess hall about third bell," said Onua, after checking over everything she had to do from then. "I'll let her know through Dom, alright? Just take it easy until then."

"Ok, thanks." Sarah got up and left the room, heading back towards hers to tell Jon the news. Someone else from their world, hm? This could be interesting...

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

Amanda and Alanna sat together outside the stables after running into each other there one afternoon, deciding it was too cold to really go for a long ride and opting to stay there and talk instead.

"I head you've been busy up North," said Alanna, grinning at the young lady over a mug of coffee.

"Somewhat," admitted Amanda with a nod. "We've fought off the Scanrans a few times, and haven't gotten away scotch free either."

"So I was told," said Alanna. "You and your family weren't too badly injured, I hope."

"Not really," replied Amanda. "We're all in one piece and still alive, that's all that really matters."

"I understand."

"What have you been up to?" asked Amanda, changing the subject away from herself as she did. "I'm assuming you're staying here for the winter?"

"I've been helping the King and the Generals plan on how to approach this war," explained Alanna. "I will be staying the whole winter, mainly to see Squire Kel get her shield and get some rest time in before the war starts and I have to ride north away from my family while I'm at it too."

"I see," she replied quickly. "So you are so sure that she will pass?"

"Squire Kel? Of course, she is better than most there are and the kindest knight I have yet to see as well," replied the King's Champion firmly. "How could one doubt her at all?"

"I don't," said Amanda quickly with a knowing grin. "She will pass, of that I am sure."

"She is a good friend of yours, is she not?"

"Yes, she is."

"I wish I could help her more, but the King forbids my intervention even now," explained Alanna. "That, and I have my own Squire to deal with."

"Squire Neal, no less," added Amanda teasingly. "How's he been doing with his training, Lioness?"

"Well enough," she replied slowly. "Sometimes I fear all he's ever learned from me is to antagonize others with his sharp tongue, but he will make a good knight for Tortal when he time has come."

"Good," said Amanda with a nod. "You will need all you can get for this upcoming war."

"Only if it gets that far," Alanna reminded her, getting up from her seat with a grunt.

"It will," said Amanda darkly, bowing her head as she did. "This is one thing I know, it will..." She rose as well, wincing as her leg reminded her of it's still tender muscles.

"Your calf alright?" asked Alanna, frowning with concern as Amanda sat back down and rubbed her leg gently, trying to get the muscles to function properly again.

"It's still acting up occasionally after the arrow wound I got there," explained Amanda slowly, standing up and stretching it out carefully. "Mage Libby refused to heal it completely for me based on the fact that she said it was my fault."

"A philosophical disagreement you couldn't resolve?"

Amanda smiled. "In a way."

"Here, let me see it." Amanda obediently sat back down next to the Lioness, her magic going and seeking out the scar tissue and replacing it with healthy muscle once again. "That should do it for you."

"Thanks," said Amanda, standing up and testing it some, finding it to be completely healed once more. "Is there anything I can do for you for doing this for me?"

"Just be a friend to Squire Kel and keep the boarder safe," explained Alanna, giving her a grim look. "That's the best I could ask of you right about now."

"Alright," agreed Amanda, hearing the second bell go. "Thank you, Lioness. I have to go now, I promised Alyse I'd help her with something right about now. Hopefully we can catch up more later."

"Aye, me too." And with that, they went their separate ways down the hall.

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

Libby sat on the floor with her bunnies and Daine, the Wild Mage checking them over for any parasites or abnormalities that Libby would not be able to detect for her. "I've got to say, these guys and gals have some very interesting stories about you," said Daine as she put Pinky down and moved onto Rose with an amused look on her face, the bunny nibbling on her fingers gently as she did.

"I'm just an interesting person, that's all," said Libby with an adorable smile as always. "Everything ok with them?"

"So far, yeah," replied Daine, giving her a light smile. "You really have been taking care of these little People very well."

"I do my best," said Libby honestly. "They're really the only family I had until recently."

"You and Mage Artman used to be fairly close," said Daine unknowingly, picking up Pinky Jr. as she did. "What happened there?"

"He's a jerk among other things," growled Libby, frowning angrily as she did. "I wish I could get rid of him right about now but I can't."

"Why's that?"

"He has his uses."

"Oh, I see."

[That, and I can't get home without him] added Libby mentally, gritting her teeth as she did. [That's his only real use in this world]

"Eh, you taught them to jump rope?!" exclaimed Daine as she finished her conversation with Dusty, setting him by his mother and sisters. "That's certainly news to me..."

"It was fun!" said Libby happily, her carefree mood returning as quickly as it had vanished. "I've got this really fun chant that goes with it too, and bright jump ropes made just for them that they can't hurt themselves with!"

"Wow," admitted Daine, her eyes opened wide.

"What?" asked Libby, looking fairly confused.

"Rose Jr. had some comments about all the family she had before you gave them away awhile ago," explained Daine. "That many, really? Gees....I knew y'all multiplied fast and with any who were there at the time, but talk about close family ties!"

Rose Jr. nodded her head affirming what she had said with the tie between her and the Wild Mage.

"Thank you for checking them over like this, I really to appreciate it," said Libby for the fourth or fifth time as Daine moved onto Iforget, the poor bunny who still really didn't have a name.

"It's no pr- what is this guy's name?"

"Oh...it's  'Iforget'."

"Why's that?"

"Because I really forget what I was going to name him," replied Libby with a shrug.

"Oh....right..."

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

Alyse and Ronnie sat by the fire with Alyse and her bunnies, the two humans sharing a light snack while the pets played together on the floor.

Pinky would jump on Ronnie's back and the pup would easily knock her off and nip at her hind quarter's gently, chasing her around the room until another bunny jumped on his back and he had to knock that one off and chase it as well.

At one point he had two cornered playfully against the wall and Rose and Pinky charged at him at the same time, tackling the poor pup from different sides and the three of them sprawling together on the floor amid the chuckles of their keepers.

"Aw, they're so cute," cooed Libby as Ronnie lay on the floor and her bunnies used him as a pillow, another bout of mock wrestling quickly taking place.

"They are pretty funny," admitted Alyse with a nod. "Look at them go!" Ronnie ran past them into the next room, a small hoard of bunnies going after him.

"Don't be too rough on him!" called Libby to her brood. "He is just a sweet little dog after all!" Ronnie came back in the room at top speed, jumping up into Alyse's lap and looking at the bunnies who surrounded her chair as he did. Sticking his tongue out at them, he settled down in her lap and lay there quietly, intent upon taking a nap right about then.

"Oh, no you don't," said Alyse, pushing him to the floor where he was immediately surrounded by the furry tormentors once more. "Come on, you big tough guy, you're three times bigger than them!"

'And there's many more of them then there are of me!' he seemed to whine as they bunny piled him, only his head visible below the mass of fur and ears.

"Poor guy," said Libby, nudging them off him a few at a time. "They've done that to me before too."

"Come here," said Alyse, taking him back up onto her lap and letting him rest there for awhile. "You big softy."

Ronnie just yawned and laid his head on his paws, glad to finally get his much needed nap.

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

Lyssa road into Corus on the horse she borrowed from the Rider's stables, taking her time as she maneuvered her way through the heavy crowds to one particular shop where an old friend of hers worked at the moment. Tethering her horse outside the place, she walked in a took a seat near the door, waiting patiently to be noticed.

"Hello," said a familiar, blonde young man who came up with an apron on to her table. "How can I- Commander!"

"Yeah, it's me," she said, motioning for him to sit across from her. "How are you, Sean?"

"Alright," he replied quickly, leaning back in the seat and stretching his legs. "How are you? Last time I saw you was before you were shipped north when you helped me with Jenny's things."

"Yeah," she said. "Oh, I'm alright. I've been offered a job by the King here, away from the fighting to help with some training and such, but I think I'll turn it down."

"Why's that?" asked Sean, entirely puzzled by her remark. "It's a chance to save your skin for sure. I mean, you have a lot of a better chance of living by staying here rather than running up there again."

"My fort needs me," explained Lyssa calmly. "And I need my fort. They are like my family, Sean. I can't just leave them there for someone else to take over, can I?"

"I guess not," replied Sean with a grin. "I do have some news for you, though. Jennifer is coming back soon, hopefully in the next few days, to live at the Dancing Dove with her Rogue friends."

"Then they've found a way to clear her name?"

"I don't know, they won't tell me what's going on."

"Hm, I see. Well, wish her luck for me and all."

"I will, thanks."

"Anytime."

"Sean!! Get back to work or go find somewhere else to make money!!" came a rough yell from the back, Sean, immediately scrambling to his feet.

"Well, I have to go," he said, running his hand through his hair as he did. "Come by next week and I'll tell you if she's here or not."

"Alright."

Lyssa got up and left, satisfied with her talk with him and glad to know that Jennifer was going to be returning from being an outcast once again. It was good to catch up with your friends.

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

Kyle and Elizabeth walked along the streets of Corus, finding a cozy little restaurant and ducking inside, wanting something warm to eat and drink to take the chill from the cold outside. "Hello there, sir," said the owner of the place. "I'm Roberto. What can I get for you?"

Elizabeth scanned the menu real quick, deciding quickly on what she would want. "A side of chicken, bread, and salad," she said, handing it back to him decisively. "And hot, spiced wine for both of us, please."

"Of course, milady. For you, sir?"

"I'll have the same," said Kyle, handing him back the menu as well. "Some coffee as well would be nice, though."

"Of course, sir, coming right up."

"This is a nice little place," admitted Elizabeth as she squeezed his hand as he sat across from her. "I guess I never really noticed it before."

"You get to know the town pretty well when you spend a lot of free time here," explained Kyle, shrugging his shoulders as he did. "You'd be amazed at all the hidden shops that are in this area."

"I'm sure I would."

"Here you are sir, milady," said Roberto, returning with two glasses of the wine and a mug of coffee for Kyle. "Your food will be ready in a moment."

"Thank you," said Kyle, nodding at the man politely as he did.

"Is the food good here?" asked Elizabeth. "I mean, some places look nice and then try to feed you pig slop or something."

"The food in great," Kyle reassured her quickly. "When this one cook is here, I think they call her Jenny, the food is excellent, but he does a well enough job himself. I don't know what happened to the girl, though. She just disappeared awhile back."

"You get to know her well, or something?" asked Elizabeth teasingly.

"No," said Kyle, shaking his head as he did. "I just used to come here a lot, that's all."

"Oh, ok."

"Your food, milady, sir." Roberto bowed to both of them after he set the plates on the table. "Will that be all, sir?"

"Yes, thank you," said Kyle, dismissing him with a nod. The man went back to the back room of the restaurant, checking on others there along the way.

"Mm, this is good," said Elizabeth in surprise as she tasted the chicken hesitantly. "So, Baron, what do you think of Amanda's proposal?"

"Proposal?" asked Kyle in surprise. "I thought it was more of an order. I'm surprised she hasn't set her foot down before with you."

"She never caught me before, and it only happened once, thank you," said Elizabeth roughly.

"I'm just teasing," said Kyle quickly, taking her hand in his as he did. "I think it is a good idea, though."

"Why's that?" asked Elizabeth, remaining completely neutral in this case so he could say whatever he thought.

"I think it's a good idea," admitted Kyle, blushing as he did. "I mean, we did kind of sleep together and she doesn't look like she's going to take no for an answer this time..."

"I'm glad," said Elizabeth, kissing him rather openly before continuing with her meal and taking his hand in hers once more.

"Really?" asked Kyle looking rather amazed.

"Yeah."

"Um, great."

They finished their meal and paid for it before heading back out into the streets and trudging their way through the snow back to the palace once more.

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

Kara bounced happily around the main room of the Dancing Dove one morning for the thousandth time, her bone weary nurse half asleep at the table while the others watched from their seats with amusement on their faces.

"What happened?" asked Mouse as she came down stairs and sat next to Yana, poking the young woman gently.

"Someone gave Kara lots of sugar last night, and no one knows who either," explained Allie simply. "She's been bouncing off the freakin' walls since 8 last night, hasn't slept a wink and still has energy to spare."

"Yeesh, sorry about that Yana."

"S'ok," mumbled the half-gone nursemaid. "Just keep an eye on her while I rest mine, alright? Just for a second...and I'll be...*yawn* ....I'll be....up.....in ......a......... zzzz......zzz...."

"Leave be," said Vixen, covering her with her cape. "Poor girl's had a long night."

"I can see why," said Mouse under her breath, Kara coming bouncing up as usual.

"Guess what Aunt Mouse! Guess what! Guess what!" said Kara super hyperactively, acting like she was on fast forward or something.

"What?" asked Mouse slowly, feeling the migraine she was going to get from this come on already.

"I gots lots a energy!! Yep! Yep! Yep! Lots and lots and lots of it!! Some gave put sugar out side my door last night and I ate it and it was really, really good -sugared plums and almonds, I think- and its made me all happy and I love it and I didn't sleep all night but that's ok because I feel completely awake right now and could go like this for days and Yana said that one day I could stay up all night and that it would mean I'm a big girl now so I guess that makes me one now. Is that right, Momma Mouse? Huh? Huh? Huh? Is that right?!??"

Considering that whole speech took about 15 seconds for her to say, Mouse had had a fairly hard time following it and was now trying to piece what she had heard together into something that did make sense. "Say what?!"

"Does it make me a big girl or not?!"

"What?"

"Staying up late of course!"

"Oh...uh...no," said Mouse, still half lost as to what was happening right about then. "Just one very hyper little girl."

"Oh, oh well! I don't mind being hyper! It's so much, I have all this excitement in me and I feel like I could on forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and [pause for breath] ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and-"

"ENOUGH!!" cried Yana, sitting up suddenly and looking around herself  wildly. "MAKE IT STOP!! OH, FOR THE LOVE OF HUMANITY, MAKE IT STOP!!!" §_§

0.o;;

o.0;;

0.o;;

o.0;;

0.o;;

o.0;;

Several pairs of eyes gave her odd looks as the woman feel back on the table, half sobbing through her sleep.

"Stop what, Yana?" asked Kara giving her an odd look.  ^_^;;

"For the love of Pete...." -_-*

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

Jennifer looked around her now familiar surroundings, knowing she would have to leave soon to make it ever semi-close to the day she was supposed to arrive at the Dancing Dove. Her cats had been violently ill after their encounter with the rats and eating the huge one, to the point that she had become worried and quickly went to the nearest animal doctor for them.

The old man had thoroughly examined them all very gently before giving them all specific medication for a few days with strict orders not to move them from their beds until it was gone after they'd gotten home. She'd, of course, followed his directions for the past four days and letting them sleep constantly on the bed next to hers, keeping an eye on them to make sure everything was alright.

"Morning, sleepy heads," she said, seeing them all start to wake from their night's slumber as the sun peaked it's head over the horizon. "Feeling better, are we?"

Tigress meowed and got up for the first time, stretching herself out slowly. She headed for the window sill and jumped out gracefully, taking care of some business before coming back in and eating the food she set down before them hungrily.

"I'll take that as a yes." The seven of them visited the animal doctor once more before they left that day, making sure they were well enough to travel before they actually did.

"They are fine," he said after he had checked them all over once more. "A little weak and such, but nothing a few days of rest won't handle. You are leaving then?"

"Yes," replied Jennifer. "I need to be somewhere fairly soon."

"Take the next few days very easy," he advised slowly. "They are riding in you cart, I presume?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do not go to fast, too much jarring could upset their still delicate stomachs. If they eat a lot and then regurgitate it back up for the first few days, that is normal, but past that they should be as healthy as ever once more. If it does persist, take them to any other doctor you can find for further treatment."

"Thank you, sir," said Jennifer, paying his dues before heading out the door with her mini family walking beside her and piling themselves dutifully in the cart as they did. She no longer caged them, knowing they wouldn't run off without her and were safe as long as they were in her presence.

She was a week behind, but that was ok. The others wouldn't expect her right away anyways, and as long as she was still moving closer to them she didn't really care what speed it was.

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

Jon lay lazily in the main pasture with the horses, dozing under the shade of an oak tree with several young colts skittering about him playful as he drifted off in the sun...

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

Jon found himself standing before Mr. Payne, who was wearing shiny leather pants and holding a pair of blue, leopard print fuzzy dice in his hands.

"Who's the man now, chump?" asked Mr. Payne, giving him a saucy grin. "Kiss my grits, you tuba boy."

"AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Jon thought he was going insane. There was Mr. Forbis, and he was built like a stick. "What the-"

"Weight watchers, it works like a charm," replied the band director, giving him a cheesy thumbs up as he did.

"Oh my gosh..."

"Wanna make out, big boy?" asked Wes, putting his arms around Jon in a suggestive manner.

"Like hell!" yelled Jon, shoving him away.

"Onward, flutes!!" cried Brenna, marching past him with Allie, Mouse, and the rest of the flutes behind her all holding their flutes in their hands like flutes and running towards the trumpets who were near by.

"Onward trumpets!" yelled Joe, his head the size of a blimp standing behind the trumpets instead of in front. "Play hard, play well, play suave! Just don't let them hurt my trumpet!" They charged at the flutes, him staying out of the think of things and letting them do the dirty work for him.

Jon was sure he was going out of his mind. "Holy crap..."

"On guard, you plot sheet fiend!"

"Die, you flag boy!!"

Captain Plot sheet and the Guard instructor fenced with a saber and a sword of plot sheets, the new Pit Director acting as referee between the two.

"Hey!" he yelled. "I thought I said no hits below the belt!"

"It can't hurt him 'cuz there's nothing there!" protested  the Guard Instructor.

"Why you pans, flag flippin' jerk!"

"Paper-piled, always wrong, lazy boned meat head!"

"You can't call him that 'cuz there's nothing up there either," commented the Pit Director.

"ARGH!!"

"That's it," said Jon to himself, turning around and walking away quickly. "I have officially gone insane. That or the rest of the world has."

"We are family!!" came the sound of several people singing at once. He glanced around the corner, seeing the entire band in a huge mud-wrestling competition while singing at the top of their lungs. "I've got all my sisters/brothers and me! We are family!!"

"Oh my..."

He never got to finish his sentence, finding himself in the middle of the fray in a clash between the brass and the woodwinds run amok. Baritones beat down on the tenors, flutes smashing the trumpets, and the pit sided with whoever they thought was gonna win at the moment.

Finding himself grabbed by the hair, he cried out as he felt himself lifted up by the roots and held there as a black void opened beneath him...

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

"AHHHH!!" Jon got him hair back from the curious young colt who had grabbed a mouthful of it and rubbed his scalp tenderly, hoping his hair wouldn't fall out and leave him bald from it.

"Have a nice nap?" asked Sarah from her seat nearby, a colt lying with it's head in her lap.

Jon rubbed his eyes, the events of his dream making him more than slightly sick to his stomach at times. "Not really..."

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

There it is, take it and leave me alone. If you can't tell, I'm not too happy right now so I'd better not get anyone asking me to write anymore for awhile unless they want to deal with one very short-tempered author throwing them into some band lockers repeatedly. Yeah.

Alright, to Alyse: Happy Birthday. I didn't forget, it was just postponed some, right?? You know, a week is not that bad, really. Ok, I'll sing for you since it's late too.

Happy Birthday to You.

Happy Birthday to You.

Happy Birthday Alyse.

Happy Birthday to you.

And many more...

There, now all you reviewers wish her a Happy Birthday too. Review, please, it would put me in a much better mood. Yeah, and that last part I better get some comments on that from those of you who know what I was referring to there!! X P

~crosseyedbutterfly~