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!*

29.

Hello again, everyone. You've heard of the delay, you know what's going on, so go on and read!

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Amanda and Levi arrived at the fief after two weeks of hard riding, often riding late into the night and changing horses often to reach their destination in time. The trip down had taken two weeks as well, but with passes barely manageable on foot and the horses trudging through two and three feet of snow it was almost impossible to make it any sooner than they had.

"Open the gate!" they could hear the guards call from the top of the wall. "Tis the Lady and the headman's son!" They rode in together silently, their horses as well as themselves being completely exhausted.

The two were ushered into the warm mansion, their horses taken care of by the servants as well as their bags and wet clothes. Hot meals were brought to them quickly for them to eat. Both changed and ate as quickly as they could before being taken to Grandfather's side in his room.

Amanda made it before Levi, sitting beside the old man as she waited for him to stir, or show any signs of life at all. Barely breathing, his pulse nothing more than the fluttering of a butterfly, he lay still as a dead man in his grave. His skin had taken on a gray pallor, his cheeks and eyes sunk in from not eating and the muscles on his lean body wasting away to practically nothing. She could've easily held him in her arms he had lost so much weight.

Levi crept in beside her, taking the seat she hadn't on the other side. They exchanged glances, but nothing more. "Son...you are back..." whispered Grandfather, his eyes opening slightly as he did, turning to look at the other person beside his bed as he did. "Lady Amanda...you have come home as well...you were not due for another few weeks...and the trip is quite dangerous..."

"I had to," said Levi quickly, taking his father's hand as he did. "You're....you're my dad....someone has to keep an eye on you..."

"I trust the servants could've done just as well," wheezed Grandfather. "But it is good to have you back...son... Lady Amanda, I am honored you made this trip...for one of your servants...such as myself..."

"Anything for a friend like you, sir," she said, biting back the urge to cry as she did. "Grandfather...you've helped me and Eliz so much... you are no longer a servant in our eyes...is there anything I can do for you now, old friend, to repay your kindness to us?"

"Nothing you could give me or do for me would compare to serving two ladies such as yourselves," replied Grandfather faintly, a smile on his lips as he did. "You two wild renegades, and a Yamanis lady cousin to boot...fighting beside the troops and meeting the villagers in person...trying to lower yourselves to their level, even for a day... you have taught me as much....as I taught you... I have never been closer to a noble family as I have been to you..."

"You are our Grandfather," whispered Amanda, a few traitorous tears escaping down her cheeks. "You are family to us. Maybe not by blood, but we've adopted you none the less. Please, is there anything, anything at all, we can do to honor you...?"

"Just this," sighed Grandfather, "Keep the tradition going. Levi, as your headman when I die. And his son after him....and his son after him....as it has been for the past ages..."

"I will," promised Amanda, squeezing his hand gently as the old man drifted off into a restless sleep once more. "I swear, Grandfather, what you have asked will be done..."

"Amanda?" said Levi quietly, looking at her sadly from his seat. She looked at him, nodding silently as they reached out for the other's hand in a silent promise. Funny how great sadness could push grudges and old hates aside in an instant.

She had been forgiven for her lies to him and to the others, but only as a friend and friends forever it would remain.

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Alyse and Elizabeth sat together in Elizabeth's main room, taking care of their final preparations to leave as they did. Amanda and Levi probably were at the fief already, and they wanted to be there as soon as was possible. The call about Grandfather had come in at the beginning of March, and the last weekend was when the troops of the Army were to set out and head North to batter with Scanra. If they left in less than a week it would pull them out ahead of the rest and they wouldn't get swamped with the huge masses of soldiers that would be heading out with the commanders to the north.

"How many are we taking with us again?" asked Alyse, still trying to get everything straight in her head.

"Us two, the four head thieves, their 40 troops, Lyssa and her forty....that makes... 87 in all," tallied Elizabeth, writing it all out to check her figures as she did.

Alyse blanched slightly at the thought. "We're going to have a lot of mouths to feed..."

"Have we gotten word yet on whether the passes will be manageable?" asked Elizabeth, doing some figures as she did. "We're going to have to take two wagons with us this time, one of our things and the ones Amanda and Levi left behind as well as Artman and Libby's things and one for our eating supplies and such."

"Kyle told me yesterday that according to his sourced, the passes should be manageable in two days, unless they have another storm up in that direction," replied Alyse confidently.

"Still, we could be stopped if they do," sighed Elizabeth in a worried voice. "So much depends on our speed...if Amanda hadn't ordered me to stay here and help you get everyone north I would've been with them riding the whole way!"

"We're all worried about Grandfather," said Alyse softly, bowing her head as she did. "And if there had been any other way, I would be there right now myself. But she is right, we are needed here and she can handle whatever is going on up there."

"I hope he makes it until we get back," whispered Elizabeth sadly. "There are so many things that need to be said...how much he's done..."

"I'm sure Amanda will say it for you and I," Alyse reassured her, gathering up her things as she did. "I'm going to go make my rounds to the others, they'll want to know when we're leaving and all."

"Alright."

Alyse left after putting her cape on and securing her things in her bag on her back as usual. "I'll be back in time for dinner then to help you finish  packing."

"Alright, bye."

"Bye."

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Vixen had just gotten the news from Alyse and was sitting in her room when Mouse came in, followed by ten others who were planning on going with them to the north.

"What is it?" she asked lightly, checking some things off a list of supplies as she did.

"This ten say they don't have serviceable cloaks for the weather up there, and that we should replace theirs," said Mouse with a tilt of her head, motioning to the thieves lined up behind her as she did. They shifted about nervously, each holding his or her cloak in their hands waiting to hear what she would say. Though she was not normally short-tempered a lot, as of late she had been snapping at others more often with the approach of their leave for the north coming up so soon.

"Let me see your cloaks," said Vixen, holding out her hand as she did. Each one handed it to her, pointing out the tears and rents with great care. "Hm...Mouse, get me Sam real quick."

"Ok." Mouse left and was back in a flash, an older fellow with a bag of sewing things at his side following her closely. "Here he is."

"Milady," said the tailor-gone-thief. He could still apply his trade, but had had his business fall through due to some credit problems and had turned to the trade of a thief instead for support. "What is it you require of your faithful servant Sam? New clothes? A seam to be sown? A patch to be done? Sam will do all for his wonderful mistress for free."

"It is a pleasure as always to have your serviced at hand," replied Vixen with a small smile. "Can you mend these cloaks to be as good as new by tonight?" She let him look them over, listening as he clucked to himself softly, tallying the repairs in his head as he did.

"I do not see why not, each just as a few splits seems or tears," he replied with a grin. "They were all very well made to begin with, the seams still strong and the fabric lasting well for it's kind. Sam will finish it for you by dinner, milady. Sam will, oh yes he will."

"Much thanks, Sam, you are dismissed."

"Thank you, milady."

"There's your answer," she said to the ten, waving at the with her hand as she did. "Now go, you'll have them fixed for free because of you help to me, but I need to continue my work before we leave this week."

"Of course, milady."

"Yes, Queen Vixen."

"Ok, ma'am."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Much thanks, ma'am."

"Yes, much thanks."

They filed out quickly, leaving their cloaks behind them as they did. Vixen smiled, it was good to be in control.

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Kyle sat in the small room with the lights out and the shades drawn, staring up at the ceiling tiredly. He had been up all night checking the passes again and again for any signs of change for his friends, but couldn't sleep due to the noise outside of training recruits of the Rider's.

"Hello?" asked a familiar voice, someone sticking their head in the front door just enough to look around. "Is anyone in here?"

"Who is it?" asked Kyle, masking his voice as he did.

"M-...Baron Martin," replied the voice, a body coming with as Kyle heard his footsteps come farther into the room. "I was brought by Onua, the horse mistress of the Riders, she said you wished to see me."

"Come in the second door to your right," said Kyle lightly, smiling as he did. "Keep it down, though, alright?"

"Um...ok..." Martin opened the door, looking surprised when he spotted Kyle sitting up on the bed. "Do I....Master Kyle?!"

"Shh!!" Kyle was up and had his hand clamped over Martin's mouth faster than the poor man could blink. "Martin, it is me, but promise me you won't yell like that anymore, alright? I'll explain everything if you'll just relax..."

Martin nodded, his eyes opened wide in shock and surprise. Kyle slowly uncovered his mouth, glad to find Martin had control of himself once more and was eyeing him cautiously. "Aren't you supposed to be dead?" he asked quietly, keeping his voice down as promised. "The message came with the royal seal on it, whatever did they do to you, Baron, that could cast you to here?"

"They did nothing," replied Kyle with a grin. "It was of my own doing."

"Your own doing?" gasped Martin in surprise. "But why? You had everything every noble dreams of; the wealth, the women, the easy life of letting your servants do all the work since you didn't have to..."

" Martin, I've found something better than all that put together," whispered Kyle with a smile.

"Don't tell me you've fallen for a commoner," said Martin flatly. "I know you better than that, Kyle."

"She's not a commoner," protested Kyle. "It's Lady Elizabeth, Lady Amanda's younger sister."

"Then why are you giving up your title and lands like this?" demanded Martin quietly. "I don't see what the problem is!"

"I want to be with Elizabeth, and I'm promised to marry her," said Kyle, showing him the ring and everything. "But, she doesn't want to move south away from her fief and friends, and personally I don't need the pressure of her having a child to secure both the fiefs. Lady Amanda has agreed to hire me on as a servant in her fief, with a room below Elizabeth's, and near enough to the action so I can still scout around with Daine and help her pinpoint the enemy."

"Young Master," said Martin. "This is insane. If it weren't for the fact that I know you don't take drugs and aren't prone to drink I would say you've plum lost your mind, but you haven't, have you? And that's what worries me the most."

"Relax, Martin," said Kyle, patting him on the back as he did. "You have the fief now, it's yours to rule as you please. I know you'll take good care of it for me, because you know them better than I ever will."

"I thank you for your gift," said Martin, realizing this was a battle he would never win. "And I thank you more for having such faith in me with it, Master Kyle. Me and my wife, we will remember you always for this."

"Live long and die well, old friend," said Kyle, intoning a common phrase from that area of Tortall. The two clasped hands tightly, Martin replying as tradition dictated it to be.

"Live long and die well, friend. And good luck."

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Sarah and Jon went through what their two helpers had brought with them, finding they had few warm clothes and no boots or cloaks at all.

"You do realize you'll freeze to death up there if this is what you're planning to take with you," Sarah told them gravely, putting away the thin, light clothes she had inspected.

"It's not our fault that pa's ranch stayed warm almost year round," griped Dar, running a hand through his hair as he did. "A light cape at the most was all we ever needed, nothing more."

"We'd better go get them some new stuff," said Jon roughly. "Not that I want to go shopping in this less than warm weather, but they do need boots that are waterproofed and have treads and some clothes that are thicker than tissue paper."

"You're leaving me here alone again?" complained Kyle, looking up from the book he had been reading. "I swear, I know every crack in this place I've stared at the walls out of boredom so many times."

"You're the one who made the choice to 'kill' yourself," muttered Jon, rolling his eyes as he did. "Deal with it."

"Fine...go, leave me to rot here all alone," called Kyle sarcastically. "I'm going to take a nap that will hopefully last until we leave for Lynx Mountain."

"If you had your choice you'd do the same thing," cut in Sarah as she gave Jon a slight glare. "Leave him alone, Jon."

"Alright...let's go, guys. It's only going to get colder later today."

"Yes, sir."

"You boys have fun," said Sarah, giving him the pouch of gold and hustling them out the door.

"What?! You're not coming with us?" asked Jon in surprise and dread. He didn't want to take these two shopping by himself.

"Of course not," she replied. "You're a guy, they're guys, get them what you would need in their sizes."

"Fine...let's go." Jon found Offbeat and saddled him up real fast while the twins saddled a huge gelding they were able to ride together instead of bringing a horse apiece. Everyone set to go, the trio headed down to Corus at a quick trot to were most of the clothes and shoes vendors were in the market place.

Leaving the horses with a stable hand who they paid a noble to take care of, Jon lead them to a shop where they sold wool tunics year round for a fairly cheap price.

"Good day, sirs," said the woman as saw them enter her shop. "What can I do for ye today?"

"I need some tunics for these two," said Jon, pointing at the young men behind him. "Just a little bit bigger than they need them, though, incase they actually grow for once."

"Of course," said the woman, smiling as she did at the two. "Come here, let's see what size you two are..." She took their measurements and checked down her shelves for a few minutes before finding six thick tunics with short sleeves to their elbows of various colors. Deciding the two would be able to share them as they wanted, Jon got all six at a bargain price and headed back out into the snow with the two boys behind him carrying their packages the whole way.

"Now where to?" asked Cor, snow spilling over the tops of his low boots.

"A tanner," said Jon, seeing the sign up ahead. "Come on, this fellow has pre-made boots that can fit almost anyone." He went inside and talked with the owner while the two boys stood behind him, talking amongst themselves the whole time.

"Let me see your feet, boys," said the tanner, bringing out a slat of wood with markings on it. Measuring their feet by it, he decided on their approximate size and got down a few pairs of knee-high boots for them to try on. Finding a pair apiece that would allow them a little growing room, they set out once more into the cold with Cor and Dar carrying everything that had been bought and Jon walking in front of them to the next shop.

This one was a tailor who specialized in shirts. He quickly matched them up with several thick shirts at a low price that would go well with their tunics and were made for cold weather. Cor and Dar were fairly loaded down now, each having three bulky packages to carry as they followed Jon through the snow.

He got them some used cloaks that were in good condition, some hats and mittens for added warmth, a few pairs of thick pants each, a set of leather packs for them to carry things on their backs, and riding gloves for the times they would be out working horses in the snow.

"Do you think that's enough?" he asked himself aloud as the twins stood in the middle of the street, each balancing a monstrous load that reach up a few feet above their head. "I mean, we could go and get you some underclothes and such for when it gets REALLY cold..."

"I think we're fine," gasped Dar, feeling his grip slip from the bottom of the package which everything else was balanced on.

"Yeah, me too," agreed Cor quickly. "Aren't you almost out of nobles anyways, sir?"

"Not really," replied Jon, checking the pouch. "We've been getting good deals for buying in bulk like this. Oh well, let's head on back to the stable..."

Both boys sighed in relief and followed him through the snow back to their mounts and then onto the palace.

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"You're sure you must leave so soon?" asked Alyse for the last time, holding Veety's head while Libby mounted up on the sidesaddle. "We were hoping to all travel together to Lynx Mountain. It would make it easier on me and Elizabeth with you two around to help guide the group..."

"Yes, I know, but we must." replied Libby with a firm nod as she positioned herself in the most comfortable way possible. "They need us up their now. We'll make better time with the snow storms stopping and the sun melting part of it away through the passes already then Amanda and Levi did when they left two weeks and a half weeks ago. We'll see you when you get there, alright?"

"Alright," said Alyse, letting go and standing back as the two mages galloped out the gates and into the streets below. "Bye!"

"Good bye, and good luck!"

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Lyssa put the last of her belongings into the saddle bags and cases that would either be on her horse or in the cart with the rest of the things, knowing she had to hurry to make it to her meeting with the King in time. Shove this in a bag, put that in the case, make sure the straps are tight on this, carry this on her because she might need it for later...that was the last of it for now.

Running to the palace after she had finished and weaving her way through the crowds, Lyssa stopped in front of his study door and knocked softly. A reply inside came as the door opened on it's open, letting her in noiselessly before shutting behind her as well. It was just the guard posted on duty as usual.

"Sire," she said, bowing before him as she did.

"Commander," he replied stiffly, rising to his feet and bowing as well. "Please, sit, I know you're in a hurry so I'll make this short since there is only a few things I have to say."

"Yes, sire?" she replied, taking a seat in front of him.

"Here's some correspondences I want you to give to the Commanders or Generals they're addressed to at their forts," he said quickly, handing her a small stack tied with a string and sealed with his wax and print. "You can send them by couriers if you like, just make sure they get where they're supposed to be. Next, here are your new orders for your area from the General. Your fort, the other General's fort, as well as Lynx Mountain has already been given notice of this."

"As you wish, sire," she replied, taking it and looking over it quickly before folding it up and sticking it in her pocket. "Is there anything else you require of me before I go, sire?"

"Just make sure you and the other two are working as a team this time," he replied steadily. "We can't afford to let petty differences between us be the factor that takes out a fort that is a key part of our defense, is that understood, Commander Lyssa?"

"Yes, sire," she said with a small grin, rising and bowing once more as she did. "Thank you, sire."

"Of course, Commander," he replied, rising and bowing as he did.

Lyssa wondering absently if he had a six-pack from bowing like that all the time, (after all it was a great work out for the abs) and if it was something all noblemen had as a result of it as she went back to her rooms to finish putting her things together and prepare to leave for her fort. Or in other words for her and those who lived there: back to her family and to her home.

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Jennifer signed the piece of parchment paper and handed it back to Alyse who put the mixed dark blue and black wax seal on it and dipped Amanda's ring in it before it could harden. Amanda had left it with her incase of something like this so someone would be able to handle things there while she was gone. Legal matters usually required the seal, and Amanda knew Alyse would use it wisely if she must use it at all in her absence.

"There, it's official now," said Alyse with a smile. "You have been indentured to Lynx Mountain for the next five years."

"Sounds good to me, seeing as how we've already been here four," said Jennifer, shrugging as she did. "I did get all that I asked for right?"

"Shelter, meals, and clothes all provided by the fief as necessary," said Alyse, pointing it out to the young chef as she said it. "The pay you asked for, which will be lower than usual considering we're at war but since you're not paying for clothes or meals it shouldn't be a problem. Your cats will be provided for as well, it says it right here, with food and shelter as well. It mentions taking care of them with the local animal doctor if they're sick, too. You're given a medical insurance of sorts for youself, and with Libby around we have a free healer at all times who can take care of you. Yep, that's pretty much it, I think..."

"And my horse?"

"Oh, yes, a stall and hay for her, as well as a place where you can store her tack when you're not using it."

"Alright, thanks!"

Jennifer knew she wouldn't really be treated like a servant around the fief, but figured it would be better to be legally working for the fief than a friend who hung around and did chores every once in awhile. At least this way the kitchen would be her domain alone and no one could ever say she didn't belong there at all.

It wasn't like she was going to be a slave or something, or she was signing over her soul for life she rationalized as Alyse placed the document in an envelope with other documents in it, all with the Lynx Mountain seal on it.

"Is Kyle's contract in there?" asked Jennifer, curious despite knowing it was slightly rude to ask.

"Yeah, right here," said Alyse, showing it to her as she did. "Though, he's going under the name Mitchell, which is his middle name, instead of Kyle. You might want to remember that for future reference, alright?"

"Okay," replied Jennifer, ducking her head slightly as she did. "Will we be seeing a lot of him or will his main job be out spying in the fields?"

"I don't know," replied Alyse honestly. "Amanda or him haven't told me yet, so I'm assuming he will be around at least some of the time."

"Oh, ok."

"Don't you have a date with Sean?" asked Alyse suddenly, hearing the fourth bell ring as she did.

"Oh yeah!" cried Jennifer, running and putting on her cape and such before going over to the door. "I'll be by to see you guys later when it's time to leave, alright?"

"Ok, bye."

"Bye!"

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Amanda came running when she heard Grandfather was asking for her, meeting Levi along the way as she did. Sitting beside his beside as he gasped and wheezed for air, they waited to hear what he had to say to them.

"Lady Amanda," he said quietly. "Do you know what this is? Can you tell me something that has been haunting me for years?" He handed her a necklace with a charm on it that Amanda recognized slightly. She studied, something nagging her in the back of her mind as she did. A woman with a crown, one hand holding a book to her chest and the other raised in the air with a torch in it...where had she seen that before...

"That's the Statue of Liberty!" she cried softly out of the blue, taking it from his hands to study it more closely. Yes, right there, it read: MADE IN NEW YORK. Next to it a name had been engraved with a knife: Celia Bratton. It was from America...her world...but how did he...?

"Then it is true as I was told in a dream a long time ago when you first arrived at the fief," he whispered quietly, his eyes focused on the ceiling. "You are not...of this world..."

"Where did you get this?" asked Amanda urgently. "I must know, is there another here we don't know about from around here who gave this to you?"

"It was given to me by a woman many years ago before you were born, and before I met the woman I was to marry," explained Grandfather quietly. "I loved her very much, but she said she had to leave for somewhere and that she would never return. I asked if I could go with her, then, just to be with her I would give up everything I had. But she said where she was going no one could follow. She gave me this to remember her by, a simple token that she said others like her later on might recognize as well. Tell me, Lady Amanda, where is it that she went? Where did she go that I cannot follow?"

"To my home world," replied Amanda softly, bowing her head as she did. "To earth...to her country America."

"Is that where you are from?.... and your sister and cousin?...those people...who knew you from before?"

"Yes, Grandfather, it is."

"Then ....you....you will return there ......someday?" He breathing became more ragged as he tried to speak.

"Sh," said Amanda. "Don't speak, Grandfather, please. You need your rest..."

"Answer me," he rasped, looking her in the eyes gently.

"Yes, we will," replied Amanda at last, nodding as she did.

"Take this," said Grandfather, giving her the pendant and closing her fingers around it as he did. "Take it and find the girl who gave this to me that she may know I never forgot her. Please....to do so...is my one greatest wish in life..."

Grandfather closed his eyes and fell asleep again, leaving Levi standing there in shock and Amanda hold the pendant in her hand as gently as she could. After inspecting it for a few moments, she lifted it and placed it in her pocket where it would be safe until her return. She would do as Grandfather asked, or at least she would try. He deserved that much respect, at the very least.

"Where are you going?" asked Levi as she stood up, giving her a questioning look as he did.

"Back to my rooms," said Amanda quietly. "Send for me if he gets any worse. I have some....thing to think about...."

"I understand."

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

Alyse and Elizabeth stood in front of the group that was going with them, 87 in all from themselves at the head to the troops in the back. Kel and Raoul stood beside them, the only two out there to send off the group as a whole.

"You'll be coming up in a week, right?" asked Alyse, rubbing Fern on the nose to keep her still as she said her good-byes to the pair.

"Yes, we will," affirmed Kel with a nod. "The King is sending the troops all at once with Lord Raoul and the Lioness at the head.

"Tell Neal to keep his mouth shut or I'll get him with my fans next time I see him," commented Alyse.

Kel smiled. "I will."

"You take care of yourselves," said Raoul, shaking hands with them both as he did. "The roads are going to be rough going as early as you are. Don't make any mistakes that could cost you a horse or one of your follower's lives."

"We won't," said Alyse carefully, allowing herself a small smile as she did.

"Of course not," said Elizabeth, mounting her mare with some help on the sidesaddle she was using. "Take care, you two, you'll probably need it more than us at the forts."

"We will," replied Kel with a smile. "Tell your sister she'd better behave up there. I'd hate to see what the King would do to her if she baulks at his orders this time.

"I will, but she won't," replied Elizabeth with a twinkle in her eye. "It would be more like her having to deal with the forty coming with us to Lynx Mountain baulking at her orders instead.

"We've promised to be good and behave!" called Vixen from behind her, a sly smile on her face as she did.

"Your word is as good as smoke," Elizabeth called back. "It's useless and it can't be caught."

"Hey!"

"Be careful, Kel," said Alyse, knowing something was going to happen with Kel since she had read Squire before she'd come here. "You are meant to do great things, just what they are I don't know yet. You will find what your path will be when it presents itself to you."

"Thank you," said Kel, obviously puzzled by what she had said and how it related to what the Chamber of Ordeals had told her already. "I will see you up north, hopefully."

"Hopefully," replied Alyse, getting astride her own mount and whistling to get the attention of those behind her. "Form up in ranks of four. Let's go!"

She and Elizabeth lead them out the gates at a good trot with Lyssa at their side, waving to Kel and Raoul one last time as they did. Vixen, Mouse, Allie, and Joe where right behind them with their 40 thieves all in ranks of four along the way. The forty Lyssa were bringing with her were behind them, in ranks of four as well. Three light wagons with fast teams brought up the rear, Jennifer guiding the lead one with Jewel in the traces pulling the wagon before her

They were headed for their new destiny, and no one knew what it held for them. All they knew now was they were going to fight in this war, and there was no definite winner just yet.

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

Vixen pulled her cloak all the tighter about herself as the daylight began to wane, the cold rising as the night's chill began to set in. "What I wouldn't give to be before the fireplace back at the Dancing Dove right now," she muttered to herself, shivering slightly as she did.

"I know what you mean," replied Joe softly. "But I'll miss that place for more than just it's huge fireplace and very warm main room."

"What else will you miss about it?" asked Mouse, lazily leaning back in her saddle with two cloaks pulled tight around herself. She had been smart and worn her spare as well for when it would get chilly that night.

"Well, it's been my home for so long I can barely think to live anywhere else," admitted Levi with a grin.

"Yeah, I can agree with that," said Vixen with a small smile. "It's where I've lived the whole time I've been here, so it is really my only Tortallian home."

"I do feel sorry for nobles in that sense," commented Joe. "They have to live in so many homes; the palace, their fief, other summer or winter get away places, how do they know which one is their true home?"

"Our fief is our true home," said Elizabeth from in front of him, turning to give him a quickly smile as she did. "Ask Amanda the same thing any day and she'll tell you the fief. I think she's going to have a hard time leaving that place when the time has come for us to return."

"It will be hard to leave Tortall period," said Allie with a sigh. "So much freedom and power...only to lose it all in an instant..."

"That's not what I'll miss the most," said Vixen softly. Joe and her exchanged glances and he understood what she meant.

"I'll miss the Rogue," said Mouse decidedly. "Not the thieving or the riches or working the bar or anything. I'll just miss the people in it that have become our family during our time here."

"Right now I'm really missing Chad's stews," whined Joe, his stomach growling rather loudly as he did. "Erg...what I wouldn't give for a huge, warm bowl of it right now full of meat and vegetables..."

"Stop it you're making me hungry," growled Vixen playfully. "Come on, we'll be stopping eventually and then you can have all you can eat at the inn. Say, Alyse, when are we stopping again?"

"In another  two and a half hours or so," replied the Yamanis lady over her shoulder with a wink.

"TWO AND A HALF HOURSE?!! *sobs* I'll starve!!!" Joe began to sniff and whine plantively as they crested a tall hill, seeing a large town spread out below.

"Did I say hours?" added Alyse with a small grin. "I meant minutes..."

*-_-;; "Not funny at all."

"I think it is," said Vixen with a challenging grin. "Come on you who are with me, I know where we're going tonight. Remember, no pocket picking while we're here!"

"Everyone else, our inn's over here," said Alyse, leading them away with a smile on her face. She loved doing that to Joe, it was just way to easy sometimes and Vixen always backed her up when she did.

Vixen smiled slightly as they were welcomed into the inn she and the rogue folks were staying at. It was one of the branches of the Dancing Dove in another town, where she was still Queen.

"We were hoping you'd make it tonight, Queen," said the lady behind the bar with a grin. "A bard will be doing his part for a meal tonight, and we thought you might like the entertainment.

"Very much, thanks," replied Vixen politely. The rogue was definitely where she felt most at home.

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

Kyle road quietly behind Sarah and Jon, his entire being covered in a cape and a blanket like theirs, Dar and Cor riding in the back to make sure the herd kept together and didn't break away from the trail. Sarah and Jon each held a lead rope in their hands and Kyle had two, four lines of horses with 20 some on each lead.

He couldn't wait to get there already. They had only been traveling for a few days, and had left the day after Alyse and them did so he couldn't ride with Elizabeth like he wanted to. At least once he was there he could do his job again and be with Elizabeth when they weren't hanging out with the others. It was going to be a house full of friends, almost like a winter vacation only they had to work part of the time as well.

"You alright back there?" asked Jon, turning around to check on the horses and their helpers.

"Yeah, I'm good," replied Kyle through his scarf which covered his mouth. "Just cold and tired."

"We all are," replied Jon with a nod. "Don't worry, we won't keep going much later. The sun's setting and there's no moon out tonight."

"Only because of the clouds," Sarah reminded him with a frown. "I wish they weren't there because then we could get some more time in for sure before we stopped."

"It's fine, either way, really," said Kyle, trying not to get in the way too much. "I don't mind going on longer if we need to..."

"We're stopping soon," Jon assured him. "When it's dark like this it gets too dangerous for the horses as well as us as far as low branches we can't see, and it's easier for others to attack us without us realizing it."

"That's a good point," admitted Kyle, thinking longingly of his bed with it's many blankets back at the palace.

He dropped back into his own thoughts again, Jon and Sarah talking quietly between the two of them as the sun vanished from view. He shivered and pulled himself even deeper into the blankets and cape that surrounded him. His horse beneath him shivered and blew out a breath that froze the moment it hit the air. During the day it wasn't too bad, it was at night with the wind and dropping temperatures that really got to him.

Kyle really didn't like the cold.

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

Sarah looked at the moon the next night and signaled for them to halt, seeing the clouds were coming back and we're going to be of much help in letting the moonlight through so they could see.

"We'll stop here," she said, leading her horse off to the side into a semi-grassy vale that had been mainly shielded from the snow and the wind.

"Alright," said Jon, turning his horse around to signal to the other two. "Dar, Cor, picket the horses up tonight that are on the leads. Kyle, could you help them?"

"Sure."

"Me and Sarah will set up camp and get supper started," said Jon, going over to where Sarah had stopped in a relatively clear area. He gathers some branches together and pulled some tinder and a flint stone from his pouch. Quickly starting a fire, he built it up enough to keep them warm before tending to his, Kyle's, and the boy's horses.

Sarah pulled out some noodle balls and threw in some meat and chopped herbs with it to make a decent soup for their meal in a large pot that was strung over the fire by a prop.

"When will it be ready?" asked Jon, seeing  Dar and Cor finish up their handiwork for the night by putting the wards around the horses. Between the two of them they had enough of a gift to hide the mounts from view until morning when the illusion would wear off again.

"The soup? Oh, I'd say ten minutes or so," replied Sarah with a shrug.

Jon nodded and got out his bed roll to lay beside the fire. Kyle had his there already and was laying back on it looking at the stars. The twins had theirs out the moment they got there and wrapped up in them immediately, still not used to the cold being from the south and all.

"We're going to freeze to death out here," complained Dar, his teeth chattering together noisily the whole time.

"Here," said Jon, pouring him a mug of hot coffee from the pot he had freshly brewed. "Drink this, it'll warm you up alright."

"Mm....thanks."

"Can I have some too?" asked Cor, his lips a light shade of blue. He was somewhat thinner than his brother and had a harder time keeping warm.

"Yeah," said Jon, pouring him some too. "There's no sugar or anything for it, sorry, but it's still real hot."

"Gimme some," said Kyle, holding out his hand as he did in Jon's direction. "Will you?"

"Yes, Baron," said Jon in a mocking tone, knowing Kyle knew he was just giving him a hard time.

"Shove it, Jon."

"Where?"

"Up your butt and around the corner."

"That's nice."

The twins looked at the two of them like they had grown two heads apiece. To hear exchanges like that wasn't abnormal, but it still unnerved them a little at times because you could never tell when they were joking and when they weren't.

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

Libby and Artman saw the fort in the distance, the one that was near the back of the lines  of defense and was mainly used to ferry supplies and such. There was where they were supposed to spend the night, but coming closer they noticed something that has escaped their attention before.

A green flag with three red dots. The pox was running rampant within it's walls and no one was allowed to go in or out until it was cured.

"Oh well," said Artman with a shrug. "It looks like we'll be going onto the next fort- hey!"

Libby had grabbed his horses head and led him on to the main gate, where she called to any who might be listening. A pale, thin face showed itself over the edge of the wall.

"Who goes there?" he called in a horse voice. "Didn't you see the flag? We're under quarantine for pox!"

"Let me in!" demanded Libby forcefully. "I am the mage from the desert with the healing touch, I can save you people!"

"Is it really you?" asked the man quickly. "For once I let you in I cannot let you back out until the disease has been dispelled from this place entirely."

"Yes, it is," Libby replied quickly. "With me is the other mage, the one with fighter's magic. He shall accompany me inside."

"Libby..." groaned Artman, rolling his eyes as he did. "Come on, we have to get back to our posts...!!"

"If we don't save this place then their work will fall to another fort that is needed for defending instead of supplies," replied Libby curtly. "Come, or I'll mallet you to your post in one swing...it's your choice."

"I'll come, I'll come," said Artman quickly, his eyes widening at the prospect of being malleted that far in one shot. That would really hurt....it might leave some permanent damage too...

They were let inside and quickly shown the way to the infirmary, Libby going down the long line of patients and putting her hand on each ones forehead as she did. The spots disappeared and temperatures dropped as she did, Artman holding her other hand and giving her a constant supply of his gift through that link.

Having finished the worst cases, she stopped to rest and take a quick drink before going on to the next few rows of beds. Each one was touched by her hand and healed with her power as she went, being continuingly renewed by what Artman gave her. He was making himself useful, for once, and she appreciated it only because it was helping to save other's lives.

"You can stop, now," said Artman, tugging her away from the last few rows as he did. "Go sleep and you can do the rest in the morning, their the ones who just developed it you know. Besides, my gift is almost gone and yours will be soon if you don't stop."

"But there's only two more rows," Libby protested, frowning as she did.

"You'll over reach yourself and be out for a week," Artman reminded her saucily. "Come, sleep, then heal after you've eaten in the morning.

*grumbles* "Alright, alright," sighed Libby, glancing one more time at those who were left. "We'll finish in the morning."

**The Next Day**

Libby was up before the sun and eating breakfast when Artman stumbled into the mess hall, rubbing his eyes as he did. "Hurry up and eat," she said. "I do want to be leaving by the dinner so we can reach the next one by nightfall."

"Whatever..."

They healed the remaining sick and checked the rest for disease, finding the main cause to be a well nearby that was polluted by the runoff from their outhouses.

"Seal it off and make sure no one digs another one around there again," Libby ordered the healer in charge with a frown. "Mistakes like that can cost us entire towns you know."

"Yes, milady," said the mage, bowing before her as he did. "It will not happen again, I assure you."

"I should hope not. Come on, Artman, let's go."

"Finally..."

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

Lyssa and Vixen road side by side that day, Allie having taken her place up front so she could talk to Elizabeth instead. "You're the one who Amanda was always talking about?" replied Vixen in surprise. "She told us so many storied about her guard-crazy friend who wanted her to join a Marching Core the same year she did."

"I could do Core, I'm that good," replied Lyssa with a cocky smile. "But we don't have the money and getting me there and back would be hard since Amanda lives in the opposite direction I do now."

"Yeah, it's not like she could drive you four hours back and then make it on time for school Monday with a 12 hour drive the night before just so she could get home," admitted Vixen, a grin showing itself on her face.

"What instrument is it you play in Marching Band?" asked Lyssa lightly, changing the subject some.

"Flute," replied Vixen with a shrug.

"One time, at band camp....."

"Hush, you," said Vixen, punching her lightly on the shoulder. " I'd rather do Mellaphone, though."

"Isn't that a marching French horn?"

"Similar to it, close enough that is doesn't make a difference."

"I see."

"Ever marched an instrument and played?"

"Clarinet, it's what I play in concert band."

"I play French horn, there."

"I guessed as much."

"Who else is in the marching band?"

"Amanda, as you know, and she plays a marching baritone, Libby's in it and plays trombone but she'd rather be in percussion, Artman played the trombone in it but he was graduating that year, Mouse and Allie play flute in it, Alyse is in the clarinet line, and... oh, Jenny plays flute too, Sarah is on the base drum, Jon plays tuba, and Kyle's not in it he's just Elizabeth's cheerleader on the sidelines."

"Really now? All of you? In band?"

"Yep."

"That many band people congregated at once....it's kinda scary, really...it's like you flock together or something..."

"Hey, you're one of us you know!" protested Vixen while laughing at the mental picture she got there.

"I know, that's how I know all the damage you can cause!!" exclaimed Lyssa. "Trust me, I know what band people can do while they're together! And it's not always pretty, either..."

"True...true...but hey, no one can ever say that we don't have fun!!"

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

Jennifer road at the front of the wagon with her cats all around her, mostly in a pile right inside the flap on a blanket to keep themselves warm. Only Tigress, who had claimed her lap, was with her and kept her legs warm as she did. Mouse and Joe road on either side of her as Jewel continued to pull on, having needed someone else to talk to with everyone else in their little conversations up front.

"How are you two?" asked Jennifer, seeing as how both of them were rather silent at the moment.

"Alright," replied Mouse, stifling a sigh as she did. "Bored, yeah, I need something to do other than ride in a road for hours at a time."

"Sorry," said Jennifer with a shrug. "I don't have anything that you can do to keep you from being bored."

"It's not your fault."

"What about you, Joe?"

"I'm just tired," he replied with a yawn and a sleepy smile.

"It's a miracle either of you got any sleep at all last night," muttered Mouse under her breath, rolling her eyes as she did. "I swear, it's a good thing we were at another Rogue in last night or you would've gotten us kicked out."

"What?!" Joe blushed bright red as Jennifer decided to let it drop. That was something she didn't want to know about...

"We did too get some sleep," protested Joe, his face now entirely scarlet. "Just not as much as normal...yeah..."

"Stop it right there," said Jennifer, holding up her hand as she did. "I don't know what you're talking about, and I don't want to know what you're talking about. Let's just leave it at that, alright?"

"I agree with her," said Joe quickly with relief.

"You're ruining my fun of teasing him," said Mouse with a wicked smile. "I can't do it when Vixie dears is around, she'll actually hurt me. He can't lay a finger on me, and Vixen doesn't have to know...."

"Do it on your own time, when I'm not around," replied Jennifer flatly. "I didn't need to know what they do at night, alright?!"

"Not all the time!" protested Joe, turning bright red again. "Just...only...when... oh shoot...."

"Stop while you still have some shred of dignity," said Mouse lightly. "You're only digging yourself in deeper you know."

"Aw....poor Joe," teased Jennifer. "And no Vixen around this time to save him, either."

"I save her from Scanrans, and she saves me from you vultures," he replied with a grin. "I have a feeling that either I'm getting screwed here so it doesn't really matter, does it?"

"Screwed in what why?" asked Mouse slyly.

"Hey, I did not mean it like...grr..."

Jennifer shook her head and laughed. Thieves, you couldn't find a better group to hang out with if you tried.

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

Amanda had been wandering around the fief for awhile and wondered what hallways and corridors she had been down in the last hour, for she honestly could not remember. She leaned against the doorpost of her room, a small sigh escaping from her lips as she counted the events of the day.

She had been wakened before dawn by a servant, being called to Grandfather's side for his final few moments. None of his family was there except Levi, who hadn't moved from his bedside all night long. Grandfather had died just as the first rays of light had peaked themselves up over the edge of the hill outside his window, bathing him in a golden splendor as he breathed his last breath.

Amanda had sworn right then to uphold one of his many promises to her and had given Levi his father's ring and staff there on the spot. The scribes in the mansion had it changed as to what Levi's position was in their logs as the morgue assistants came and took his body away. He was buried only a few hours after that in the hole that had been prepared for him in the family cemetery  weeks ago.

A small service had been held, Levi doing the prayers for him as he should being the only family member present whilst everyone else who had known him from the fief or the town stood around the graze watching as the coffin that held the body was slowly lowered into the ground.

Amanda had cried freely during all of this, tears running down her face until everyone else had left and she alone stood at the grave. She swore once more to him to find the person who had owned the pendant he had given her before, and many other things as well.

Now, here she was, still in a fog and not completely believing everything that had happened since then. It seemed so unreal. Grandfather could not possibly be dead, but she knew he was and he would be returning to them no more.

She glanced out her window, seeing the moon high in the sky she wondered what time it was. It seemed like only a few seconds ago since she had watched the light in Grandfather's eyes fade away, but she knew hours must have passed by then.

A fire roared in the grate, and someone had been thoughtful enough to leave her some food on the table. Amanda rubbed her stomach absently, she hadn't eat all day, there had been so much to do... She picked up the pitcher and poured herself some tea, sipping at it thoughtlessly as her mind continued to drift around for awhile...

"Lady Amanda?"

Amanda's head jerked up, seeing someone standing in the shadows outside her open door. "Levi, you can drop the lady part already," she said in a low voice.

"Pa said before he...left us...that it was not proper for me to do anymore," replied Levi quietly, bowing his head as he came into the light. The ring from his father's hand hung about his neck, the sign of his position in the fief other than the oak staff with carvings on it that was in his rooms.

"Your pa was a very wise man," replied Amanda carefully. "But also very formal. There is no reason for you to use my title, Levi, you are family. Not a servant, but a brother."

"Yes, Amanda."

Amanda studied him for a moment in the flickering light, noting his bloodshot eyes and tear stained face, his clothes all rumpled and his hair a mess. "You were crying again."

"You've cried a lot today yourself," he replied in a defensive tone, wiping his eyes on his sleeve as he did. "More than I, at times."

"It's alright to cry," said Amanda with a shrug. "I'm sure we both do it more than the other will ever know."

"Yeah..." Levi stood there for awhile, his eyes focused on the floor as his thoughts wandered else where for awhile.

"Levi?" asked Amanda after a few minutes had gone by. "Are you alright?"

"I never thought I'd be wearing this ring," he said softly, sighing longingly as he held it up to the light. "I mean, I know that he was gonna die someday, and that I would be taking his place, but never this soon. I always thought it would be years away...like some far away dream that would never be reached..."

"Your father was an old man, Levi," sighed Amanda as she fought tears of her own. She cried, yes, but never in front of others when she could help it. Earlier today, she had been expected to cry, but not now. "His time had come....there is nothing anyone could've done about it... He was tired of fighting for his life and exhausted from living just one more day. He died a happy man, Levi, there is nothing you could've done to prevent this."

"I know what you're saying is true," replied Levi, tears falling from his face as he did. "That he was very sick and nothing could cure him, but still I can't help feeling that you're wrong. That there is something I could've- no, should've done."

"Levi..." Amanda put her arms around him as he began to sob, everything that had been weighing down on him all day long finally coming out in one huge wash of tears. She brought him over to the couch and let him finish it out there, and since he was so exhausted from the day's happenings, once he had finished with his tears as well he fell asleep on the couch where Amanda covered him with a blanket for warmth and left him for the night.

She could tell already that the next few days were going to be hard, and she wasn't sure if she was up to it...

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

Alyse glared at the pass in frustration, it being completely blocked on either side from an avalanche that had happened the night before. It was impossible to get though, as the townsman had said, but that didn't bother her as much as the fact that this was slowing down their trip home!

Her hands went instinctively to her fans and began juggling them without realizing it. Lyssa saw the fans begin to glow and told everyone else to back off, no one but Elizabeth staying by her side as she continued to make the pattern over and over until finally she pushed it away from herself into the pass with a force that shook the very ground beneath their feet.

The snow melted the moment the pattern of light hit it, causing a cascade of water that Elizabeth directed off to the side as best she could with her gift, and invisible shield forming between them and the water. Alyse watched as it continued to burn it's way through, leaving black marks on the rocks it hit until it reached the other side about a half a mile away and dissipated into the sky.

"Let's go," said Alyse, remounting with a smile after she helped the exhausted Elizabeth get up in her saddle as well. She had never done something that big before, and had it taken a lot out of her. Glancing behind her and seeing everyone but her friends shirk away nervously, she titled her head in puzzlement. "What? Did I grow two heads or something?"

"No," said Lyssa with a sigh. "It's nothing, just go."

"No, really, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, but we need to hurry so we can make the other pass before tonight."

"If you're sure...let's go."

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

Vixen noticed how all the thieves in their group shrunk away from Alyse or Elizabeth when they were around, and when they talked amongst themselves quietly they would stop immediately when either her, Lyssa, or Mouse came around every time.

"Tom, Yowser, Fang, get over here," she ordered suddenly, pointing to a table out of the way where she could talk to them in private.

"Yes, Queen?" said Tom quietly for all three of them as they sat across from her at the table.

"What's all the fuss about?" she demanded quietly, keeping her face entirely calm as she did.

"What fuss?" asked Yowser, earning himself a glare. "What?! Really, Queen, there is no fuss..." The second glare silenced him entirely, Vixen turning her attention to Fang this time.

"What is it, Fang?" she asked giving the younger girl a look.

She pushed her black bangs out of her eyes and smiled slightly, the overly long canine teeth that had earned her the nickname she always used gleaming in the light. "Theys all scared of them noble girls now," she said staunchly in her broken Common with a thick accent. "I not see why. Is nice enough, help us, just did some magicy trick, is all."

"You're all scared of Elizabeth and Alyse?" questioned Vixen with a frown. "I have a gift too, you know, and you don't fear me like that."

"Milady, we knows of your gift," objected Tom quickly. "An to us tis no different than talent....there's no spells or magicy things involved. What they did...it was just scary!!! Especially to us common folk!!"

"I can't believe I'm hearing this," muttered Vixen, rubbing her temples as she did. "Mouse, you've seen her work her gift, and Allie too...it's no different, you know!"

"Yes it is," said Yowser flatly. "There's no lights, no explosions, no thing. Some get their money taken, others are seduced, we are used to those kinds of things. Seeing someone blast through several feet of snow and melt it in an instant is *not* what the rest of us call normal."

"You all are impossible," muttered Vixen, trying to ignore the urge to bang her head on the table as she did.

"Are they being stubborn to reason?" asked Mouse, sliding onto the bench beside her.

"Yes, they are," murmured Vixen tiredly.

"They are a harmless pair, really," said Mouse thoughtfully. "Especially after Elizabeth found Kyle. She's no longer seducing guys and Alyse is about as gentle hearted as they come."

"She could've killed us all with that blast," said Tom warningly, a dark look in his eyes. "Tis not safe, with those two I mean. If one of them are to lose control..."

"They won't," said Vixen in an irritated manner. "You're just going to have to trust me on this one. Have I ever steered you wrong? Have I ever done something that wasn't for the good of the Rogue?"

"No..."

"I said same thing," muttered Fang with a crooked grin.

"Queen...!!"

"No," said Vixen firmly. "The rumors stop now, and you three will be the ones to do it, understand? After tonight if I hear of such things going on about those two I'll find the person and cut off their whole hand to make an example of them."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Ok, will do."

"Yes, Queen Vixen."

"Good, now go." Vixen rubbed her eyes wearily as Mouse sighed beside her. "I hate arguing with irrational people..."

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

Kyle plodded down the road in the back, the other four in front with a lead reign apiece while he made sure none got lose and they all kept moving constantly. A hawk was perched on his shoulder and they talked together amiably as he did.

"I would love to fly with you, Winged Brother," sighed Kyle wistfully. "I really would, to be among the People of the air. But I must stay here, I have a responsibility to these people."

'You are missing out on a great flight,' the hawk reminded him. 'To so, that is my brethrens greatest passion.'

"I know, I know," said Kyle, waving his hand as he did. "I have soared with your brothers and sister before. The eagles, hawks, falcons, they are my true people at times; but for today I must obey the two-legger's laws and stay on the ground to help with this herd of beasts."

'Four legged grass eaters,' murmured the hawk lightly. 'I have seen their kind many times before. What is it the two legger's call them again?'

"Horses," said Kyle with a wry grin. "Why they are called that, I honestly don't know. Much like I don't know why both humans and animals think they are the People, and the others are not."

'Two leggers are not the people,' said the hawk in disdain. 'They have not the fire that glows within the people.'

"Then you can see it?" asked Kyle in surprise. "Then how can your prey hide from you?"

'It is only in my kind, those wing wings and talons,' said the hawk wryly. 'To see the People fire in all...it would be dangerous for any to live like that.'

"Daine does," Kyle reminded him with a grin. "As well as a few others."

'They are two leggers, not of the People,' said the hawk quickly. 'The Wildmage, she is of the People, but is too much one of us to use it against us.'

"I see," said Kyle lightly. "I am part of the People, aren't I?"

'You are more of the People then some,' consented the hawk grudging less. 'Less than just a few others. Very few have the gift half of what the Wildmage does.'

"How do you know?" asked Kyle curiously.

'The People can sense it in the two leggers,' said the hawk proudly. 'The Wildmage, any can sense it in her. The four legged grass eaters, horses usually sense it quite often, winged brethren like myself sense it in you.'

"Then you can see it in me?"

'Yes, I can see it in you.'

"Wow."

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

Sarah and Jon road up to the area they had been directed to with the horses in tow, stopping when they saw three buildings and a huge, fenced in area come into view. The one was where they were to live, the other was barn, and the third a coup with clucking and wobbling noises coming from the inside.

Sarah went and opened the door, several chickens and geese coming into view as they made their way out into the open sunlight. A note was tacked inside the door, and it read: For those times when you get sick of bread and red meat, Onua.

"Let's get the horses in the barn, and give each as much hay as will fit in their mangers," said Jon, unhooking his lead line and handing it to Dar. Sarah did the same with hers, giving it to Cor instead. "Kyle?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't unpack," said Jon, turning to drop most of his things inside the house. "We're leaving for Lynx Mountain in a few minutes, alright?"

"Oh, ok."

"What do you mean, we?" asked Cor pointedly.

"I'm going with him," said Jon, "It's dangerous out here, alright? If he's attacked he'll have no chance of surviving on his own."

"Oh, and having the human couch potato along is going to help?" muttered Kyle under his breath, rolling his eyes as he did.

"Hey, I can too do things when I'm motivated too!"

"And having several savage men riding at you with weapons will be motivation enough?"

"Yep."

"Alright."

"I'm going too," said Sarah. "You'll get lost on the way back if I don't."

"Hey! I can find my way back..."

"I have the map."

"Give it to me, then."

"No, I'm going."

"Fine."

"What about us?!" cried Dar, pointing to him and his brother.

"Someone has to stay with the horses," said Sarah, handing them most of their supplies. "Go and hide in the loft until we return, keep the horses inside the barn as well, alright? We'll be back in a couple of days."

"Consider it your break," said Jon with a short nod. "Because you won't be getting one the moment we get back."

"Yes, sir."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good. Come on, Kyle, let's go."

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

Libby and Artman trotted down the snow-packed lane, the moon as their guide and the stars the only comfort they had in the chill wind that surrounded them. "We're almost there," said Libby, spotting a pair of familiar trees in the distance. "Just....a few more miles..."

"I'm going to fall asleep on this horse and die," said Artman, his head leaning forward on his chest.

"Don't," said Libby. "You're still somewhat useful, you know. Here." She touched him on the shoulder, jolting him awake suddenly with her gift.

"Ouch!!"

"You're awake now, aren't you?"

"But that hurt!!"

"Aw, poor baby."

"Shove it, Libby."

"Say that to me again and I'll shove my mallet down your throat." *^_^

"...sorry..." -_-;;

"That's what I thought."

The gates came in sight as the guards spotted them on the road, knowing them by the amulet that shone on Libby's neck in the dark. "Open the gates!" called the guard on the top wall to those below. "It's the mages! The Brazir Mages have returned!"

"Hm?" Amanda came from the forge outside, where she had been inspecting some weapons since she couldn't sleep, to see Libby and Artman trot in the gates that were quickly shut behind them. "Lib, you made it. Mac, Jake: take their horses and someone catch that fool before he falls from his horse."

"Amanda?" Artman rolled off his mount and fell asleep on the ground, two guards coming and dragging him to his rooms at Amanda's signal. Libby dismounted with Amanda's help, her eye lids heavy with sleep as she sighed wearily from their journey.

"It's me," said Amanda impartially, taking Libby's things and slinging it over her shoulder herself. "Make ready their rooms, and have theses horses cared for properly, Sam. Come, the servants will have something to warm you up in your quarters, and I'll take you there myself."

"Grandfather?" asked Libby as she suddenly remembered why she was the only one here, knowing by the slump of her friend's shoulders and her half-dead look what had happened. "I'm sorry, Amanda."

"He was an old man, and he died without regrets," was all Amanda could, or would, say; leading the way through the fief. Libby wiped away a stray tear, thinking of the kind man who had taken care of her and Artman during their stay there.

"He was more than that," she argued tiredly. "Amanda, he was this fief and it's people..."

"You think I don't know that," sighed her friend, stopping in the middle of the halls. "I know it better than you ever will."

"Then why...?"

"It's just easier that way, at times. Where are the others?"

"They left a few days after us, they weren't ready to go and the King needs us here now."

"Then we should expect them sometime this week?"

"Yes, if all goes well with them."

"Thank you."

Libby nodded, letting herself be taken to her rooms and given hot drinks by a fire to warm her up before she curled up in bed and fell into a dreamless sleep.

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

Lyssa sat around a table with part of the thieves from Vixen's group and part of her Riders that she had chosen to come along, playing a game of dice she had just learned. "Aw! You called 7 and got an 8! I win!"

"How is it you always manage to get the goods, Yam?" asked Lyssa with a devilish grin.

Yammer, one of the younger thieves to come along, grinned boyishly back at her. "Oh, tis just luck, I 'spose."

"I'm sure it is..."

"Here's a game then that requires skill and not tricks of the trade," said Rita, a young girl from among the Riders. She twisted her wrist and a knife flew towards Yammer, nicking his hair before burying itself in the wall behind him. "Knife throwing."

"The little kit thinks she knows a good trick or too, does she?" chucked Yammer good naturedly, heavens knows enough knives and arrows and spears had come his way in his time in the Rogue. "Come, I'll toss with you, then. What be the target, miss?"

"This," said Rita, taking a ribbon from her pocket and securing it to a post in the inn they were staying at with a small dark. "See the black stripe down the center? That's your target."

"Dat little stripy der?!" cried one of the thieves, leaning over to see it. "Tis hardly more'n a hair!"

"So you plays rough," joked Yammer. "Alright. What the rules be, miss? Since it be your ribbon after all."

"Hit the ribbon dead on, you win," said Rita with a shrug. "None to the left, none to the right, dead center."

"How 'bout this," said a voice from a table near by, a silver flash flying by and landing at the tail end of the ribbon.

"Tis off by a touch, milady," said Yammer with a grin, shaking his head as Vixen looked surprised.

"It's off, you say?" asked Vixen, shaking her head as she did. "I must be losing my touch, friends."

"Being a tad off when throwing it as well as you do won't make a huge difference, Vixen," Joe reminded her calmly.

"True."

"Let me try," said Lyssa, taking a Yamanis star from her belt that Alyse had given her awhile ago. "Hm..." It took off with a snap of her wrist and went wide, missing the black completely. "Didn't do so well, did I?" mused Lyssa with a wry grin.

"You fight more with swords and spears," Rita reminded her with a smile as she removed the star and dagger from their places. "Not all of us are as skilled at those things."

"Like you?"

"Yes, like me."

"Duck!" called someone, everyone obeying as a fan went spinning over head in a blur of colors and sliced the ribbon in two.

"Did I hit it?" asked Alyse from her table across the room, everyone else completely silent.

"Yes, milady, you did," replied Rita with Yammer standing beside her, his jaw on the floor. The black section had been equally divided on each side to the merest hundredth of a millimeter. "I've never seen any hit it that well from that far..."

"Just luck, I guess," replied Alyse, bowing her head as she did. "Elizabeth, if you would?" The fan floated back to her outstretched hand gently, where it promptly went in her obi as usual.

"Good shot, Alyse," said Lyssa after she found her voice again. "I never knew that you could do that...wow..."

"I have another one for the rest of us who didn't get to throw," said Rita as the room went back to normal, everyone eating or talking once more.

"Alright," said Yammer immediately. "You're on!"

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

Jennifer watched the bread with one eye as she continued to chop and add herbs to the roasting rabbits as she did. The inn they were at didn't have a cook at the time, so Jennifer had offered to help in the kitchen to feed their huge crew in exchange for a discount price on the rooms.

She sent her helper, a servant girl who was the daughter of the owner, to turning the rabbits over the flames while she removed the bread and set it out to cool. Taking some lettuce, tomatoes, onions, carrots, and other fresh vegetables, she created a huge salad that was dished into several small bowls with a vinegar dressing tossed into it.

"Are they done, miss?" asked the girl, seeing the meat turn a golden-brown and the fat crackling in the flames.

"Yes," said Jennifer, removing the small creatures from their spits and carving them into smaller helpings that were distributed among plates as well. Each platter was taken to a table and shared by it's 8 or 9 occupants, depending on how many could fit at the time.

Jennifer went back to her seat quietly with Mouse and Lyssa while she waited for someone to say something about the food, keeping her presence unknown for the time being. Everyone ate up as if they hadn't another day to live, platters licked clean and crumbs picked from clothes just to taste a little bit more.

"In keeper!" called an older fellow from among Vixen's ranks. "This rabbit, I have never tasted anything like it! You have a fine chef indeed, if he or she can turn out something even I have yet to taste!" A light chuckle ran through the room, seeing as Wort, as he was known, stole food more than anything else.

"T'wasn't us who cooked it," said the Inn keeper with a shrug. "'Twas one of your own, though who I don't know for I never saw the wench."

"A wench she it not," snapped Vixen with a growl, toying openly with a dagger. "Me thinks you might need a lesson in manners, friend, for she is a fine and wanted Chef of Corus indeed..."

"How wanted?" asked the Inn keeper dryly.

"She has cooked for the King."

"So have many others."

"He asked for her specifically."

"To bed her, most likely."

"That is enough of your insolent tongue!" cried Mouse, rising to her feet as she did. "Leave now while you still have one left to speak with!" The man turned and hurried out of the room, not wanting to incur her wrath anymore than she already had.

"Who was it who cooked the meat, then?" asked a Rider, rising her to feet as she did. "Who ever it was, they should cook for us more often, for we have never seen better fare then this while traveling along this road."

"Most of us have never seen better fare period!" added a youth from a table of thieves.

"It wasn't that good!" protested Jennifer humbly, blushing as she did. "I mean... the meat wasn't exactly fresh, and the vegetables somewhat wilted..."

"You?!" cried a young boy from Lyssa's ranks. "Tch! I never would've guessed such a slip of a girl could do this with food!"

"That slip of a girl could probably send you flying with her staff, Illan," remarked Lyssa lightly.

"Then again, so can most since you refuse to practice..." added someone sitting next to him, getting a round of chuckles from everyone in the room as he swatted the culprit on the head.

"Enough," said Jennifer, blushing all the more. "You know I'm not that good, Lyssa..."

"Good enough to beat a bear," muttered Vixen under her breath with a grin.

"I say she cooks whenever given the chance for us!" cried someone, others joining in his or her opinion until Alyse regained order by zipping her fan into a post nearby.

"Do you wish to cook for us whenever give the chance, Jennifer?" she asked politely, remaining calm and neutral the whole time.

"It would be nice to keep my skills up," replied Jennifer with a smile. "Yeah, that's fine."

"Then she will," concluded Alyse. "However, since she is cooking for such a large group, it is fair that she does not have to do dishes when she cooks, and others will rotate through that job as it presents it self. Does that seem fair?"

"I guess so."

"You bet, for food like this!"

"Alright, more good stuff!"

"I'll do it for a more than decent meal."

"Anything for this kind of meat!"

"Mm....yeah, sure."

"Even us top people?"

"Yep."

"Yeah, I can do that."

"The mighty Vixen, washing dishes!" *falls over laughing*

"What was that Jennifer?!"

"Eh, nothing!" ^_^;;

"That's what I thought!" *-_-;;

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

Amanda sighed as she signed the last official document to secure Levi in his position of Head of the Servants and Grounds. Since they couldn't call him 'Grandfather' ( he was young enough to be one of their sons or grandsons at times) everyone had taken to calling him 'Boss' or 'Headman' as they saw fit.

Melting some wax with a candle on her desk, she pressed her seal into it before hiding the ring under her shirt once more. That complete, Amanda leaned back in her chair and allowed herself a few moments rest before looking at the piles of paper work that had accumulated on her desk over the past few weeks.

Levi hadn't been feeling up to doing much of anything until just the day before, and had found himself to be just as swamped as she was in catching up on the things he needed to do. They both hated paper work with a passion.

Deciding she didn't feel like going through most of this, she called in one of the fief scribes and told them to sort through everyone on the desk that had been placed there within the past couple of days. He nodded and said he'd get to it right away, leaving her to go and check on the rest of the fief with the preparations that were being made.

The garrisons had begun expansion before she had left that fall, building on another wing of bunks to house another 50 to 70 soldiers or Riders that may come. With the 40 Vixen was bringing with her, and the rooms left from the old garrison, they would have room for another 30 if the need came to fill them as well.

Making her way to one of the most unused hallways in the whole mansion, she was glad to see it had been cleaned and dusted with the lamp chimneys polished and wicks trimmed so they could be used again. Eight doors lined this hall, each one containing a room with it's own bathroom and such. They weren't huge, but were well furnished and would do nicely from her friends that were coming.

Vixen, Mouse, Allie, and Joe would all have rooms along this corridor. Two would be set aside for Sarah and Jon if they ever came to visit at the fief or needed a place to stay. Jennifer had the last cook's rooms that were being cleaned right now near the kitchen. That was six being used in all in this hallway, leaving two more open just in case. Oh, and then of course Kyle, so that made 7 with one left over.

He could have the first room, which was also the smallest, and was right below Elizabeth's balcony as well. He would enjoy that, she was sure.

"Amanda, do you find everything to your liking?" asked a soft voice behind her. She turned to see Levi standing there leaning against the doorframe wearily, bags under his eyes and a haggard look to his face.

"Yes, Levi, thank you," she replied quickly, turning to head back to her study as she did. "Have you gotten done what you planned to do?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Given the guards a warning that the rest of our guests and family will be arriving soon?"

"Of course, Amanda."

"Go sleep, then," said Amanda firmly, guiding him across the hallway to Grandfather's old room where he now resided. "I'm not taking no for an answer, you're no good to me or anyone else if you're asleep on your feet."

"Yes, Amanda," replied Levi with a sheepish grin.

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

The Lynx Mountain banner snapped proudly in the wind as Alyse and Elizabeth led the group up the slope towards the fief that was to be their home. Or at least a stopping place until they could move on to their new home, in Lyssa's case.

"We're back," said Alyse, nudging Elizabeth awake (she had secured herself in her saddle with her gift) and sending word down the line that they would be stopping soon.

The gates were opened and the trellis raised, cheers coming from the soldiers inside as they saw the fresh recruits riding in with Lady Alyse and Lady Elizabeth at their head.

"You've made it alright," said Amanda as she watched them dismount from her spot against the wall with Levi right beside her.

"Did Libby and her dog make it?" asked Elizabeth after giving her sister a quick hug and exchanging nods with Levi.

"Yes, and they've already left on their first call," replied Amanda steadily. "They will return soon, though."

"That's good."

"How have things fared here?" asked Alyse after she had made sure everything was in order for everyone to be settled in their new rooms. "I see you and Levi made the trip alright..." She left her other comment unsaid, Amanda and Levi exchanging glances before heading for the back of the fief.

"What's up with them?" asked Vixen, seeing the four of them disappear behind the main building to a blocked off area below. "Is something wrong?"

"They're visiting Grandfather's grave," explained a servant who was helping move everything to the rooms where they belongs. "He died not long after their return. It has been rough, getting along without him, but I believe his son has risen to the job and will make a fine Headman for many years to come."

"Goddess, I wish I had known," whispered Vixen, shaking her head sadly. "I never got to meet him, but from the stories they told..."

"His kindness was legendary in itself," said the servant firmly. "All who knew him are truly blessed."

"How did he die?" asked Alyse as they stood around the grave, paying their final respects to Grandfather as one.

"An illness of sorts," said Levi sadly. "He couldn't recover because he refused to rest at first, and it killed him."

"We will miss him greatly," whispered Elizabeth, turning her head away as a few stray tears fell down her face, everyone else adding their own comments and thoughts as she did.

"Though you were happy in this life, may you be supremely so in the next," whispered Alyse, bowing to the grave as she did before placing a single, china Yamani cat on top of the gravestone. "Goodbye, Grandfather, and thank you..."

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

Everyone gathered around the dinner table that night, Amanda sitting in her usual spot with Levi in Grandfather's seat to her right and Elizabeth and Alyse to her left. Mouse, Allie, Joe, and Vixen sat on Levi's right extending around to the other side of the table and Jennifer, Libby, Artman, and Lyssa sat to Alyse's right. Vixen and Lyssa met in the middle, talking amiably as both their respective forces sat below them at the added tables with the servants and garrison soldiers.

"On guard!" said Vixen suddenly, whipping out her fork and knife and pointing it in Lyssa's direction.

"You're on!" Lyssa grabbed her own knife and fork and the two began to fight lightly, more for fun than anything else.

"Do I need to separate you two??" asked Amanda from her seat across from them, a small smile on her face.

Vixen grinned devilishly back. "Of course not Mistress Mommy Manda Panda-wanda-chan from Indiana!"

"Brenna Rae Ball!!!"

Lyssa grinned as well. "A.k.a. : The Mother Country."

"Oi..."

"Mistress?" asked Levi, his eye brows raised slightly as Amanda rubbed her temples slowly. "How in the world did you earn yourself the title of Mistress? Or do I want to know?"

"It's a long story..."

"One filled with love and lot's of-"

"Brenna!" snapped Amanda, "Knock it off! You know as well as I do you two made it up just to tick me off."

"It's been added to with time," chimed in Libby with a cute grin. "First it was just Mommy Manda from Indiana."

"Indiana?"

"My home state," explained Amanda. "I moved from there-"

"Ow!!" Everyone looked at Vixen and Lyssa, the Queen of the Rogue holding her lip in her hand as Lyssa dropped her fork and knife in concern.

"What happened?" asked Joe quickly.

"She just got me with her fork," replied Vixen, twitching her nose and removing her hand from her lip. "No harm done."

"I'm so sorry, Vixen," said Lyssa quickly. "Really, I didn't mean to..."

"It's alright."

"Uh, Vixen?" said Mouse slowly. "You're bleeding."

"I'm what?!"

"You're bleeding, from your lip."

"Crap!" Vixen ran to the wash room as Lyssa looked behind her nervously, seeing several thieves rise from their seats with murderous looks in their eyes.

"Eep!!" She leapt over the table behind Amanda, who blocked her from the thieves as they swarmed around the pair in the corner. "Help...!!"

"Vixen, call of your people!!" roared Amanda, drawing her sword in a flash. "I'd hate to take out a few for insubordination..."

"Go back to your seats!" yelled Vixen, all of the thieves falling silent and looking at her in surprise. "It was an accident, you fools. My fault as much as hers. Now go!" They all went like puppies with their tales between their legs.

"That was close," muttered Lyssa, taking her seat once more. "I'm so glad I'm leaving in a few days."

"I think they are too," replied Vixen softly. "Don't worry about it. And, uh, sorry for their protectiveness..."

"S'ok."

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

Kyle sat by Elizabeth on the bed, holding her tightly as she cried into his shoulder. He, Jon and Sarah had gotten there late that night and while the other two had gone onto their rooms he had gone to see Elizabeth who was mourning grievously over Grandfather's death.

"Shh," he whispered, stroking her hair gently. "He...he was a fine man, Grandfather was, and he will be missed. But he wouldn't want you crying over him like this..."

"Grandfather was exactly that, a grandpa to me and Amanda and Alyse," she replied sadly. "He believed in us well before many of the others did. I would give anything to have had the chance to say goodbye..."

"I know," replied Kyle softly. "I know..."

The room remained silent as Elizabeth's sobs slowly diminished into nothing, her breathing becoming slower and rhythmic as she drifted off to sleep.

"Sweet dreams, love," whispered Kyle, laying her down on the bed as gently as he could. He covered her with a blanket and kissed her on the cheek gently. He could spend time with her later. Right now, as she healed from this new wound in her heart, she needed to be alone.

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

Sarah and Jon sat on the couches in Amanda's study, helping her mark down exactly where their stable was in ink on the well-worn map that she owned. "There we go," said Amanda as she pinned it to the wall with a few other maps. "That'll be easy enough to get to. No more than a few hours march away at double time, half a day's travel at most."

"And you'll come and check on us every two weeks or so," said Jon slowly, making note of it for future reference.

"Yup," replied Amanda with a quick nod. "We'll always bring whatever you need as well, if you send up a list a head of time with someone."

"Ok."

"There still is no way for you to reach us if we get into trouble," Sarah reminded her seriously. "By the time a runner would get here and back, the stables and horses could be destroyed."

"Then here are two things I have to help you," said Amanda, taking two packages from her desk and opening the first gently. "This is a special cord Artman created for me because Libby threatened to mallet him if he didn't. Spread it along your Northern boarder about a mile out, and if any enemies come that way it will alert you with this." Amanda showed them a small clear pendent. "It will glow enough to let you know, but how brightly I'm not sure."

"A warning signal for us, then," said Sarah with a grim smile. "A welcome gift, yes, but still about warning you..."

"You'll have this," replied Amanda, handing them both a pendent carved in a spiral shape. "Hold onto it and cry for help from one of us, and this pendent will glow." She pulled out a pendent she wore around her neck similar to their own. "This one will stay with whoever is in charge of the fief at the time, alright?"

 "Alright."

"Then we're all set," said Jon, getting up and stretching slowly, his stomach growling loudly right then.

"Hungry?" asked Amanda with a small grin.

"Yep..."

"Bottomless pit," she sighed, shaking her head mockingly. "Go on down to the kitchen, they'll feed you there."

"Free food, I can go for that."

"When are you planning to head back?" asked Amanda, turning towards Sarah expectantly."

"Sometime today," replied Sarah with a shrug. "We left the helpers there alone, and I don't like leaving them there like that without some sort of protection."

"Alright. I'll have them pack some supplies for you before you leave."

"Ok, thanks."

"No problem."

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

Libby and Artman galloped as fast as their mounts could go toward the fort, seeing one of the huge metal monsters climbing over the walls in the distance and a stream of smoke coming from the main building.

"We have to hurry!" cried Libby, gritting her teeth as she spurred Veety on even faster. "Come on, Artman, let's go!"

"I'm heading for the metal thing," he said determinedly, a ball of fire already prepared in his hands. "Just get to the main walls and help those who need it there, alright?"

"Fine."

They split apart and Artman blasted his way through the Scanrans below the metal monster, quickly climbing up after it and creating an inferno around it that melted it apart. The usual screaming spirit came bursting out of it, the metal parts falling limp upon the wall.

Libby shielded herself from all attacks, dismounting by the gate and helping the fallen heal enough that they might rise again. She soon had a small force down there that picked their weapons back up and surrounded her, protecting her while she healed their fallen comrades. It continued on like this for an hour or more, both mages fearing the worst as they realized they were making as much as a difference as they usually did.

Artman stood atop the main wall and performed one of the spells he had perfected with Master Numair's help that winter, drawing upon what power Libby had left as the whirl-wind inferno came down from the sky and devoured those who were left on the field. Both fell completely exhausted to the ground as they realized something. This was the first time they had almost been defeated, the first time they had ever really tasted fear.

It was not something they wished to taste again.

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

Lyssa sat astride her mount, her forty Riders all mounted and suited up behind her as they waited for her to finish her good-byes. The fort would be expecting them, and they had to get going soon.

"You will keep in close touch, right?" asked Amanda, grasping her friends hand firmly as she stood beside her on the ground.

"Of course," replied Lyssa, squeezing her friend's hand warmly. "Take care of yourself, and the others."

"You too."

"I will."

"Until next time," said Alyse from where she and Elizabeth and Kyle stood nearby.

"Until next time," repeated Lyssa with a smile.

"Take care," said Vixen, shaking hands with the Commander.

"Yeah, sorry about your lip..."

"Oh, it's alright. Sorry about you almost getting killed..."

"It happens all the time."

"I'm sure."

"Try not to kill too many horses," commented Jon. "The less riding out to the battle zone I have to do, the better."

Lyssa laughed. "I'll try and remember that, ok?"

"You'd better."

"Ride safely," said Jennifer, waving warmly in her chefs outfit from the door.

"I will, and be sure to make me a pie sometime and send it with Amanda to one of the meetings," replied Lyssa with a grin.

"I will." The Commanders of the fief and the fort exchanged looks one last time before Lyssa wheeled her horse around and cantered out the door, all forty of her Riders close behind.

"That's one brave girl, you know," commented Vixen as she rode out of sight down the road.

"I know," replied Amanda slowly. "Trust me, I know."

"And people actually wonder why she's such a good commander," murmured Mouse with a grin.

"They don't wonder, they just choose to admit what they know is true," Alyse corrected her calmly.

"You're probably right," said Vixen, nodding slowly. "Still, we'll miss her."

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

Jennifer grinned as Amanda gave her the official tour of the kitchen that was to be her new domain, as well as her helpers there. It was down a flight of steps from the main dinning hall that also had a hallway that connected with the servant's wing. The first door on the right was her set of rooms, an outer one with her bed and dresser and things in it and a small wash room that she would share with the two helpers that slept in the room next door. One was a 12 year old girl named Joan and the other her younger brother Tam who was 7.

The small hallway at the bottom of the stairs opened up into the kitchen, all made of stone and brick so nothing could catch fire and spread to the rest of the house. There were three large ovens, a stove above each one with four burners. Herbs and dried spices lined the cabinets and hung from the ceiling while the larder burst with fresh meats and vegetables and the store rooms flowed with fresh vegetables and fruits from the harvest the year before.

She was very lucky indeed.

Several counters lined the walls, the drawers each held different cooking instruments she would need, all sorts of knives for cutting, slicing or chopping hung from one rack and different sets of pans from another. A huge fireplace with spits and caldrons to go with it took up part of one wall, and upon opening a huge double cabinet she found stacks of old cookbooks and recipes that she had never seen before that she might try.

Her other helper, an old woman called Taja, lived in the set of rooms right next to the hallway on the other end of the kitchen. Her sons and daughters lived in the rooms around her either with their mates or their siblings who all had their jobs as stable workers, guards, garrison soldiers, or maids in the fief.

She had shelter, friends, a great job that she loved, and others who would help her with the task. Her cats were to live with her as well, and her horse was given a stall in the stables where he could stay. What more could she want?

It wasn't a what as much as a who. Sean.

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

*sighs* My sincerest apologies, really. Lot's happened, and then I couldn't keep going for a little while. Too many projects and end of quarter things going on, you understand. Hopefully, you'll get another chapter sent your way before the break is over, maybe even two. Eh, I think there's a few birthdays I missed though, so...

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday Elizabeth and Jon!!

Happy Birthday to you!

And many more...

That's right, your favorite young Noble lady and stable boy turned 15 and 17 this last month on December 10th (yeah, they have the same birthday...) so please wish them a belated Happy Birthday in your reviews, and have a very Merry Christmas. Thanks!
~Crosseyedbutterfly~