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!*

32.

Hello, once again. Yes, there are still openings in the contest. If you haven't heard of it for some strange reason, check at the end of chapter 30 and get your details from there. We're rapidly approaching the end of TTT, and once it's done the contest ends.

Now that that's past, read on!

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

Kyle looked up in the sky as a familiar screech echoed over head, quickly spotting Daine's falcon as she settled easily on his outstretched arm. Unhooking the usual tube on her leg, he opened it quickly and pulled out the scrolled message.

'Kyle,

In this note at the coordinates to an area near you and in your territory that we've been getting odd reports about as of late. It needs to be scouted carefully, but please by Mithros be careful when you do and don't go unarmed like usual. There could be Scanrans there, several of them, and I'd rather not have you stuck through the middle with a sword because you were unprepared. Again, be careful, they're not sure what it is that's out there, and it could be very, very dangerous.

A mile north of the third bend in the Gent River, follow the ravine there east along it's ridge, there you will find it.

Thank you,

Daine

Kyle puzzled over the note for a few more minutes before scribbling out a quick message and sending it back with the falcon, complete with several promises to behave himself and to be careful and to not get stuck through the middle with a sword from a Scanran.

What kind of danger could be there that hadn't roamed the area already? Scanrans could kill, those metal beasts could kill, and he could avoid them both. He had on several occasions, and never had they come close to catching him as of yet. What could possibly be out there now that hadn't been before?

Kyle dumped it from his mind for the time being and gathered up his things, heading back to the fief for a restocking of his food supplies and getting a few weapons to carry with him as Daine had commanded. If she said it was dangerous, she must have a good reason to, Kyle just hoped it was just a womanish fear and not any actual thing to fear.

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

Libby listened to the others around her gossip lightly as she continued to bandage those who needed tending. Her gift was still full and bright, the majority of the wounds able to heal themselves with time, so she worked tirelessly and used it more to keep herself going rather than to heal those who didn't need it at that time.

A particularly high voice began to dominate the conversation behind her, and soon others gathered around to hear what the young man who lay on the bed had to say.

"They are coming!" he gasped, struggling to sit up as the woman who tended to his wounds pushed him back down. "I heard them speaking last night! While scouting for them in the woods! They are coming?"

"Who? Who is coming?"

"He is speaking nonsense, why should we listen to him?"

"Silence, you! Let's hear what he has to say!"

"They are coming!" said the man again, his cries growing more and more fervent. "They are coming! Nothing will stop them, nothing...Such a force as never seen before... They are coming!!"

"Who is coming??"

"The Dark Ones!!"

"Give me that," said the woman, taking a small vial from a healer nearby and pouring it down the man's throat. He immediately went limp, all signs of having been conscious or his obvious fear of something coming gone. "Now, who was his partner that night?"

"I was," said a middle-aged fellow, coming to stand beside the bed worriedly. "And there is truth in the words he spoke. Two of them, which we killed right after they said it, were speaking of the Uprising, or something like that. I tried to translate it better late on, but we don't know half of what the words he said mean."

"Then they are planning something that no one knows of?"

"They are not," said a third man, rising to his feet quickly. "I was there as well, and after checking with our supervisors they told us that they already have word of it and are doing what they can to prevent it."

"Still, any word on what it was and where?"

"...no."

Libby rose to her feet and headed towards the back for more supplies, trying to rid the news from the crazy man from her head. Still, a small part in the back of her head refused to let go of his words. They were coming.

But who were they?

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

Jon picked up the bag by the door and walked down the rows of the supply room, picking and choosing what he needed to take back with him to the Ranch for the next month. Amanda had made it very clear upon his arrival that whatever they needed they could have, and she wouldn't begrudge him a few extra things as well.

He took a few more leather hides to make and repair halters with, the few they had worn through almost completely from constant use. Tallow and oil to clean them and keep them soft and supple. Some waxes string, an awl, and some needles for sewing the leather together.

Food came next, with a few pounds of rice and wheat going into another sack nearby. Some salted pork and smoked ham from the bins and the smoke house so they would have meat until they could hunt some more this summer. A bundle of fresh vegetables from the spring harvest, and some fruit left over from last year's hall.

A pack of nails to help them fix the roof of the house and barn he found among the tools, and a hammer and saw went into the bag after them. Two decent whetstones he took as well to sharpen their blades, an some blade oil to keep them in good condition joined the stones soon after.

Jon glanced around, looking at the three sacks he had filled and decided he had enough for now. He would now go and find one of the 'sisters' or their  'cousin' to make sure what he had was alright before heading out once more back to the Ranch. He didn't like leaving them there alone for so long, and if he thought he could send Sarah or the boys to get the supplies without getting attacked he would.

"Hey, there! Where are you going with all that?!" cried an angry voice behind him, seizing him by the arm. Jon whirled around and rolled his eyes when he realized who it was. Levi glared all the more. "You!! I knew you weren't working with us, you thief! You're supposed to be at the ranch with the horses, not here taking our supplies!! Wait until I-"

"Amanda knows I'm here and getting things!" protested Jon, shaking himself free of Levi's grip. "And what do you mean, taking your supplies?! I'm supposed to come and restock for the Ranch once a month!"

"How come I never heard of this?!" demanded Levi. "You lie. Come, we'll go find Lady Amanda and settle this right now!"

"I don't need to settle anything," growled Jon, staying where he was and continuing to gather up his choices. "I have a right to be here getting these things for me and my helpers. It's not my fault that your head's been stuck so far up your but that you can's see the world around you."

"What?! You little-"

"It's true," cut in Jon, picking up all the sacks and heading for the door at an easy lope. "Later, loser."

"Loser!!! That's it!!" Levi leapt at Jon, knocking the sacks aside and Jon to the floor. They grappled around for a few minutes before he was able to throw the Headman to the side into a pile of flour sacks, everything exploding in a white mushroom under his weight.

"Back off," spat Jon, seeing him struggle to his feet slowly.

"Never." Levi launched himself forward, avoiding Jon's fist but taking a hard kick from his left leg right after catching the horseman across the face with his arm. Both fell back from the other for a moment before going at it again even hard then before. Jon's eye turned purple from a run-in with Levi's elbow, and Levi's lip split from a well-aimed potato Jon had thrown. Piles of supplies around them lay in ruin as they grappled along the floor: flour and grain spread everywhere, vegetables and fruit bruised beyond eating from being chucked around as ammunition, bottles and jars broken to bits with their contents spread all over the floor, it was a mess.

Levi was kneeling on Jon's chest and was drawing his arm back for one final blow when someone caught his hand from behind and lifted him completely to his feet, catching the back of his collar before doing the same to Jon. 

"Levi!! Jon!!" Both turned guiltily to see one very angry Amanda holding there where they couldn't escape her wrath.

"Uh oh..."

"You said it..."

"You started it!"

"I did not!"

"ENOUGH!!" Amanda's roar nearly deafened them both, and they fell silent as she held them there trying to decide what to do. "What the heck is going on here?! I leave you alone twenty minutes, and you start a fight-"

"It wasn't me!" protested Jon helplessly. "It was him!! I was getting the supplies like you said and he just barged in here-"

"This is my fief to run!" cried Levi. "You can't expect me not to get upset when a ruffian like this is rifling through our supplies!"

"The same supplies that are now destroyed because of you two?" growled Amanda, her eyes practically smoldering by then. "Levi, get up to the study and wait for me there. Jon, get your things and leave. Jenny will feed you before you go."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Yes, Amanda."

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

"YOU WHAT?!"

Levi stood there shakily, Amanda halfway across the study, but her gaze still seeming to burn through him with her rage. "I...just...he....um...."

"Sit." Levi did, watching as she crossed the room to stand by the window, watching what was going on down below. "You...I can't believe you..."

"I did what I thought was right!"

"And you were wrong!" Amanda whirled around to face him again. "Levi, Jon is an honored guest, as are the rest of them. I have a hard time believing that you thing he's a ruffian and yet you have none of this with the thieves that fight among us what so ever in the least. I don't know what problem it is you have with him, but you'd better drop it now before it gets you into anymore trouble."

"He was going through the supplies!"

"Under my orders!"

"How was I to know that?!"

"I GAVE THEM TO YOU THIS MORNING MYSELF!!!"

Levi shrunk back some, remembering she had been saying something about that but had shrugged it off as meaningless at the time. "Uh...oops...."

"You are worthless if you're going to keep acting like a spoiled child. Grow up, Levi. I don't want to replace you, but another outburst like that... Mithros help me, you destroyed enough goods to last a month!"

"I am sorry." Levi bowed his head slowly. "I...it's just..."

"I don't care what it is," growled Amanda turning to the window again. "You will fix it, or lose your position. Leave."

"As you wish, Lady Amanda."

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

Vixen and her squad had been on the move for three days, making their way to the area where the Riding Squad had reported some odd things coming from. All game had deserted the area, and Scanrans had been frequenting the site much more often.

Slipping among the trees like shadows, the forward scout came back and reported a Scanran guard right ahead through the hand signals he gave Vixen. They made a semi-circle around him and left one behind to make sure no one found the body until they were gone. Continuing to find more and more randomly placed Scanran guards through the entire stretch of woods they had been asked to search, they took out everyone they found, but still did not find anything that seemed to be hidden with in the forest.

"There's something here," muttered Vixen, sitting down in a hollow with a few others while the rest kept watch. "There is, I know it, but I can't find it..."

"Milady, let's git back to the fief," said Fang, sitting by her obediently with her many daggers sitting patiently in their sheaths. "If it is here, what ever it be that you's lookin' for, it may be more then just us here can take..."

"She has a point," said Jack quietly. "Whatever it is...they don't want others to see it. What do you suppose it is?"

"Probably no more than a ruse to get us away from the fief," said someone else angrily. "Come on, there's nothing out here worth seeing."

"Let's go," said Vixen, rising to her feet quickly and sending the scouts to find those who were watching over the bodies to join them once more.

"I think we be doin' the right thing, milady," said Fang in a barely-audible voice, her long hair hiding her eyes. "I feel...something....this is not a good place to be."

"I believe you," replied Vixen. "Let's get  back to the fief."

"Aye."

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

Alyse sat beside the fire in the study placidly, listening to Levi as he paced the length of the room and insulted the one who he thought had gotten him into so much trouble freely.

"The lowly, wretched dog! He wouldn't even face me until I proved I wasn't going to let him get away."

"You attacked him first you mean."

"He deserved it! The bastard...who knows what family HE comes from, we've never been to his world..."

"That world is my world as well."

"So? You're good, he's not."

"You're not one to judge that."

"Says who?! I judge him as I see fit, and his character has much lacking to be allowed among us!"

"Then you're saying he's not ever worthy of being with thieves? That is a very low statement indeed, Master Levi."

"Just as he deserves, as well! The wretch, I despise him more than I can tell! Him who caused all this....had he not come..."

"Had you listened to Amanda..."

"That is besides the point!"

"No, it is the point."

"Who asked you?!"

Alyse's eyes flashed. "Watch it, Levi."

The young Headman shrunk back slightly, then regained his composure and went on as before. "He is the filth of this earth. Lady Amanda has been blinded somehow of his flaws and faults..."

"The same way she is blind to the rest of ours," added Alyse.

"He is evil!"

"He is her friend."

"I don't care!"

"She does."

"She is wrong!"

"Levi. When has Amanda ever befriended one who has hurt her before? Name a time, for I think you will find that all who she holds close are worth the effort."

"The moron is all the proof I need! His actions speak of his black heart and soul!!!!"

"Levi, you're being unreasonable."

"No, I'm being careful!"

"She is his friend, and will not stop being such until given a good enough reason to," said Alyse calmly, rising to her feet and heading for the door. "This is out of your hands, Levi. I suggest you stop playing with fire before you burn yourself to death. The burn you received today should warn you enough of that."

"It only spurs me on all the more," retorted Levi, turning away from her completely.

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

Jennifer looked Jon disapprovingly as he held an ice pack to his swollen eye, waiting patiently for his lunch to be finished.

"You're very foolish indeed," she said, giving him a mug of mead to drink while he waited. "Fighting Levi like that...you knew Amanda would not be pleased, especially the way you destroyed all those supplies."

"It was his fault," said Jon quite simply with a lopsided grin. "He started it. Besides, he's been giving me glares since he met me. I knew it was going to happen eventually, and it's better now with fists than later with blades. Blood is not something that I want to stain myself with right now."

"Be glad they don't have guns in this world, or he might have shot you as well," scolded Jennifer. "Jon, that was not a smart thing for you to do."

"I know."

"Then why?"

"I...wanted to?"

Jennifer sighed. "You're hopeless Jon."

"No, not yet," he replied. "I'm not hopeless until I'm dead. Then I really have no hope at all."

Jennifer gave him and odd look. "Right..."

"Hey, it's true!"

"Maybe so," replied Jennifer. "But still, avoid Levi next time you come, alright? He's not someone that you want to be on bad terms with, being the top Headman and all..."

"Then he's got a high station, or something?"

"Second to Amanda..."

"Oh...right..."

"Yeah." Jennifer handed him the wrapped bundle, and watched as he stowed it away in his pack.

"Thanks for the food, Jenny."

"No problem, Jon. Just don't get into anymore fights, alright?"

"I'll try not to, but with me you never know..."

"Oh, get out of here!"

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

Lyssa walked into the barracks slowly, taking her time as she found the area she was looking for. "Captain Ginny," she said, saluting the captain who's squad occupied that area. The men and women along the two sides of the walls stopped what they were doing and waited, wondering what the Commander was doing talking to their Captain at this time of night.

"Commander!" said the Captain, rising to her feet quickly and saluting as well. "A pleasure, as always. Um...might I ask as to what you're doing here?"

"To talk to you and you're people," replied Lyssa quickly in a low voice. "All of you, come over here and have a seat. There's something I need you all to do."

"Commander?" asked Ginny slowly, continuing to stand by her desk. "This....is odd, for you to be coming so late and all. Is something wrong?"

"Not as of yet," replied Lyssa slowly, choosing her words carefully. "I...just have a seat and all will be explained."

"Yes, Commander."

Lyssa waited until all were seated on the floor or on the bunks around her, taking in a deep breath before she began to speak. "Riders," she started slowly. "There is something going on that I'm not sure of right now. I want you to have you things packed, weapons and all, for a fast ride to Lynx Mountain should the need arrive. They are sending out part of their force quite possibly to help someone else, as well as giving part of it to the ranch behind them. I do not want them to be short of men or women who can fight, so you will join them there at my command. Is that understood?"

"Then we are to be their reinforcements?" asked someone.

"Should the need come, yes."

"What about the fort?" asked Ginny. "Surely...we need all the help we can get, Commander. Giving away some fighters won't help much..."

"They need it more than we do," said Lyssa firmly. "I have done my calculations, and they will get hit far harder than we will. Is everything clear?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Then go back to your usual tasks and await my command," said Lyssa, heading for the door quickly. She had her reserves set up, and the squad that was to go with her set. Now all they had to do was wait.

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

Kyle flew to the coordinates Daine had given him inside a falcon's mind, seeing something hazy up ahead that his sharp eyes could not penetrate through.

'What is that, winged brother?' he asked his ride.

'The wall of mist,' replied the falcon calmly. 'None can go in or out of it, so most of the sky and land creatures of left it for miles around to find a better home where they can live.'

'I see.'

Kyle thought about it for a minute, his mind wandering around until he asked, 'Will you try to go through it for me, winged brother?'

'No.'

'Why?'

'The white fire comes, and it kills most of what it touches.'

Kyle thanked him anyways and came back to his usual body, his mind whirling with the recent events as he tried to figure out what he could do. None could pass through it, none could pass from inside to the out, right? Maybe he could find someone else whom he could contact inside the shielded area...

He let his wildmagic self float out of his body and head for the shield, pushing himself through with much difficulty and pain. He was about to give up entirely when he came across another one of his winged friends.

'Two....legger....people...'

Kyle frowned. 'I cannot understand you, winged-sister. What you saying?'

'Leave....wrong...white....pain....'

'You cannot leave? What's wrong? White...the white fire? Did it hurt you? And you're in pain?'

'Go...want to...pain...'

'Winged sister!!'

'....'

Kyle found himself being pulled back through the shield, unable to keep his connection with the winged-sister. He was flung back into his body with such a force that his physical self jerked back into some trees from the rush. Getting up, he started back towards the fief at a run. Something was not right, and he was going to have to figure out what it was before it was too late.

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

Libby sat there in amazement as one very tired and dirty Kyle related the events of his journey to Amanda in the study where most of them were gathered for the evening. "You're sure this...white fire...really exists?" asked Amanda.

"The falcons were sure of it," said Kyle firmly. "Whoever or whatever it is that is wrong there... I don't like it."

"You're sure that this area really truly is there?" asked Libby, leaning forward in her seat.

"Why?" asked Kyle in surprise. "Have you heard something as well?"

"Nothing...that's really substantial...."

"Out with it," said Amanda quite simply, her mood still sour after Levi and Jon's skirmish in the supply barn. "Any bit of information can help."

"There was a man in the ward," explained Libby. "He kept saying, 'They're coming' only no one knew who 'they' are. He called them 'The Dark ones' but that doesn't help much  either."

"Where there any who knew anything else about it?"

"Two others, one which discounted it entirely, and the other who seemed unsure of himself."

"Then...it could be true."

"And it also could not."

"Whatever it is," said Libby quickly, rising to her feet. "This shielded area, it needs to be looked into. Perhaps Artman and I can do something about it, perhaps we can't. Time will tell all, though."

"Yes," agreed Kyle as he headed out of the study himself for a bath and a meal. "Time will tell all. The real question it, however, will we like what it has to say...or not??"

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

Jon leapt from his mount with the ease of practice, slinging the sacks of supplies over his shoulder with ease before heading towards the house to greet those who waited for him there.

"Jon!"

"Jon!"

"Look at that shiner!"

The twins ogled at it as Sarah looked at him in concern and asked if he was alright. "I'm fine," replied Jon, acting all macho and such. "Just got in a bit of a row with another fellow. Heh, if you think I look bad, you should see him?"

"Did you start it?"

"No."

"What did Amanda say about it?"

Jon winced slightly. "Not much...just mainly glared at us both..."

Dar's gaze widened. "Who did you fight?"

"..."

Sarah looked at him warningly. "Jon..."

"Her...head servant...?"

"JON!!"

"What?!" cried Jon defensively. "He attacked me first!!"

"Sure he did..."

"He did!!"

"Heh, some servant gave you a shiner like that? You're getting slow, Jon," said Cor smugly.

"Hush, you brat, before I give you a shiner..."

"Get the supplies inside and knock it off!" called Sarah over her shoulder as she headed back for the house.

"Alright, alright..."

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

Elizabeth stood on the walls and shot at the Scanrans below, all of her darts finding their target with ease. Seeing a load of rocks from slings come at them, she pulled herself and those around her under the safety of the walls as they whistled over head and found there marks on those left in the open.

"Thanks, milady," said one fellow, getting up again to shoot some more.

"Aye, thanks," added another.

Elizabeth said nothing, knowing that something wasn't right here. This wasn't a full attack, and it was painfully obvious that it was all for show as the majority of the Scanrans escaped to the woods, leaving their dead and wounded comrades to fend for themselves.

Those in the fief had lost none at all, and Elizabeth heard Amanda giving out a few final orders to tend to the few who had been wounded  before heading in to get back to whatever it was she had been doing. The Scanrans were all burned in the pit, those who needed it tended to, and the gates reinforced from being hit by a battering ram once more.

Everything was in order, but it was all for show, and it made Elizabeth angry that they would waste their soldier's lives on a worthless fight. Something wasn't right about all of this, still, and she knew she'd find out eventually. She just wasn't sure she'd like what she'd find when she did.

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

Vixen peaked outside her door quietly, seeing only the flickering of the dimming lamps in the hall as the only thing that moved. Silent as a shadow, she began to slowly tiptoe down the hall....

*step*

*step*

*SQUEAK*

Vixen froze, looking down as she realized she'd hit a loose board under the rug. Waiting one, two, three minutes...she judged none had heard it and went on.

*step*

*step*

*step*

*CRACK*

Vixen frozen again, cursing inwardly as she realized she'd stepped on a dry twig that had somehow or another found its way into the hall and under her night boots. Not a sound came from the other rooms, and she realized that no one else had heard it or at least though it unusual enough to investigate at that time. Waiting another moment to be sure, she went on.

*step*

*step*

*step*

Almost there...

*step*

*step*

*step*

*creeeaaakk*

*click*

Mouse stuck her head outside her door and looked to see Vixen as she disappeared into Joe's room. Shaking her head, she went back to sleep. It's not like she had to hide it or anything, everyone in this hallway already knew...

**the next morning**

Mouse was waiting outside her doorway when Vixen emerged from Joe's room towards her own.

"Sleep well last night?"

"Hm?" Vixen looked up in surprise to see Mouse standing there smugly. "Uh...well...I...yeah..."

Mouse laughed quietly. "Sure, Vixen, I'm sure you did..." She headed down the hallway, leaving one very red foxy lady behind her who could do nothing but growl idle threats at the time.

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

Alyse stood in the ward beside Libby, helping her tend what patients only needed their bandages changed or help sitting up so they can eat their food, leaving the only seriously injured one among them to the mage's care.

Her hands were sure and steady as they worked, but inside she shook with anger at the damage that had been caused. Her work was always precise and without flaw to some degree, yet her blood coursed through her veins to hot that she feared she might burn someone with her touch.

Her anger was not only at the Scanrans themselves, but whoever it was that was leading them and causing this massive destruction. Human life, Scanran or Tortallan, was too precious to be wasted like this. Blood was a common trait to all, and spilling it, whether enemy or not, was not something justified in the least. This war was wrong, the battles were wrong, everything was just wrong...and yet there was nothing she could do to stop it...

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

Jenny kept five pots of boiling water going at once, in each one a different tonic or salve boiling down for later use. Five other bowls full to the brim congealed or cooled in the corner where it was damp and out of the heat of the stove. Jars of salves and bottles of tonics lined the counters, several already gone and whisked away to the infirmary where they were used to heal those who had been hurt today.

Jennifer mixed, chopped, stewed, and cooked without thinking about it at all, every single one of her recipes learned by heart so all she had to do was remember which pot was where and keep right on going. They needed all the help they could get, and sent what they didn't need to the forts and fiefs around them. Jenny didn't mind doing the work for them, and was more than happy to help, but she herself avoided the infirmaries herself and preferred to help from a distance rather than be right in there with the hurt herself. Blood and her didn't get along so well...

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

Lyssa thanked the messenger from Lynx Mountain (who was Kyle) and watched him ride off with a falcon on his shoulder back towards his home. His news was disturbing, but not that greatly. He spoke of a shielded area...

Lyssa considered going and getting Captain Ginny and her squad on their way to Lynx Mountain, but nothing really had happened yet, so she waited to see what her next orders would bring. Whatever it was that was going on, they would get to the bottom of it.

She just hoped it wouldn't happen after they were all dead.

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

Kyle jogged into the clearing slowly, spotting whom he was looking for high in a tree above. The Wildmage smiled tiredly down and him and motioned for him to come up and join her as quickly as he could. Kyle complied without complaint and hauled himself up faster than he knew he could do before.

"Daine!" he said breathlessly once he was level with her on the branch. "Long time no see."

"Very," she replied with a slight grin. "Hello, Kyle."

"I went to the area you told me of."

Daine's face went serious. "What did you find?"

"A shield of magic." Kyle went on and explained everything he'd found, including bits he'd gathered from Vixen's group and Libby's news of other forts and the gossip there. "It's odd, don't you think?"

"It is, and I don't like it," replied Daine slowly. "Whatever it is, we as humans can't detect it. Your thieving friend may've even been inside it, but didn't realize it at the time."

"That's not good."

"Not it isn't. But I need you to deliver these messages for me just the same." Daine pulled several sealed parchments from her bag and handed them to him.  "These two are for the sisters, Amanda and Elizabeth, at the fief, and this one for the Brazir mages, Libby and Artman. It is essential they get these. This one is for Commander Lyssa at her fort, and this last one is for you."

"New orders, then?"

"Yes. Do you think you can do this for me?"

"I can."

"Thank you."

Both of them left soon after, going along their separate ways and their destined paths.

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

Libby was sitting in her room when Kyle stuck his head in, a sealed parchment in his hands. "Hey," he said, coming in after he'd gotten the ok. "Something from Daine, and probably from the big guy himself. New orders, or something along those lines. You know."

"Yeah, thanks," she replied, taking it from him and shooing him out the door. She broke the seal and pulled out the paper quickly, putting a weight at each corner on her desk so she could continue to eat her meal as she read the letter by the light of a dirty old lamp.

'Brazir Mages, Libby and Artman.

Greetings, as always. I trust you are well and about to head out on another journey to help one of the struggling forts. Don't. Your new post is to be at Lynx Mountain permanently. A bit more boring for you, I'm sure, but a lot less strenuous as well. There are reasons, but they will become clear to you later on as time passes, the Lady of the fief will explain more as well if you ask. You must stay there and hold the line.

General Vanget'

"Hold the line?" said Libby to herself. "I wonder what it's all about..." Artman walked in, seeing the frown on her face.

"We have another mission?" he said tiredly, automatically heading for his things on their hooks.

"No," said Libby quickly. "We don't."

Artman turned around in surprise. "Really?"

"Really. We're to stay here now."

Artman grew more excited and leaned forward slightly, his eyes opened wide. "No more missions?"

Libby shook her head. "No more missions."

Artman looked like a child who had been told that school was finally over for the year. "...ever?"

Libby shrugged her shoulders. "At least until they tell us to start riding out again, whenever that is."

Artman jumped up in the arm, his arms spread wide and a huge, dopey grin on his face. "YIPEE!!"

Libby cocked an eyebrow as Artman began to do a victory dance around the room. "Right..."

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

Sarah followed her small cat out of boredom from the house to see what she would do, around the bushes to explore for awhile and then to the barn to see her friends who lived there. She was surprised as to how they all reacted together, the cat greeting almost all of the mares and geldings with a great sense of familiarity and those she avoided were those known for their quick tempers and aloofness.

So, her kitten could make friends too. It was very odd indeed, seeing her perched on the ledge of a stall and almost converse with the mare in the stall in a friendly way. Flicks of ears, snorts, mews, blinks, yawns, each movement the one did the other seemed to understand almost instantly. It was incredible.

"Jon," said Sarah as he came into the barn. "I think the cat knows how to talk..."

"And I think you're losing your mind," said Jon, removing her from the stall so he could get to the mare inside. "A cat is a cat, Sarah. They can't talk to us or other animals, just creatures of their own kind."

Sarah smirked slightly. "So they don't know what it means when a dog comes barking at them??"

"I said talk," replied Jon shortly. "Not communicate. There's a difference. And you know that too."

"Yeah, well, then I think our cat can communicate with horses."

"Of course she can," replied Jon firmly. "Because they're all animals."

"But you just said..."

"They can't talk."

"But they can-"

"Communicate."

Sarah rolled her eyes and headed for the house with the prancing cat at her heals. "Right..."

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

Amanda paced the length of the room time and time again, the fire casting her flickering shadow along the wall behind her. The weapons on the walls gleamed in the light, and seemed to only plague her more instead of comfort her as usual. They were instruments of death, and death was something she was finding increasingly harder to deal with.

"Are you alright, Amanda?" asked Mouse, stopping by her room with Jennifer at her side.

"We brought you some chocolate mousse that I made," added Jennifer, hoping to get a smile that hadn't been seen all day out of her friend.

"Set it over there," said Amanda, motioning aimlessly by the fire. " Thank you. I'll have it later....if you don't mind."

"Amanda not having chocolate," said Mouse in surprise. "Now I know something's wrong. Do you...want to talk about it?" Even to herself her words rang hollow, and she wished she hadn't spoken them after a few moments silence. "You don't have to, I mean....unless you want to..."

"I'm just sick of this war," replied Amanda quietly, thumping her hand on the back of a chair that stood before her. "All of it...so much death..."

"We have to kill them to survive," Mouse reminded her quietly, sitting on the arm of one of the overstuffed chairs nearby. "It's not like we have a choice this time: Kill or be killed."

"I know," replied Amanda hoarsely, turning from them to face the weapons on her walls. "Fighting...as a combat sport, and not as to the death battle...is something I have always loved. But it wasn't until recently, when I would look out after a battle and see our men and women strung out among those who are attacking us, I cannot help but feeling at a loss... They shouldn't have had to die."

"No one should ever have to die," admitted Jennifer, rubbing the back of her neck. "But their deaths are not your fault..."

"How can you say that?" asked Amanda, turning to look at them sadly. "It is my responsibility to protect them, not to put them in harms way..."

"They agreed to fight to protect this place," said Mouse softly, but firmly. "They knew it could cost them their lives."

"None should have to die. No more killing, I do not wish to kill..."

"Get a grip," said Mouse, grabbing Amanda's arm as she tried to resume her pacing. "I do not like to kill either, my Mouse daggers are soaked with blood as your sword is, but I still do it because I know I must."

"That is why I still kill, why I still fight," murmured Amanda, pulling herself free. "But I swear, when this war is over, I will never kill again. I don't care what happens, but I do not think I can take it if another life is put on my head. Never again will someone die by my hand."

"You do not know what life will bring you," Mouse reminded Amanda quickly. "You do not know..."

"Then I will swear by my blood," said Amanda calmly, her eyes unusually clear as she sliced her dagger across her palm and held it over the fire that it might catch her life blood within it's glowing heart. "I swear, I will never kill again after the war is over."

"Come," said Jennifer quickly, leading her towards the table. "Let me bind that for you."

"If you wish," replied Amanda quietly, her mind retreating back in on itself as it sometimes did.

"Amanda?" asked Mouse, seeing her eyes close slightly. But she received no answer at all.

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

"Man, you really are out of it," said Vixen when she saw Amanda in the morning, her hand bandaged from last night's encounter with her dagger. "You didn't even know I was here until I touched your shoulder."

"You're a thief," replied Amanda flatly. "You're supposed to be able to sneak up on others."

"Not you, though," replied Vixen, coming around to stand in front of her. "You could always sense when someone was coming when you're at least slightly coherent. What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You're lying," said Vixen simply. "Mouse told me you swore never to kill again after this war."

"And I won't." Amanda's eyes remained focused on the ground before her.

"Then you are being weak." Vixen prepared to dodge the blow she was sure to come, but was surprised when Amanda merely rose to her feet and looked in the eyes coldly.

"No," she replied quietly. "Refusing to kill is not being weak. Using killing as a tool to take care of your problems or refusing to defend what needs it is being weak. Refusing to kill because you are sick of death is being strong."

"Only in your eyes," replied Vixen simply. "If your enemy cannot be gotten rid of or pushed aside, then kill him. That is the way a thief lives to be in their older years."

"Then I am glad I am not a thief," replied Amanda, "For that many deaths on my head...I think I might go insane."

"I never said it is not hard to sleep at night because of them," replied Vixen with a frown. "I said I do what is necessary to keep myself alive."

"I will do the same. Without killing."

"But you will until the war is over."

"...yes. I will."

"Then your resolve will never hold."

"It will," replied Amanda confidently. "For the strength of my will always overcomes the strength of my anger or sorrow or hate."

"That is what you say now," replied Vixen with a sad grin. "But if the time comes...it will not hold true."

"Then what is it that you think would make it strong?"

"Nothing could."

"Then what is it that you think makes you strong?"

"My ability to do what needs to be done without hesitation. My loyalty to my people. My talent to defend what is rightfully mine. What do you think makes you strong?"

"My ability to care without end. My will to protect those around me rather than myself. My strength of will from my stubbornness and pride to not give up even when everything seems hopeless. That is why we cannot agree on this issue, Vixen. For what makes us strong are different things, and so we think in different ways. I am right, as are you, in our own way. And both of us are undoubtedly strong both physically and mentally. But neither of us can say the other is right or wrong until we have made their strengths our own and can judge it honestly."

"Then we agree to disagree?"

"We do."

They dropped the subject and went on to talk about the smithing of weapons without wasting any time. They knew such things would come up again later, and it was something they would probably argue about for many years yet without ever finding an answer to it. But neither one really minded. It wasn't something they were going to lose sleep over in the next few weeks. They were strong in their own way, and that was what really mattered.

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

Alyse and Mouse sat together in the garrison Mess Hall, two mugs of hot coffee between them and a platter of sweet rolls for them to share besides. Mouse took one and began to tear it apart, putting some bites in her mouth at a time to enjoy the warm, sweet taste all the longer.

"So," she said after a few moments. "You said you'd tell me what you saw at Haven sometime."

"Then I'll tell you know," replied Alyse with a small grin as she sipped her coffee slowly. "It was incredibly well built, though all the people there are native Northerners and as such they're known for their wonderful wood working skills. Anyways. There were several barracks for people to sleep in, and a Mess Hall like ours. The meals were generally cooked in front of the garrisons themselves, apparent by the huge fire pits and stands for caldrons over them, but I think maybe breakfast was always handled by the cooks in the Mess Hall. I could be wrong, though."

"How many where there when you arrived?"

"Several, at least three or four hundred."

"Wow."

"Yeah. It wasn't much different that Lynx Mountain, though."

"Really?"

"Really. It was a community of people thrown together through unusual circumstances and told they had to work together or die. So they were fighting to protect their new home rather than a fort or a piece of dirt. What they had there was all they owned, was all that was left of the lives they once had."

"Not like a soldier, who can return to their home town once the war is over," added Mouse with her mouth full.

"Exactly. To me, this is home, so I'm going to fight for it a lot harder than I would at a...say a fort. I know forts are necessary, and without them this war would already be lost, but to replace one's home with a temporary place that you'll never really get the feel for..."

"That's why I'm glad we're here," said Mouse with a wry grin. "It's not the home I have in this world, but it is like a 'home away from home'. I still consider Corus my 'home town', but Lynx Mountain is quickly becoming a place that I think I could spend the rest of my life at, if the need came. Corus would be preferred in some ways, like the familiarity of it and my ability to meld into the crowds. But Lynx Mountain could easily do just the same, I'm sure."

"That, and the fact that a friend of yours happens to own the place probably helps."

"Yeah, it does," admitted Mouse wistfully. "I could give up being a thief to live like this. No flea-infested inns to stay at when we're not at the Dancing Dove, not dirty old men trying to look down my shirt while I'm serving them, and no cheeky little ones trying to snatch my purse all the time. You'd be surprise how much those young ones like to practice on us 'old folk'. Heh, old indeed, I'm not even in my thirties yet. Yeah, I could definitely get used to living here."

Alyse laughed and shook her head some. "Yeah, I can see where that would get old after awhile..."

"You have not idea..."

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

Jennifer stood over the huge mixing bowl as she carefully measured all the contents in and blended them in with care. Three eggs...a cup of oil....two table spoons of baking soda....and some fresh ground cocoa....three cups of flour...two cups of butter (freshly churned that morning by moi)...and one packet of chocolate bits saved from the last time she made chocolates in moulds and had to trim off the edges.

Everything was blended in when she poured it into a massive pan, hauling it unsteadily over to the hot oven before shoving it in and closing the oven door.

"Whew, I better get thanked for this later," muttered Jennifer to herself as she began to clean everything up. Bowls were rinsed in hot water, cups scrubbed of their contents, spoons and such boiled into purification, then everything laid out to dry and toweled off before put back in their places on the shelves and racks.

A delicious smell filled the kitchen as she finished drying the last pan, sticking it on it's hanger before reaching over and opening the searing oven to pull out the perfectly baked chocolate cake. Popped it out of its pan, she brought the steaming platter over to the table, poured herself and her rather desolate companion a very tall glass of cold milk, handed her a fork, and helped her being to eat her way to the middle of the cake.

"I can get to the middle before you."

Amanda looked up with a slight sparkle in her eyes. "That sounds like a challenge."

**30 minutes later**

Levi walked into the kitchen as Jennifer sat there in amazement, watching Amanda finish the last bite of the cake and down the last mouthful of her fourth glass of milk.

"What?" she asked as she wiped her mouth on the napkin. "Thanks for the cake, Jenny, I owe you." She got up and walked out the door.

"What's wrong?" asked Levi, seeing Jennifer hadn't moved from her spot.

"I would say it's all dream, and there should be at least half a cake still before me," said Jennifer slowly. "But...but...she just ate her half of that massive cake....and over half of mine! Not to mention four glasses of milk..."

Levi looked at the pan, his eye growing in size. "Wow...and I thought she was just kidding when she said she could eat half a cake on her own..."

"I know, me too..."

"Especially that big."

"Where does it all go?"

"Somewhere....I think...well, it has too...it's not like it just disappears...she's a normal human you know. At least I think she is."

"The cake was bigger than her middle, and it hadn't grown when she left just a moment ago."

"Yeah, weird."

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

Lyssa charged forward on her horse, swinging her rapier skillfully at the coming Scanrans with a speed born from her frustration and anger. There were only a few, and she far outnumber them in the Riding Squad, but her stomach tightened in her stomach as she realized that they were only toying with her, that this was all just a big joke.

"Push them forward!" she cried over the din of the battle. "Drive them back and kill them all!!"

Her rapier found it's way into the heart of a man riding towards her on a horse, and one of her companion's axes took off his head. None left the field alive, yet Lyssa was still restless. She knew this wasn't all, and that they were merely playing the part. If they were going to attack, at least make it worth while, by Mithros!

"Commander, what should we do now?" asked one of the men, watching their leader sit on her mount moodily at the edge of the clearing.

"Drag the bodies under the bushes," she snapped quickly. "You three, go make sure they're gone. Watch yourself, though. There could still be a few around." Lyssa and everyone else knew that this was all there was, that there were no more Scanrans around, but they checked anyways while the wounded were tended to.

"All clear," said one of the Captains when they reentered the clearing at a slow trot.

"Let's move," said Lyssa, heading back towards the fort at a swift canter. "This is a waste of time...."

Lyssa hated this fighting, hated the way it was just a game. She wanted out of this mess, or at least wanted things the way they were before where they felt like they were making progress.

This just sucked.

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

Kyle crept back towards the place Daine have told him about, a special ward in his pocket and materials for making a map in his pack. The boundaries he couldn't see with his own eyes, but with the help of a hawk he found the misty edge where the 'white fire' would appear.

Taking out the map of the area he had been given, he slowly followed it around the edge and drew the line where it corresponded with the barrier on the ground. Checking and rechecking his positions many times, Kyle was so absorbed in what he was doing that he didn't notice the Scanran coming towards him through the brush until it as almost too late.

He stashed everything under a bush and pulled himself high into a tree, barely hiding himself before the Scanran passed underneath. The man stopped and waited for a moment, glancing around as if he had heard something nearby. A whistle to his left caught his attention, though, and he ran off in that direction towards his fellow soldier's call.

'That was close,' commented Kyle to his helper, who had remained perched on his branch the whole time.

'You are his prey, then?' asked the hawk, not entirely understanding the situation from a two-legger's perspective.

'In a way,' admitted Kyle with a shrug. 'He is hunting for those who aren't supposed to be here...in other words me.'

'I will warn you, then, the next time a hunter come.'

'Thank you.'

Kyle continued the rest of the way around the shield and had to pull himself up into trees a few more times. The Scanrans never caught him, nor stopped below his tree again, and he continued until he was finished and could start the journey back to the fief where it was safe.

'Thank you, my friend,' said Kyle when he was leaving the area, giving the hawk some strips of dried jerky as a gift.

'You are of the People,' replied the hawk fiercely. 'You help us, so we must help you as our own kind. My thanks for your gift.'

Kyle nodded and started back for the fief at a quick trot, the map safely secured in his pack with the detailed drawing of the shield on it. Now all they had to do was find a way to get through it.

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

Libby and Artman galloped out of the fief the moment Kyle had returned, the map in their possession, and several mage explosives lining their pockets. With the horses, they made half the distance there in a day and did the rest at a run, Libby's gift keeping them going constantly.

They reached the place on the map and Artman shielded them from sight and sound, helping them watch right past the guards who stood there on duty.

"You're sure you can do this?" asked Libby for the millionth time.

"Of course," said Artman stoutly. "It's only a flimsy shield. Look, the thing can't even-"

*ZAP*

"YEOWWW!!!" Libby sighed and healed his burnt-to-a-crisp hand as Artman stood there whimpering like a child.

"Moron," she said harshly. "That's what you get for messing with something you shouldn't have tried."

"Well...I'll still blast through," said Artman stubbornly. "Just watch me!! You'll see."

"Fine, whatever, just get going..."

"I am, I am..."

Libby waited nervously as Artman finished arranging the explosives and went on to begin his chant, all of the disks glowing brightly as his voice increased in volume and fervor...

*KA-BLAM*

Libby shielded her eyes and ears from the blast that went around her and Artman, looking up in time to see Artman laugh happily, thinking it was down, and jump straight into the shied this time, sure to get through.

*FIZZ-ZAP*

"AHHH!!!" Libby yanked Artman out of the shield he had failed to destroy and realized that he was no longer shielding them from and sight and that that explosion had caused several of the Scanran guards to come running their way.

"Oh, crap..."

"Huh? What the...yipe!"

They darted back into the woods at a run, Libby praying for a miracle as the Scanrans began to gain on them. They broke into a clearing and Libby heard a familiar neigh as a horse drew by their side.

"Veety!!"

Libby threw herself on, then pulled Artman up after her. They galloped away into the forest, leaving the Scanrans far behind.

"Whew, that was close," murmured Libby, burying her hands into Veety's main. "Thanks, boy. We'd be dead if it weren't for you."

"It should've worked..." whined Artman. "The explosives, my power...what could possibly have gone wrong...???"

"Eh. You're just a moron is all," said Libby, tossing her hair in the wind as they continued towards their last camp sight to pick up Veety's horse and their supplies before heading back home. Things had not gone as they had expected (or as Artman had expected) at all.

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

Jon looked up as several people rode into the courtyard of the Ranch, obviously not enemies of any sort since the alarm had not gone of but he was wary of them just the same.

"Hello!" called a familiar voice. "Looks like that shiner of yours is almost gone, Jon. Though the split lip you gave Levi healed awhile ago."

"Allie!" said Sarah in surprise, who was out in the courtyard as well filling the water troughs. "I...uh...what are you doing here?"

"We're to stay here until told to go back," said Allie, turning serious for once. "There's some strange happenings as of late with the Scanrans. Let us stable our horses and get settled in, and we'll explain it all to you in time."

"Dar! Cor!" called Jon, knowing they were in the barn. "Prepare 11 stalls for these horses, and get you things together because you're sleeping in the loft tonight. There's spots by the fire, a few can share the twin's room, and anyone else can go join them in the loft."

"Someone can sleep on the floor of my room," added Sarah. "His room is little more than a closet, and too small for even him as it is."

"Let's go, then," said Allie, dismounting and handing her mare to Cor. "I'll tell you what news I bring while they are getting settled in."

They sat around the kitchen table, the three of them, and talked quietly of the Scanrans movements as of late, and the effects they were having on everyone else. Allie told them of the shielded area Kyle had discovered, the way Vixen and her squad hadn't been able to detect it, and the way Artman had attempted to blow it up and almost got himself killed instead.

"Wow," said Sarah when she had finished, nodding slowly. "Yeah, a lot has happened as of late..."

"Amanda worried that they might miss something, so Vixen sent us to help protect you," explained Allie with a shrug. "Personally, I don't care either way, but it may be for the best that there is more than just the four of you here for once."

"Allie," said one of the thieves, standing loosely at attention by the door. "The horses are set and we've drawn lots for who gets to sleep where and who has guard duty first."

"Have that guards go out and set up their posts," replied Allie without hesitation. "The rest come here and set up their places where they'll sleep." She turned back to Sarah and Jon. "We brought supplies with us so we wouldn't take out of yours."

"Which is very good indeed," said Sarah, who had been wondering how she was going to feed all these people.

"Bring the supplies here," Allie went on. "And have one of them start dinner, we skipped lunch and I'm starving."

"Very well, Allie."

"So well behaved, you thieves are," said Jon, rolling his eyes as he did. "Last time we dealt with you, I was nearly gutted by your enemies."

Allie laughed lightly. "Well, we'll have to see to it that it doesn't happen again, alright?"

Jon rolled his eyes. "Well, duh."

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

Amanda looked at the note Kyle had finally given her and growled, it's tidings were not something she wished to read and it had only angered her farther that they made her now a prisoner in her own home until they deemed it right for her to leave. All missions and Riding Patrols were suspended until they were given to leave the fief again, and they hadn't been told why either.

She angrily tossed the note in the fire and watched it burn without remorse, it's turning to ash giving her some pleasure over all. Alyse walked into the study, seeing her glaring at the fire with an intensity that was usually reserved for morons and people she intended to kill.

"What as that all about?" she asked, giving Amanda a concerned look. "You look like you've just been told that you're chained to this room for the rest of your life, not that anyone would ever dare..."

"They might as well have," growled Amanda. "We've been ordered to stay in the fief until further notice by none other than Vanget himself, the jerk. If I could get rid of him myself, I would."

"You talk of murder?" asked Alyse in amusement.

"I was thinking more along the lines of kidnapping him and leaving him in some abandoned barn until the war's over..."

"...right."

Amanda paced the room some more, stopping by the fire and barking out some random orders to a servant nearby.

"What was that all about?" asked Alyse in concern as Amanda walked out of the study and down the hall towards the main courtyard. She followed closely, tripping along lightly in her Yamanis robes.

"He also ordered that I have a special squad ready to ride out at any moment," replied Amanda quickly. "I will choose who will go with me now while I have the time. I do not wish to be chained up like this, and hopefully freedom will come sooner than we think."

Alyse frowned. "But will freedom come at? What price will we have to pay for it?"

"I do not know," replied Amanda honestly. "Right now, I'll just concentrate on getting there, though. Staying cooped up like this is for cowards and the weak, I don't know if I wouldn't go mad if all I did was think about it."

"I see..."

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

Vixen stood in the middle of the thirty thieves who were left, Mouse and Joe flanking her on either side. "You've heard the news," she said quite simply. "You know what's going on. Here's what's going to happen: twenty of you are coming with me. The other ten will stay here and help defend the walls."

Fang looked up in surprise. "Who will lead those who are left here, Queen?"

"I will," said Mouse, stepping aside and going to sit among those in the crowd. "I don't need to go fight outside the walls, I will stay here and lead those who are left behind."

Vixen frowned. "Are you sure, Mouse?"

She nodded slowly. "I am sure."

"Very well."

"I volunteer to stay too, then," said Fang with a lopsided grin. "She might need someone to watch her back, and I can do that as well as any other here. Is that alright, Queen?"

Vixen nodded with a smile. "That's fine."

"How will you choose who will stay and who will go?" asked another among those on the ground.

"This is how," replied Vixen, turning serious once more. "Who has fought the metal things before? Raise your hands!"

Sixteen of the 30 raised their hands slowly, all reluctant to remember the huge monstrosities that had nearly taken their lives or the lives of their comrades. Those were the things nightmares were made of.

"Of you with your hands up, who would willingly face them again with the knowledge and experience you've gained?"

A murmur ran through the group, and seven of the sixteen lowered their hands, knowing that their courage might fail them later on.

"Then you nine will come," said Vixen firmly. "The other eleven I will choose as I will. Is that understood?" Her eyes roamed the group, taking in their nods or simple acceptances of what she had said. A few were as white as bed sheets, and she made a mental note not to force them along this time around.

"When will we know who is going and staying?"

"Tonight," replied Joe, turning and heading back to the fief where he, Vixen, and Mouse could discuss the choices in private. "Until then, get back to your duties and such."

"You don't know for sure the that the metal things will be one of the things we're up against," Mouse reminded Vixen quietly as they all went in her room, shutting the door behind them firmly.

"You're right, I don't," replied Vixen with a shrug. "But whatever it is we're up against, I'd rather know that I have the strongest and the best fighters among up with me at my back. Right?"

Mouse's eyes flickered slightly, glancing around the room. "I suppose so..."

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

Amanda and Alyse stood on the wall over looking the garrison, watching the soldiers who weren't on duty train with a slight interest. "You know that I'm not taking you with me, right?" asked Amanda quietly, bowing her head as she waited to hear Alyse's reply. The wind seemed to howl mournfully among the trees and buildings as the seconds ticked by.

"I know." Alyse seemed calm and collected, her face as an inscrutable a mask as ever. Her answer had not come at once, but was decisive and steadfast. She knew, and wasn't going to hide from the truth either.

"Then you're not angry about it?" Amanda asked as well, somewhat surprised at how this was going. "Not in the least?" She waited patiently for her friend's answer once more, knowing it would come with time.

"I am upset that I shall miss the main action," admitted Alyse with a wry smile. "But I understand that my place is here, and you need me here far more than you need me out on the battle field."

"It's not that you're weak or anything," amended Amanda quickly. "You do know that you're a valued fighter..."

"But also a valued leader among the people," finished Alyse. "I will stay here and keep an eye on things while you are gone." She grinned a little bit more. "Someone must stay here and keep Elizabeth under control. Between her and some of those going with you it's amazing you haven't lost your mind as of yet."

Amanda rolled her eyes. "That's what you think. My mind was gone long ago, let me tell you..."

Alyse smiled. "Then you've done a wonderful job of hiding it."

"Thank you." Amanda's hair blew in her eyes from the wind, and she secured it behind her head with a leather tie before nodding and heading down to the courtyard. "I'm off to whip a few newbies into shape. You want to come?"

Alyse just nodded and followed quietly, knowing that even if she couldn't be in the thick of the action, she would probably have plenty to keep her busy here. Besides, avoiding situations that cause you to die young were something that she had avoided as of late...

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

Jennifer sat on a small footstool in the study and looked at everyone else in the room as their next course of action was discussed quietly, everyone's serious mood obvious by the look on their faces.

Amanda stood near the fire, and Elizabeth sat near her side on the arm of a chair. Kyle occupied the chair she sat on the arm of, and across from him in the other chair next to the fire sat Levi. Alyse stood next to him across from Amanda, leaning ever so gracefully on a bookshelf. Vixen and Joe shared a love seat, and Mouse sat on the floor before them using Vixen's legs as a backrest. Libby sat on the chair that Jennifer's footstool belonged too, and Artman stood beside her obediently.

"What now?" asked Kyle quiet simply, glancing around the room at the faces of those who were beside him in this."

"I cannot believe that it has come to this," admitted Jennifer slowly. "We're really at war...for a country that isn't even ours..."

"It is now," said Vixen firmly. "Like it or not, this has become our new home."

"Not forever, though."

"No," admitted Vixen softly as she glanced at Joe. "Not forever."

"Those who go and those who stay are set," said Alyse out of the blue. "All there is left is to wait."

"There is not only that," said Mouse. "We have been through all of this together, and not all of those who are a part of our group are here with us."

"Being foreigners in this world, it has pulled us together in some ways," said Libby wryly.

"Yes," agreed Kyle, glancing up at Elizabeth, "It has."

"And for those who had not known you before, and know you now, it has been an interesting experience as well," added Levi, looking into the fire sadly. "I do not look forward to see you leave, whenever that is."

Joe nodded in agreement. "Let us hope that is it not for awhile yet."

"Some of us could die in this next battle," said Elizabeth sadly.

"Same as any other," said Amanda in surprise. "Every other time we've fought...there has always been that chance. But now, it seems closer, doesn't it? Much more real in some ways..."

"It's all in your head," said Levi firmly. "None of you will die. I have watched you all fight, and win each time."

"You have never seen me fight," said Jennifer roughly. "I have before, and nearly lost my life."

"As have we all," added Artman.

"Aye, and some of us more than once," added Amanda tiredly.

"You won't," said Levi, his voice more certain than ever. "I...well... you just can't die. We have too much faith in you all to lose any of you now..."

"Your faith may be wrongly founded, then."

"Perhaps," replied Levi with a shrug. "But I would rather have a wrongly founded faith and live because of it, than no faith at all and die without hope."

"He has a point," murmured Mouse, staring into the fire aimlessly.

"Enough of this," said Alyse, turning from the fire to the rest of the group. "We have our plans, we know our orders are coming soon. Until then, try not to think of what's coming next."

"Hm, easy for you to say..."

"She's right," said Jennifer, rising to her feet slowly. "Come, let's go down to the kitchen and I'll make us all a snack and some warm drinks."

"Fine," said Amanda, nodding her head in acceptance. "Any others wish to come?"

"I will."

"Me too."

"We;re in."

"Why not?"

"Will there be coffee?"

"Of course."

"Then sure."

"I guess I will too."

"Only if you want to, you know."

"...I do."

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

Lyssa and her three top captains stood in the darkened room, the mage who was with the releasing the seal on the holographic set of orders they had been given from Vanget just that morning. An image of one of the metal things popped up, surrounded by several others like it all advancing across their northern border, towards a plain that was near Lynx Mountain.

"That is what is coming your way," said the General's voice out of the blue. "From what we were finally able to learn, at least 9 are headed that way, their only purpose to destroy Lynx Mountain and everything past it in an attempt to create a giant gap in our defenses. The shielded area is down, but nothing that our mages can detect was ever hidden there, it was all a ruse. Join forces with Lynx Mountain, they will be on their way there before you are, and will most likely reach it first as well. This is your mission, Commander Lyssa: to destroy them or die trying with your squad. Good luck."

"Wonderful," said Eric in a low voice, glancing over at Lyssa who was staring at the image so intently you thought her gaze might burn straight through it. "Commander...?"

"We set out in an hour," she said quickly, heading for her rooms as fast as she could. "Tell Captain Ginny to leave at once, she already knows what her orders are. Squads 3, 7, and 1 are to come with us, the rest stay behind."

"But Commander!"

"What?" asked Lyssa, whirling around quickly.

Eric looked at her in surprise. "That means....I'm coming with you...?"

"That's right," said Lyssa with a slight grin. "Get packed and ready to go as I said in an hour and your men and women ready to ride as well. Captain Frederick!"

"Yes, Commander!"

"You're in command here until I or Captain Eric returns, understand?"

"Yes, Commander!"

"Good!" Lyssa set out for her rooms at a trot, several of the Captains already galvanized into action by her words. "Everyone, get everything underway. We leave in an hour, and it's for an appointment with the Scanrans I don't wish to be late too..."

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

Hm...a short chapter, I know. Sorry for those of you used to the longer ones, trust me when I say the next one will more than make up for it. @_@ Yeah, it will indeed.

Remember: This is your last chance to turn in requests to receive the q's for the contest! Either say so in your review, or email me at the address listed at the end of chapter 30 with the official rules and all. Winners will be posted at the end of next chapter! Catch you on the flip side! (I've been cooped up all day today, sorry... ^_^;;)

Crosseyedbutterfly