Gah. You know what's really strange? Thinking about dogs. Like, seriously thinking about them. How they could almost be people, if they weren't dogs. And how they're hairy all over, and chase balls, and have no hands but they have almost human eyes, and just well, believe me, it's very strange. Especially if you think of them as unfortunate people, hairy all over from thousands of years of evolution. And it gets even weirder when you think about them being little hairy people, and how this little hairy person is skittering around your kitchen chasing ice cubes, and sleeping on your bed at night, and gah.

Well. That was strange. I hate it when my brain goes somewhere but leaves the rest of me behind.

Yay! New chapter! I'm suddenly back in the lands of the People-Who-Post, and better than ever! Once again, thank the gods for strange weird stories that I write late at night! With that one little chapter of Stuck in a NotMarySue my disinclination to write has shattered into a bajillion little pieces! Yay!

And I'm sorry, but I was not inclined to write Kel's farewells to her animal pals, i.e. dog and bird. Those always bug me in TP's books, and I'm sorry if they don't bug you, but I will write none of them. Just imagine her goodbyes in there somewhere.

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Outset

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Back in her room, Kel unfurled the scroll. It listed a short explanation of her mission – essentially the same as what King Jonathan had told her – as well as an itinerary and a short description of her two comrades.

Goal: investigation of a strange emanation as discovered by the late Numair Salmalin, Black Robe mage. If applicable, de-activation of any threats facing the Kingdom of Tortall from the Empire of Jindhazen.

Itinerary: Meet at the North Gate by the fourth hour of afternoon on 22 February. Board the Sea's Daughter at midday on 24 February.

Kel was a little worried to see that that was the end of the itinerary, but decided it was just because the king didn't know how long she would be gone, not because he thought she wouldn't come back.

Your group:

Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan. 19 years. Former squire to Lord Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak; therefore has been trained with the King's Own. Skilled with all manner of weapons. Traveled with the original Tortallan delegation to the Yamani Islands and consequently is skilled with several Yamani weapons, especially the glaive. Does well in commanding battle situations; is talented with improvised military tactics. Does well under pressure.

Coel Revin, Mage of the Brothers of the Sun Temple. 23 years. Trained in Tortall at the Brothers of the Sun Temple. Reached Gold Circle Adept level at age 17, making him fourth youngest ever to do so. Possesses a strong offensive Gift but is somewhat less powerful at defensive magic. Skilled with knives; proficient with several Shang moves as a priest at the Temple was the Shang Tiger. Works best when told what to do.

Evin Larse, Commander of the Queen's Riders. 25 years. Trained in the Queen's Riders as second-in-command under Buriram Tourakom of the K'mir. Possesses a truth crystal. Knows Player tricks, i.e. slight of hand and other small fancies. Skilled with a number of weapons; also trained in street fighting. Excellent horseman. Has innate skill with military strategy, both the conception and carrying out of.

Kel frowned. She did not like the fact that someone had studied her so thoroughly that they knew so much about her. However, she shoved her discomfort to the back of her mind and read over her companions again.

Mithros, she thought. This Coel person was a Gold Circle mage at seventeen! He must have power that rivals Numair's!

Kel choked inadvertently, and corrected herself mentally as tears stung her eyes. Power that rivaled Numair's. Past tense.

She blinked hard, and moved on to her next companion. Evin Larse, she thought vaguely. Kel had a hazy remembrance of seeing him once or twice. She only recalled a vague figure: blond hair and height.

Shaking herself, Kel briskly rolled up the scroll and tapped it against her thigh. Well, she thought. Off on a journey of oh, several hundred miles, with two people I've never spoken to before in my life. Should be a highly interesting trip.

Packing consisted of throwing a few tunics into a carry bag, slipping on her dagger and sword and strapping her bow and quiver onto her back. Finally, she grabbed her glaive, and held it perpendicular to the ground. Heaving a big sigh, Kel looked around, wracking her brain for anything she may have forgotten. Nothing came to mind. She turned on her toe and strode out of her room, locking the door behind her.

Neal, she suddenly realized. Neal doesn't know I'm leaving. Glancing out a window, she estimated it to be just past the third hour of the afternoon — she had an hour or so before she was supposed to meet the other two-thirds of her group. Quickly and with purpose, she strode down the hall towards Neal's chambers.

Knocking briskly at his door, she called out, "Neal, it's me."

From inside the room, she picked out a muffled "Shit!" Neal's voice rang out, somewhat hurried. "Just a second, love, I'm busy."

Kel rolled her eyes.

Several seconds later, Neal opened the door, looking disheveled and only wearing rumpled breeches. His hair was tousled and he was a little out of breath.

"By all means, Keladry, please come in," he said gallantly.

Quirking an eyebrow in a gesture she had picked up from him, Kel stepped into the room. She eyed the rumpled bedcovers with a wry good humor and caught a glimpse of a lady's shoe lying by the bed. Kel tried not to think about what he had been doing before she knocked.

"Was there a purpose to this oh-so-pleasant visit, Kel, or did you just feel like a bit of a chat?" Neal said, a tinge of impatience in his expression.

Kel spun on her heel to face him. "No, I have a point. I dropped by to tell you that I'm leaving."

Neal's impatience melted out of his eyes. "You're leaving? Where? Why?"

"I have to go. To Jindhazen. To check out this 'thing' Numair picked up on before" Her throat tightened. It was still hard to think about, even harder to talk about.

Neal pulled her into a comforting hug, and Kel closed her eyes against the warm familiarity of his shoulder. She still had not cried for Numair. Her unshed tears welled up in her throat like a ball of sap.

Swallowing, Kel continued, and Neal released her when she began talking again. "Anyway, the king put together a posse, and he wants us to leave straightaway. I thought you might want to know."

Neal nodded, then spoke. "Do you want to go?" he asked, his eyes serious.

She shrugged. "It's better than staying around here, watching everyone else get assigned."

He nodded again, slowly. "This is true. Well, Kel, I wish you luck on your mission quest thing. And remember, as always, if you fail to return, I shall be very put out."

Kel smiled and echoed him. "As always." He pulled her into another brief hug, and soon she pulled away and moved to the door.

With just a few steps until she exited the room, Kel paused and turned slowly around. "Oh, and Neal?"

"Yes, m'dear."

"People tend to notice a lady's absence in the middle of the afternoon. It seems more prudent to wait until at least twilight for your clandestine get-togethers."

A small giggle came from under the bed, and Kel raised her eyebrows. Neal grinned, the wide, wicked smile that still made her stomach flip. "I'll keep that in mind," he said. "And now, it is time for you to leave," he continued firmly. Planting a hand at the small of her back, he propelled her to the door.

Once she cleared the doorframe, he let go of her. Kel had just enough time to whirl around, twiddle her fingers and whisper "Have fun" before the door clicked shut. That noise was followed closely by the grating noise of the lock.

Kel turned away from the door, grinning. "Some things will never change," she said out loud to the empty hall, and went to saddle Peachblossom.

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Well, that's it for now. I was going to write more but then decided to post this bit, because I want to. Even though nothing really happens in it. But oh well. Next chapter: the journey begins! Yay!

And as always review, knaves! Or I shall tie you down and use thumbscrews on the lot of ye! *mutters darkly*