A/N: ok people's here you go…another blessed chapter. I wrote most of this after reading your reviews, their what keep me going so thank you…all of you:)

Disclaimer: I don't own Joren but I have borrowed him and many other wonderful characters from the great Tamora Pierce. I do however own Cori and Siren. And Phoenix and Porter and anonymous elf children and evil King Joshua and…lol sorry got carried away:)

Joren and Cori sat in different cells. "I was thinking that maybe I could make this a Zoo. I'm sure there are more then enough people who would pay to see you." Siren smiled at the though of people paying to see the evil set of knights. Cori smiled. "Do you get to look for free…I'm sure I could make the show a lot more interesting in a nicer setting…say a bedroom?" she didn't give him the pleasure of seeing her blush. Joren spoke up. "Will Kel be showed off too…maybe you could put her in a nice little dress…take away her sword and she wouldn't be so bad…" Cori piped up. "That's what I used to think about Siren, I was wrong she's just as violent with a dress on…" Kel had been a good borrowed character and was allowed to sit by Siren. Siren turned to Kel. Kel spoke up…"do we Kill them now or wait till their asleep…" they both smiled evilly and turned back to face the computer.

If Secrets Could Kill…Ch8 : The Start of something good?

Joren woke from his dreamless sleep. Content to not be reviewing another nightmare. Well at least I didn't dream about the lump again… some how the thought did not make his day.

He was up before the bell for breakfast. What the hell am I supposed to do with the spare time. On any normal day Joren wouldn't be up till much later but today, today they were leaving on there quest, hah, I get to spend MY time looking for some stupid stone, not how I pictured spending my time as a knight.

Joren had thought he would have been stuck on guard duty or patrolling the borders, he definitely hadn't considered going on a grand adventure with his worst nightmare.

Joren walked to the oak dresser and picked out the days clothing, a pale blue tunic over black breaches and a crisp white shirt. He pulled the clothing on over his well-muscled form, and strode to the chair where his sword hung draped across the back of the wood frame.

Picking up the belt that the sword sat on; he attached it to his narrow hips. He ran a brush through his shoulder length blond-white hair and proceeded to the door, stopping only to pick up his ice-blue leather jerkin.

He walked down the cool stone corridor, a suttle breeze flowing in on the cold winter morning. I wonder if it's cold in Non-Avaloo? Joren was used to the cold, but he didn't fantasize freezing in a foreign country. He put his jerkin on with acquired ease and walk toward the practice court.

***

Siren sat out side, her brown leather jerkin not nearly enough to keep her warm. Siren was a child of heat, not cold.

The practice yard was bare, save for the two tall knights who at the moment were in the middle of a sword fight. Next to her sat another red head, Sir Alanna of Trebond, Pirates Swoop and Olau. She sat decked out in a big wool coat over her plain leather jerkin; Alanna hated the cold with a passion.

The king's champion sat petting her beloved pet and long-time friend, Faithful. The cat god was perched on the pole between the two women worriers enjoying the heat they put off.

The knights on the court were naught but a blur of brown hair and metal swords, both knights wore plain practice clothing in a basic brown. The duel ended, one knight got lucky and managed to tire the other out.

Flashing a smile and offering the other knight a hand, the two lugs headed for the posts on which Siren and Alanna sat. "Siren, didn't you say you beat this guy before, how? His energy never seams to run out" Sir Raoul was thruorolly intrigued.

" I know all his moves, we trained together, you learn to keep up with men like him so they can't say you aren't a good knight" she shoved her thumb in Cori's direction, "any longer and you would have had me, even I'm not a god." Cori smiled and raised an eyebrow at Sirens I'll-get-you-for-that look. Alanna just laughed and shook her head.

Siren was going to find something new to talk about when Joren strode up and bid good morning to each of the knights and the cat god. Siren looked at him, almost questioning his good mood. She DID question his good mood; he was very seldom nice, yet alone nice in the morning.

"Joren are you feeling ok? You do realize you're actually being pleasant for once, is something wrong?" her voice was filled with both concern and sarcasm. "I'm more then fine, I didn't have to wake to another nightmare. No dreams of you or Kel, the morning is grand." He smiled the cocky smile he wares so well. Siren looked at him, " well it's nice to know your happy, just don't anger me and it may stay that way." The threat was a true one, but at the same time it was a joke. He would have to really piss her off to make her interfere with his mortal mind again.

All this time faithful sat quiet, I have a feeling this is the start of something good…

***

Kel didn't hate the cold, but one could hardly say she liked it. She had spent the good part of her morning practicing with her glaive and talking to her friends, because later that day she would be on the road with Joren…why him..A million people and mythros had to choose him…lucky me… her cynical attitude was not increased when the bell after breakfast rang. She would now have to proceed to the front gate to meet with her odd company.

Kel jogged down the long corridor toward the front gate, where all there packs were assembled and the horses had been readied, Faithful, Alanna's godly cat, would be staying behind to catch up with Alanna and co., he would meet up with them later.

Siren, Phoenix and Cori would take them to the border of Non-Avaloo then would head to the main city by horse. Porter was going to visit his brother, mythros in the realm of the gods and Kel and Joren would continue on their way to the Aislynn forest.

Oh yay…quality time with Joren… her thoughts were rather evil as she though of the million ways she could accidentally misplace him in a swamp or a lake. She walked up the front gate, Siren stood looking rather sullen and Phoenix looked altogether bored. "Where are the others?" kel's question was a good one, "at the moment I believe their changing into road wear. Men, I swear they take longer then us to change." Her exasperated phrase was met with a reply, "but we always look good because of it" Siren turned to see Cori standing behind her, he wore his long waves of brown hair down, not minding the stray strands that blew with the wind. He was clothed in a dark brown jerkin and a matching pair of breaches, both making his royal blue eyes stand out. His figure was clear even through the thick clothing and it was obvious to anyone he was a knight by the sword at his belt. Joren stood not to far behind him, his cold blue eyes almost the same color of his jerkin, his black breaches made to two stand out. He looked at Kel then back to Siren. His face not betraying his emotions. Kel wondered what the knight was thinking, her own thoughts had settled on the journey ahead.

After a few moments of quiet bantering between Siren and Cori, Siren finally said, "ok people, stand next to your horse and be prepared for light." Kel didn't understand the last, but did as she was told anyway.

When every one was prepared Siren smiled and in a Flash-literally- they were on the border of a foreign country. Kel took a moment to let her eyes readjust to the light.

The weather here was much different, instead of the cold winter, it appeared to be summer or close to it here. Siren, her sister and her least favorite guard and knight stood back, they nodded to the younger pair. "You have all you need?" Phoenix was checking to make sure they knew what to look for and where to go.

Kel nodded, they had a map of the land and the scroll containing the poem they were as close to having everything as they could get. With that the three odd people disappeared down the road leaving Kel and Joren alone to begin their Journey onward.

***

They had been traveling in silence for some time. Finally Kel couldn't take it any more, she looked over at her awkward companion, "So…what do you make of the poem?" her question was met with a short but sweet…"it's a riddle" at that Kel felt like slapping the blond knight.

Duh..I didn't know that…is he totally incapable of casual conversation? It had begun to get dark, the sun slowly sinking into the glittering horizon. They would have to stop soon to make camp. The thought of sleeping anywhere near Joren with out full body armor on scaring her thourally.

They where on the edge of the Aislynn forest, just inside the first few trees. When Kel noticed a movement out of the corner of her eye, but when she turned to look there was nothing there. They had continued on till they came to a small clearing where they could set up camp. The duo de-mounted from their horses. Kel immediately began to look for firewood.

Joren had stopped, not moving, where he was. He was listening to something, slowly he edged toward the trees, and with a quick hand pulled a small boy from the bushes, "who are you? And why are you spying on us?" Joren was anything but nice to the odd child.

The child looked up at Joren in fear and out of the bushes behind him shot a small girl child. "Leave him alone, you big bully"

Kel almost broke into laughter at the name for the knight. Remembering well the times when she had though the same. Joren didn't look to pleased so Kel decided to step in before the two children ended up as dinner.

She walked over and took the boy from Joren's ruff grasp, she muttered something about not spending any time with children and bent down to face the child, "honey, why where you following us?" her voice was less gruff and showed more affection. The boy child still just stared in awe, but the little girl spoke up, "we're sorry, it's just…humans don't come in to this forest often, we saw you walking and well…we had to get a closer look.." her voice was shaky.

Kel smiled, " humans? You're not human?" with that the little girl smiled, "of course not, we're elf's" Kel now took note of the pointed ears and silver tinge in the children's blond hair. Of course elf's go figure…the poem was written in elfish in the begging wasn't it?… Kel reassured the children that they would not be hurt, standing she faced Joren.

"We can't send them out alone in this forest at night." He glared at her, "so what are we suppose to do with the little runts…I'm not watching them!" he made clear his point. It was Kel's turn to glare. "Then I guess I'll have to watch them, aren't you suppose to be the knight?" she raised a point. "If the kids could wonder off and fallow strangers through a forest they should be able to find their way home." He was all too logical for her taste. " Joren get a heart, we'll take them home in the morning" with that she strode over to the children and began to unpack her tent, somehow a little relief settled over her knowing she wouldn't have to spent the night alone with her advisary.

***

Although Joren didn't like the little rugrats he knew he couldn't insist on sending them away either. His happy mood from this morning fowled by thoughts of Kel telling him to "get a heart" he may dislike children but his heart was working just fine or at least it had been this morning…now though…ever since he and Kel had been alone it had been beating at an odd pace…he wondered if he should have it looked at when they made it to the next town…he really didn't like that feeling…

A/N: I'm getting better at this writing thing :) ok thanx goes to…

Dragon Fire: What do you think, although I think both Joren and Cori twisted the Idea around a bit…oh well…:) hope you like this one…I was kind unsure of it but …you tell me what you think. Thanx for reviewing.-Siren

Kitten: how could Joren and Kel not end up together…*sigh* Joren is sooooo sexy, when he isn't being annoying :) thanx for the review:)-Siren

The Blind Assassin: thank you once again Min :) don't worry about the section thing…I was trying to decide whether or not to do it anyway, you just helped me make that decision:) I hope you like Cori, there will be more to come I promise. Maybe I could add a pound and have him go skinny dipping…not a bad thought:) I hope you like this one…thanx again till later-Siren

Faithful: thank you, thank you, thank you :) I love faithful but working him in is hard…I think he'll pop up every now and again with tidbits of advice or just for comic relief:) and Kel and Joren are my favorite pair too. I think I've read a lot of thing's with them together…I would read more but I usually get kicked off the computer…:( but I read as much as possible :) thanx for the review, enjoy ch 8 –Siren

Larzdinn: I'm soooooooo happy you liked my poem…I didn't think it was very good, yay you like my poem :) I just kind of made it up…you liked my poem *starts smiling uncontrollable * you really liked it :) I had to read through half of squire again to find out when Kel was knighted and it turns out it was two years after Joren…well you know. *Sniff * so I decided to make him her temporary knight master…it makes things more interesting…*smiles evilly* Cori is cool, I'm thinking a mix between Neal's wit and Joren's attitude = Cori I love them all so it's all good :) there will be much fluff, with both Kel/Joren and Cori/Siren, in the future. Well my eye's aren't quite so radical but they tend to go from blue to gray to shades in between, sometimes involving green or yellow, but there mostly just cold blue...kinda like Joren's I suspect…odd. I'll keep writing as long as I have fans to read :) (that may be forever, oh no I don't think I can write that long lol :) ) thanx Edi till next chapter :) –Siren

Ok one question to any one who likes Siren and Cori…I was thinking of writing a story on how they got to where they are now and maybe even a story about them after… it will take a while but it may be interesting …what do you all think??? Ok well till next chapter -Siren