Disclaimer ---× Do I really need to put a 'Disclaimer' on every page? Lol. Better to be safe than sorry, I guess… wouldn't like to be sued. Not that that person would get much.. anyway, nope don't own any of the characters, etc.. unfortunately. Wished I did though. =)
A/N ---× Not really much to say. I'll try to make up for the last, somewhat boring chapter. I was in-between doing my homework when I got bored. I don't know if this chapter will be any better, but I can always try. Right? Hope you enjoy!
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Chapter Two
Over the next two weeks or so, Sparhawks friends were slowly finding reasons to travel back to Elenia and visit Sparhawk and his young Queen. Sparhawk looked out window. In the courtyard below, he could see a confused Sir Ulath dismount his horse.
"This is your doing, I suppose?" he asked, as his young daughter came to stand next to him. They were alone in her Majesty's private study.
"Well of course it is. Who'd you think it was?" she replied, snippily. Sparhawk cast a sideways glance at the pretty Goddess.
"What's the matter with you?"
"It's none of your business, but I'm in a small argument with Edaemus. Nothing for you to worry about," she told him firmly, as he tried to say something. He sighed.
"Whatever you say, Danae," he sighed.
"That's a good boy. Now, why don't you go be a good host and meet our friends downstairs?"
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Sparhawk reached the courtyard in time to hear Ulath having a vague argument with one of the Palace Guards. Neither looked like they were going to back down anytime soon.
"I'm sorry, Sir…"
"Ulath," the Genidan Knight provided in a flat voice. The guard's eyes widended slightly at that, but he didn't give in.
"I'm sorry, Sir Ulath," he said again, "but Prince Sparhawk is-"
"Always glad to see old friends," Sparhawk interrupted. The guard and Sir Ulath both turned around to see Sparhawk carrying Princess Danae in his arms.
"Sir Sparhawk! I-" the guard began to stutter.
"You were only doing your job, and I'm grateful for that. Come along Ulath," Sparhawk said, lowering Danae down to the ground. Together they began walking away from the stunned guard.
"You don't look too surprised to see me here," Ulath noted, as they walked inside.
"I, uh… sort of knew you were coming"
"Oh?" Ulath asked, mildly, "that's weird. Considering that I didn't know myself until I turned up at the gates of the palace. Would you like to explain?"
"No, not really. Come on, let's meet the others"
"The others?"
"You don't really want to know…"
Sparhawk, Ulath and Danae reached the large meeting room and opened the door. Inside sat Sir Kalten, Sir Bevier and Sir Tynian. They looked as surprised to see Ulath, as he was to see them. Princess Danae pulled him aside as the others began to talk.
"I need you to go and get Berit and Talen for me"
"What about Khalad?"
"He's busy at the moment, we'll talk to him later" she said, shaking her head.
"But-"
"Just go, Sparhawk!"
Sparhawk sighed, excused himself and left the room. He hadn't walked far into the streets when he saw a familiar teenage boy about sixteen years old leaning against the wall of an inn, his eyes locked on a particularly fat and greedy nobleman with way too many rings on his fingers. Sparhawk had to smile. The young thief had found his next victim.
As Sparhawk made his way quietly over to where the boy was standing, Talen pulled a face.
"I know you're there Sparhawk," he sighed, straightening up and grinning. He held out his hand. Sparhawk saw two fat gold rings lying in his palm.
"You don't waste any time, do you?"
Talen shrugged and pocketed the rings. "It was a challenge trying to get the rings off, when his fingers are the size of sausages…"
"Isn't the Pandion training challenging enough? Which reminds me, why are you here?"
"I'm here with Berit"
"Good. Let's find him and go back up to the Palace. Where's Berit?"
"I think he went into the 'White Horse' taven. Why do you need him at the Palace?" Talena asked, as he and Sparhawk started back down the street.
"You're supposed to come as well"
"Me? But…" Talen trailed off, and his eyes narrowed suspicously, "this wouldn't have anything to do with Princess Danae, would it?"
Sparhawk carefully hid a smile, and didn't answer as they stopped in front of the White Horse, "wait here, I'll be right back with Berit".
A few minutes later, Sir Berit, Sparhawk and Talen were on their way back to the Palace.
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AN: Nothing really happens in this chapter, except that I introduce or re-introduce the characters. Hope you liked it so far. =) Read and Review please!!
