Disclaimer ---× Don't own any of the characters… they belong to David Eddings. Although, I do own some of the characters that you don't recognise.. lol.

A/N ---× Sorry, for not updating before. School has started again, it's unfari how much homework you get in the first two weeks! Anyway, thanks to all those who have reviewed so far. =)

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Chapter Four

"What are you thinking about, Khalad?" Sparhawk asked his squire. It was late in the afternoon, and Sparhawk and just been to see Aslade and [Talen's mum.. can't remember her name! If you know, just say so in a review, thanks!], to find Khalad there. After explaining what Flute had told him, they set off back to the palace.

"Who me?" Khalad asked drily. Sparhawk stared at his friend.

"You're usually quiet… but I can tell when you're thinking of something important"

Khalad shrugged. "It's not really that important…" he said, before pausing, "life's never boring for you, is it, Sparhawk?"

"What makes you say that?"

---×---

"You're looking well, little mother," Kalten smiled as the small styric woman rode through the gates with Vanion, who dismounted and helped his wife down. "Will you bless me?"

"Of course," Spehrenia smiled, before blessing the Pandion Knight.

"It's good to see you too, Vanion," Kalten said, turning to face him. Vanion gave a small smile.

"You're just saying that, aren't you Kalten?"

Before Kalten could answer, there was a excited shout from behind them. They turned around to see the beautiful young queen Ehlana, dashing out to meet her new guests.

"Sephrenia? Vanion? What are you two doing here!" she exclaimed, sweeping Sephrenia up into a tight hug, before composing herself. Sephrenia laughed, before looking around.

"Where is she?" she asked Kalten. He looked back at her confused.

"Who?" he asked, wondering who she was talking about. Sephrenia sighed, as a short trill of flutes played in the air around them. Ehlana's eyes widened as she recognised the melody.

"Flute?" she asked, incredulously. Sephrenia nodded, and absently lifted the six-year-old girl down, from atop of her palfrey.

"You didn't tell her yet?" Sephrenia chided the small goddess. Flute kissed Sephrenia on the cheek.

"Welcome back, dear sister. Why don't you let me down so that I can talk to Ehlana? Sparhawk should be back soon with Khalad…" the little girl said, squirming out of Sephrenia's arms. Flute turned to face Kalten, "would you mind finding Alean and Melidere for me, Kalten?"

"Um, of course, Flute…" he said.

"Good," she said, before reaching for the queen's hand, "Ehlana? There's something that I should probably tell you…"

---×---

It was a day or two after Khalad and Sparhawk arrived back at the palace, when Sparhawk spoke to Princess Danae privately.

"Have all the competitors arrived yet?" he asked his daughter. She shook her head.

"Not yet. The six fires aren't just in Elenia… we don't actually know where they are exactly, so there's no point in having everyone meet up here"

"Then why did you have Ulath, Tynian and… well, you know who I'm talking about. Why did you have most people gather here?" Sparhawk asked, sinking into a chair beside the fireplace.

"Well, you have to start somewhere. The Gods are trying to track down the six fires at the moment, and once we find out in what general area they're at, we can start searching"

"I thought that you don't know where the fires are hidden?"

Danae pouted, and wandered over to sit on Sparhawk, "they don't know the exact spot, but don't forget - the fires are powerful… very powerful, and we can usually feel whenever there are large amounts of power in the area. It just takes a while, that's all…"

"And you've told Melidere, Ehlana and Alean what's going on?" he asked.

"Yes, but I'm not sure if they were too pleased about the whole idea of another adventure"

"I don't blame them," Sparhawk answered wearily, "who else are going to be meeting us here?"

"I'm not sure if they're meeting us here, but we're still waiting for Xanetia and Thealia-"

"Thealia?"

The little girl smiled mysteriously.

---×---

Sparhawk had his arms wrapped tightly around his wife. It was cool outside, and he felt comfortable under the warm blankets in his bed. He heard the bedroom door open slightly, and the soft patter of footsteps towards his bed.

"This better be good, Danae," he mumbled.

"Do you really think I'd be here if it wasn't?" she replied tartly. She grabbed his hand, "come on. You need to get up and dressed straight away"

"Why? What is it?" he asked, rolling over to lie on his back. Ehlana stirred beside him, but turned on her side and went back to sleep.

"We've managed to locate the first fire"

"That's good…" Sparhawk yawned, too tired to take in what his daughter was saying to him. "Can't we set out in the morning?"

"It is morning"

"You know what I meant. After a nice, healthy breakfast, once the sun is up…?"

Princess Danae placed her hands on her hips, "oh stop being such a baby and get up! If the Gods have managed to locate the first fire, you can be sure that Jlader has too… we wouldn't want his competitpors to find the fire before us, now would you?"

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A/N: Sorry again for the wait! But I'm finally moving the storyline along… hopefully the next few chapters won't just be them stuck around the palace. Thanks for reviewing! If you haven't yet, then plz do. I want to know what you think of the story so far!

Thanks to: Lady Bevier, Ara Kane and Sweetlea for reviewing my story so far!

---× Lady Kalitana ×---