Galloping down the woods came a shaggy grey pony and upon it was what seemed to be a peasant male. Upon closer inspection, the viewer would see dreamy green-brown eyes and the stubborn chin. On his back laid a quiver full of arrow along with a longbow. A grey head with tattered ears popped its head out from the bags and the peasant hissed, "Get back in; they'll recognize you!" Closer inspection revealed a hidden sword along with the dog and sparrows that flitted from tree to tree, but in a manner that was normal and non-suspicious.
Kel grimaced. For anything in the world would she have given to take Peachblossom, but he was easily recognizeable. She had also left behind her glaive, but thankfully, she was allowed to take her griffin feathers so long they were kept from view. Reining Raindancer to a slow trot, Kel sighted something in a distance and grinned in relief. For a while, she thought she was lost.
~*~
"King Maggur will be holding the masquerade ball in three days. I will disguise myself as a Scanran lady and get into his good graces because unlike your Highness' other knights, I can change my appearance without using magic. His mages will be able to see past any illusions, Majesty."
~*~
Quietly clip-clopping down the path, Kel glanced every so often at the sparrows in case they signalled an enemy making his way towards her path. Twice she had to hid from view as small groups of Scanran armies made their way past her. After some hours of tromping off the path into the woods, she stumbled onto a broad clearing of a pleasant looking home, smoke billowing from the chimney.
~*~
"With Your Majesty's permission, I will cross the Scanran border into a village I know. Some of Sir George's friends are located there. From there, they will help me cross the Vassa and inform me of the next checkpoint's whereabouts."
~*~
Leading Raindancer into the small stables, she flipped open the bulging bag and out jumped her grey dog.
"Keep an eye on her and stay with the sparrows." Taking a swig from her water jug, she washed some into her hands and tossed it back.
~*~
"George's men have a secluded hideout positioned deeper in the Scanran territory, your Highness. We are to exchange the loaned pony for a more majestic horse and the disguises will be given to me there as well. They will escort me as my 'servants' and I'm on my own from there."
~*~
Rapping on the door, a lean, but agile-looking man opened it to Kel. Briefly showing the thieves' sign, Kel was ushered in.
"Y'ave sum time befo' we's t' take yah. The bath's drawn in t'at room overs there. There's a dressin' room sumwheres in there wit all tha stuffs y'need."
~*~
"My Scanran identity is Katherine of the Melnikov clan. That clan was disbanded some years ago and the war leader's family, including himself, supposedly died in one of the war back then. Though others are not sure, Daine's animals found out for certain. However, George's people encouraged the rumor that the daughter was still alive in order for this plan to work."
~*~
Carefully scrubbing herself in the perfumed bath, Kel washed her hair with the special scented lotion one of the healers have given to her. Dunking her head underwater, she emerged out of the wash bath once she was clean and quickly dried herself.
Skipping into the dressing room, Kel's eyes landed upon a trunk and she flicked it open, gasping at the elegant dresses that were carefully laid into it. She grinned wryly. Lalasa had worked on this no doubt and Alanna had given careful instructions on the Scanran designs. It was extravagent enough but Kel was sensible enough to remember that this was only a loan for the ball. Slipping into the soft doe-colored dress beaded with pearls upon the neckline, she noted gratefully the draping sleeves that covered her arms.
~*~
"You do know that Maggur is most likely baiting you to retrieve Sir Neal? You are the cause of his collasped unnatural army and he's looking for revenge, Lady Knight. Are you telling me that you are willing to go despite the fact that all signs point out that this is a trap? And how do you know for certain whether or not Sir Neal is still alive?"
~*~
Kel searched through the trunk and found the bag full of womanly facials. She sighed; she never thought she would have to come to this. Plopping herself in front of a mirror, she transformed her face with practiced ease. Her eyes became rounder and more innocent looking, her cheeks perched higher with a slight blush, and her lips became pouty with the soft pink. Holding her hair back thin cloth that would keep any stray hairs from wandering, she carefully put on a blonde wig.
~*~
"Highness, we've discussed this. Precautions have been made that this plan will not fail. It must not. Neal is still out there somewhere and I am the only one eligible in retrieving him. This is my duty as a knight, Majesty. This is also my duty as his friend."
~*~
Taking out a small container from the trunk, she took out two clear but colored, small circles and put the soft plastic in each eye, rapidly blinking to let it feel more natural. For the final detail, she strapped on a similar doe-colored mask that covered half her face, revealing only part of her cheeks and the rest of her lower face. Feathers donned the upper area of her mask and small beads sparkled at the corners. Eyeing the mirror, she noted with satisfaction of her complete transformation. She no longer looked any bit of her former self but rather a Scanran lady with the notable blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
~*~
"...very well, Lady Kel. Dom and his men will take charge over Serene Light and Haven. In the meantime, I require only one thing of you: do _not_ touch a hair on Maggur's head. You may not strike him down in his own territory."
~*~
The man that had originally opened the door to Kel whistled as she exited the room. He and another fellow were dressed in common clothing and his friend seemed mildly surprised as well.
"You clean up well, Lady Knight; no one will be able to recognize you."
Sweeping a curtsy, Kel grinned. "I feel foolish in this gawdy dress. Let's get on with this, shall we boys?"
~*~
"Perhaps... if King Maggur followed me into the _Tortallan_ borders...?"
~*~
With the help of one of the spies, Kel mounted the horse with both her legs off at one of the horse's side. Stringing the rein to his saddle, the man led her down the trial, his friend bringing up the rear with his own horse. Sparrows flitted in a careful distance and Jump followed as well, hidden from view in the shading trees.
~*~
"Then by all means, you have my permission to bring him to the court."
~*~
A dome-shaped palace tipped at the horizon as the sun yawned its fading orange colors into black oblivion. The lasting colors glinted off the extravagent, yet simple surface of the palace and Kel grudgingly admitted that despite the despiseable ruler, his palace was a beauty.
Kel whispered, "Jump, act the stray dog you are and wander the outsides of the palace. Nari, get your flock to fan out among the palace and if you can, search the premises for any sign of Neal." Nodding to the spy at her side, she said, "They'll fetch for you at the stables if anything goes wrong. Return when the ball's about to end."
They finally reached the palace outer gates and the guards raised their brows at Kel's mode of transportation, but did not say a word. After all, who were they to question a noble's way?
Kel's "servant" untied her horse's reins from his saddle horn and she waited patiently as he and his friend slipped off their horses. Both held out one hand to her and she let herself be helped down, giving a polite nod to both of the "servants" when her feet touched the floor. Bowing, they led the three horses away.
Taking a step past the outer gates, Kel braced herself and let herself relaxed into what she hoped was a casual demeanor. Checking if her mask was in place, she murmured softly, "Well, here goes nothing."
A/N: I know right now there's only action/adventure, but I promise love is gonna make its appearance. For now, reeeeeeeeeeeeview plz! ^^ Thank you to those that have.
Kel grimaced. For anything in the world would she have given to take Peachblossom, but he was easily recognizeable. She had also left behind her glaive, but thankfully, she was allowed to take her griffin feathers so long they were kept from view. Reining Raindancer to a slow trot, Kel sighted something in a distance and grinned in relief. For a while, she thought she was lost.
~*~
"King Maggur will be holding the masquerade ball in three days. I will disguise myself as a Scanran lady and get into his good graces because unlike your Highness' other knights, I can change my appearance without using magic. His mages will be able to see past any illusions, Majesty."
~*~
Quietly clip-clopping down the path, Kel glanced every so often at the sparrows in case they signalled an enemy making his way towards her path. Twice she had to hid from view as small groups of Scanran armies made their way past her. After some hours of tromping off the path into the woods, she stumbled onto a broad clearing of a pleasant looking home, smoke billowing from the chimney.
~*~
"With Your Majesty's permission, I will cross the Scanran border into a village I know. Some of Sir George's friends are located there. From there, they will help me cross the Vassa and inform me of the next checkpoint's whereabouts."
~*~
Leading Raindancer into the small stables, she flipped open the bulging bag and out jumped her grey dog.
"Keep an eye on her and stay with the sparrows." Taking a swig from her water jug, she washed some into her hands and tossed it back.
~*~
"George's men have a secluded hideout positioned deeper in the Scanran territory, your Highness. We are to exchange the loaned pony for a more majestic horse and the disguises will be given to me there as well. They will escort me as my 'servants' and I'm on my own from there."
~*~
Rapping on the door, a lean, but agile-looking man opened it to Kel. Briefly showing the thieves' sign, Kel was ushered in.
"Y'ave sum time befo' we's t' take yah. The bath's drawn in t'at room overs there. There's a dressin' room sumwheres in there wit all tha stuffs y'need."
~*~
"My Scanran identity is Katherine of the Melnikov clan. That clan was disbanded some years ago and the war leader's family, including himself, supposedly died in one of the war back then. Though others are not sure, Daine's animals found out for certain. However, George's people encouraged the rumor that the daughter was still alive in order for this plan to work."
~*~
Carefully scrubbing herself in the perfumed bath, Kel washed her hair with the special scented lotion one of the healers have given to her. Dunking her head underwater, she emerged out of the wash bath once she was clean and quickly dried herself.
Skipping into the dressing room, Kel's eyes landed upon a trunk and she flicked it open, gasping at the elegant dresses that were carefully laid into it. She grinned wryly. Lalasa had worked on this no doubt and Alanna had given careful instructions on the Scanran designs. It was extravagent enough but Kel was sensible enough to remember that this was only a loan for the ball. Slipping into the soft doe-colored dress beaded with pearls upon the neckline, she noted gratefully the draping sleeves that covered her arms.
~*~
"You do know that Maggur is most likely baiting you to retrieve Sir Neal? You are the cause of his collasped unnatural army and he's looking for revenge, Lady Knight. Are you telling me that you are willing to go despite the fact that all signs point out that this is a trap? And how do you know for certain whether or not Sir Neal is still alive?"
~*~
Kel searched through the trunk and found the bag full of womanly facials. She sighed; she never thought she would have to come to this. Plopping herself in front of a mirror, she transformed her face with practiced ease. Her eyes became rounder and more innocent looking, her cheeks perched higher with a slight blush, and her lips became pouty with the soft pink. Holding her hair back thin cloth that would keep any stray hairs from wandering, she carefully put on a blonde wig.
~*~
"Highness, we've discussed this. Precautions have been made that this plan will not fail. It must not. Neal is still out there somewhere and I am the only one eligible in retrieving him. This is my duty as a knight, Majesty. This is also my duty as his friend."
~*~
Taking out a small container from the trunk, she took out two clear but colored, small circles and put the soft plastic in each eye, rapidly blinking to let it feel more natural. For the final detail, she strapped on a similar doe-colored mask that covered half her face, revealing only part of her cheeks and the rest of her lower face. Feathers donned the upper area of her mask and small beads sparkled at the corners. Eyeing the mirror, she noted with satisfaction of her complete transformation. She no longer looked any bit of her former self but rather a Scanran lady with the notable blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
~*~
"...very well, Lady Kel. Dom and his men will take charge over Serene Light and Haven. In the meantime, I require only one thing of you: do _not_ touch a hair on Maggur's head. You may not strike him down in his own territory."
~*~
The man that had originally opened the door to Kel whistled as she exited the room. He and another fellow were dressed in common clothing and his friend seemed mildly surprised as well.
"You clean up well, Lady Knight; no one will be able to recognize you."
Sweeping a curtsy, Kel grinned. "I feel foolish in this gawdy dress. Let's get on with this, shall we boys?"
~*~
"Perhaps... if King Maggur followed me into the _Tortallan_ borders...?"
~*~
With the help of one of the spies, Kel mounted the horse with both her legs off at one of the horse's side. Stringing the rein to his saddle, the man led her down the trial, his friend bringing up the rear with his own horse. Sparrows flitted in a careful distance and Jump followed as well, hidden from view in the shading trees.
~*~
"Then by all means, you have my permission to bring him to the court."
~*~
A dome-shaped palace tipped at the horizon as the sun yawned its fading orange colors into black oblivion. The lasting colors glinted off the extravagent, yet simple surface of the palace and Kel grudgingly admitted that despite the despiseable ruler, his palace was a beauty.
Kel whispered, "Jump, act the stray dog you are and wander the outsides of the palace. Nari, get your flock to fan out among the palace and if you can, search the premises for any sign of Neal." Nodding to the spy at her side, she said, "They'll fetch for you at the stables if anything goes wrong. Return when the ball's about to end."
They finally reached the palace outer gates and the guards raised their brows at Kel's mode of transportation, but did not say a word. After all, who were they to question a noble's way?
Kel's "servant" untied her horse's reins from his saddle horn and she waited patiently as he and his friend slipped off their horses. Both held out one hand to her and she let herself be helped down, giving a polite nod to both of the "servants" when her feet touched the floor. Bowing, they led the three horses away.
Taking a step past the outer gates, Kel braced herself and let herself relaxed into what she hoped was a casual demeanor. Checking if her mask was in place, she murmured softly, "Well, here goes nothing."
A/N: I know right now there's only action/adventure, but I promise love is gonna make its appearance. For now, reeeeeeeeeeeeview plz! ^^ Thank you to those that have.