Summary: Keldary is rejected to continue her page years. She disappears on her last day and returns to Tortall after seven years.

Disclaimer: All characters that appear in Tamora Pierce's books are her's except for my of the other characters that you do you do not recognize. (Those would be mine.)

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AN: STILL REVISING THIS ONE..*growls* I accidentally deleted my last chapter.arrghh.. Now I have to type it all overrrr! *mutters* well this is what I have so far.

The Dragoness' Return

Chapter Two

(Something that will help you understands my story better!!) Prologue: Joren is NOT dead 'cause I don't want him to be. There are the Shang characters. Such as the Shang Horse (I forgot his name!!) and Grandmother. Other character will pop in soon too! Well enjoy!

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Kel silently slipped out of her room, locking the door behind her. She was already fully dressed. She wore a forest green hooded cloak over her breeches and tunic, to avoid being seen. Kel didn't feel like talking to anyone, much less, for then to figure out what she had in mind.

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She walked down the hall to Neal's room. Kel took out a medal lock pick and began to unlock his door. When the lock finally gave away with a faint click, Kel slipped into Neal's room and closed the door quietly behind her. She walked over to Neal's bedside and just watched him sleep for awhile. Neal's chest rose and fell to his soft rhythmical breathing; his face held an air of peacefulness. Kel's mind began to wander, thinking of all the fun times they had together and when Kel had a crush on him. That brought a simile to her lips. She snapped out of her daze and dropped the parchment on Neals' bedside table and slipped quietly out of his room; locking the door behind her.

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Kel walked quiet as a shadow out to the stables. Hoshi softly nickered a greeting. Kel took the tack and saddle off the wall and saddled the mare. (Is Hoshi a girl or boy? I forgot.Oh well) She led the horse out side and jumped into the saddle. With a swish of her cloak she was gone into the night. But, what she did not know was that there was someone watching her.

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Kel rode until dusk the next day, only stopping to rest for short periods of time, along the way, until she reached a town. Which she knew was nearby. When she had reached a inn, the sign hung from a wooden board over the door way. I read the Prancing Pony. (It sounds familiar, but, it seems to fit. Right?) She opened the door and walked into a lit room. A merry fire crackled in the fireplace; men were sitting at tables talking; some wandering minstrels were playing lively songs in a corner. Kel surveyed the room. She almost overlooked a person who seemed strangely familiar. The man looked up and caught her staring at him. He raised a hand in a friendly hello and motioned for her to sit in the empty chair at his table. Kel slid into a seat and exclaimed, " Shang Horse! What are you doing here?! I thought you went back to the Yamani Islands a long time ago!!!" "Yes, I just came back." He replied. "Now, what are YOU doing here at this time?" Kel blushed scarlet and said, "Well, Lord Wyldon didn't let me continue-." "What?!!! My best student who nearly got me in the dust on her first day did not get to continue her page years?!! What was Lord Wyldon thinking?!!!" The Shang Horse hollered and jumped out of his chair. Causing him to be stared at by the onlookers. He noticed this and gave them all a death glare and growled "What are YOU looking at?!!!"

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