A/n: Yay, new chapter~~this will probably last until the end of March…sorry, I am so tired…and some problems in my life has occurred.  Hopefully it won't get worse…enjoy this chapter, and…review, please? =]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kel was lying on her, well not technically hers, bed at the time and was thinking over what had just happened. Stone Mountain was insane…….yes, that was it.

A knock sounded. She walked over to answer it and almost slammed it shut, but resisted because of courtesy. Kel curtsied, reluctantly.

"Close the door, I have something that is needed to be talked at this moment." Arik said, his eyes urgent. The uncaring expression he had during the previous conversation was quickly replaced by his tone. Kel nodded, trusting her instinct, and closed the door. But she held herself tense, prepared for whatever was to come. She eyed him warily.

"Somewhere to sit?"

"Over there." She waved her hand in the direction of a small table where two chairs were located by. He nodded and motioned for her to follow. After they had settled down, the questions begun.

"Are you a Mindelan?"

Shocked, but used to her training, she kept a calm face.

"And this shall matter…how?"

He smiled.

"My father warned me of the blue blood in the Mindelan lines. News travels around Tortall fast, their merchant ships are the greatest gossips. I take it you were not willingly taken upon this ship, m'dear?"

This time, she nodded.

"Listen, we have heard of you. Your mother, was truly braver than the storm goddess, a rare creature. If you want to know, we are the pirates of the Yamani Seas. Sadly, we are blamed for trying to steal the golden daggers. But, treasure wasn't the reason."

He stared into her eyes.

"Are you giving me an open mind? It is needed at this moment."

Kel bit her lip. Something about this man gave her many questions, but he seemed trustworthy. At least more than Joren is.

"Yes. I will listen."

"The maid. The one killed by the pirate arrows. Remember her? She was to lead you out. She was the traitor."

"You're lying. Why would you have a reason to protect the Yamani sacred daggers?"

"No. I told you to keep an open mind. She was hired by some old antique collector to follow the Yamani kingdom's activity and tell him when an opportune time occured. We were there to protect the daggers, it was a compromise between ourselves and the Yamani. You see; it was formed when our first king married the first princess of Yamani, thus, securing the daggers. Why they still allow us to plunder their merchant ships, I don't know." He smiled crookedly.

Suddenly Arik laughed. Kel backed away, slowly. She looked towards the door.

"Don't…don't go. I have a feeling you aren't listening to me at all. But…that's okay. It's your decision." His laughter softened into chuckles, and his eyes were serious once more, dark in color and had adopted a depth forbidden to many.

"I think you should go," the Lady Knight said, softly and ominously.

"Very well. I hope you do change your views of the Yamani pirates, unlike some others. Things aren't always what they seem to be." He looked back at her, pity in his eyes, and left.

Kel stared at the closed door. Pity?

***

The persistent drumming of knuckles upon the wooden board awoke him immediately. Tousled hair and clad only in his breeches, Goldenlake opened the door and blinked at the man who stood on the other side. Neal, who had a troubled and bewildered expression on his face stared back.

"By any chance, my lord, have you seen Kel?"

"She's probably sleeping."

"I've thought of that already…she isn't in her room, I checked."

Raoul watched as worry filled Queenscove's face and nodded.

"Let's go for a Keladry hunt, neh?"

"Um…sir…"

Neal coughed and tugged at his shirt.

"Oh…wait a moment."

Raoul rushed back in, with a speed amazing for a burly man his size, and reappeared almost immediately. Dressed in his riding uniform, Raoul ran down the hall, with a mage, surprisingly, racing ahead.

***

The two men looked up when Kel entered, dressed once again in Joren's clothing. Arik noticed the baggy ends that were sticking out and smiled.

"I assume those aren't yours," he inquired subtly, not bothering to hide his grin.

"Kind of noticeable, don't you think?"

"I have to admit, she has a knack for good taste, those were my best set."

The pirate's eyes widened and he laughed atrociously at the statement. Joren slumped and Kel smiled, then sat down in the empty chair.

"I must've misunderstood you, she robbed you of your clothes, Stone Mountain?"

Joren winced, and nodded reluctantly. Kel smirked.

"She took me at a disadvantage when my attention was elsewhere, or she wouldn't have gotten away so easily. I could've tackled her."

She snorted at the "disadvantage" and rolled her eyes.

"Hmm…really. Let's do the Pirate Twist to prove if you're are as strong as you say, hmm?"

"Pirate Twist?"

"A test of strength in the tradition of ours. Simple to start, very tiring to end. Let me demonstrate."

Arik wrapped his right fist around Joren's left. Kel watched as the pirate nodded and the muscles bulge as both men try to drive the other's arm to the tabletop. Randomly, her eyes wandered to Joren and Kel felt her eyebrows raise as she noticed the size of his bicep. He had been working out. She wandered off in her pondering…Joren wasn't ever in the gym… Suddenly, the pirate growled and slammed Stone Mountain's hand down. He had won.

Rubbing his wrist carefully, Joren glanced at Arik with a new respect.

"Excellent challenge," the blonde nodded respectively.

"Well…I have been practicing it over in quite a few of our ceremonies, an unfair advantage I say, hmm. Why don't you try beating her? Looks like a fair match."

"What? No."

"Same here. I can't believe I'm agreeing, but it's better than touching a Lump."

Kel's eyes flashed and she scowled.

"Fine, if you intend to insult in this way, then we shall see if you're fit to do so."

Joren smirked. His eyes held hers in a disbelieving manner.

"You sure?"

"Just get this over with."

"Fine, Lump."

With Arik's instructions, they grasped each other's hand firmly and grimaced at the touch. As the pirate slammed his fist upon the table, silence spread as they the match began…

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Was this a cliffhanger?  Dunno if it qualifies to be one…but…

Pppllleeeeeaaaaaassssssssseeeeeeeeeee ReviEW

^ answer the author's plea (it just *might*affect the amount of time for the continuation of the fic…translation for those who did not understand the previous statement: Review. Story might go on faster ^_^)