A.N. Dis be the 2nd chap up! I'm in a explaining mood…..so dorky xP enjoy this one too!
Aishi flounced down the stairs to the kitchen, a thick small, black book in her small fist. She jumped into a nearby well-worn sofa and quickly snapped the thing open.
"Ai, at it once again, I see."
The maid smiled up at the familiar voice, her eyes still focused on the book.
"Ohayo, Mauri, this one's the best so far in the series."
"I can tell, Ai."
The plump elderly woman walked over to the young girl and, raising an eyebrow at the glint in the girl's eye, tapped her on the shoulder with her wooden stirring spoon.
"Little Ai, if I didn't know better, you're up to something."
A small grin confirmed her statement.
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not."
"Spill, child."
The girl turned around in a flurry of excitement. Waving her romantic novel Twisted Love in front of the cook's nose, words sped out of her mouth.
"Well, you see, I'm testing this theory in my book here, and I'm just curious…"
"Oh dear, not another one of those experiments. We know what happened to the last…"
"I know, I know, the result was a bit too…responsive. But it was still fun! Right?"
The cook scrunched up her nose in thought.
"If you get in any trouble, Ai, I had nothing to do with it nor any knowledge of it!"
"But of course, dear Mauri!"
***
A knock sounded upon his door, Joren, looking up briefly from his sketching, shrugged, and resumed. A tinkering of keys rang and Aisha, who bore a bright smile upon her pale face, opened his door.
"Time for breakfast!"
Joren scowled.
"Why couldn't you just yell through the door? I could've been standing stark naked, or changing, bathing…"
He trailed off when a curious glint appeared in the maid's eyes. Noticing that he was scrutinizing her, her smile returned, and she went about her job.
"Don't worry, I made sure you had no article of clothing missing from your body."
He blinked. Then, his mouth widened a bit when he asked, or rather, stated.
"You spy on your clients? What kind of hotel is this?"
Aishi stopped bustling around and, turning to face him, huffed indignantly.
"We do not spy! (Joren grunted in disbelief) There is a local mage who spells rooms for us that are able to inform us on what condition the client is currently in."
The look in the blonde's stormy blue eyes were extremely skeptical.
"Oh hush, go eat now! You already took a shower one hour ago, there's no use in lying, Stone Mountain."
***
Kel was busy picking out the spices in the bread roll she was given. Annoyed, she took a particularly large, hunky piece and threw it violently, aiming at the empty doorway. And, right at the very second, when it left the tip of her index finger, Joren appeared in the targeted spot.
"Ouch, is this what you do for morning practices? By the way, you might want to stop playing around, we leave in an hour."
Kel scowled and, ignoring him, turned back to the roll. He settled down in the seat across from hers and ordered a bowl of soup from a wandering maid. She dusted her apron and went off, then came back in such a sudden that Joren didn't even notice her standing by him until the maid tapped him on the shoulder. Dazedly, Joren accepted the bowl and placed it in front of him. Kel sneaked a peek up from her bread and noticed the faraway look in his eyes. Shrugging, she continued to munch on her piece of breakfast.
The mark on her collar. An R with double lining through its center, Raves. How could they be here though? Were they targeting Mindelen? She's actually worth something? He blinked and tried to sort out his thoughts. Distracted, his spoonful of soup missed their intended path and spilled down the front of his shirt.
"Oh…crap…"
The napkin didn't help much, thus, forcing him to run out of the room and throwing his shirt into the washer's basket and changing into a new one, all in three seconds. Done in such a short period of time, thus avoiding being late for the journey, of course…why else?
Keladry was prepared by the time he got out. Perched on a black mare, with ivory stripes in her mane and tail, it formed an elegant picture. Even Joren was quite a bit taken back at how much dignity she still had, considered that the knight had been gagged, blinded… He leapt onto his white stallion, Pearl Hoax, and rode up beside her.
"I expect you know how to read this…"
He gave her the map, keeping a wary eye on her every movement. For a moment, it seemed as if she was unable to decipher the drawings on the parchment, then her eyes widened. This caused him to focus closer, since it was very rare when the lady knight revealed any bit of emotion, especially on such important information.
Rev Rev's? =)
~_~ forgive my slowness…