A/N: Oooh, I was wrong! (horrible, horrible me!) This is just about Kendi and Tia… The Lily thing must be the next chapter * grin * I also have something more about Tia in there I think…
Daine rode beside her husband, and her heart lifted as she saw the palace, then fell as she remembered what it held. She had been hoping to return home before Lily had to leave, but she was safe with Maura in Fief Dunlath, and it was better for them to finish the mission. They wanted no suspicion of why Lily left floating around the court. She rode into the stable courtyards, and scanned the small crowd waiting. There was Kendi, and Sinta and Jasson, who was standing closer to Kendi than absolutely necessary. And there was Tia and Biltor, and Nera and Zara. She sighed, bittersweetly happy to be home. My, though, Kendi did seem to be awfully pale. She reached out quickly with a tendril of her magic, then recoiled. That girl's magics were so tangled. Daine wondered why she hadn't noticed it before. She had no time to wonder or say anything, for as soon as she hopped off, wincing, Kendi fainted.
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Tia couldn't even express her fear. She had been feeling vaguely like some bad storm were approaching, but she couldn't quite place it. Then, Lily had to go away, and Kendi got sick. She just drooped, slipping down; until she felt strong arms pull her up and embrace her. She turned just slightly, and looked into his face. Biltor… he had been there for her all through this, and still, to this day, he would not take her to bed. That thought served only to send heat rushing to her veins, and she pushed against him, leaning into the embrace. She knew he wanted her, he had had many women, and she was just as desirable as any one of them. She let the heat carry her away, let the sad thoughts flow from her head in a rush much more efficient and all consuming than alcohol could ever be. No loosing herself in unnatural substances, like others her age, she lost herself in pure, simple, natural lust. He recognized her blind need, the need to forget and to be consoled in a very physical, he gave in. If he abandoned her now, she would never trust him, would always resent him. So he let her carry him with her.
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A/N: Well, that's it folks… Time for another chapter…