Author's Notes: Ah, sorry for the delay! I feel ill *sob* Anyway, thank you to BrillianCrescentStar (who reviewed three times! Wowee! Continue!) and BloodAngelsRequiem gave me a very sweet review! You are the muse to my writing, people! Please won't anyone else comment? Help me make this story as good as it can be!
Here you got my shortest chapter yet, and I apologise, but it has to be this way. Remember the word, REVIEW!
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Part seven: An unexpected turnHer eyes flickered open and she groaned inaudibly as she straightened, cursing her muscles that had cramped during the damp night. Kel hunched her shoulders, then released them as she tried to get some of her mobility back. She'd fallen asleep next to the fire, still huddled near Tia.
Tia! Kel turned swiftly, her glance falling on the little girl. She'd fallen asleep too, although more comfortably, Kel could see. She smiled ruefully, then stood, stifling a yelp as her knees protested. "Argh, Mithros," she muttered when she was up. "I'll never do that again!"
Starting with her arms, she loosely swung her limbs, stretching to get the last kinks out. Then, swallowing a few mouthfuls of water, she reached for her glaive, stepped away from her camp side into the small clearing and begun her morning practice, which she'd kept up each day. It would not do for her to be out of practice if she got attacked, would it?
Kel begun with a few small swings of the glaive, then speeding her way up, going through some of the most complicated practice-dances she knew. She was panting, sweat drops gathered on her forehead, blood singing in her veins – but at that moment, she had never felt more alive. At that moment, she really felt like Keladry, Lady Knight.
Kel heaved a breath, ended with a full swing, followed by a drop into a defensive crouch. Finally a measure of relief stole into her heart. Now maybe things could get back to normal, she thought as she straightened. The next second she twirled swiftly, startled by the sound of clapping. Tia was awake and sitting up, clapping gleefully. "You're good!" the child said, then abruptly stopped clapping, as if she had surprised herself. Kel grinned widely, determined not to let Tia slide back into her depressive mood. "Thanks!" Kel came back and sat next to the fire.
Which was crackling. Lit.
"Hells baskets," Kel muttered, astonished that the girl had stirred. Then louder, "Did you do that?"
Tia nodded mutely, handing some bread and cheese to her. Kel took the offered food silently, muttering a soft, "thanks," and biting into it.
This was turning out to be an odd pairing.
Much later, when they had cleared up the campsite and were saddling Peachblossom, Kel spoke casually. "Up," she told Tia, holding her hands as a support so the little girl could climb onto Peachblossom. The horse was standing perfectly still, following Kel's hurried instructions. For once he was behaving.
Tia stared at Kel with wide eyes, glancing at Peachblossom and back again. "You mean…" she broke off, glancing down. Kel smiled, then smoothed her face into her best Yamani mask. "Of course. Unless you want to stay, I suggest we move."
Tia had an unreadable expression in her wide eyes. For a moment it seemed as if she would say something – then she suddenly scrambled up on Peachblossom, looking even tinier against his broad back. Kel gave her a brief smile, then grabbed the reins and set off.
Now all she had to figure was what to do.
~*~
I can do this. I can. I can.
"I can't," Kendry moaned, hurriedly stepping back from the door. "Gods, help me, I can't."
She was standing in front of Mage Numair's room in the castle. She had been standing there for the past half hour. And she still couldn't go in.
"Serves me right for listening to Aris," she muttered, turning and pacing, fretting over the decision of whether to go in and get learning the mage-craft, or whether to leave.
"I'll leave," she said aloud.
She didn't take a step.
But – she could still hear her mother's last words, still could feel her last touch. What if she let someone die like that one day? Oh, healer mage she wasn't, but what if she could save someone's life – and she didn't?
A sliver of something cold slithered up her spine and Kendry shuddered, trying to throw off the bad images that crowded in her head.
But I wouldn't. I would try to save them. I would.
Wouldn't I?
"Oh, this is just stupid," she snapped at herself. "Get a grip!" Kendry heaved a breath, exasperated at herself, tired of the thoughts that crowded in her head.
"Of course, I wouldn't let anyone die, Gods help me! Of course, I would try and do everything I can to help them. Or I'll die trying!"
She was panting heavily, looking around wildly as if something would jump out at her. She dropped her head into her hands, trying to push back the tears that rose in her throat. She wouldn't cry. She *wouldn't*.
Oh Gods, I'm going mad.
"No, you're not." The voice was ultra-quiet, slithering in her veins like a burst of summer lightning, yet softer than a feather's touch.
"Aaaagh!" Kendry screamed, jumping backwards in her shock. The next second her feet met air, and she was tumbling off the steps, falling backward. Desperately she threw her hands out, trying to grab something, anything – and they were caught in a soft, firm grip. He pulled her back safely, back up the steps.
When she opened her eyes and managed to look down she noticed they were floating two feet off the floor. Kendry sagged against him, closing her eyes. The next moment her feet touched the floor and she stumbled backwards, gripping the railing. Tremblingly she wiped her mouth, muttering a word she picked up from the pages.
Aris' eyebrow lifted and he chuckled. Kendry gave him a sharp look. "Do you think it's funny? Just because you can fly doesn't mean I can."
"Sorry," he muttered, shrugging.
Kendry closed her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Saving your life."
Kendry snapped her eyes open, fixing him with a bloodcurdling look. "It wouldn't be in danger if you'd –you'd stop sneaking up on people!"
Aris shrugged again. "Sorry."
"Yeah, you said," Kendry muttered. "So, what are you doing here?"
Aris started to shrug, but stopped when he saw Kendry's face. "I came to – to tell you that your charge will be coming soon."
"Great," Kendry muttered. She glanced up.
Aris cocked his head to the side, then made an impatient gesture with his hand. He turned half away and muttered something, then turned back. Then he glanced left and right. "Oh, all right!" he snapped.
"What. Is. Wrong. With. You?" Kendry asked.
"Nothing, I've got to go." Aris nimbly strode down the steps and down the corridor.
"What the—" Kendry muttered, then ran down the steps. "Hey!"
Aris turned. "Yes?" he said. Funny how his voice could sound so soft even from then feet away.
"When will I see you again?" Kendry asked.
"When your charge comes. I'll show her to you." He looked down, then up at her. "Kendry. Don't lose your chance to become one of the greatest Mages this world has ever known. Your mother is in a better place. I know it. Believe me."
He turned the corner, leaving a stunned Kendry behind. She stood there for three seconds, and then all of a sudden she was running after him, almost tripping on her skirts. She skidded and turned the corner in a rush – empty.
"What?" Kendry looked down the long, long hall. There were no doors; nowhere he could have disappeared to.
But why was she surprised? He stepped off a cliff and disappeared, what was a corridor?
But still? What could he have meant about her mother?
"Mama," Kendry muttered, slowly turning and starting back up to Numair's room. She stood in front of the door, breathing slowly, evenly, picturing her mother's smile.
Then she knocked.
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