Sorry that it took so long, people! I've been swamped lately, with homework
and all of the other useless things I have to do.
In just a few days, the plan was set. Neal and Kel were supposedly married, heading off to live in Akder, 20 miles off of the border of Tortall. They would have to settle in for a while, get to know the people of the town, then get to work finding people who would rebel against Tusaine. They would be Neal and Kel Bowyer, Neal acting as a maker of bows and arrows, so that nobody would question him carrying around a weapon.
They had two days to prepare and say good-bye. Owen was devastated yet delighted that they would be off on a "jolly adventure". Dom teased Neal "Now, Kel, I think you will be his last wife, nobody could possibly live being a meathead's spouse unless they were ordered to be".
Kel's parents were in town, and they wanted to see both Kel and Neal before they departed. So the day before they left, Kel and Neal went to dinner with Ilane and Piers of Mindelan.
Kel was embraced by her mother, whom she was now a couple of inches taller than, and her poor midget father. Piers shook hands with Neal, and Neal bowed to Kel's mother. They sat down at a table in the dining house.
"So, you two are going off into Tusaine," Piers said. "It should be quite the adventure, especially since you will be 'married', as Thayet told us. She said it was all Lord Wyldon's idea."
"Sadly, the man's only humorous act was this. I think he needs to be funny more often, it's really entertaining. Everybody loves this joke," Neal said sarcastically. "I'd say he takes pleasure from torturing his two most hated former pages. The man is probably laughing at us right now."
Ilane grinned, but her expression changed rapidly. "From what I can see, this is a dangerous job. What if you get found out? Killed? You can back out of this, you know." Her eyes were filled with concern for her daughter.
Kel smiled understandingly, then reached over the table and embraced her mother. "We don't want to, Mother. The risks were set down for us when we accepted, and we decided to serve our Tortall this way. It's what we became knights for, to protect the people who live here. This is the best way to do it." She glanced over to Neal for some help.
He nodded. "Kel's exactly right. This is something that nobody else wanted to take on, and it's a vital position in the defense. We do this for you, my parents, our friends, and all of the innocent lives in this country," he grimaced. "All the guilty ones are already fighting against us."
Piers put a comforting arm around his wife's shoulders, who was now defiantly brushing away the tears welling up in her eyes. "We understand that you are doing your duty to this country, and we're proud of you. Just. be careful, all right. We want you home in one piece young lady, understand?" he asked, grinning. Kel nodded with a smile. "And you'd better protect her, Queenscove! We'll have your head if you come back without her," Neal smiled his annoying smile, and nodded curtly.
The rest of the evening went well, with only the occasional sniffle from Kel's mother. At the end, however, as Kel and Neal were riding back to the castle, she broke down crying into her husband's arms, and Piers was also shedding tears for his warrior daughter.
The next day, Kel and Neal said their final farewell, and rode off to an uncertain fate.
Whoa, that sounded kinda dramatic. Any way, the same old "please tell me which title you like" thing. Since it seems that I have no hope of finding a way to do both titles, The Wrath of the Gods is winning with four to nuttin. In two chapters I'll change my title! Bonsoir!(that's French for 'good evening').
In just a few days, the plan was set. Neal and Kel were supposedly married, heading off to live in Akder, 20 miles off of the border of Tortall. They would have to settle in for a while, get to know the people of the town, then get to work finding people who would rebel against Tusaine. They would be Neal and Kel Bowyer, Neal acting as a maker of bows and arrows, so that nobody would question him carrying around a weapon.
They had two days to prepare and say good-bye. Owen was devastated yet delighted that they would be off on a "jolly adventure". Dom teased Neal "Now, Kel, I think you will be his last wife, nobody could possibly live being a meathead's spouse unless they were ordered to be".
Kel's parents were in town, and they wanted to see both Kel and Neal before they departed. So the day before they left, Kel and Neal went to dinner with Ilane and Piers of Mindelan.
Kel was embraced by her mother, whom she was now a couple of inches taller than, and her poor midget father. Piers shook hands with Neal, and Neal bowed to Kel's mother. They sat down at a table in the dining house.
"So, you two are going off into Tusaine," Piers said. "It should be quite the adventure, especially since you will be 'married', as Thayet told us. She said it was all Lord Wyldon's idea."
"Sadly, the man's only humorous act was this. I think he needs to be funny more often, it's really entertaining. Everybody loves this joke," Neal said sarcastically. "I'd say he takes pleasure from torturing his two most hated former pages. The man is probably laughing at us right now."
Ilane grinned, but her expression changed rapidly. "From what I can see, this is a dangerous job. What if you get found out? Killed? You can back out of this, you know." Her eyes were filled with concern for her daughter.
Kel smiled understandingly, then reached over the table and embraced her mother. "We don't want to, Mother. The risks were set down for us when we accepted, and we decided to serve our Tortall this way. It's what we became knights for, to protect the people who live here. This is the best way to do it." She glanced over to Neal for some help.
He nodded. "Kel's exactly right. This is something that nobody else wanted to take on, and it's a vital position in the defense. We do this for you, my parents, our friends, and all of the innocent lives in this country," he grimaced. "All the guilty ones are already fighting against us."
Piers put a comforting arm around his wife's shoulders, who was now defiantly brushing away the tears welling up in her eyes. "We understand that you are doing your duty to this country, and we're proud of you. Just. be careful, all right. We want you home in one piece young lady, understand?" he asked, grinning. Kel nodded with a smile. "And you'd better protect her, Queenscove! We'll have your head if you come back without her," Neal smiled his annoying smile, and nodded curtly.
The rest of the evening went well, with only the occasional sniffle from Kel's mother. At the end, however, as Kel and Neal were riding back to the castle, she broke down crying into her husband's arms, and Piers was also shedding tears for his warrior daughter.
The next day, Kel and Neal said their final farewell, and rode off to an uncertain fate.
Whoa, that sounded kinda dramatic. Any way, the same old "please tell me which title you like" thing. Since it seems that I have no hope of finding a way to do both titles, The Wrath of the Gods is winning with four to nuttin. In two chapters I'll change my title! Bonsoir!(that's French for 'good evening').