Author's Note: Hello my admirers back again and ready to do business. I know that most of you were still not appreciative of my efforts concerning chapter eight. I also hope you know that this chapter will be no longer than all the others, thank you very much. Because you have damaged my feelings in not reviewing my stories Sob. Just kidding but still, PLEASES REVIEW!

Disclaimer: My editor has brought to my attention that I am in need of a disclaimer. So Tamara Pierces works and characters are not mine. Kelly Calminen are all my own. Please ask my permission before using them, or you shall fall prey to my invisible assassins.

Veil of Light

Chapter Nine: The Gift

"Okay when I say run across." Calminen said as we made our way into the heart of the enemies 'lair', or I suppose you could call it a castle. We were on another of Aly's impossible tasks. She wanted, of all things, for us to somehow miraculously install a spy in the castle. But first we had to get the layout of the castle. That is why we are here, and not warm and cozy in front of a blazing fire.

"Now!" He whispered. I started running, low to the ground. I did not want to be here.

"Okay I'm over." I whispered back at him. I knew he had heard me when he too ran over to me.

We were in. Now all we had to do was steal some servant livery and we would pretty much be in the clear.

"Okay do you have any idea where we could find some servants garb?" I asked feeling skeptical. I didn't think this plan would work.

"No, but why don't you ask the god. I'm sure he would be happy to help us." He said this with the confidence of youth. A confidence I had back in my own world before all this occurred.

The suggestion was reasonable so I complied, 'Kyprionth are you there?' I asked.

The answer came immediately. 'Yes I am. What do you want?' He actually sounded annoyed with me. So when I answered, I spoke with humidity in my voice.

'I, Um, wanted to a-ask you if you knew any places where we could get servants garb. B-but if your busy I'm sure Calminen and I can think of s- something.' I don't usually stutter but when faced with an annoyed god I think I'm allowed some fright.

When I said this I could feel all his muscles, if gods have muscles, untense themselves. 'Oh is that all? I'm sorry if I frightened you little one. You can find some clothes in the storage closet three corridors down. Take a right for two doors, and there it is on your left.' I was relived when the anger escaped from his voice, but puzzled all the same.

'Why was he angry?' I wondered, hoping it had nothing to do with my actions.

"He says three corridors down, two doors then on our left." I relayed to Calminen.

"See," he replied, "I knew this would work."

"I know it is going well," I said, "but let's not get to sure of ourselves. We're not out of the woods yet!" I felt uneasy about how easy all of this was going. Without a hitch we had gotten over the moat. Without detection we had gotten into the castle. Something just didn't smell right to me, but Calminen didn't seem to notice a thing. In fact he seemed more confident and relaxed than usual. Something was definitely wrong here, and I could see magic at the source.

Once I came to this conclusion it was if a huge fog had been lifted from my sights. I could see glows around everything, in the doors, on the floors. I didn't have a clue what was going on.

'The cleansing works in mysterious ways I see' Kyprionth had returned to my mind, sensing something unusual about it. 'I see the light has granted you some unforeseen Gifts. I you take my meaning?' He sounded entirely to pleased with himself for my judgment.

'What do you mean?' I inquired, curious about his choice of wording. Surely he couldn't mean what I thought he meant. 'And what do you mean by cleansing? Do you refer to the eternal light I passed through? I think I remember you calling it that when first I arrived.' I was now almost certain He meant that I had the.

'I mean you have the Gift. You sure are slow if you haven't figured it out by now. I've had my suspicions for quite some time, but what you see now confirms it.' I felt indignant at being called slow, but excitement soon over-rode and other emotion.

'You're serious? This is good, yes?' Then the true implications fell before me, 'No this is NOT good; It means the silent suspicions I have been having about the reality of our stealth is correct. We have been permitted to come this far. They know why we are here or someone does.'

All this took place in seconds. But what was to come felt like it stretched for hours.

I only had time to relay my information to Calminen before all hell broke lose around us.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

We were in what felt like a prison cell, when I woke up. I was just starting to get aware enough to speculate about how I had arrived in this spot, when all the memories came back.

*~*~*~*~*~*~* Flash Back

I screamed a warning to Calminen as a brutish looking man stepped out from behind a tapestry. It came just in time, as He swung to meet the apposing man sword and struck him down.

After that first warning, I didn't have anymore time to worry about Calminen safety, for just as the first man was taken down six came to take his place, and I was fighting for my life.

I used all the tricks. The jump kick took down one man but the next required my hidden dagger. I chopped and swung and dismembered my fair share of the men. But it soon became too much to defend against.

I saw a man come behind Calminen and knock him out with the hilt of his sword. I had no time to react before I to was knocked unconscious. Blackness greeted me with open arms.

*~*~*~*~*~*~* End of Flash Back

I heard a quiet moan beside me and I turned to see Calminen sprawled on the floor beside me. " Kelly are you there?" he quietly called out, peering into the dark haze that surrounded us.

"Yes, Calminen, I'm here. But where do you think here is?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Note: Hello again how did you like it? I'm glad if you did( but sad if you didn't (. Either way, please review. I crave reviews!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!