:Fumes: I am so mad! I had Chapters 5 and 6 all saved on a CD-RW, all ready to be submitted when POOF they disappear! Can you believe that? :Smoke pours out of ears and nostrils: After all that hard work! :Rants and raves incoherently while pacing: Of all the empty-brained, no-good, things to happen :Wears hole in floor: You know something? I betcha anything that Rebecca, my stepsister, went on my CD and deleted it! Because I can't find another document that I had written all my thoughts and ideas and summaries for new fan fiction stories on. Nor can I find Chapter 3 on Fearless. :Can barely see top of head she's so deep in the hole she wore in the ground: Normally I'm a very updating person. I update a lot, because I like writing. But now—:is no longer heard or seen:

Disclaimer: I own Tamora Pierce characters. Every single one of them. MUAHAHAHA! Okay, I don't. So sue me. WAIT! I DIDN'T MEAN IT LITERALLY!

Chapter Five: The Conflict Of Uusoae And The Black God

Empty-eyed men and women, dressed in the same uniform of black breeches and sleeveless shirts, stood stiff in front of a women sitting upon her throne, awaiting orders.

The woman, Uusoae Goddess of Chaos, was half in darkness, her inky black hair flowing over her shoulders and blending with the surrounding shadows. Large dark liquid eyes surveyed each of her minions shrewdly, appraising their strengths and weaknesses.

Beside her was the Black God, barely detectable within the same shadows that hid Chaos's hair. His black cloak draped itself around his thin shoulders, blocking his face from interested eyes.

"Uusoae, I beg of you to reconsider," the Black God said in his whispery, soft, icy voice. "The boy is young, and he is promised to live again. Who are you to take a promise like that away from a soul so tender?"

"And who are you to lecture me on life and tender souls, O God of Death?" Uusoae sneered, her lovely face twisting with wrath. "I want that boy as my minion."

"Why, Uusoae? Why are you going to snatch away his one hope?"

"Why do you suddenly care about him? You were, in fact, the one who suggested that I take him."

"I did not know the girl was to come here," the Black God said softly. (A/N: Anybody know his real name? I'm getting tired of calling him just Black God)

"What does the girl have to do with anything?" Chaos said harshly. The whole time, her faithful minions had not flinched or moved at all.

"She has the most promising destiny of all the knights," he replied. "As much so as the Mother's Chosen, or the Green Lady's beautiful young daughter, and their children. If she were to die, what would become of Tortall?"

"I'm afraid I still don't understand," Uusoae said sweetly.

The Black God sighed, impatient. "Fate has chosen the path that the girl is to go down on. If the girl misses that path, Tortall will be conquered and destroyed. The boy is the only person left in my realms who knows where and what the Transition Point is there for. If he is captured, then she disappears, and so does Tortall."

"I still don't see what the problem is," the goddess said, fluttering her sooty lashes at him. "Tortall is just a country filled with pathetically worthless mortal beings. Why should we be bothered with the affairs of them?"

"Because the girl—"

"Yes, yes, the girl has a wonderful destiny. But why should you—or any other immortal—care? I would think you'd be happy. If Tortall is destroyed, your realms would be filled to the edges with the dead."

"Do you want the real reason, Chaos? Like the Great Mother watched over that Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau, I have watched over Keladry of Mindelan—the Protector of the Small. The only difference is, the Mother has talked to the Lioness, let her know whom she is. I only make sure the Protector of the Small does not die, and that's all."

Uusoae blinked. "You mean you have chosen someone? You have not done that since Liaden—"

"Do not speak to me of Lady Liaden," the Black God said harshly.

With cold eyes she stared at him. "You should learn to let go, dearest," she said icily, observing his gaze as it roamed to one of the empty-eyed women.

"Please, Uusoae, I beg of you, reconsider," he pleaded.

"Forget it," Uusoae snarled. "I want Joren of Stone Mountain—and I shall get him." Her gaze roamed to a woman in the back line. "In fact, I'll make her go."

If the Black God's face could be seen, she was sure it would have been pale.

"Please, Uusoae, don't make her go—"

"Minion Liaden, I want you to capture Joren of Stone Mountain and bring him to me.

Minion Liaden bowed and said dully, "As you wish, Master."

~*~*~

I was just wondering. Do ya'll think I should do a story about how the Transition Point was made? It probably won't be very long, but it'll clear some of this stuff up. Answer me in your review!