Disclaimer: Tortall...no. Kel and Neal? Haha. The characters, what about them? Still no. Ha, the plot! I'm the author, that has to be mine! Well, mostly, but....NO.
A/N: In this chapter is one of the few things, or people in this case, that I borrowed off of Lady Knight. There was a character quite like this in my original story, and after I read LK, Irnai just seemed to fit in with her, for more than obvious reasons. So please do not get confused or say that she is OOC. In some ways, this is the same Irnai as LK, but in other ways she is not.
The Protectors
by meghna
Chapter Five: Love Letters and Prophecies
The cool feel of snowflakes tickling her nose and decorating her long lashes brought Kel's attention back to the present---half a bell later—and the wooden bench, where she now sat alone.
She rose briskly and brushed the white off her coat, wondering vaguely when the snow had started up again. Although her calm expression would speak otherwise to most, the excitement of action was flowing through the lady knight's veins. She would finally get to do something about the task set to her by the Chamber of Ordeal. No more waiting for spring to thaw out the roads and bring war to her kingdom, no more waking after another nightmare with nothing to do but curse Blayce. Gone were half-serious notions to ride into enemy territory alone to hunt down the Gallan. She now had the chance to travel into the Scanran capital openly to help Tortall's intelligence and find the Nothing Man, with the backing of two kingdoms.
With the backing of two kingdoms, Kel repeated to herself, her eyes widening as a new, terrible possibility occurred. That also meant the responsibility to Tortall and Tusaine to carry out the farce in Hamrkeng. But what if Blayce wasn't in the capital? What if he had chosen to hide out in some unknown castle fief? She would be trapped, playing the deceptively harmless ambassador's wife in a dangerous game with more than only her life at stake. Deserting to find the Nothing Man wouldn't only mean her dishonor, it would risk the lives of Neal and everyone else involved.
Kel sighed and clamped down on her worry with a Yamani-born control, refusing to pick at it there. She had only succeeded in muddling up her emotions with useless hypotheticals. She would fulfill her duty to Tortall and the task set to her by the Chamber, both before too many of her people were killed on a battlefield. No but's, no if's. Just that simple fact.
Ponderings and initial reactions done with, Kel took a moment for a quick survey of her surroundings, immediately finding her green-eyed companion. Neal was standing on the edge of the reflecting pool, probably contemplating the night's events, with his large hands burrowed deeply into the fleece-lined pockets of his evergreen coat, lively crown hair disheveled from the many times he had run his hands through it that night.
Hiding the half-smile that threatened to emerge, Kel shook her head at memories of the days when she had so often found herself longing to be the one hand-brushing those straight locks. That's Yuki's job now, she thought, though doubting that the plump Yamani would be so bold.
Neal looked up, catching her stare, and grinned cheekily, presumably finished thinking through whatever needed pondering. Returning smile, she walked up to him, her long skirts brushing the snow away with every step.
"We should probably head inside," Kel suggested, eyeing his reddened nose upon closer inspection, "before you catch something in this weather."
Instead of replying directly to her request, Neal hooked his arm in hers, slightly uncomfortably because of their large coats, and led her to the paths, this time choosing the one that would take them to their wing reserved for knight quarters.
Knight quarters, Kel repeated to herself, not without pride. I still can't believe it.
She gently disengaged her arm from his, unable to walk with the long, easy gait Neal gracefully retained even in the snow. Kel had to hold up her skirts and trudge warily, wincing slightly as their crunching steps disturbed the uncanny, heavy silence of a true winter night.
From her side, Neal, suffering from no such uneasiness, lifted his head to face the now cloudy night sky, mouth wide open, and wondered aloud, "Whe dit star snahing ageh ?"
Somehow, she managed to decipher his question as "When did it start snowing again?" and answered accordingly. "I have no idea, but it's kind of hard to understand you when you try to speak without closing your mouth," Kel informed him. "What are you doing anyway?"
He closed his mouth to face her without sheepishness. "I was trying to catch snowflakes on my tongue, like we used to do in the winter back in Queenscove. You've never done it before?"
"No, the Yamani Isles never had that much snow. All the mountains always weakened the storms before they reached the city," she replied, a smile tugging at her lips when she thought of a young Neal enjoying the snow at Queenscove. She had heard that the fief was quite beautiful in the winter.
"Somehow I doubt the ever-so-solemn Yamanis would indulge anyway," Neal drawled, a small frown tugging his eyebrows together. "It's fun though; you should try it."
"I'd rather not expose my face to the cold air, thank you," Kel said sternly. "I don't have the Gift to fend off a chill or cold."
"And what am I, a carpenter?"
"No, but for some reason I have this odd notion that you'd make a fine lady in waiting."
Neal threw up his hands in disgust. "Try to help a friend cheer up, and this is how I am repaid!" he muttered loudly. "Where is justice?"
Kel pursed her lips in thought. "Seriously though, you knew what to do with my hair and face paint, Neal. Is there something you're not telling me?"
He smiled weakly. "Beginner's luck?" At her insistent look, he finally grumbled, "Fine! Alanna made me learn."
That was not the response Kel expected, though she didn't really know what she would have considered normal. "I wasn't aware that it was a requirement for knight training," she said dryly. "Should I be asking Raoul something?"
"If you say a word, I'll deny it, and then I'll go to Raoul and tell him you're getting rusty at jousting and suggest some extra practice. Or should I say flying lessons?" Neal shot back, although they both knew that neither would do any such thing.
"Why did you have to learn how to be a lady-in-waiting, Neal?" she asked instead of keeping up their banter, genuinely curious.
He sighed. "Alanna had to disguise herself as a very rich widow, entourage and all, to acquire some very delicate information for the King. I wanted to be her healer or man servant or even stable boy, but they had the brilliant notion that I would be privy to more information as the rich widow's faithful lady-in-waiting."
Squinting her eyes a bit, Kel tried to picture him playing the part. "They actually expected people to believe you were a six foot two tall, broad-shouldered, very strong lady-in-waiting with just an unfortunate figure?"
"With the help of a glamour spell, yes. But I still had to wear the wigs and dresses and act like her maid," he made a face, presumably at the bad memories. "It was worth it, though. We finally caught the child-napper near the Border."
She closed her eyes, letting the image of what machines those Tortallan children were being used for pass. "It was worth it," Kel agreed. Deciding to change the subject, she asked, "So, what else did you learn from the Lioness? How to hold your tongue?"
"Oh, yes, and Lady Sharp Tongue herself is the best of teachers," he retorted. "But truly, Alanna did teach me a lot these past four years. I finally received training for weapons and magical wounds and long term illnesses and wounds."
Kel smiled, knowing Neal had always regretted his incomplete training as a Healer. It always made her wonder what had possessed him to leave the University. "Did you fill in with all that you missed leaving early?" she inquired.
Neal nodded enthusiastically. "And more."
He went on to describe some of the experiences he had Healing different maladies under the Lioness' teachings. Kel was content to listen, only asking here and there for further explanation, as they picked their way through the blanketed paths.
After what seemed like a short time, they came to the West entrance, which led to the three room suites that held most knights in residence.
They shook out their boots on an outside mat, sparing a thought for the new plush red carpet installed in the halls (another improvement made during the Royal Progress) and headed inside for the warmth of a fire-placed room, either Kel's or Neal's.
Kel's room was closest, though, so that was where the weary pair headed. Kel didn't think she had ever been so happy to see her sturdy oak door as she fit her special silver key into the magicked lock and whispered her name.
Though she could not see him, Kel could hear the frown in Neal's voice as he asked, "Are you still worried about vandalism?"
The locked clicked with a characteristic tingle, and she swung the door open gladly to a small sitting room/study. The shadows of her prized waving Yamani cats danced mischievously in the light of a fire a blessedly considerate servant had thought to light. To Neal, she replied matter-of-factly, "Now that I'm alone and out of the protection of the Knight Commander, I don't want to take any chances that someone's going to doubt my right to be here and decide to do something about it."
"But there's one flaw in your thinking, my dear," Neal told her, stepping in the cozy room after. "You're not alone in this wing. You have all of us– me, Merric, Seaver, Esmond–to, ah, warn off any ill-wishers. Not to mention that you could easily school any doubters in a thing or two on the practice courts."
Kel peeled off the borrowed brown coat and draped it on a chair near the fireplace with her gloves, hoping to give them a chance to dry. "We're supposed to be considered adults now," she reminded her green-eyed friend, motioning for him to take a seat at her pine-wood desk. "We can't go brawling like we used to as pages. It's childish."
"And I suppose urinating on someone's doorway is the height of sophisticated maturity?" he drawled, also removing his green coat, gifted by Yuki for Midwinter, before taking the proffered seat. "Maybe the next time Yuki and I quarrel, I can get Jump over there–" he gestured to the shadowed lump laying on the rug in front of the fireplace, "–to help me out–"
"Spare me the details," Kel pleaded dryly, as she stepped up on chair to light the dangling ceiling candle fixture every study was now equipped with. "But what is this I hear about a quarrel with Yuki?"
Rising from his comfortable chair to give her a hand down, Neal responded, "It was hypothetical."
She took his steady grip with a smile of thanks and inquired further. "So things are going well with you two? I don't want to pry, but you two are good friends," Kel fumbled a bit, wondering at her own sudden hesitance.
"Nonsense," Neal assured her. "If you wanted to pry, you'd be a lot more vexing. Yuki and I are doing fine."
"So no quarrels?"
"Not even a friendly debate. We've only been together for a week or two."
"Well that's good to know," Kel said, setting her chair back against the wall next to her half-empty bookshelf. "Would you mind making yourself at home for a moment while I go change? I've been in this gown forever!"
"Not at all," he answered, plopping himself back into the cushioned chair at her desk. Then, flashing a wicked grin, "Need help untying the laces?"
Kel had the grace to blush, though she knew he was just jesting. "Don't sound so eager," she joked back, batting her eyelashes in a ridiculous imitation of a Court flirt, "or I might forget that you're taken."
She ambled into her bedroom, then her adjoined dressing room, leaving a slightly red Neal with raised eyebrows and shaking in laughter.
It was a bit of a struggle, but Kel managed to get out of the complicated gown without her 'lady maid's' help and hang it up, to be dealt with later. For clothing, she chose a soft, worn-in pair of breeches and a loose faded-navy colored shirt. To keep warm, she left on her stockings and grabbed a white undershirt to wear over her breast-band. The lady knight kicked out, happy to able to move freely again. She moved to open the door, ready to leave, when Kel caught a glance of herself in the mirror. Makeup or no, she would never be a beauty, but she allowed herself to admire her reflection anyway; Neal had done a nice job.
Did I just think that? she asked herself, still not used to the idea of Neal having served as a lady maid. The thought only made her chuckle, so Kel bent over to wash her face over the basin.
Neal was examining the mess on her desk when she finally came out. "You should really clean this up," he commented, shifting some of the King's Own supply papers into a neat pile, to reveal a folded piece of parchment. "Hm, what's this? Could it be?" he exclaimed, sounding very much like a child in a confection shop. Kel did not need to see the "To: Cleon" on the front to recognize the letter as the one she had written before her Ordeal. "Yes, I think it is," Neal continued to tease. "A love letter to her beloved Cleon. Ah, how sweet. Maybe tomorrow we can write poems together."
He made as if to open it, but Kel was faster. She snatched the letter from his hands and replaced it with the boots she had been forced to borrow earlier. "Here, thanks for lending me these."
"Ouch, parchment cut," he complained, squeezing the forefinger of his right hand.
"Serves your right for being nosy," she replied, putting on her own indoor boots after tossing the letter back on her desk.
Quickly running a finger over his cut, effectively sealing it up with his Gift, Neal stood up to retrieve his coat. "Can't blame me for being curious," he defended. "'Tis a part of human nature."
Kel looked up from her lacing to see Neal's belongings gathered in his long arms as he readied to leave. "Where are you going?" she demanded, raising to meet him.
"Well, Kel, it would hardly be seemly for me to sleep here, though your bed does look rather cozy. But, alas, what will Yuki think?"
"But we should talk about this whole thing, think about questions we have!"
Neal sighed. "Kel, it's two bells past midnight. Can this please wait until tomorrow?"
"Aren't you the least excited about this?" she asked, a bit irritated.
"Right now the only exciting prospect to me is a warm bed," he grumbled. Then, seeing her disappointed expression, Neal softened and added, "We're both tired, Kel. How about tomorrow, when I'm a little less sleep-deprived and the enormity of this whole Scanra thing will have hit me, we can meet at the morning mess and go down to the infirmary to meet Father. He wanted to talk to me anyway, and he's on the Council, so he could probably answer any questions we might have. We can pick away and dissect this situation to your heart's content."
Kel caught herself beginning to yawn and realized just how exhausted she really was. It had been an eventful day to say the least, and she had been up before dawn. She nodded to Neal. "Fair enough. I'll see you tomorrow morning?"
He smiled at her with bleary eyes. "Count on it." Then, before turning to leave, Neal turned to her. "I know you're going to worry, but just try to get some sleep."
She nodded once again and closed the door behind him, only pausing to throw an old letter in the waste basket before heading off to bed.
*~*~*~*~*
Devdas had been called to serve at the lord's keep four days ago, along with all other orphans of the village aged ten to thirteen years; apparently the mage lord would be throwing his very important visitor an impressive welcome, and he needed extra hands, old enough to be of some use, young enough to play the part of respectable pages.
Mag, the only mother-figure he had ever known, had been adamantly against him going, but everyone knew what happened to a village who refused a summons. Devdas, more pig-headed than she, refused be the cause of punishment. Plus, any child who had been asked to the lord's castle always returned, shaken but otherwise unharmed. It was when a child disappeared in the dead of the night that a family had any real cause to worry.
But that hadn't happened for weeks, and if the 'important visitor' from Hamrkeng he was currently pouring wine for had his way, it wouldn't again for months.
The merry music of a celebration in full tilt carried over to the small study they were in, no one seeming to notice or care that the host and guest of honor had made a premature exit. Devdas himself would have been in the latter category if Mercy, the grim-faced maid of the castle, had not yanked him and the next closest page by the black collar of their semi-fine uniforms.
"Lord Blayce wants t'entertain his guest in 'more private settings'. You," her worn index finger poked at Irnai's, the other girl's, small chest, "will be servin' their wittles from the kitchens. You, boy, will keep their goblets full wit' good wine. Now off to the lord's study!"
Which was how Devdas had come to be in the presence of the most talk- and terror-inspiring men of the land and listening intently as the curly brown-haired main tried to persuade the pimply lord of his village to travel to Hamrkeng.
"I don't think I should go," the fidgety castle lord argued, staring at his chewed fingernails with a chilling twist of his lips. A small man, rather unremarkable besides his overwhelming tendency to fidget and overall pathetic-ness, it was hard to believe that this Lord Blayce held the land's most powerful and gruesome weapons in his twisted little mind. "Spring is approaching, and there's just so much work left to do..."
"But representatives from Tusaine and the Copper Isles will be visiting. We need your talents to impress the threat we pose to Tortall." This man seemed much more the lord, with his deep, honeyed voice; perfect, dark brown curls; and high cheekbones, effeminate on anyone else. Devdas had heard many speaking of this man, called Nath. Without holding any land or title, he was considered the most powerful man in Scanra. Even more so, some whispered to those few trusted, than the King.
"But how will I conduct my business in the capital?" Blayce asked, his eyes flashing. Obviously he felt no awe of Nath's position, considering his own power ample shield. "The haughty city people and nobles cannot appreciate the beauty of my work!"
Nath had the grace to look disgusted at the glazed, hungry look of his host. But then he sneered, and Devdas knew that this man was no better. "But Blayce, my lord, King Maggur appreciates your work," his smooth, velvety voice coaxed Blayce, bent his weakness to his own will and purpose. "He will even give you more dolls to play with once you reach the capital. For whatever you wish, not just the machines." The persuasiveness of his voice both awed and frightened him, and, in that moment, she knew how he could be the most powerful man in all of Scanra.
Blayce looked back and forth between Nath's poised face and his chewed, bitten fingernails. Devdas could not decide whether his darting eyes were that of the hunter or prey. "More dolls..." he repeated to himself, thoughts and fantasies a young, clear-minded boy could not begin to fathom twisting through his mind. Then, his eyes cleared to their normal dull brown, and he became once again the fidgety lord of the castle whom he despised but did not fear. "I will see what I can do," Blayce replied, chewing on the skin around his thumbnail and trying to keep the power in the conversation.
"And that is all I can ask." Nath rejoined humbly, though his eyes shone with the smugness of a cat with freshly caught prey. He knew he had won despite Blayce's pitiful attempt at vagueness.
At that moment, a brush of cloth outside the tapestry warned the lord and his visitor (or was it the host and his lord?) of an intruder. Blayce rose, ungainly, from his seat, no doubt attempting to assert his power as the lord in a mighty roar. "Who dares interrupt us when I have requested total privacy?!?"
Just as he finished his outburst, Irnai stepped past the maroon tapestry with her characteristic quiet grace, carrying a tray laden with various fruits and cheeses. She appeared small and meek in her slightly large page's uniform, her wild, grey-streaked brown hair escaping the confines it had been coerced into to make her look like a boy. "I'm sorry truly, m'lord," she apologized in a tiny voice. "Here's the wittles fresh you asked me nicely t'bring from the kitchens right quick, my lord."
He tried to keep his expression smooth and unchanged, but his full brow furrowed slightly anyway. In the countless years he had known and survived with her, Irnai had never spoken with a village child's accent, always in the clean pretty Scanran of the learned. And never had she carried herself as less than a very small woman, not the hopeless ragamuffin Blayce faced now. What was Irnai up to?
"Sit down, you fool!" Nath ordered, irritated. "She is nothing more than one of your own servants following your orders." Blayce obeyed, looking much more the dolt for it. "Pages, place your burdens on the table here and be dismissed. We will serve ourselves."
He hurried to do Nath's bidding and be out of his sight, placing the wine pitcher on the aforementioned table next to the forgotten goblets. Irnai, however, stood rooted like an oak in a storm, clutching her tray tightly like it was her only hold to the stable ground.
Oh no! he inwardly cried as he saw the fine beads of sweat breaking out on Irnai's forehead, the paleness spreading across her face, the color of her wide eyes changing to stark, hopeless black, all telltale signs that she was about to go into trance.
He saw Nath's grey eyes widen in a rare true expression of surprise as he no doubt felt all the power of the moment shift to Irnai. A distant clatter and scattered muffled thumps told him that she had dropped the metal tray, his last coherent thought before Irnai ceased to be herself and became the Mother, with a voice too beautiful and terrible to be described.
He tried not to cover his ears as the Mother/Irnai began to speak. "Dare to hope, people of three lands! For they are coming. Heroes they will be to some, great enemies to deserving others. Beware, those deserved, for a mage who can heal life can also unravel it. It is this healer's, this guardian's, will to protect those loved and those worthy at any cost that will leave a land kingless and finally shine light on the darkness of betrayal. Ah! A betrayal so great that it will upset the balance between all: ruler and his people, friend and friend, lover and lover, enemy and enemy, even kin and kin. Of two heritages, the other will adopt a third to fulfill a knight's need to protect all those small. This knight will come bearing Duty and Law to bring an end to the Pervert and heal the sickness that plagues the people. The sword-bearer will free those bound. These two must learn to find what is right in front of them, for their tasks are intertwined; one cannot succeed without the other. More than destiny bound, they are the protectors of the small, the guardians of the worthy. Dare to hope, people of three lands, for the protectors are coming!"
And then it was over. As the echo of the Mother's last warning and promise faded, so did the power in Irnai as she once again came back to Earth. Devdas rushed forward to catch her as she fell, remembering the times when Mag had held her as he eased her small body down to the rich carpet. Well, he thought to himself, Irnai's gone and got herself inta a good bit o'trouble, and Mag's not here ta bail us out. But that Nath sure as sunrise ain't gonna use her. Not if I can help it.
He widened his eyes in fear, forcing tears to them. "I don't know what just happened," he exclaimed, hoping against hope that Irnai would not wake up. But he did know. Irnai was a prophet, a Voice for the Mother, and what just happened was the most powerful prophecy Devdas had witnessed from her. He had been quaking in his torn shoes when She gave her warning and felt his heart soar with Her promise. "My sister has never done that before."
Nath did not appear to be convinced, studying Devdas intently now, gauging his expression, age, social standings. Then, just as if the gods had a grudge against them, storm-grey eyes slowly unveiled themselves as Irnai came back to herself. He tried to take hold of the situation before Nath could. "Irnai!" he said, cradling her head in his lap, brushing sweaty strands of hair away from her forehead. "Look a'me, little sis. You jus' fainted while servin' m'lords here, but I think you're alright." He used his voice, mind, and eyes to try and convey the situation. Irnai always seemed to know his mind, maybe she would catch on...
No such luck. She sat up, banging her hands against the carpet in the frustrated expression of one much younger than she. "Again?!" she cried. "What'd I say this time that'll make the grown-ups mad at me?"
Devdas, caught totally off guard by her lies, only stared at Irnai dumbstruck, giving Nath his chance to pounce. The non-lord had assessed the situation, calculated Irnai's usefulness, recognized the weakness, and now he was ready to take advantage. Nath kneeled down next to her, his expression so much the picture of fatherly concern that it left Devdas dazed. One would never believe that he had just given away the lives of countless children to bring a man under his own will. "First, are you in any pain, dear child? I can send for a Healer," he offered.
"N-no, m'lord. No use in goin' through the trouble wit' a little, useless 'un like me." Her tone was self-deprecating, her expression fearfully respectful, her posture vulnerable, but clear eyes emanated the purposeful calm before a storm. It was the last that kept Devdas from interfering. "I'm just a nuisance anyway."
Devdas, usually apt at reading people, only saw a pleased glimmer in Nath's eyes as he was given another opening; he could have only imagined it. "That's only the faint speaking, my dear. Lord Blayce, will you please send?"
"Please, m'lord, no! This happens all the time. Won't take me long to recover. And about being a nuisance," she looked down, ashamed. "It's true. The grown-ups whisper 'bout the things I say, callin' them 'evil workin's' even when what I say come true."
"You're proph–" Nath caught himself, remembering that he was only speaking to a child and that he had to play it accordingly. "The things you say, they actually come true?"
"It's uncanny, m'lord sir!" Devdas interjected, deciding to play along with Irnai's little ruse. Whatever she's doing, he thought in his stubborn way, she's not gonna do it without me. "And the village folk, they don't e'en thank her or nothin', they jus' leave us out on the streets, t'beg and fend fer ourself." He sent a silent apology to Mag and the other elders of the village who had treated them with kindness and generosity.
Nath looked positively scandalized. "A grave wrong has been done against you, child," he told Irnai. "You have a gift, and you should be appreciated for your talents."
Rivaling even the players Devdas had once seen during Festival, Irnai put on a look of despair that would wrench any with a heart. But only if they had one, Devdas amended silently, thinking of detached eyes and cold expressions. "But no one in the village likes me," she mourned, tears rising in her eyes. Devdas wondered what sadness these real tears spouted from; Irnai had once confided that she could never play-cry like many other children in the village. "Why add more sorrow to this world?" she had asked, eyes cloudy with weariness.
"I have an idea," Nath said, somehow not surprising Devdas. "What is your name, child?"
"Irnai, m'lord," she answered without hesitation, her expression hopeful now.
"Stand, then, Irnai," Nath commanded, rising from his position on the floor with his words.
She immediately obeyed, more than half on reflex, Devdas believed. For the first time, he felt fear's sharp bite of this game they were playing.
"Would you like to use your talent for the good of Scanra, the success of your land?" he demanded, suddenly filling the room with his presence. So much that Irnai probably doesn't even see me, Devdas imagined.
But he saw the cloud of disgust that passed through her eyes and scolded himself for ever questioning her. She knew what this man meant by the 'success of your land.' "Yes, I vow it, for the good of Scanra," Irnai accepted, taking the vow more seriously than Nath would ever know.
Fear's teeth sunk deeper into his heart as Devdas saw the uncertainty flicker through Nath's eyes as he no doubt caught a flash of the true Irnai. But then it passed, and he knew that Nath had discounted her as nothing more that a child. "Than I vow that you will be justly rewarded for your actions if you come with me to the capital, in service to me and King Maggur."
Oh no.
"Mother witness it, for I agree," Irnai concluded, a triumphant gleam of lightning striking through her clear grey.
With Irnai's practiced invocation to the Mother, he once again saw the doubt's light touch across Nath's controlled features. He had to do something, about distracting him and Irnai's leaving. "But if she goes, so do I!" Devdas declared, trying to say it with conviction and not fear.
Nath turned all his attention to him, measuring him differently this time. "And who are you?"
Irnai stared at Devdas for a long time, also scrutinizing, but with eyes that saw more than he could ever know. Finally, she nodded. "He is my brother, my lord, the only family I have ever known.." She seemed to have given up all pretense of a village accent, though not the farce. "I cannot leave him here."
Nath looked back and forth between them; Devdas met his eyes with a boldness he had not known he possessed. Finally, he smiled, once again a cat playing with his prey. "Fine, I would never dream of separating families. You, boy, will come, too. There might be some use for you yet." Devdas felt doubt at his pleased expression; he was probably congratulating himself on a job well done: a mage-lord and a prophet in one day. What had they gotten themselves into?
Devdas felt Irnai inch next to him, her small hand press against his in a gesture of reassurance, but, through it, he felt her steel-hard, storm bearing resolve also.
Maybe the real question was, What had Nath gotten himself into?
*~*~*~*~*~*
Kel woke up with a start, the whole dream swirling in her mind, waiting to be sorted out. But one thought remained clear.
Blayce would be there; she would have her chance.
*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: I can never resist a good prophecy. Both that and the dream were fun to write. I hope you like my original characters, Nath and Devdas, they'll both be playing good-sized roles in the story.
I'm really sorry, but I don't think I'll be able to update for awhile. Dreaded exams coming up and I'm carrying a full load. I'll try to get one more update in this month. Sorry...
Is anyone interested in being a beta? Not really for grammatical or spelling errors, but for plot holes, in-character-ness,, kind of like a consultant. I'll try not to ruin any parts of the story for them.
As always, thank you bunches to everyone who reviewed. Everyone is so supportive, so I will try to reply:
Briar's Gurl: My first reviewer! Thank you for your comments. Not saying that this will K/N, but I have no qualms about how long they've been friends. I know people who have done that, and their relationship worked fine, still is.
Ispreno: I've already said this, but thank you for the MS Word tip, I'm computer illiterate and for your wonderful comments.
Wake-Robin: I'm glad you thought the bracelet was cute, I was afraid it would be a little corny. Thank you for the comments! I'll try to update soon.
Miss Claire: I'll try to be quick, thanks for the enthusiasm!
SeaDragon: I wish I could answer everyone's questions about the shipping, but it would ruin it! Thank you for the review, though. Sorry I can't answer your question.
Magickal waterfall: You know I can't answer that : ). Thanks for dropping the review!
Caitlin: Thank you very much!
Kelly Masbolle: I'm sure your writing is just as good! Thanks for the comment!
fireangel: Here's your update. Thanks a bunch for reviewing.
Rezi: Thank you!
Lady Emmi: Though it was a bit hard for me, thank you for your opinion. I can tell you took the time to think about what could make my story better. I hope this answers your question about Neal's odd knowledge. I will try to cut down on extraneous stuff, but a lot of it isn't and I'd like to build a good, solid plot. Comparing me to the Search for the Six (great story), I don't think I quite deserve that compliment.
Thank you again!
The Dreaded Rainbow Man: I love your name, by the way. Thank you for the compliments! I do put thought into my writing style and TP's characters, and comments like yours remind me why. Jon is one of my favorite characters; I'm glad that I captured him so well in your eyes. Thank
you!
Thanks to everyone who read, too, feel free to drop a review.
meghna