Disclaimer: Ok, so Disney owns most of the stuff in here. Hotshot owns hotshot, Blue, Hawk, and Candy and SaL owns Wolfgang and Mouse. Tamora Pierce owns the God Mithros and the gift and any other magic we may use. Blah, blah, blah. You should know the drill by now.
Justify the Thrill
Chapter 5
Exempt From Sanity
Jack looked pointedly at the thieves for a moment as Spot talked down
to Racetrack. He shook his head in aggravation, "Shall we go
then?" He asked, standing, "They're probably waiting for us at the
palace."
Spot stepped forward from the group of thieves, "We'll go when
we're good and ready. Give us a few minutes." He nodded to the
thieves and motioned in the direction of the stairs. They dispersed and
headed to their rooms.
Spot on the other hand walked over to the bar, Jack hot on his tail.
"Where are they going?" The prince yelled, enraged. He
had several other nobles backing him so it may have seemed impressive to most.
Spot just turned to them with a smirk. With a quick wink he
turned to Blue, "So what'd you wanna tell me before we left?"
"You're going to Odessa, right?" Blue made sure his facts
were straight before continuing. "There's a tavern there, the Pernik
Tavern. It's basically Odessa's version of here. My friend Hawk
runs it, he'll help you out. Just tell him I sent you."
"You have no idea how thankful I am for your connections
sometimes," Spot said, "Save our rooms while we're gone."
"Now when have I ever given your rooms away?"
"Well, there was that one time…"
Blue shook his head, "Alright, but if you do stop at that place
be sure not to let the nobles in on it. Keep your gang out of trouble.
I don't want to have to watch out for injured thieves; takes all the fun out of
it."
"I ain't bringing the nobles to Avignon," Spot whispered,
"but it ain't a bad idea to stop there." He looked up to find
the rest of his ranks coming back downstairs, "I guess we'll see you in a
few months."
"Guess so."
As Spot turned from the bar he flashed Jack an I-told-you-so smile and
took the cloak of black material that Mouse offered him. The rest of the
thieves had gathered an assortment of cloaks and weapons. Newer swords,
more arrows, and daggers and things of that nature. "Shall we?"
Spot asked Jack, motioning toward the door.
Jack scowled but reluctantly led his boys out the door, the thieves
falling closely behind and routinely looking around, more aware than the nobles
of their surroundings. Mouse, Race and Spot remained relatively calm as
they entered the palace. Their friends' eyes went wide with awe at some
of the things they saw outside of their usual spot. All the gold and
jewels were exceedingly tempting, but having the nobles right there in front of
them kept anyone from trying, even Snitch.
Several guards greeted them as they entered the east wing. While
most of the thieves, Racetrack included seemed a little on edge Mouse and Spot
did not seem at all thrown by their appearance. The guards and thieves
continued to exchange nervous glances as they proceeded down the hall.
Wolfgang threw open a heavy set of oaken double doors, leading them into a
massive study.
The room was themed in red and gold. Plush chairs and couches
littered the room, and everything shone as though it had just been cleaned.
"This," Jack boasted, "Is one of the palace studies.
My father's office is right upstairs. We're going to have to start
planning your new identities for the trip. I guess you can keep your
color schemes," he shrugged, "but we're going to have to get you some
new clothes, finer materials. I suppose Spot and I will be making up some
titles."
"I guess so," Spot agreed.
"We will be mixing the nobles and the thieves." Jack
all but spat the last word.
"My boys ain't all going to be your squires."
"Did I ever say they would?"
"No", Spot agreed, "But you were thinking it."
Jack rolled his eyes and began to walk toward an opposite door.
"I suppose your men all know what weapons they want then?"
"Us people have our specialties," Mouse put in.
"I apologize," Jack said, not sounding or looking the least
bit sincere.
"We should probably head to the armory then," Wolfgang
quickly interjected. He shot a fierce glance at the prince,
"Skittery, you want to get the door?"
Skittery and Bumlets pulled the heavy doors open. The thieves
gawked in amazement. Lining several walls and tables, as well as
littering the floor were weapons of all sorts, both practice and battle ready.
Daggers, swords, rapiers, spears, and tridents; they all lined the walls.
Longbows, crossbows, and other weapons lined the tables. Quivers of
arrows toppled haplessly to the floor.
These were nothing like the weapons each thief held; even their best
were not this nice. Almost all the weapons held precious gems, gold,
silver, and Mithros only knows what else.
Spot was the first to stumble out of their stupor, "Who's are all
these?"
"My father started this collection when I began my knightly
training…" Jack trailed off for a moment looking at all of them.
It isn't right for one person to own so many weapons, Spot thought to himself.
Jack's squire David picked up where Jack had left off, "King
Adonis collected weapons from everywhere and made a private armory for the
eight of us. We haven't really had a chance to try most of them; just the
practice stuff." He pointed to a table of beaten, inexpensive weapons.
"Yes, that's it," Jack agreed, coming out of his daydream.
"At least one of them doesn't have an ego bigger than this
room," Hotshot muttered to Mouse. She nodded in David's direction as
she spoke.
"Silence," Wolfgang hissed at them while Mouse stuck out her
tongue while Hotshot glared, "We all need to pick weapons for the trip.
It doesn't matter if you thieves bring your daggers and stuff, but it can not
be seen," He glowered at Mouse's belt of daggers as he spoke.
"And just what exactly are you getting at anyway?"
Hotshot defended. "Are you trying to say we don't know how to
travel? Because let me tell you something, we've been to far more
dangerous places further from this kingdom, country even, than all of you
combined." Wolfgang made a move to advance but abruptly turned away
scowling as he caught the Prince's eye.
The ten thieves began to wander the room, looking more closely at all
the weapons. Picking some up and testing them; much to the dismay of two
guards by the door. The squires worked their ways around as well as their
knights, clearing two of the largest tables of equipment.
Spot had chosen only a simple weapon, a small but lethally sharp
dagger. The hilt was a deep black and the dagger itself silver.
Never been used and perfect to fit inside a boot. Even when questioned he
reassured them that the dagger and his cane were enough protection.
Blink had picked up a trident, one that had been given to the king as a
gift from a Cascadian noble. It was a sterling silver trident that would
strap diagonally to his back, the gold tipped points downward. The handle
of Blinks trident was adorned in pearls, a single large oyster shell and was
tipped with and amethyst. It was the very image of things he had seen and
grown up around in his childhood. He also found a strap of daggers,
pearls and shells magnificently decorating them.
Pie Eater, known simply as Pie also picked out a rather large weapon.
To be strapped to his back like an x, point down, were two medium sized
throwing spears complete with gold tips and engraved steel handles. Black
lather surrounded most of the handle but the last foot was only steel, in it
engraved in ancient runes was a message none of them could decipher.
Though they looked thin and frail they were heavy and could easily cause
damage.
Bumlets also
quickly found his weapons of choice. An elegant saber was placed on the
table. It was finely crafted of silver and gold, it's handle wrapped.
Along with it he also placed a long wooden staff. He only did this after
giving it a good spin to test the weight. Either end was capped with
steel to make them heavy.
Mush selected a beautiful rapier. The handle shone gold, several
diamonds sparkling from the handle. It looked as if it had just been
sharpened, the blade long and slender. He grinned and joined the others
by the door.
Snitch and Itey came up to the table simultaneously. They placed
down identical daggers, both jagged with lightly colored handles. Their
other weapons were also very similar. Itey's mace and Snitch's flails
were made form the finest iron. There were black, any points left silver.
Swifty also brought up two weapons. The most elegantly carved
crossbow anyone had ever seen; stained chestnut wood with a newly tightened
string. Also he added a large crossbow, faded to gray to blend with the
woods they would travel through. Along with them he also laid down his
own quiver of hand made arrows.
Candy's crossbow was almost an exact replica of Swifty's, save for the
fact that it was slightly smaller. The red palace arrows and quiver were
also near them. She set an arrow in it, so it would be ready for a test
fire the minute she got it outside.
Dutchy was the first knight to finish. Looking nervous he laid a
large sword on the empty second table. The same gold and silver scheme
was it's coloring but the hilt was wrapped in a gold-colored suede. A
single ruby shined form the place where blade met hilt.
Mouse laid down a strap of Cascadian daggers similar to Blink's.
Hers were tipped with amethyst. A rapier that looked similar to Mush's in
sterling silver was also placed on the table. It was lined with amethyst
and pearls as all Cascadian weapons were.
David also laid a rapier on the table. The gold handle was
littered with light blue gems and there was a star carved into the blade.
It was larger than those of Mouse and Mush but not by much.
Wolfgang chose a back hanger baldric; it was a long sword with an
incredibly wide blade that strapped to his back. The people of Adiana,
where Wolfgang had grown up, commonly used it. It was heavier and larger
than all of the weapons there. Judging by Wolfgang's size he could probably do
considerable damage in one swift swing of the weapon. The sword itself was cast
in silver with gold engravings along the blade; its hilt was trimmed in jewels
as well as a dark green leather grip.
Specs had looked over many weapons and picked up a remarkably simple
one. It was a tall staff made of an unnamable type of wood but silver
curled around the entire outside of the weapon. The top was finely
decorated with rare jewels, emeralds, colored diamonds, and rubies to name a
few. The sterling silver of the sides was also decorated with the same
ancient symbols that adorned several of the other weapons in the room.
Hotshot found her weapons at about the same time. Swifty had
taken a lesser bow and left the better one for her. It was made of ash
and very strong. The string was new and there wasn't a single scratch in
the wood. She laid it alongside a quiver of her green tipped arrows.
She also laid a strap of Muran daggers. They were silver, each black hilt
wrapped in dark greed suede.
Jack removed his sword from his scabbard and placed it next to her
weapons. It was they typical sword of a noble, its golden handle adorned
with jewels of many colors. His initials were also carved into it.
It still looked new, though the thieves all realized he had probably fought
with it before.
Racetrack was the last to pick his weapons. He brought up a belt
lined with throwing darts. They were dark, their pointed tips freshly
sharpened. He also added two bottles of liquid next to them, expectantly
poisons. He laid another belt on the table as well. Crimson
throwing stars from Telc were held on it. The weapons were light, easily
thrown and were the perfect size to hide within the cuffs of his sleeves.
Race had been testing them out as the others picked their weapons.
"That's it then," Bumlets said, "shall we move on to
names?"
"No," Jack insisted. "Spot and I will go upstairs.
We have to discuss this trip with my father. We will prepare the names
and talk with him about how this will be done. Boys take these men and
get some new clothes for them. And Candy, have fun with those two."
He nodded toward Mouse and Hotshot.
With that said Jack and Spot walked side by side out of the room.
This left the rest of them still standing in the armory doorway.
Dutchy sighed, "We should probably get going then. The
seamstress should have something that will fit you." He began
walking toward he door and was followed eagerly by the rest of the boys.
"Come along then," Candy said to Mouse and Hotshot, "I'm
sure I have something that will fit the two of you. This'll be fun."
Candy, Mouse, and Hotshot left the room quietly and made their way up
the stairs. Hotshot took an opportunity and hissed in Mouse's ear,
"Why do I have a feeling we're going to regret this?"
* *
*
The
three entered Candy's room, Mouse and Hotshot made themselves comfortable on
the king sized bed while the owner threw open the ebony doors of her large
closet revealing her fine collection of dresses. The thieves immediately
stiffened exchanging wary glances. "Now lets get started."
The girl squealed with excitement ignoring the looks of horror on the other's
faces.
"Hmmm" Candy began eying the girls before her. Motioning for the two to stand she began taking their measurements and recording them carefully. "Ah-ha! I've got just the perfect dress to match your cloak Hotshot!" She exclaimed disappearing into the walk in closet.
"By the way are those you real names or are they nick names or
what? I mean it sounds funny calling you Hotshot and Mouse as though they
were a real names like Catharine or something. Oh where is that dress!
I hope I didn't throw it out."
They heard her comment from the confines of the closet as she
desperately searched for a dress.
"What about Candy? I mean I haven't heard of any nobles named
Candy before." Hotshot responded truly hoping the Lady had lost any
dress she wished to give her.
"Good point. Hey, here it is! I found it!" The
noble exclaimed emerging with a long forest green gown. "Here try it on
for size and if it fits you can wear it the remainder of the day!"
Plastering a fake smile on her face, the thief accepted the garment
cringing inwardly as she went into the Lady's dressing room.
Hotshot emerged minutes later and stood awkwardly before the enthusiastic noble and smirking thief. The dress was elegant in its simplicity, with gold piping on the sleeves and stylized neckline perfectly highlighted the solid print. The sleeves of this sateen dress flared to bring extra attention. It fit Hotshot perfectly much to her dismay.
"It's perfect! You look beautiful in it Hotshot! Now
all we have to do is fix your hair. Not that there's anything wrong with
it but you'll look better in the dress if you let you hair down."
Candy praised.
"Yeah, you look beautiful." Mouse managed before
erupting into a fit of giggles.
"Shut up Mouse, you're next." And indeed Mouse did shut up
taking on a fearful look, eyes growing large. "But, but I am wearing
a dress. Can't I just keep this one it's my favorite!"
"Well of course you can keep it," Candy began "You just
can't wear it is all. No offense or anything but Lady's don't wear dress
that revealing."
"It's long sleeved!"
"Yeah, but the skirt is way too short for any self respecting
noble woman."
Scowling Mouse plopped on the bed crossing her arms and mumbling
something about unfairness. Hotshot on the other hand wore a smirk,
almost identical to the one Spot usually held.
"Now let me see… hmmm yes I think I know the prefect color to
compliment your pale complexion, now to find the right dress." And
with that Candy vanished once more among her dresses. Seconds later she
came back with a pale purple dress trimmed in silver made from flowing delicate
fabric. "This used to be my favorite dress. It'll be just
perfect for you."
Mouse sulked into the dressing room to put it on, after fifteen minuets
or so Candy was called in to help with the lace up back. Overall her new
dress was long and elegant, featuring a scooped neck and a slight train. A
silver rope encircled the waist loosely and both the neckline and sleeves were
adorned by a silver trim.
"Wonderful! You both look like real nobles now! You just
make yourselves comfortable while I change into my dress and we'll put the
finishing touches on."
"Finishing touches?" Hotshot questioned. "You mean
there's more?"
"Uh-hu! Well, we have to do you're hair and make up, and
you'll both need a pair of slippers. Boots aren't for dress especially
gowns like yours."
After Candy entered the dressing room Hotshot turned to Mouse and the
two began complaining. "I don't know about you," Hotshot was
saying "but I didn't sign up for this."
Mouse nodded in agreement before adding to the conversation.
"No kidding! And what are these nobles thinking anyway? With
these fancy outfits we'll never make it to Odessa without drawing attention and
suspicion."
"Obviously they haven't traveled alone much. If we're gonna get there we have to travel our way. We can dress like lords and ladies when we arrive." Hotshot hissed back to her friend.
"I'd rather not dress like them at all, but I guess if we have to work
together we need to compromise." Mouse concluded dismally.
Candy came bustling in moments after the two friends had finished their
conversation. In one hand she carried a decorative gold belt and in the
other two pairs of slippers. The Noble was wearing beautifully flowing
champagne colored dress with faux fur and silver trim. The sleeves were
three quarter length featuring long flared sleeves. She wore matching
champagne colored slippers trimmed in silver and lined with faux fur. To
complete her divine outfit was a lined, full length, fawn colored, satin cloak,
complete with faux fur around hood and the silver crest of Salso on the back.
Lady Candy's blonde hair was delicately curled and pulled half up, leaving the
other half falling about her shoulders.
"I almost forgot to give you this Hotshot!" She
exclaimed sliding the belt around the thief's waist. "I never wore
the dress without it! There now both of you brush you're hair out and put
on these slippers while I do your makeup."
She handed Hotshot a pair of gold colored slippers lined in matching
forest green fur, to which the Lady explained that she had all of her shoes
custom made to match each dress. Mouse received a pair of sliver slippers
lined in fur dyed pale purple as well as a new cloak because the one she owned
'simply didn't match'. Mouse's new cloak was along the idea of her
slippers it was a sliver colored satin cloak lined in pale purple fur.
When Candy had finished the makeup she worked on their hair. For
Hotshot she enhanced its already wavy style and pushed it behind her ears
leaving two strands in front to frame her face. When she got to Mouse she
decided to make two thin braids both starting just above the ear. Then
she joined the two together with a thin strap as the extra-unbraided strands
fell and blended in with the rest of her hair. She then took a single white
rose and pinned it to the strap that held the braids together.
Finally Candy stood back and examined her work. The other girls squirmed a bit under her scrutinizing gaze. Normally they wouldn't be bothered by, it but they just weren't used to wearing such fine gowns. Add that to the fact that they felt a bit out of place.
"Just a minute." Candy finally spoke rushing toward her
vanity table where her prized jewelry collection was held. She drew out a
beautifully hand carved, white ebony box engraved with the crest of Salso.
From this she took a gold brooch and approached Hotshot once more.
"You just can't wear a brass cloak pin with such a beautiful outfit."
Lady Candy explained to the protesting girl as she replaced the cloak pin with
her gold brooch.
"Let's see we're gowned, cloaked, accessorized I think we've
covered everything. Now we'll return to the weapons room and figure out
how we'll attach them."
"What about our clothes? I told you that dress was my favorite!"
Mouse whined.
"Oh I'll have them packed for you. Don't worry about
it." Candy led the girls out of the room bursting with excitement.
"Oh I can't wait to show the guys!" She squealed, "You
look so pretty in your dresses! Just imagine their reactions! They'll be
so shocked, I bet they faint!" She giggled.
Hotshot and Mouse exchanged glances and finally decided that it would
be amusing to have Spot and their friends gawking at them. As they
entered the armory they noticed that the boy's weapons were missing.
"Wow the three of us took that long to get ready! They already
changed and have their wepons." Mouse thought out loud.
Candy just shrugged, "Well it takes time to look beautiful."
As if she had spoken some magic words the door on the other side of the
study opened and the boys walked in. Each was dressed similarly to what he had
been upon leaving the room, but even from far away one could tell that the
fabrics were finer and less worn. Some were styled a bit differently, not
so much though that you could not tell them apart by colors.
They all halted about three feet from the girls. The noble's had raised
eyebrows and the thieves were doing little less than smirking.
Ever the ladies man Blink was the first to speak, "Well you ladies
look lovely." His eyes were dancing with laughter and behind him
Race was trying to contain fits of giggles.
"Thank you Blink," Mouse said sincerely as Race opened his
moth to add in. "Race, you've gotten into enough trouble for one day, so
stop while you're ahead.
Hotshot approached the group of Swifty, Pie Eater and Specs glaring at
all of them. "Don't say a word," she ordered.
"C'mon, Hotshot you look nice." Specs argued.
"I look like a freakin' lady."
Pie grinned widely, "I'm pretty sure that was the point."
Bumlets was standing with Skittery. Though he was Skittery's
squire it was only for a short period of time and they acted as equals.
Both of them were almost laughing at the thieves' women. It reminded them
of how Candy acted outside of the palace and all confinements.
The room went quiet when the doors opened again. Spot and Jack
walked in, the latter holding a slip of parchment, followed by two servants.
The servants left boxes, presumably the thieves' clothes on a table and left.
Jack and Spot looked over the newly dressed thieves. Jack smirked
as a comment came to mind when he saw the girls. "Will you look at
that, they almost look convincing. And look at the skirts those two are
wearing. They look female now." His eyes lingered a bit longer
than necessary on what Candy had found them, "Probably couldn't fight for
their lives though."
Hotshot had had it when he made the comment about them being unable to
fight. It wasn't hard for Jack to piss her off and she personally didn't
care. She stepped forward and swung a punch into his face. One of
Spot's friends found it convenient to hold her back after she'd punched him.
"You'd think nobles would learn faster than that," He said,
"Don't mess with her. She won't hesitate to beat you into the
ground.
Jack hadn't received the full force of the hit, he'd turned his face
quickly enough but there was going to be a bruise across his cheek from her.
He just glared bitterly as Spot smirked at him.
Spot motioned for his men to sit. The nobles quickly followed
their action and soon Jack and Spot were the only ones left standing.
"Ok," Spot started, "We have been talking with King
Adonis and worked everything out. We'll fill you in as we leave so don't
worry. Anyway, we worked out who's going to be a knight or squire and
whatnot. After much arguing we eventually got a list. We avoided
leaving two nobles together, except in one case." He nodded in
Jack's direction as he was the one holding the list.
Jack rubbed his cheek lightly before he began speaking.
"Well, since it is my uncle I have to stay a noble, Jack of Tralee is my
title. My squire," he checked the list, "Is Swifty of Viseu,
the rest of you do well to remember your titles. Let's see Wolfgang of
Adiana will remain a knight. His squire will be Racetrack of Telc."
Wolfgang glared in Race's direction and Race glared back. Neither
looked happy about it.
"Skittery of Velda and his squire Snitch of Astrak," Jack continued,
" David, you've been promoted to a knight. David of Rhone. Your
squire is Mouse of Ohaku. Dutchy of Oort, and squire Candy of
Salso," Jack seemed to be getting bored with his list. "Then we
have Pie Eater of Toulon and your squire Itey of Aran. Kid Blink of Ipel
and his squire Mush of Caldera. Let's see, who's left," He flipped
to the back of the page, "Next knight is Specs of Kiel and his squire
Bumlets of Gibral."
Specs and Hotshot turned to one another as realization dawned upon
them. Hotshot turned back to Jack and the only other person who had not
yet been named in the lists of knights and squire.
"Oh hell no…" she started.
"Finally, Spot of Pernik and his squire Hotshot of Mure."
Hotshot muttered a very unladylike word that made Spot raise an eyebrow
at her, and Candy to gasp. She opened her mouth to complain to him but he
spoke first.
"All of these are final. We argued them for quite a while
and I am not in the mood to redo all of them. I don't care who complains.
Now, since I don't trust the nobles quite enough yet three of you are staying
at the tavern tonight. Mouse, Specs, and Itey, you three are going.
Jack has found rooms for the rest of us. You three, we'll talk before you
leave about where to meet tomorrow."
"I don't have to go like this, do I?" Mouse griped
motioning to her dress.
"Do you want to?"
"What do you think?" The girl demanded drawing a chuckle from her leader.
"No you really shouldn't wear it unless you plan on getting
jumped. That goes for all of you, wear your clothes and you'll change
back when you get here."
The thieves and the nobles separated into their two groups while Spot
began hissing orders into the ears of the three that were leaving, leaving the
other six out entirely. "Don't forget the stuff I told you to bring,
it's important," He said as they walked out the door.
It was then that Hotshot started in on him. "What was that Spot?
You put me with you, and him with some noble. Then you send him out of
here for the rest of the day. What is this, some kind of joke?"
"Hotshot," Spot insisted, "just be quiet, I know what
I'm doing. If I put you two together there'd be issues. Do we have
to remind you of that time-"
"Don't go any further with that sentence."
"Alright, but don't feel bad, I split everyone else up too."
"Yeah," Race agreed, "Just look how screwed I am.
I get stuck with Mr. Macho I-can-kill-you-with-a-glare over there. I
mean, Mithros, the guy already hates me."
"Which should make the trip interesting," Spot smirked,
"and the rest of you got split up 'cause we need to not all be together.
The nobles are gonna want to make sure we don't mess anything up and we're
gonna make sure they don't."
"Uhhh… yeah," Swifty started, "Spot I was thinking about that
earlier. Do you know how many times we're going to be stopped on the road
to Odessa wearing these clothes? We look like a band of sophisticated,
worthless nobles. And look at what Candy dressed Hotshot and Mouse in;
they look helpless, and none of this is going to be good for hunting and stuff
in. They'll be ruined before we get there."
Spot nodded in agreement, "Exactly why I sent those three out.
Keep the boxes with your old clothes and pack them in the morning, take care of
the others' stuff too. I'm taking care of providing clothing and an
incentive for the nobles."
"Hey Spot!" A yell came form the door.
Their leader's head snapped up and he met Wolfgang's gaze from the door. The nobles were all assembled there.
"What?"
"Come along, we'll show you to your rooms for the night."
The nobles traveled throughout another corridor stopping at intervals
to show two of the thieves their room. Racetrack and Spot shared a room,
though Race was afraid of being murdered in his sleep. The other rooms
were for Snitch and Kid Blink, and Swifty and Pie Eater. Hotshot was
rooming with Candy as it was not right for a woman her age to be anywhere near
her friends.
They had dinner in Spot and Race's room while they discussed plans for
the trip. Only in what the thieves needed to do to survive it though.
They agreed not to tell the nobles about the special powers any of them had.
They already knew Mouse and Blink were Cascadian, and Mouse was doing this
weird thing lately, but a few of the others had talents they didn't know about.
They knew Dutchy and Wolfgang had the gift but were content with the fact that
they were the only ones to possess magical powers of any kind.
It was much later that night when they split up to sleep. Each made themselves comfortable in the room in which they were staying. The sheets on the beds were silk with feather pillows. It was heaven compared to what they were used to. They almost felt bad for the three who had been volunteered to leave. Reluctantly they tried to sleep; tomorrow would undoubtedly be a long day, and they would need to be rested and ready.
A/N: Another chapter done. The sad thing is we thought we'd have this done by the end of the summer. We were most definitely wrong. This story will probably be going well into next summer. Seeing as both of us work and do band related stuff until Thanksgiving the chapters will probably come pretty slowly, but we'll try to get them up for you. We're having a blast writing this too.
Thank you so much for all the new reviewers last time and please continue to do so.
So yeah, as usual it is me, Hotshot, finishing these off. My lovely job to do the final edit and post. I'm bored and no one's home this afternoon so I figured I'd do shout-outs to all the people that have reviewed because I realized we haven't done any yet. So starting form the beginning.
Shout outs:
Morning Dew: I'm glad you're going to be around to hear from throughout this. And it's really great to hear that our story is well written and stuff. Yeah there are some issues with spacing that we fixed. As for the ones remaining where there are sometimes bigger spaces with no stars. My computer doesn't like me so it happens for no reason. And as for Spot and Race, those to should provide further entertainment throughout this whole thing.
Raven46: Another fan of Jack and Spot. ::claps hands over face:: Anyway, we completely forgot that people usually expect a casting call when this came up and we filled all the spots so sorry. I'm glad you're enjoying the story though.
Carridwen4: Glad you like Spot. Both of us like to play around with his character. Tamora Pierce is cool and she already made up these certain kinds of magic so it helps.
K Julie S: Don't make me write all that out. Glad you like the characters and story. Again sorry about the casting call.
Jacky Higgins: Glad to find another Tamora Pierce fan. Those books are all so good.
Shot Hunter: Spot + Race = comic relief. Though that might change to Race and Wolfgang pretty quickly. Glad you're enjoying it.
Shade: ::nudges SaL:: see I told you we're loved. ::removes all sugar within reach of Shade:: You definitely don't need anymore of this, unless it will make you review again, in which case you can have it back.
Spider Chick: I think unusual is a good thing in this genre. Anyone can do the whole boy meets girl thing. So hopefully unusual = well liked.
Ok, I'm done with that. We'll try and get these done more often. New chapter will be up hopefully within the next three weeks or so. ::cringes at the sound of that delay:: I know it's a long time, sorry, we'll try for earlier.
Forever,
Exempt From Sanity
