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Justify The Thrill
Chapter 7
Exempt From Sanity



            The small caravan had been traveling cross-country for hours striving to reach the Brindisi oasis before daybreak. There, the band, mainly the thieves, had decided to spend a day and cross the Glama desert by nightfall. It would be far easier to cross during the cool night, though it wasn't necessary to cross at all. Spot had intended to pass through because his guild was familiar with the region and he planned to take the route toward the great city of Ravana. This would bring them just a few miles from Avignon the secret city of thieves, which many of the Rouges were eager to visit.
           

The road to Brindisi was long and treacherous, winding sharply through the brush and woodland. Though it was quite dark as a result of vast expanse of tall trees, the sun's immense heat pounded through the large canopies filling the forest with sticky, humid air. The nobles, Candy especially, had begun to appreciate the tattered clothing the Rogues had given them, for they were far lighter and provided some luxury. However their lack of traveling in such conditions tired them out quickly.
           

Pie led the Convoy alongside Spot, followed closely by Race while Jack and Wolfgang along with their squires struggled to keep up. Behind them rode Blink, Mouse, Hotshot, and Specs who seemed to be amusing themselves with a game. Swifty drove the supply cart with Candy riding in the back, directly behind Racetrack. The rest of the thieves and nobles brought up the rear silently.

Suddenly Swifty murmured something to Spot as he stopped the wagon, jumped out and switched mounts with Pie, then galloped quickly along the trail to where he'd noticed a group of vultures circling overhead.

Spot lessened his pace to a slow trot while Jack took the opportunity to glance behind him. The Rogues had become silent and attentive, ready for action whereas Jack's friends appeared worn out as moans escaped their lips.
           

"Spot" Jack's voice rang out, "I believe it is time to break for camp." The young prince waited a few moments staring intently toward the Rogue leader who gave a snort.
           

"You've got to be kidding me." He began in a frustrated tone without turning toward the prince. "The day isn't half over."
           

"My people are tired; they need to rest. Surely you can see that."
           

"And we need to reach Brindisi before the day's through." Spot snapped quickening the pace once more in an attempt to put distance between himself and Jack.        

A few seconds later he heard a low but familiar whistle, it was Pie's warning signal. Spot whipped his horse about to see that Jack hadn't moved a foot from very place they had spoken.

"Oh for Mithros' sake!" Spot exclaimed. "What to you think you're doing!"
           

"We have to stop, my men cannot go further without rest."
           

"Look, the faster we reach Brindisi, the more time we have to rest before we cross the Glama."  Spot stared the prince down, as the rest of the thieves grew restless behind him.

"You're crazy Spot! You'll tire us to death! Brindisi is a two-day journey we'll never make it in one. It's impossible!"
           

"Impossible." The teen spat. "Ha! Impossible is trying to cross an ocean by horse. Seahorses don't count." Spot added before Blink or Mouse could protest. "However I can assure you, your highness, it is not, nor will it ever be impossible to cross a two day stretch of land in one. It can be done, it has been done, and it will be done."
         

With that the group fell silent the only noise that could be heard was the soft moaning of a gentle breeze passing through and the steady gallop of Swifty's approaching horse. The young thief happened upon the scene in all seriousness. He could almost feel the tension rising between the two leaders who were surrounded by weary nobles and twitchy thieves.

Sighing he trotted toward the center where Spot and Jack were still staring each other down.  "Spot," he began, "we need to talk." After a long pause a sharp response was heard.
           

"What is it?" Spot asked, his eyes never leaving the prince's face.
           

Swifty glanced around at the others indicating his need for privacy. However one look at Spot's impatient face made him think otherwise. "There is a dead coyote a few miles down the trail. A beast much larger and more fearsome than itself killed it. What ever killed it is still there within what I have estimated to be a mile radius."
           

"How does he know all of this?" The squire David wondered aloud.

Bumlets shook his head, "that is besides the point."
           

"What is the point?" Inquired the frustrated Wolfgang.
           

"Yes" Spot agreed, "What are you trying to say Swifty?"  He finally tore his gaze away from Jack's and looked the thief in the face.
         

"It would not be wise to go any further tonight. If we did, we would be putting ourselves in danger of an attack."
           

Spot's fist's seemed to tighten as his eyebrows furrowed in annoyance until he was unable to hold in his fury. Releasing an agitated bellow, the rogue leader sprang from his horse and stomped off into the woodland grumbling a string of vulgar words under his breath.
           

"Ok then" Came Race's less than chipper voice as he slid from his saddle and rubbed his hand together somewhat excitedly, "lets get this camp started!"
           

They found a small clearing nearby and led the horses into it. They group set to work, Swifty unsaddled the horses staying with them a while before going with the other thieves in search of water, food, and rocks. They returned moments later to view great tents in their camp.
           

"Oh how thoughtful!" Mouse exclaimed setting a large bucket of water down, the nobles smiled at the praise. "Now we don't have to search for fire wood!"

Jack and his friends minus Candy, who was asleep within her own tent, stared at her incredulously, for they did not hear any trace of sarcasm in the girl's voice.
           

"These are tents, you know, for sleeping in." David explained standing up from the circle his friends were gathered in.
           

"What do you need those for? We're only in the woods."

The other nobles began to snicker.
           

"Where do you expect us to sleep, on the ground?" Skittery sputtered causing the group to erupt with laughter.
           

"You really don't know what a tent is?" David inquired.
           

"Of course I know what a tent is! They're like portable rooms made of cloth that people buy so they can brag about how tough and experienced they are because when they travel they sleep in cushioned tents. How can someone be experienced with nature when they sleep inside a tent? You get more out of nature by sleeping on the cool ground under the stars."
           

"You honestly enjoy sleeping on dirt with insects, not to mention out in the open where who knows what can get at you?" Jack remarked snidely as Mouse's cheeks burned.
           

"You're making fun of me?" She whispered.

"She's worse than Mush!" Bumlets joked only seconds before Blink, who had overheard the entire conversation, stood protectively in front of Mouse.

"What was that?" He snapped drawing the attention of the rogues.

The nobles silenced, staring at the tall Cascadian boy. "There isn't a problem here, I hope?" A chorus of no followed the question. "Good, then why don't you go away into those little tents of yours since you're so tired."
           

With that said the group dispersed into their respective tents. Meanwhile Itey and Snitch had set up for a fire while Specs began tossing bed rolls to Blink who set them up in a circle so when the lay down, their heads would lie near each other making it easier to converse. Specs and Pie had found edible berries and Race had arranged several large rocks about the would-be fire as seats, all that was needed was wood for the fire.
           

Mush emerged from his tent and timidly sat beside Mouse who instantly blushed.    

"Um, I'd like to apologize about our behavior. It was quite rude and I'm sorry that I laughed at you."

The girl nodded staring out into the trees. "I forgive you," She whispered.

 Mush smiled and stared at the circle of rocks around a patch of dirt where Itey and Snitch had thrown some leaves. "Is that going to be a fire?"
           

"No, Spot'll bring plenty of sticks and twigs back with him. He always does." She giggled.
           

"But maybe we should build the fire now." Hotshot entered the conversation. Standing she moved over toward the tent shared by Jack and David. Squatting down, she inspected the stakes holding it in place. Finally deciding that indeed they were wooden she stood upright once more and gave each a good swift kick causing the tent to collapse onto its inhabitants, who remained deep in slumber.  She collected the stakes depositing them into the stone circle on her way to her seat.

They lit a fire and swapped stories until Spot came through the brush, arms full of branches as predicted. Dropping them into the fire he took a seat beside Race and began discussing travel plans.
           

Spot saw that Blink seemed a bit edgy and soon noticed the noble squire Mush sitting beside Mouse. He raised an eyebrow but decided it was too late to comment and he'd discover what was going on later. For now he sent the group to bed.
           

The thieves lay down to rest and spoke in hushed tones to their neighbors before drifting off to sleep. It was around this time that Mush had returned from his tent in his sleepwear with a bedroll. He set it up beside the fire and made himself comfortable. He lay there for a moment trying to make out the stars through the canopies.
           

Blink who hadn't been able to sleep saw this and smiled. He was could now forgive the boy as Mouse had. With his new found trust for Mush he was finally able to rest deciding that the boy would turn out to be a good friend.

*    *    *

            In their usual spirit when they traveled the thieves were up an hour before the sun.  Swifty attended to the horses, seeming to be very glad to have them around for once.  Spot and Pie were going over several maps of the trails; drawing in the ones they knew of.  Race had dragged Blink along with him to check the supplies and see if anything had been stolen during the night.  Snitch and Itey were off to get water from a nearby stream and refill everyone's canteens.  Mouse and Hotshot were repacking everyone's sleeping rolls and conversing quietly with Specs as he stirred a soupy looking substance over a small fire.

            "So is Spot really planning to go to…" Hotshot trailed off and glanced at the still sleeping Mush, "you know where."

            "I guess," Mouse said, "I wonder what it's like there."

            "Hey that's right, you and Blink weren't there last time, were you?" Specs glanced up at her.

            "No," she mumbled rolling up the last of the bedrolls.  She tossed it to the pile of them, "but I'm really wondering how the hell Spot is going to get them all in there without them realizing where they are."

            "That's easy," Hotshot said, "most people, especially nobles believe that Avignon is a myth.  Nobles are convinced it is because they have never found it, and even if they do they won't know how to get there.  Spot has all the maps."  She tasted Specs' bubbling concoction, "Needs more berries."

            "I think I know how to cook, thank you very much." He looked at her appalled.

            "You think you know how to do a lot of things." She retorted.  She picked up two bedrolls and walked toward where Swifty was tacking up the horses.

            "You're not getting out of it that easy," Specs said, jumping up after her.  She sped up and he chased her over too the other side of the camp.

            "I swear to Mithros, you two," Mouse growled.  She'd been standing on the log Specs was sitting on.  His sudden movement had caused the log to roll slightly, in turn causing Mouse to fall to the ground.  Well, not the ground exactly.  "Ugh, Mush, I am so sorry!"

            "What time is it," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. 

            " A little bit after dawn."

            Mush pushed himself out of the bedroll and began to immediately roll it up.  He added it to the pile and went into his tent to dig out some clothes.

            The other nobles soon began to awake.  Bumlets, Wolfgang, Skittery, Dutchy, and Candy came out of their tents one by one and began to take them down.  It was highly amazing that the large things could be packed so tightly into their bags.

            At the same time the thieves were gathering around the fire.  They instructed the nobles to leave their bedrolls in the pile and they could all pack them when they left.  Specs began to hand out bowls of the berries.

Candy took a seat between Dutchy and Pie Eater.  She mumbled a polite 'thank you' as Specs handed her a bowl.  Eating it made her much more awake.  Suddenly she caught sight of the lumpy, fallen in tent on the other side of the clearing.  "Uhhh…Pie Eater," she began.

"Yeah," He looked up from his breakfast.

"Are," she started laughing, "Are Jack and David still in there?"

Pie nodded, "Hotshot kicked out the stakes to start a fire last night." He turned to Spot, "The sleeping beauties are still out cold."

"I realize that." Spot replied.

Pie gave him a pleading look and Spot nodded.  Pie grinned and licked his lips as he stood up, carefully picking up the bucket of water that was for putting out their fire.  He carried it over and swung back.

"Don't-" Wolfgang tried to stop him.

Pie sent the water careening over the flattened tent.  A second later there were two, very loud screams being emitted from the tent.  The cloth began moving this way and that as the two nobles struggled to get out.

Everyone else was frozen; the thieves by laughter, and the nobles in shock.  The two boys cried out in somewhat of a panic until they were able to find their way out of the tent.

Spot chose this moment to shake his head, "What a waste of water."

Mouse and Blink locked eyes and turned toward the tent, concentrating.  It was hard to be sure what scared the nobles more, having water thrown on them to wake them up, or having it evaporate and refill a bucket in front of their eyes.  The thieves were still in hysterics when the bucket was full again.  A few of the nobles were trying to smother their laughter as well.

Jack moved to examine the tent and noticed the missing stakes, "Who did this?"

"I did," Hotshot laughed.  "Last night too, I'm surprised neither of you woke up and noticed.  We needed wood for the fire.  It'll happen to all of them eventually, so you might as well get used to sleeping outside.  Basically everyone watched it happen."

"What on earth were you thinking," Jack snapped, "Do you have any idea who you are doing these things too.  Nobles and a future king."  He turned to Spot, "And you, condoning this type of behavior, no encouraging it.  I swear that when we return to Tralee I will see to it that your men are all adequately punished for their deeds, and that you have to watch all of it."

Spot's face had hardened as he listened to Jack speak, "I doubt that.  You see Jack I am the one who has all the maps, I am the one who has the power to leave you behind, alone and defenseless around some people who don't take kindly to nobles.  Oh no, not at all.  And don't think I won't.  Your father sent us along to baby-sit you, which I can deal with, but I will not be talked down to by someone who has no experience in real life. Now," He shoved a bowl into Jack's hands. "Shut your trap, have some breakfast and pack that tent.  We're leaving in twenty minutes."

Jack looked like he wanted to say something but restrained himself, something Spot definitely would not have done under any circumstances if Jack had chosen to speak, so it was probably a wise choice. 

Twenty-five minutes later they were all mounting their horses and starting back along the trail.  At least the first fifteen minutes were spent in utter silence.  Even the thieves dared not to make small talk when Spot was in a mood like this.  Snitch and Itey were in the cart today and the fact that they, the most rambunctious of the thieves not saying a word was, well, saying something.  Swifty was riding next to Spot and was eventually the first to speak. 

"Spot," his voice shook.  He stopped his horse.

Spot pulled on his reins and made the horses he was riding turn.  He could tell that Swifty was upset by the sound of his voice, and as much as Spot wanted to be alone with his thoughts he wouldn't ignore his friends.  He met Swifty's gaze and saw him looking down toward the road.  "What is it?"

"It was here, last night.  The coyote.  I saw it with my own eyes, Spot.  That thing was huge.  Whatever moved it must have been, I don't know, bigger than any of the horses."  He squirmed a bit in the horses saddle, "We just need to get moving faster and get out of here."

"Alright," Spot used a gentle voice that was rarely used.  He turned to the rest of the group and yelled to them, "Alright, you heard him, pick up the pace!"

They did so with a renewed sense of urgency, urging the horses faster.  This went on for a short period of time, until they felt that they were out of danger's reach.

Jack had taken the place next to Spot an hour later.  The two of them had not spoken since their confrontation that morning, and neither was looking forward to it.  The loathing they felt for one another was only growing as each day passed by.  The two couldn't wait to be rid of each other, and would make it a long trip for everyone else.

Occasionally they exchanged the briefest of glances, each letting the other know that he was still angry.  The rest of them had fallen into hushed conversations behind them but didn't want to interfere.

They rounded a bend in the path only three hours after they had left camp.  The trees opened several yards ahead, and about a mile away, in the distance, one could see the towers of Brindisi and see carts from other trails.  The company stopped, all looking at the city in wonder.  They'd actually reached it without killing each other.

Spot turned to them.  The thieves all winced; he was smirking.  "Look at that.  Brindisi, only three hours from where we stopped, and we stopped with at least two hours of good light left last night.  If we'd kept going like I said we would have made it here last night and been able to sleep in a nice inn.  We'd have been able to cross the Glama tonight."  He let go of his reins and looked up at the sky, putting his arms out to his sides, "Why me, huh?"

Jack urged his horse into a walk, "Get over it, we're here now."

Spot let out one last aggravated growl and seemed to release all his tension, "Fine."  He kicked his horse hard in the sides, "C'mon guys."  The horse charged down the path in the direction of the town.  The thieves all urged their horses to run, following Spot's lead.  It had been a while since they had brought their goods to Brindisi, and they had old friends to catch up with. 

The noble's didn't see what the rush was about, but didn't mind joining a real civilization again so soon.

"What is your business here?" A man at the gate called out as they reached an ancient archway that marked the city's great entrance.

"Hello Roman," Spot called.  "We've got some goods to distribute.  Looking for lodging too.  We need to cross the Glama tomorrow night."

"You're crazy to be crossing that desert more than once in your life, mister Conlon, many don't even make it across once.  How many times will this make it?"

"Ten."

"And what kind of goods are you bringing in?"

"That is for me to know, not you, Roman."  It was quite obvious Spot and his group knew this man as they were shouting various 'hellos'.

"Stolen, no doubt."

Spot laughed, "Stolen is such a harsh word."  He led them all into the streets inside the wall.

"He was right, unfortunately," David said, begrudgingly, "We could have made it here last night."

"I hate when he's right," Jack mumbled to David and Wolfgang as they steered their horses in through the archway that lead into the busy city of Brindisi.   

A/N: Another chapter up, aren't you happy.  Basically this is that last chapter you will see until about the end of the month.  We both have jobs, and the first football game is Friday night.  Need to practice.  I am also not going to be home the next two weekends and homework is starting to pile up a bit. 

So, yeah, we hope you liked this chapters.  Shout-outs will be done again eventually but I'm to tired from work to do them now so bear with me, maybe next time.  We'll talk to you if we need to use your character 'cause as you see we need a few with names, this does not mean to send in a cc. 

If you liked it review, please review.  We didn't get that many for the last chapter and it was kinda depressing.  The longer the better, and personally I love people who leave run on reviews.  So, I will stop rambling and let you get to reviewing.

Forever,

Exempt From Sanity