AN: Hey everyone body, I have another chapter. Thank you to all my reviewers. Umm, well I don't really have anything else to say but I'll continue on with this later. All my personal comments to my reviewers are going to be at the end of the chapter from now on.
"Tarak!" Tanya heard Kylaia say sharply. "Don't hurt her." The large man loosened his grip enough that Tanya could move her head. She promptly bit him-hard. He gave an unmanly yelp and let go. Tarak's eyes shot dagger at her as she grinned, showing him all her sharp teeth.
"Stop it," Kylaia said roughly. "We have been around this city looking for you."
"Really," Tanya shot back, "and why would that be? I can find my own 'decent family' to drop myself off with!" Kylaia visibly flinched. Griffith put a hand on both of their shoulders.
"Maybe we should do this somewhere else," he said quietly. That was when they realized they had been shouting and they had gathered an audience of silent Yamani's. No emotion showed on their faces but Tanya could feel amusement in the air. He beckoned to the door and Tarak led the way in, shooting Tanya one more murderous glare.
When they got into the common room Griffith spoke to the innkeeper in Yamani and secured them two rooms. Then he took Tanya up to her and Kylaia's room, practically dragging her and Kylaia who stubbornly refused to talk to each other. He grumbled the entire way up the stairs. Tanya could make out something about stubborn females never to mind stubborn mages even if they were young and something else like he was going to knock their heads together it might knock some sense into one of them at least. If she didn't know better she would have giggled. They got to the end of the hall and Griffith loosened his vice-like grip to throw them into the room. Kylaia didn't go very far and landed on her feet like a cat, Tanya on the other hand slid on her soft boots and landed on the hard floor with a quiet thunk.
Kylaia laughed quietly then seemed to realize that she what she was doing and closed her mouth with a snap and glared at Griffith. "Griffith you have no right to manhandle me in this fashion—," she began but was cut off but him.
"You don't seem to mind it when it's under different circumstances," he shot back. Then he sighed and rubbed his temples. "Could we just not do this now? Please?" Kylaia looked at him, her face set and nodded slowly. "Tanya," he said, turning back to her. She was still on the floor glaring up at them. "All three of us have to talk. Right now."
"Ok, then talk," she said in a sarcastically patronizing tone. Griffith's eyebrows rose at her impudence, but when she looked away he decided to let it go.
"Tanya," he began. "You realize that we can't train you. I told you why. I'm sorry but unless we keep you with as a… a servant I guess would be the best cover, and then take you back to Tortall then the only thing we can do for you is leave you with some people here." She nodded grimly.
"I'd rather return to Tortall," she muttered. He nodded and looked at Kylaia. She glared right back. Tanya noticed the direction of Griffith's stare. "Do you have anything to say about this?" she asked Kylaia sullenly. The Unicorn paused and then shook her head. She and Tanya proceeded to stare at one another daring each other to look away and show weakness. Griffith sighed impatiently.
"Ok look what are you, men?" They turned away simultaneously to stare at him. He just continued on. "Kylaia stop acting as though you are a 5 year old and act like the mature responsible Shang warrior that you are. You seem to be forgetting yourself lately. And you," he said turning to Tanya. "We took you in, saved you and took care of you. The least you could do is show some respect. You owe us that at least." She just looked right into his eyes and shook her head.
"I saved you from the pirates. They would have caught up in half an hour if I hadn't assisted the ship the way I did. You saved my life, I saved yours. I owe you nothing," she said coldly.
Griffith sighed. "Fine, if that's how you want it, fine." He seemed to be fighting an inner battle while he stood there. Finally he straightened up and took a deep breath. "I am going downstairs now to have a nice shot of whiskey with Tarak." When Kylaia began to follow him out he laughed. "Nope, you are staying here with Mistress Tanya and you two are going to talk. Number one Tanya here is going to tell you exactly who her family is or she may be stuck here forever. Then she can see if she has the strength to conjure something up to blow her all the way back to Tortall. Number two you are going to kiss and make up. Be friends." He began closing the door and added, "oh and Tanya if you use magic to open the door I will leave you here with nothing but your clothes and those nobles you stole from Tarak." She stared at him in astonishment and Kylaia looked like she was ready to slit his throat. "Have fun ladies," he said before closing the door firmly. Tanya heard the distinct sound of a key turning in a lock and then footsteps walking away.
She got up and went to the far bed, lying down and staring up at the ceiling. Kylaia began doing punches- well whatever ones she could in the limited amount of space. Tanya felt herself drifting off to sleep, wondering what tomorrow would bring.
She was awoken by Kylaia a few hours later, who was holding a plate of steaming food. Tanya glared at her. "I'm not hungry."
"Neither am I youngling, neither am I," the older woman mumbled. "But Griffith is going to keep us locked in here until we do what he wants so you might as well eat it while it's hot. He's not bringing anymore until morning." Then she perked up. "Unless… you could always," and she waved her hands around to indicate magic.
Tanya snarled at her. "Oh so now you want to me use it. You suddenly decided I wasn't good enough for you to train when you found out I was a mage but now that you need something you want me to be your friend again. Nope doesn't work that way." Kylaia grimaced and turned around, dropping the plate of food on the small bedside table with a thump.
"Fine," she said. "Eat when you're hungry." And she went right back to punching the thin air. Tanya stood up slowly, avoiding a punch in her direction from Kylaia that she was sure was on purpose and went to the food. Picking up little bites of this and that she decided that she didn't mind the Yamani's food. It was better than the stuff from the Copper Islands, that stuff was way too spicy. She picked up speed and soon had almost completely cleared away her half of the tray. With a content sigh she lay back down on her bed and stared at the ceiling again. Anything to watch but look at Kylaia. She knew that if she watched for too long she would want to join in.
About 20 minutes later there was a knock at the door before it was opened, revealing Griffith and Tarak. "Ok. You're not talking so we are here to help this along," Griffith said cheerfully. "I want to leave early tomorrow morning." Kylaia frowned at him.
"Why Tarak?" she asked thoughtfully.
Griffith grinned. "In case we need a referee who can hold you above the ground." The Unicorns eyes widened in anger.
"You wouldn't dare!" she said softly. Griffith just grinned again and sat down beside Tanya on her bed. His expression became sterner. "Sit," he ordered Kylaia. She gave him her haughtiest glare but did sit down on her bed. Tarak stood by the door, no expression showing on his scarred face. "First of all," Griffith began, "I need you to promise something Tanya." She looked up at him and raised her eyebrows. He just looked into her eyes and smiled. "Promise me you will not run away again. Ever." Her expression became sour and she looked away. He gripped her shoulder and spun her head around to look in his eyes. "Promise me."
Finally, reluctantly, she nodded. "Fine ok, I won't run away again." Griffith still looked at her suspiciously but nodded.
"Ok second. It's time for a little trip down memory lane." Both Kylaia and Tanya just stared unconcernedly at him. He turned to Tanya. "You first Tanya." That got her attention as she looked up at him her eyes wide. Ignoring her stare he continued, "So tell us; who are you actually and where do you come from?" He saw her mind processing what he had asked and trying to make something up the Griffins face hardened. "And no lying." Producing a small black stone from his pocket he held it up. "The King of Tortall gave me this. Told me that if it was touching my skin I would see a ring of red fire around those who lied." When she began to speak he interrupted her. "I've known you were lying the entire time, I just never said anything before now. So on with your story." She glared at him and turned around curling up into a ball on the bed.
"No," she said. "I don't have to tell you anything." Griffith laughed.
"Well now I have my first answer. You're a noble. No other self respecting person would be as conceited and pigheaded as you have been acting these last few hours." Tanya sat up like lightning and whirled around. Suddenly Griffith felt himself being slapped by the air. Tarak grabbed Tanya and slapped her-hard enough to break her concentration and as suddenly as it had stared the air stopped. Daggers or air were being thrown between Tarak and Tanya who glared at one another, each hating the other. Kylaia, who had been silent for quite some time, came over and pulled Tanya away by the shoulders plunking her back down beside the now bruised Griffith.
"You listen to me," Griffith muttered. "If you ever, ever do anything like that again I swear on Mithros I will drop you off on the first doorstep we see, regardless of who lives there. Tanya continued to stare at the ground. "Now I want you to stop acting like a spoiled noble bitch and tell us about your past. You aren't leaving this room until you talk.
"haMinch. I am a haMinch," she began very quietly not looking at any of them. "I was born Tatiana but my older brother nicknamed me Tanya because he couldn't say Tatiana. I have been Tanya to my family ever since." Still refusing to look up she continued a little louder. "My father is the youngest of the haMinch brothers and is never going to inherit everything so we lived in Willen, in the old castle there. My mother was a Naxen, I am a young cousin to Gary, the Kings Advisor." Griffith and Kylaia exchanged glances. They had known she was a noble but this? She could be queen one day, well if like 30 or 40 other people died first but still. "When I was 4 I began showing some unusual talents and my parents mage told them that I would be a strong mage, maybe even wear a black robe. When the royal progression went through Willen just a few months ago Numair Salmalin was with them and he tested me too. He only confirmed what the other mage had said. I could and probably would be very strong." Her voice was monotone, almost as if it was someone else's story she was telling instead of her own.
"I wanted to be a knight, like Alanna and Kel but even if she was a Naxen my mother doesn't think like most of the rest of them do. She wouldn't even let me ride my horse or talk to the men at arms after I expressed my wishes."
Finally she looked up and Kylaia could see admiration and fear in her eyes. "That was when I saw a Shang warrior perform for a group of villagers. He was trying to recruit. So I ran away." She took a deep breath. "And I found you."
~*~
AN: There the secret is out. Haha, I personally hate this chapter but that is just me. I know that Tanya comes off as a spoiled bitch but that's how I want her to seem. Just in case you were thinking that. But again I really don't like this chapter. I don't know why. But how about you tell me what you think? Just press the little LAVENDER "Go" button down there. I maintain it is purple NOT blue. But oh well think what you will. Lol. Sorry, thanks again for reading and reviews are great.
Saharian
Serpent of Light: *winces* sorry. I know that does tend to happen a lot doesn't it? Ok I promise I won't do it again. And don't worry she won't be helpless for long. I am not going to say too much (because I want to you keep reading the story) but there are only going to be about 4 or 5 more chapters that occur when she young… I think… I haven't written them all yet. But anywhen thanks for your advice, no more knocking out or getting grabbed from behind for at least 3 chapters… No, kidding it won't happen again. Thanks for the review!
Anonymous: Thank you! I'm glad to hear that people like my story. Hope you liked this last chapter….
Queen's Own: You'll die huh? Well I guess I had better update, I wouldn't want to be accused of murder…or assisting in suicide or something like that. ;) Strange I never heard that rule… But I think I got this up pretty quick. Lol, a lot quicker than I had the last chapters up at least!
Kuyaga: Thanks for the review! Yeah I kinda do too…. No just kidding. I have the major plot almost completely worked out, it's just the actual writing of it I have trouble with. Lol, I think everyone does. I like cliffys…. Everyone is always more in a reviewing mood if you end with a cliffly…. But anyway this chapter wasn't a cliffy and I still hope to get reviews..hint hint. Anyway thanks again!