AN: Hello all! Here is chapter 8, ready and wating for you to read it. So without any delay: Read away! (Haha that rhymed!)
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The room they entered was complete with everything Tanya thought of when she thought about the Shang. Along the wall were racks and racks of every weapon imaginable and the floor had mats for tumbling. There were two people already in the room, a tall dark skinned man with a shaved head and cold features and a younger woman, who looked to be from Scanra but her face had been horribly burned and scarred and it was hard to tell from what country she originated. They stood facing each other, holding long staffs and alternating attacking and defending. "Khalon, Synnove," the second woman said sharply. They stopped in mid-swing and turned to them, bowing at the Elders. Synnove also bowed at Griffith and Kylaia but Khalon glared at them with his eagle like eyes. They followed the Elders to the back of the room where there were four large chairs that the men and women in black and white promptly sat down in.
"Now down to business," the first man said. "What has brought you home after so long?" Kylaia and Griffith exchanged glances.
"Many things," Kylaia answered. "The primary being Tanya here." The second woman looked at her companions.
"You realize Kylaia that she is too old to begin training?" she said, stating the obvious as though it wasn't.
"Yes, I do. But I never said begin training. She has been training with me for close to two years," Kylaia finished smoothly, never missing a beat as she lied to those she had sworn an oath to. Tanya's eyes widened but she managed to get her facial expression under control as the Elders looked to her.
"And why has she not been brought to us before this?" the second man said sharply. "You know all new apprentices must be registered." Kylaia nodded and ducked her head.
"I know Elder Daishaun, and I am sorry." Tanya could barely keep a straight face and she did not want to laugh. She wanted to cry. Kylaia and Griffith were taking great risks to keep her with them, great risks and the last thing Tanya wanted was for them to get hurt. She looked up quickly when Kylaia began speaking again. "I hope that you can find it in your hearts to forgive me and not punish me too harshly for my rash decisions."
The four of them looked at each other and the tall redheaded woman smiled. "Do not worry Unicorn; we are too happy at your return to punish you. She has been brought here now, and that is all that matters." Kylaia sighed in gratitude.
"Thank you Elder Quida," she said bowing to the woman, and then to the other three. "Elder Lilka," she nodded at the shorter copper skinned woman, "Elder Daishaun," to the very muscular tall Scanran and "Elder Reidar," to the average height man with long, long chestnut brown hair, who received the deepest bow. The four men and women nodded and Kylaia and Griffith nudged Tanya who looked up at them before bowing hastily. The redhead- Quida? - laughed and motioned their departure.
They left the room, going through a door that Tanya had not noticed before and emerging into a long hallway with many doors on either side. Kylaia and Griffith seemed to know where they were going though and they led the way down through the hallway. Tanya and Tarak followed both avoiding looking at each other and behind them were Khalon and Synnove also following behind Tanya and Tarak, talking quietly. Tanya struggled to hear but their voices were drowned out by the noise made on the rock floor by her and Tarak's footsteps. The four Shang made no more noise than a mouse. When Kylaia finally stopped she whispered something in Griffith's ear. He nodded and continued walking down the long hall, finally opening the door at the end and disappearing. Kylaia opened the door for Tarak and Tanya and they scurried into the room. Tanya glanced behind them when she didn't hear the door close and saw that Khalon had grabbed Kylaia's arm and was whispering to her when suddenly Griffith reappeared beside him. His face was tense and guarded as he muttered something to Khalon. A look of pure hatred crossed Khalon's face and he glared at him as Griffith brushed past him and into the room, pausing briefly to whisper in Kylaia's ear. She nodded to him and smiled slightly. Khalon noticed and spoke harshly. She turned back to him, fire briefly flaring in her eyes before she turned and slammed the door shut. Synnove had watched the entire exchange in silence, much as Tanya had. She gave Tanya an unreadable look as the door was closing.
When Tanya turned around the Shang Unicorn and the Shang Griffith were talking quietly. Kylaia's expression was one of regret and some anger while Griffith's was full of hurt and frustration. Tarak watched them, his expression cold and distant as always. Finally Kylaia spoke quite fiercely and Griffith turned away, quickly masking his distress. "Umm, Kylaia?" Tanya finally voiced, hesitantly. "What are we going to do now?" The short dark haired woman turned to her.
"We wait," she answered simply, and walked through the door connecting another room to theirs. Griffith looked at her and Tarak for a second as if judging something. "Stay here," he ordered quietly and he followed her. Once the door shut quietly Tanya turned in a circle, surveying the room. There was one large bed; it looked as though it would fit four or five people. There were two arm chairs that looked overly stuffed but still quite comfortable and a small table with three wooden chairs. In the far left corner, near the door that Kylaia and Griffith had exited by there was a bookshelf and a desk with parchment and quills neatly arranged on the top. After her quick glance she sighed heavily and glanced at Tarak who just stared back. She motioned her head towards the door, a signal that she wanted to eavesdrop. Tarak sighed and shook his head, moving and standing between her and the door.
'Please,' she begged silently but he didn't move. "Fine," she answered quietly and went to sit on the bed and pout. But after only a few minutes she was incessantly bored and she turned around and jumped when she realized he was right behind her. "Hi," she whispered quietly. He only stared at her but a small smile tugged at his lips. She took that as encouragement. "So do you know what that was between Khalon and Kylaia?" Tarak's face tightened and she could see his entire body tense up. "You do know!" she exclaimed and he motioned harshly for her to shush. "Sorry," she said, much more quietly and a blush creeped into her creeks. Then she frowned at him. "Please tell me," she pleaded. He sighed deeply.
"Khalon is the Shang Stormwing," he began. He is around 44 or 45 now I think," said Tarak gruffly. Tanya gaped at him.
"How did he get that old? From what I have learned most Shang Immortals don't like much past 30. I mean I can't believe that Kylaia and Griffith have lasted this long." When she said that Tarak began to laugh, a coughing slightly wheezing laugh but it was the first time she had seen him smile nonetheless laugh. When he finally got control of himself he cleared his throat.
"Khalon does not travel," he wheezed. "Unlike most Shang who rove the world he has stayed here for the past 17 to teach young apprentices and send them off with Shang Masters when he feels it is there time. He taught Kylaia," he said quietly. "But that was back when he still traveled. He took her as an apprentice when she was 12. Taught her everything she knows now," he stopped and stared at the ground for a few seconds. Tanya simply stared at him, waiting for him to go on. Finally he did. "After she became the Unicorn she stayed with him for awhile, about 2 more years I would say and they became lovers." Tanya's eyes widened. She had not seen that coming. "But there was more love on his part than there would ever be on hers and one fateful day they returned here." Suddenly he stopped and looked over his shoulder. Kylaia and Griffith stood there. Kylaia's face was full of fury and she looked as though she was ready to pull her hair out. Griffith's face was one of resignation as though he could care one way or the other.
"That is enough," Kylaia said curtly. "Tarak I think you are getting quite hungry. Maybe you should go to the kitchens and eat," she phrased it as a suggestion but her tone left no room for an answer much less an argument. He nodded quickly and shot Tanya a look that she couldn't read. She frowned at him and he sighed before glancing back at Kylaia and hastily exiting the room. Griffith let out a sigh and made as if to sit down on the bed beside Tanya but Kylaia stopped him. "What are you doing?" He stopped mid-sit and slowly straightened. Having been with them for awhile Tanya knew he usually would have just sat down and laughed at her but they both knew that right now was not the time to annoy her. He just stood there, watching her uncertainly. Finally Kylaia spoke.
"Tanya what Tarak was telling you about… it wasn't…. it wasn't exactly what I would call the best choice I ever made," she began and Griffith's head spun to stare at her. She continued hastily, "Being with Khalon I mean… not what happened later…" she slowly trailed off. Griffith sighed impatiently.
"She left him for me is what she is trying to say," he said harshly. "And Khalon never forgave either of us." Tanya just sat there and listened to them begin to argue, Kylaia occasionally defending Khalon and Griffith ruthlessly condemned him. Finally they both seemed to realize that Tanya was sitting there, watching them expectantly. A slight blush spread across Kylaia's cheeks and she turned away. "Come on Tanya, we had better go and work on that left kick of yours." Tanya took a quick glimpse at Griffith who was now sitting on the bed with his face in his hands and sighed before following Kylaia out of the room.
The next week passed by in a flash. Except for the time she accidentally walked in on Kylaia and Griffith murmuring hasty apologies while kissing furiously and ripping each others clothes off nothing very exciting happened. She continued to work with Kylaia and they were occasionally joined by other Shang masters or apprentices. The most memorable of those times was when Kylaia brought out a short sabre for Tanya to begin to work with and Khalon and Synnove joined them. Eventually Khalon challenged Kylaia whose lips pursed so tightly they were ringed in white but she accepted. Within one minute every Shang apprentice and even some masters came running. One Shang Immortal fighting another did not happen very often and everyone wanted to see it. Khalon and Kylaia however stopped noticing everything going on around them the minute their sabres touched. Kylaia was doing most of the attacking, jumping nimbly from foot to foot as she danced around him searching for an opening. Khalon's eyes glittered dangerously and Tanya shivered at the malice she saw in them. He continued to stay on the defensive, never moving his sword except to block hers. Finally Kylaia found a small gap and managed to nick his shoulder. He snarled and then the real fight began. Khalon no longer stayed defensive, now he moved as fast as Kylaia did or faster. Their swords began a blur of motion as everyone in the room held their breaths. Then suddenly Kylaia was on he floor with Khalon's sword pressed to her throat, the movement so fast that none of them had seen what had happened.
"That is enough," came a strong commanding voice and everyone in the room turned to see Elder Quida in the doorway her face a mask of indifference while her voice held anger and impatience. Everyone in the room began to bow hastily but she wave them off impatiently. "Everyone will be gone by the time I count to three except for the Unicorn, the Stormwing and their two apprentices. One…" but she didn't have to continue, most of them had scattered when she had begun to talk. "Good," she said, a hint of satisfaction entering her voice. "Now," Elder Quida continued more sternly, "why do I have two of the best warriors in the entire world play-fighting pettily when they should be teaching their apprentices to do so?" Kylaia looked down but Khalon didn't move, he just continued to stare at her. When none of them spoke the tall red-headed woman sighed deeply. "Kylaia get up." The short raven haired woman hastily sprang up 'accidentally' nudging Khalon as she did so. Elder Quida just rolled her eyes. "You two are going to sort this out now," and with that she left the room the way she had entered, making no more sound than she had when she had arrived unseen, her long white robes fluttering in unfelt winds.
Tanya turned her head to Kylaia who was now glaring at Khalon. When he opened his mouth to speak she interrupted him. "No. Don't even start," she said gruffly and put her hand on Tanya's shoulder. "Come on Tanya, we are going now." Khalon just watched them leave in silence until the door was closing.
"Wait!" Khalon's voice came from behind them. Tanya turned immediately and found herself looking up at the tall dark man while Kylaia turned much more slowly. "Elder Quida told us to sort this out. Shouldn't we being doing that?" Kylaia looked into his eyes for a moment.
"There hasn't been anything to sort out for 17 years Khalon. You messed up. We are nothing anymore and we never will be. I'm sorry," she whispered the last and turned on her heel before continuing down the hall. Tanya hesitantly glanced at Khalon quickly before following Kylaia. When they arrived back in the room Kylaia began to pull together all of her belongings and threw Tanya's to her. "Pack," she said icily. "Now." And she left the room, slamming the door behind her. Tanya was frozen in place for a few seconds, trying very hard to sort out the complicated puzzle in her head when she remembered what Kylaia had said and hurriedly began to gather her clothes and the other small things she had acquired in her short stay here. By the time Kylaia returned with Griffith and Tarak in tow Tanya was sitting on the bed with her bag looped over her shoulders. "Wait there," Kylaia ordered, her voice still laced with icy resignation. Tanya nodded and watched as Griffith and Tarak prepared there own possessions.
Once they were all ready Kylaia led them out of the room and down the hall. They exited through the doorway at the end of the hall and Tanya found herself in the room where she had first spoken to the Elders. They then went through the door and into the main room. Tanya felt hundreds of pairs of eyes following them as they wove through the masses to the seemingly solid rock wall through which they had originally entered. When they got there they were suddenly stopped by Elder Lilka and Elder Daishaun.
"Where are you off to so soon Kylaia al Jmaa?" the small copper skinned woman asked. Her dusky brown hair spilled out from underneath the hood of her robe, and it rippled as she bowed her head. "You have not been home in so long. Do you really wish to leave us so soon?" Kylaia bowed to the Elder.
"I am sorry Elder Lilka. I wish I could stay but there are certain things I must see to," Kylaia answered quietly, the ice only now completely gone from her voice. "I will return when I can." Elder Lilka nodded with a small smile and stepped back. They Kylaia opened her mouth to begin the song but now Elder Daishaun stepped forward.
"And you Griffith Gideon," he began. "Do you still come when she calls like a hunting dog to its master?" he asked in his gruff Scanran accent and his voice held some amusement.
"I appreciate your concern Elder Daishaun," Griffith answered through gritted teeth. "But you are right. Where Kylaia goes, I follow." The two Elders nodded if somewhat unconvinced and stepped out of the way to let them pass…
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Carthak 8 Months Later…
He trudged through the darkness, the cold midnight wind of deep winter threatening to knock him over but he continued nonetheless. He had been trudging through the godforsaken snow for what now seemed like a life age and when he noticed a small clearing in the woods, where the trees had sheltered the ground from the snow he gladly took the opportunity to stop. "Come on, hurry up," he called gruffly behind him and the girl hurried to catch up. When they stopped in the small clearing the tall pale girl began to remove the small pack she had strung over her shoulders. "Stay here," he ordered. And I'll try to find some decent firewood." The girl smiled, giving her disfigured face even more of a haunting look.
When he returned he found her taking some salted pork out of her bag and a very small frying pan. "I thought we might have some of this," she said in her lilting accent. He nodded gruffly and began to build a fire. Several hours later he sat beside the fire, keeping watch in the darkness when suddenly she sat down beside him. "What are we going to do now?" she asked hesitantly as if he might get angry at her question. He smiled a cold twisted smile.
"Now we prepare." She brushed her strawberry blond hair out of her eyes and looked at him, confused.
"Prepare for what?" she continued, still speaking as though he might strike her. Not like she couldn't defend herself.
"Vengeance."
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Pirates Swoop Tortall…
Tanya slowly dismounted, glancing around at the ramparts above her and watching Kylaia and Griffith carefully for any sign of danger. Not that she thought there would be any here especially when both the Baron and the Lioness were there. "Tarak?" she asked quietly for they had developed a sort of mutual bond that could not quite be called friendship, but they no longer argued constantly either. He turned his face towards her and she tried for the thousandth time not to wince when she saw the scars covering his face. She was 10 now and if she was still at home she would be old enough to begin page training. Pushing those dangerous thoughts of home out of her mind she turned to where Kylaia and Griffith were dismounting Fayola and Kaida a few seconds before and was startled to see Kylaia embracing a short red-headed woman. Oh my god. That's Alanna the Lioness! she thought excitedly. Even after spending almost a year with two of the best warriors in the world she still wasn't prepared to meet the woman she had been dreaming of meeting her entire life.
"How are you Kya?" Alanna asked the Unicorn, laughing. Tanya frowned. She had never head anyone use that nickname.
"Tanya!" Tarak said sharply and she turned back to him, all thoughts of the question she had wanted to ask abandoned upon the arrival of he idol. "Nevermind," he said roughly. "I can see we won't be getting a comprehensive sentence out of you until you meet her. Go on," he urged her towards the two woman standing in the middle of the courtyard chatting. Griffith stood a few feet away, holding his and Kylaia's horses and watching the two small women with a rueful grin.
"Ummm, Kylaia?" Tanya inquired hesitantly. Kylaia turned to her and for only the third time since she had met the Unicorn Tanya saw real joy reflected in her eyes.
"Oh Alanna," Kylaia jumped in, interrupting the Lioness. "This is my apprentice Tanya," she introduced. Alanna smiled warmly.
"Hello, pleased to meet you Tanya," she greeted. Tanya just stared at her with wide eyes, surprised at how short the Lioness was. She was tall for her age and was barely a foot shorter than the King's Champion. The cordial way that Alanna greeted her surprised her as well. Everyone who lived in Tortall knew a hundred stories about the Lioness's famed temper and bad mouth. Alanna just laughed at Tanya's wide eyed stare. "I know. I'm short for a knight right?" She patted Tanya's shoulder lightly and put her arm through Kylaia's. Tanya watched them walk off, chatting back and forth. "Now Kya, you are going to tell me what you are doing here so soon after your last vist," she heard the Lioness say as they trudged the length of the courtyard but Tanya couldn't hear Kylaia's reply.
"Come on Tanya," said Griffith coming up behind her, carrying his and Kylaia's saddlebags. "Let's go get settled in." She frowned at him.
"Settled in? What do you mean settled in?" When Griffith didn't answer she quickly grabbed her own bags and followed him, jogging slightly. "I thought this was a quick visit!" she pushed. He turned his head to look at her.
"You were wrong," was all he said in his normally bland tone before he nodded to the butler holding the door open for them and followed her through the door. Tanya digested this and stopped jogging, content to follow a few steps behind him, all the while trying to connect this with the other events of the past year…
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AN: So how was this chapter?? Like I promised, characters from the books. Well one so far but trust me, there will be more. This part is set around the end of the middle of Squire, about 2 ½ years after Kel became Raoul's squire, 1 ½ years before the start of the war with Scanra. Just thought you should know that. Anyway I know it took me a month and a half to update but I tried to make this chapter quite long, and I hope it is well written. Thanks again for reading! As always reviews are great! *evil laugh* Especially if you want the next chapter anytime soon… ;-)
3 Saharian
mystic fire demon: Thank you for yet another review! I'm glad that my email cleared everything up for you and just in case anyone else read your review and was wondering the only gift that the mages have is healing. That's it. So yeah… Anyway I really really appreciate your reviews and I hope you liked this chapter, TTFN! S
T-!-F_F : Lol, I'm glad you finished it and I hope you liked it. Did you like this chapter?? I wasn't quite sure about how it would come out and I am very nervous about adding characters of Tamora's because I don't want them to seem out of character. *~* But oh well. Anywhen thanks for your review and I hope this chapter met with your approval!
Talia: Thank you so much! It's always great to hear that people love my stories. This is definitely my favourite out of the two I have on fanfiction and the second of anything I have ever written, second to one of my stories on fictionpress.com. But whatever. Yeah I got over my writers block THANK GOD! It took me long enough. *_* But I'm okay now and I have just updated both of my fictionpress stories and now this so I am in a really good mood! Once again thank you for your review and I hope you liked this chapter!