Hee . Glad someone noticed the little bit of Pirates of the Caribbean. That's, like, one of my favorite movies! Captain Jack Sparrow is the coolest! Whoot!

Yes, I know Kel would probably NOT be that easy but…this is fanfiction, peoples! And besides that, it's MY story!! MINEMINEMINEMINEMINEMINEMINE!!!!! So get over it!

Disclaimer: What do you think?

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Kris opened the door to a dimly lit room. Inside it, the air was thick with the scents of herbs and sickness. There was a bed in the far right corner, and on it lay Lucas, chest rising and falling with labored breathing. He moaned and twitched violently.

Joren swallowed hard. He was a fool to have lied to them, saying he knew how to heal. Why, he couldn't even bandage a scrape! But if he failed, they would blame him…

"Leave me," he said quietly.

"I'm 'fraid I can't do that," the man said. "We dunno if we can trust the likes of your noble bum yet."

"Then the death of your captain will burden your shoulders forever," Joren snapped. "I work alone."

Kris paused, fidgeting as he thought. Slowly he nodded, and backed away. "Very well, then. But if we find poison in his food or water, or a dagger in his heart, we'll blame it all on you."

After one last, menacing glare, he shut the door. Joren shook his head and turned to Lucas.

"Oh, joy," he muttered. "Where can I start?"

First, maybe you should take off those dirty clothes and those makeshift bandages. They'll just get his injuries infected.

Wow…thanks!

"That was weird," he said aloud. However, he moved toward the Black Bandit captain, his hands poised. The man moaned in agony and writhed.

The boy hesitated, then carefully began unbuttoning his shirt. The stink of blood and infection rose to meet him, and he winced in horror. Rapidly switching from breathing through his nose to breathing through his mouth, he abandoned unbuttoning it and began to tear it off in shreds. This was almost as impossible as the buttons were: the cloth kept sticking to the drying blood, and it would come off the skin with a faint rip.

While he took off the man's clothes, he began to think about how this mess came about.

Well, it's mostly your fault.

It is not! I just wanted to rid myself of Keladry!

Exactly…you wanted to take the life of an innocent child.

She's not a child…

She's a fourth-year. She's not a little girl; but she is a child.

My reasons were just!

Your reasons? Just? Ha! That's a laugh. You just wanted to be rid of her so you could be the favorite again. When she was around, she came in first. Always. You're just jealous!

I am not. Everybody would have thanked me!

Everybody would have hated you. Face it, Joren. You only wanted her dead because you're jealous of her.

Not true!

True. Why, you could even have become friends with her. I bet she's a nice person. Everybody else seems to like her.

Go figure.

See? You are jealous!

I am not!

You are too.

You're just a conscience. What do you know?

I'm your conscience, Joren! But I won't argue with you. Your logic is inane and stupid.

"I'm not jealous," he hissed furiously, but this time his head gave no reply.

And he knew Conscience was right.

- - - - - - - - - -

Neal walked to his window, looking up at the sky with sad emerald eyes and wondering if maybe his best friend Kel was watching the same sun. She had been gone for days now…he had long since lost count. Without her sunny face and brightly lit eyes, nothing seemed worth it anymore.

A wry smile touched his lips. He had gone from being her sponsor to her big brother. It was strange to think he had once belittled her behind her back as others had when he first met her. As he got to know her, he stopped. Now she was the world to him, his little sister he could not do without.

"Where are you?" he said to the bush outside his window. "What are you doing now?"

"Neal?"

He did not acknowledge the inquiry, but knew it was his father Duke Baird that entered his room.

"Neal?"

He continued to stare out the window.

"Neal, you have to eat."

"Why bother," he said bitterly, feeling the sorrow constrict in his throat. "It's not worth it anymore."

"Nealan, you talk of Keladry as though she is surely dead! But do you know for sure?"

"Then where is she, Father?" Neal cried, wheeling around. "Where is she, huh?"

"Neal—"

"She's dead, Father," he whispered dully. "She has to be…"

And finally, Neal permitted himself to cry. All those tears, breaking through the fragile damn, spilled over his cheeks in crystal streams as he sobbed for the best friend he ever had.

Baird pulled his son in a tight embrace, resting his cheek on the crown of light brown hair. "It's alright, Neal. But remember this: Keladry is strong. If she is threatened, she won't give up without a fight. Pray for her, Neal. Pray for her life and her strength."

Neal pulled away and looked up at his father with hurting eyes. "I love her, Father." At Baird's stricken look he shook his head. "Not like that, but I love her more than life itself. She's like my little twin—she knows me better than anyone. She's kept me up when I was down, and healed my broken heart too many times to count. She was always there when I needed her most—and when she needed me, I wasn't there!"

Ah, Baird realized with a pang. He's hurting, he's sad, and he's guilty.

"It was not your fault, Neal," he said sternly. His son turned away. "It could not have been prevented. Keladry was kidnapped, that much we know. If you had been there, what would have stopped the kidnapper from killing you? Kel is not dead for sure—but you would have been. And when Kel would have come back, how do you think she would have felt when she realized that her best friend, her bigger twin, was gone? For sure? There's nothing you can do, Neal, except pray for her."

Neal tore away from him, shaking with suppressed sobs. Baird took his cue and finally exited.

He's wrong, the brunette thought suddenly. I can do something.

Neal straightened. I can go after her. I don't know where she is, but I'll find her. And I'll kill anybody who stands in my way.

- - - - - - - - - -

Well…this is interesting. Neal's such a dumbass, you know? It's cute though. No, it won't be a Neal/Kel, so turn back now if you're offended. But Neal will be playing an important part in this story…I think. I haven't got it all figured out QUITE yet. Oh well. I know these recent chapters are awfully short, and I'm sorry, but I can't help it. And I know a lot of you are mad about the lack of the Dark Priests in this chapter. Truth is, I couldn't figure out what should happen next. xx Sorry! Review.