"Excuse me, your majesty?" Kel said, disbelieving.
Jon frowned. "Now really, Keladry. It is quite simple. You are to go to Scanra and kill Maggur! Now," He said, settling in, "this is going to get more complex. You are to travel to Scanra, track down Maggur, and kill him. But you're not doing it with an army."
Kel raised her eyebrow. "I'm not?"
Jon shook his head, his look more serious than through the entire talk. "No. You will do it alone. There will be no storming of the castle, no siege, nothing! You will walk the road to Scanra alone. You, and your sparrows will go to Maggur, and you will kill him!"
"Why am I here?" Dom asked quietly.
Jon sighed. "When I sent the message, I was not sure if I was going to send you completely alone or not. I was going to send two people, but I changed my mind."
"Why?" Dom demanded.
Jon frowned. "I shouldn't have to explain this to you." He sighed. "But I know you will persist. I decided that secrecy was too important. Absolute silence, and if Kel is not alone, she will not always be on her guard."
"But if she's alone, what does she do when she goes to sleep? She will have no one to keep guard!"
Jon opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. "That's true." He said quietly.
Kel looked at them. "Your majesty, I would feel more comfortable having someone watching my back. It would probably help."
"I have lost all authority in my kingdom." Jon said sharply.
Kel and Dom glanced at each other. What were they to say to that?"
"I will leave you two to decide. Don't feel you have to tell me your final decision. I'm only the king!" He stood up. "Kel, you two need to make this decision tonight. You leave in the morning."
Kel and Dom stood up and gave a little bow.
Jon bowed his head with a jerk. "Good day." He said, and walked out the door.
Kel walked to the door. She turned back to Dom. "I have to think about this."
Dom reached out and took her hand. "Kel, I understand that, but I don't think you should do this yourself."
Kel shook her head. "Just let me think about it, okay?"
He nodded. "I'll come by your room later tonight, alright?"
Kel nodded. "Fine." She walked out.
Kel walked slowly back to her room. This was too much. She could understand that they kept making her run the camp, and lead expeditions, she knew she was good at that. But how could they expect her to go to Scanra by herself? By the time Dom arrived at her room that night, she had an answer.
"Come in." Kel said when he knocked on the door.
Dom stepped in. Kel was just finishing her packing. "What have you decided?" He asked, sitting down on her bed.
Kel sighed. "I'm going alone."
"What?" Dom stood up. "You can't!"
Kel shook her head. "I have to. Jon was right, I would be distracted if you were there. The sparrows are perfectly good guards, and I won't have to worry about bringing enough rations for two people. I'm not even taking a horse, you know."
Dom frowned. "This isn't right, Kel. You shouldn't do this yourself! It's not fair to you."
Kel frowned. "Why isn't it fair? I am the best, and Jon knows that. There is no one better for the job! Why shouldn't I do this myself?'
"Because you are going to get yourself killed, that's why."
Kel stopped. A wave of realization washed over her. She sat down. He was right. She couldn't do this herself. She wouldn't be able to. She shook the thoughts off. "It's not true. I can do this. I can kill him."
Dom put his arm around her. "Kel, I know you can kill him. I know that you wouldn't let anything happen until you finished your goal. I just think that you won't be able to get back."
Kel looked up at him. "How can you say that?"
Dom kissed her forehead. "I know you. When you have a goal, you won't stop until you achieve it. I'm just afraid you will stop when you do."
Kel shook her head. "You're still not coming with me. If that's how it happens, then it happens that way. I have to do this myself."
Dom sighed. "Kel, I'm not going to stop you. But please, promise me you'll be careful?"
Kel kissed him. "I promise."
She lay down. "What is going to happen?" She asked. Dom looked down at her.
"What do you mean?"
"If it works. What will happen to Tortall?"
Dom lay down beside her. "I suppose everything will go back to the way it was. The refugees will get to build new homes, and all of our friends will get to come home. There will be a big ceremony for all the fallen soldiers and knights, and then we will have a big party for all of our friends, and we will celebrate that all of our friends can be together again."
Kel smiled. "I meant how will the war end. But that does make me feel better."
Dom kissed her again. "I love you, Kel. You know that, right?"
Kel smiled. "Of course."
* * * * *
When Kel woke up the next morning, Dom was already gone. Kel sat up in her bed. It seemed easier that way, less awkward, and Kel didn't have to feel even worse about leaving. She picked up her pack and went to the kitchens to pick up her food.
She checked her pack. She now had warm clothes for Scanran weather, a pot, a bowl, cutlery, boots, and enough rations to last her three weeks, if she ate them for every single meal.
It was silly, really. She would ride back to Steadfast, where she would leave Hoshi, gather a bit more rations, and continue across the border on foot.
She was walking down to the stables when Fhire ran into her.
"Lady Kel! Why didn't you come and tell me?"
Kel's mouth fell open. "Mithros, I forgot! Fhire, I am so sorry! How did you find out?"
She sighed. "It's all right, Lady Kel. " She hugged her. "Be careful, promise me that."
Kel smiled. "Of course, I promise I will."
Fhire hugged her again. "Good bye." She smiled. "Come back, okay?"
Kel nodded. "Now I really have to go."
She jogged down the rest of the way, quite a feat, with the pack on her back; it reminded her of running with the weights from when she was a page. But she found something she did not expect.
"Morning, love." Dom said, leaning on his already saddled horse.
Kel frowned. "Why are you here?"
He smiled. "That's some way to treat me. What was it, a one night stand?"
Kel blushed slightly, and surprisingly, so did Dom. "You're not coming with me." Kel said.
Dom shook his head. "On the contrary. I am coming with you. As you can see, I've got my horse saddled, my rations packed, and my coat on. I seem perfectly prepared to come."
Kel walked straight by him. "You're staying here. This is my mission, what I say, goes."
Dom smiled. "I thought you might say that. I told the king. He knows I'm here, so there's no going back now."
Kel sighed as she saddled Hoshi. Peachblossom whinnied from the next stall.
"Shhh, Peachblossom. You have to stay here." She patted him on the nose. His eyes looked sadder and older than she could ever remember them looking.
Dom stepped forward to him. Slowly, he put his hand forward, scared of what Peachblossom would do. Reaching closer and closer, he lightly patted Peachblossom on the nose. The horse did nothing, except look up at Dom with his sad eyes.
Kel smiled. "I don't remember that ever happening before."
Dom grinned. "I think Peachblossom approves of me, don't you agree?"
Kel leaned forward and kissed him. They hesitated there, until Kel finally pulled away. "I think he believes in us. He's showing you that."
She turned back to Hoshi.
* * * * *
They got to Steadfast a few days later. Raoul welcomed them.
"I'm only going to say this once, Kel," He said sternly, "don't get yourself killed."
Kel hugged him, which threw him off guard, he didn't know what to do, but after a moment, he hugged back. "Don't worry," Kel said, "I won't."
They set off the next morning for Scanra. By nightfall, they were across the borders and into strange lands.
"I don't like this." Kel said, as they trekked off road to find a suitable camp site.
Dom shook his head. "Nor do I. Who shall take the first watch?"
After a moment of arguing, they agreed that Kel would take the first watch, and they would switch at one o'clock.
"We're barely going to get five hours of sleep each. We probably would have been better off taking Fhire with us." Dom said. "You know what? We're barely at the border, and we're quite far off the beaten trail. Do we really need to keep a watch?"
Kel sighed and looked around. Shadows lurked everywhere. There was a bright moon, but Kel could still not make out the road at all. "What about our path? Won't someone see that?"
Dom looked up. "Nope. It's starting to snow."
Kel smiled. "I supposed we could set a sparrow on watch."
She finished setting up the tent, and she climbed in. "I'm assuming you brought your tent?" She said, poking her head back out.
Dom shook his head. "I saw no reason for me to bring it. I left my pot at Steadfast as well. But don't worry, I made up for it with extra weapons and rations. Two more weeks of food, an extra sword, an axe, and a knife."
Kel smiled. "Well," she said, "come in before you catch a chill."
* * * * *
A week passed by, and as they got closer and closer to their goal, the snow got thicker and thicker, and the air got colder and colder. The sparrows could fly ahead for no more than an hour before they had to come back and nestle in Kel and Dom's hoods to warm their frozen feathers. The leather straps on Kel's armour began to freeze as well, and she was constantly afraid that she would not get them off when they reached camp. They found they could not eat many of their rations without warming them over a fire first, and they quickly discovered that they were better off to share a bedroll and use each others body heat. Nothing ever happened between them, there were too many layers on them to even feel each others touch.
There was so much snow in the day time that they had no choice but to travel by the road, as the snow drifts were just to big to walk through. Kel tried to construct primitive snow shoes, but the wood she attempted to use was frozen and brittle, and kept snapping.
Finally, after almost two weeks of travelling, Kel caught sight of it: Desmaurads, capitol of Scanra.
Kel held Dom's hand as she looked at the great city. She could see the palace in the middle, icy and bright in the sun. the city looked almost uninhabited, just frozen.
"I wish we were here in the summer. Their summers are warm, only slightly milder then Tortalls."
Dom smiled, though Kel could barely see it under his parka. "Think of it this way: if it were summer, there would be guards everywhere, and we would be spotted instantly."
Kel frowned. "You're not making me feel any better." She said, and walked towards the great city.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alright, I have no idea if Tamora Pierce, or I, ever created a capitol of Scanra, but I am far too tired to check. Besides, I like this capitol, and I am very happy with the writing in this last bit.
And to anyone to dense to get my lack of subtlety, yes, they had sex. Yay, obviousness. And yes, to all those people who are going to ask, she had a pregnancy charm.
Wake-Robin: Thanks, I liked that bit too.
AJ 4EVA: thanks!
Lady of the rogues: Don't worry! I'm not leaving you with nothing! There's plenty more to come, don't worry! I already know that this story certainly is not dead. I have so many ideas for this story, the problem is trying to fit them all in!
I'm not Weird, I'm Gifted: I totally understand....I have a wireless connection, and sometimes it hates me. glad you like it!
Aznchicki: Don't worry, I ran away, but I realized that home is the place to be...jokes. Fluff is good, I agree.
Smiles28: thanks....I always love to be cool...
nikiamysticQUEENofFIRE: Wow. Definitely one of the best reviews I have received. I want to quote it, just so people can see how cool you think I am! Just kidding... but thank you, that is a really good compliment. I find, though, that all my stories consist of is dialogue. There is absolutely nothing to do with setting, imagery, any thing. Just 'he said' 'she said.'
Lady Wolfspeaker: Ooh, I succeeded in the fluff department....definitely...damn right the mission is good...that's a damn fine mission!
Fhire: You are so strange. You know who I have consistently forgotten about, though? Triaxx. I forget about him and Tobe. I remember everyone else. These last few chapters, I've also forgotten about Jump, but not nearly as much as Triaxx and Tobe. I'll have to do something about that, when (or if) they get back from Scanra.
Miliko01: shoulda seen what? What are we talking about now?
LilChocolateAngl: thanks, and don't worry: writing is all I do. Most kids come home from school and their break from work is television, or computer games; I write fanfiction. Go figure.
Ophelia-waterhouse: thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Psycholioness13: was it really? BOM BOM BOM... I AM THE LIZARD QUEEN!
Viking-rulz: yay! u rock! finally, sum1 else who likes pots betta than sotl. Interesting. "pots betta than sotl." What are you on, and where can I get some?
Jasmine135246: thanks, it's always good to hear from a new reviewer! You are a new reviewer for me, right?
Daughter-of-faeries: interesting... I feel like Mr. Burns. All I need are the fingers....and 88 years, and a sex change, and I'm so there.
I'm sorry I rambled on so. I haven't been up this late in a long time, and it's only 11 o'clock. I'm a common whuss. I'm sorry to any one I was horribly rude to, it's all in good fun. I promise.
Hmmm...I'm at 133 reviews. That's very good, but I'm sure you can do better. I want 150 before I give up another chapter. Don't worry, I like posting stuff, so you'll get it any way, I'll just take my damn precious time with it. See you in two weeks, or sooner, if you scrounge up 17 reviews! Just so you know, I got sixteen this chapter. SO if everyone of you reviews, and one of my regulars who didn't review this time does as well, we'll be right up there, and we'll be all good! My goal by the end of this story is three hundred, five, if I get more ideas than I have now. That should give you an idea of how long it's going to last!
"If that had been permanent, I'd have been very upset!"
-unolimbo
Jon frowned. "Now really, Keladry. It is quite simple. You are to go to Scanra and kill Maggur! Now," He said, settling in, "this is going to get more complex. You are to travel to Scanra, track down Maggur, and kill him. But you're not doing it with an army."
Kel raised her eyebrow. "I'm not?"
Jon shook his head, his look more serious than through the entire talk. "No. You will do it alone. There will be no storming of the castle, no siege, nothing! You will walk the road to Scanra alone. You, and your sparrows will go to Maggur, and you will kill him!"
"Why am I here?" Dom asked quietly.
Jon sighed. "When I sent the message, I was not sure if I was going to send you completely alone or not. I was going to send two people, but I changed my mind."
"Why?" Dom demanded.
Jon frowned. "I shouldn't have to explain this to you." He sighed. "But I know you will persist. I decided that secrecy was too important. Absolute silence, and if Kel is not alone, she will not always be on her guard."
"But if she's alone, what does she do when she goes to sleep? She will have no one to keep guard!"
Jon opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. "That's true." He said quietly.
Kel looked at them. "Your majesty, I would feel more comfortable having someone watching my back. It would probably help."
"I have lost all authority in my kingdom." Jon said sharply.
Kel and Dom glanced at each other. What were they to say to that?"
"I will leave you two to decide. Don't feel you have to tell me your final decision. I'm only the king!" He stood up. "Kel, you two need to make this decision tonight. You leave in the morning."
Kel and Dom stood up and gave a little bow.
Jon bowed his head with a jerk. "Good day." He said, and walked out the door.
Kel walked to the door. She turned back to Dom. "I have to think about this."
Dom reached out and took her hand. "Kel, I understand that, but I don't think you should do this yourself."
Kel shook her head. "Just let me think about it, okay?"
He nodded. "I'll come by your room later tonight, alright?"
Kel nodded. "Fine." She walked out.
Kel walked slowly back to her room. This was too much. She could understand that they kept making her run the camp, and lead expeditions, she knew she was good at that. But how could they expect her to go to Scanra by herself? By the time Dom arrived at her room that night, she had an answer.
"Come in." Kel said when he knocked on the door.
Dom stepped in. Kel was just finishing her packing. "What have you decided?" He asked, sitting down on her bed.
Kel sighed. "I'm going alone."
"What?" Dom stood up. "You can't!"
Kel shook her head. "I have to. Jon was right, I would be distracted if you were there. The sparrows are perfectly good guards, and I won't have to worry about bringing enough rations for two people. I'm not even taking a horse, you know."
Dom frowned. "This isn't right, Kel. You shouldn't do this yourself! It's not fair to you."
Kel frowned. "Why isn't it fair? I am the best, and Jon knows that. There is no one better for the job! Why shouldn't I do this myself?'
"Because you are going to get yourself killed, that's why."
Kel stopped. A wave of realization washed over her. She sat down. He was right. She couldn't do this herself. She wouldn't be able to. She shook the thoughts off. "It's not true. I can do this. I can kill him."
Dom put his arm around her. "Kel, I know you can kill him. I know that you wouldn't let anything happen until you finished your goal. I just think that you won't be able to get back."
Kel looked up at him. "How can you say that?"
Dom kissed her forehead. "I know you. When you have a goal, you won't stop until you achieve it. I'm just afraid you will stop when you do."
Kel shook her head. "You're still not coming with me. If that's how it happens, then it happens that way. I have to do this myself."
Dom sighed. "Kel, I'm not going to stop you. But please, promise me you'll be careful?"
Kel kissed him. "I promise."
She lay down. "What is going to happen?" She asked. Dom looked down at her.
"What do you mean?"
"If it works. What will happen to Tortall?"
Dom lay down beside her. "I suppose everything will go back to the way it was. The refugees will get to build new homes, and all of our friends will get to come home. There will be a big ceremony for all the fallen soldiers and knights, and then we will have a big party for all of our friends, and we will celebrate that all of our friends can be together again."
Kel smiled. "I meant how will the war end. But that does make me feel better."
Dom kissed her again. "I love you, Kel. You know that, right?"
Kel smiled. "Of course."
* * * * *
When Kel woke up the next morning, Dom was already gone. Kel sat up in her bed. It seemed easier that way, less awkward, and Kel didn't have to feel even worse about leaving. She picked up her pack and went to the kitchens to pick up her food.
She checked her pack. She now had warm clothes for Scanran weather, a pot, a bowl, cutlery, boots, and enough rations to last her three weeks, if she ate them for every single meal.
It was silly, really. She would ride back to Steadfast, where she would leave Hoshi, gather a bit more rations, and continue across the border on foot.
She was walking down to the stables when Fhire ran into her.
"Lady Kel! Why didn't you come and tell me?"
Kel's mouth fell open. "Mithros, I forgot! Fhire, I am so sorry! How did you find out?"
She sighed. "It's all right, Lady Kel. " She hugged her. "Be careful, promise me that."
Kel smiled. "Of course, I promise I will."
Fhire hugged her again. "Good bye." She smiled. "Come back, okay?"
Kel nodded. "Now I really have to go."
She jogged down the rest of the way, quite a feat, with the pack on her back; it reminded her of running with the weights from when she was a page. But she found something she did not expect.
"Morning, love." Dom said, leaning on his already saddled horse.
Kel frowned. "Why are you here?"
He smiled. "That's some way to treat me. What was it, a one night stand?"
Kel blushed slightly, and surprisingly, so did Dom. "You're not coming with me." Kel said.
Dom shook his head. "On the contrary. I am coming with you. As you can see, I've got my horse saddled, my rations packed, and my coat on. I seem perfectly prepared to come."
Kel walked straight by him. "You're staying here. This is my mission, what I say, goes."
Dom smiled. "I thought you might say that. I told the king. He knows I'm here, so there's no going back now."
Kel sighed as she saddled Hoshi. Peachblossom whinnied from the next stall.
"Shhh, Peachblossom. You have to stay here." She patted him on the nose. His eyes looked sadder and older than she could ever remember them looking.
Dom stepped forward to him. Slowly, he put his hand forward, scared of what Peachblossom would do. Reaching closer and closer, he lightly patted Peachblossom on the nose. The horse did nothing, except look up at Dom with his sad eyes.
Kel smiled. "I don't remember that ever happening before."
Dom grinned. "I think Peachblossom approves of me, don't you agree?"
Kel leaned forward and kissed him. They hesitated there, until Kel finally pulled away. "I think he believes in us. He's showing you that."
She turned back to Hoshi.
* * * * *
They got to Steadfast a few days later. Raoul welcomed them.
"I'm only going to say this once, Kel," He said sternly, "don't get yourself killed."
Kel hugged him, which threw him off guard, he didn't know what to do, but after a moment, he hugged back. "Don't worry," Kel said, "I won't."
They set off the next morning for Scanra. By nightfall, they were across the borders and into strange lands.
"I don't like this." Kel said, as they trekked off road to find a suitable camp site.
Dom shook his head. "Nor do I. Who shall take the first watch?"
After a moment of arguing, they agreed that Kel would take the first watch, and they would switch at one o'clock.
"We're barely going to get five hours of sleep each. We probably would have been better off taking Fhire with us." Dom said. "You know what? We're barely at the border, and we're quite far off the beaten trail. Do we really need to keep a watch?"
Kel sighed and looked around. Shadows lurked everywhere. There was a bright moon, but Kel could still not make out the road at all. "What about our path? Won't someone see that?"
Dom looked up. "Nope. It's starting to snow."
Kel smiled. "I supposed we could set a sparrow on watch."
She finished setting up the tent, and she climbed in. "I'm assuming you brought your tent?" She said, poking her head back out.
Dom shook his head. "I saw no reason for me to bring it. I left my pot at Steadfast as well. But don't worry, I made up for it with extra weapons and rations. Two more weeks of food, an extra sword, an axe, and a knife."
Kel smiled. "Well," she said, "come in before you catch a chill."
* * * * *
A week passed by, and as they got closer and closer to their goal, the snow got thicker and thicker, and the air got colder and colder. The sparrows could fly ahead for no more than an hour before they had to come back and nestle in Kel and Dom's hoods to warm their frozen feathers. The leather straps on Kel's armour began to freeze as well, and she was constantly afraid that she would not get them off when they reached camp. They found they could not eat many of their rations without warming them over a fire first, and they quickly discovered that they were better off to share a bedroll and use each others body heat. Nothing ever happened between them, there were too many layers on them to even feel each others touch.
There was so much snow in the day time that they had no choice but to travel by the road, as the snow drifts were just to big to walk through. Kel tried to construct primitive snow shoes, but the wood she attempted to use was frozen and brittle, and kept snapping.
Finally, after almost two weeks of travelling, Kel caught sight of it: Desmaurads, capitol of Scanra.
Kel held Dom's hand as she looked at the great city. She could see the palace in the middle, icy and bright in the sun. the city looked almost uninhabited, just frozen.
"I wish we were here in the summer. Their summers are warm, only slightly milder then Tortalls."
Dom smiled, though Kel could barely see it under his parka. "Think of it this way: if it were summer, there would be guards everywhere, and we would be spotted instantly."
Kel frowned. "You're not making me feel any better." She said, and walked towards the great city.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alright, I have no idea if Tamora Pierce, or I, ever created a capitol of Scanra, but I am far too tired to check. Besides, I like this capitol, and I am very happy with the writing in this last bit.
And to anyone to dense to get my lack of subtlety, yes, they had sex. Yay, obviousness. And yes, to all those people who are going to ask, she had a pregnancy charm.
Wake-Robin: Thanks, I liked that bit too.
AJ 4EVA: thanks!
Lady of the rogues: Don't worry! I'm not leaving you with nothing! There's plenty more to come, don't worry! I already know that this story certainly is not dead. I have so many ideas for this story, the problem is trying to fit them all in!
I'm not Weird, I'm Gifted: I totally understand....I have a wireless connection, and sometimes it hates me. glad you like it!
Aznchicki: Don't worry, I ran away, but I realized that home is the place to be...jokes. Fluff is good, I agree.
Smiles28: thanks....I always love to be cool...
nikiamysticQUEENofFIRE: Wow. Definitely one of the best reviews I have received. I want to quote it, just so people can see how cool you think I am! Just kidding... but thank you, that is a really good compliment. I find, though, that all my stories consist of is dialogue. There is absolutely nothing to do with setting, imagery, any thing. Just 'he said' 'she said.'
Lady Wolfspeaker: Ooh, I succeeded in the fluff department....definitely...damn right the mission is good...that's a damn fine mission!
Fhire: You are so strange. You know who I have consistently forgotten about, though? Triaxx. I forget about him and Tobe. I remember everyone else. These last few chapters, I've also forgotten about Jump, but not nearly as much as Triaxx and Tobe. I'll have to do something about that, when (or if) they get back from Scanra.
Miliko01: shoulda seen what? What are we talking about now?
LilChocolateAngl: thanks, and don't worry: writing is all I do. Most kids come home from school and their break from work is television, or computer games; I write fanfiction. Go figure.
Ophelia-waterhouse: thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Psycholioness13: was it really? BOM BOM BOM... I AM THE LIZARD QUEEN!
Viking-rulz: yay! u rock! finally, sum1 else who likes pots betta than sotl. Interesting. "pots betta than sotl." What are you on, and where can I get some?
Jasmine135246: thanks, it's always good to hear from a new reviewer! You are a new reviewer for me, right?
Daughter-of-faeries: interesting... I feel like Mr. Burns. All I need are the fingers....and 88 years, and a sex change, and I'm so there.
I'm sorry I rambled on so. I haven't been up this late in a long time, and it's only 11 o'clock. I'm a common whuss. I'm sorry to any one I was horribly rude to, it's all in good fun. I promise.
Hmmm...I'm at 133 reviews. That's very good, but I'm sure you can do better. I want 150 before I give up another chapter. Don't worry, I like posting stuff, so you'll get it any way, I'll just take my damn precious time with it. See you in two weeks, or sooner, if you scrounge up 17 reviews! Just so you know, I got sixteen this chapter. SO if everyone of you reviews, and one of my regulars who didn't review this time does as well, we'll be right up there, and we'll be all good! My goal by the end of this story is three hundred, five, if I get more ideas than I have now. That should give you an idea of how long it's going to last!
"If that had been permanent, I'd have been very upset!"
-unolimbo