AN. Hey, I don't know how many people are still reading this, I know it's been a long time since I updated last. So to anyone who is still reading, thank you and I'm sorry it's taken so long but I've been very busy and I've had HUGE writers block and have actually given up on this story many times only to start it again a while later. So anyway, here's the next chapter. It's a bit short.. and probably isn't any good but I'm just tryna write to get my writer's block out of my system. So yeah, here it is. (After the disclaimer!)

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything!!! (Except the plot.. obviously.. I mean duh!)

Chapter Seven

The boys took a better look at the bad tempered gelding and found that Neal was right; Peachblossom looked exhausted and very in shape for a horse that wasn't supposed to have been ridden in close to a month.

"I wonder who's been riding him." Cleon commented, almost to himself. Neal, still looking intently at Peachblossom looked thoughtful.

"How many people do you know who Peachblossom would let touch him, let alone ride him?" This brought a slight pause as the friends thought.

"Just Kel. And maybe Daine, or Stephan. But that's it, Peachblossom would never allow anyone else anywhere near him, let alone allow someone to ride him." Merric spoke what they had all been thinking.

"We should ask Stephan if he's been exercising Peachblossom, because I know for a fact that father sent Daine with the Riders when they went north last week." Roald spoke up from where he had been standing, silent up until now, behind the rest of the boys.

"Let's go see him now; we don't have to be at breakfast for a while yet." Faleron suggested. There were sounds of assent from the other boys, except Owen who said, slightly embarrassed, "I've got to go see Lord Wyldon about something before breakfast, I'll meet up with you guys later."

Owen got his tray and sat down in the mess hall, waiting for his friends to arrive after talking to Stephan. He had seen Lord Wyldon about his punishment work all ready and was slightly bored waiting for his friends to arrive. Just then the mess hall door opened to admit a group of boys, talking in hushed voices. His friends, still talking hushedly (AN. is that a word?? Awell.. it is now. Hehe), got their trays and joined him at their usual table. After a few minutes of continuing hushed discussion Owen got fed up.

"So? What happened?" Owen asked, slightly annoyed that they hadn't decided to explain to him what Stephan had said. They looked up, as if surprised by his presence, which annoyed Owen all the more. But before anyone could reply someone on a neighboring table muttered, "Heads up." And they all rose as the Training Master entered the mess.

After the prayer was finished they sat and began to eat, while Neal took it on himself to explain to Owen. "We went to see Stephan," hearing this Owen inwardly rolled his eyes, did Neal really think he was that slow?" Roald, obviously noticing Owen's impatience, interrupted Neal.

"Don't you think Owen knows that already Neal?" He questioned. Neal looked at Roald, then at Owen. He smiled apologetically. "Yeah, sorry Owen." He then continued.

"Anyway, Stephan said that he hadn't been riding Peachblossom but he had noticed the difference in Peachblossom as well and that he had been keeping a look out to see who had been riding him. He says he hasn't seen anybody go anywhere near Peachblossom's stall, for fear of being bitten. He himself has to feed Peachblossom and he mucks out the stall himself, because all the stable boys are too scared to go near Peachblossom."

There was a slight pause while Owen took this in and the rest of the boys continued to eat. "That doesn't make sense." He stated at last. "If nobody's been riding Peachblossom then why is he so in shape still?"

"That's what we want to know." Cleon replied. It was obvious by the tone of his voice that he was frustrated. The boys sat in silence for the rest of the meal, each thinking his own thoughts. It was obvious, however, that they were all thinking along the same lines.

Finally, as they were getting up to hand their trays to the servants Neal spoke. "It must be Kel." He said. No one had to ask him what he was talking about because it was what everyone had been thinking.

"How though? How could Kel be riding Peachblossom? She's been in the guest wing for weeks. And even if she did come out, you heard Stephan, he's been keeping an eye on Peachblossom's stall every day and he hasn't seen Kel enter the stables once. Let alone take Peachblossom for a ride."

AN. There you have it.. another chapter. Please, no flames, I AM aware how much that sucked ok? You don't need to point it out to me. You also do not need to point out how practically nothing happened in this chapter as I am aware of that also. However, constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated along with any ideas you may have on where this story could go cause I'm running out fast and if I can't come up with something soon I'll probably end up killing them all off. Lol. Probably not but I AM getting desperate for ideas. So, please, REVIEW!!