I can't believe it, people actually seem to be reading my story!!! And,
could it be, they seem to be, enjoying it.
"dun dun duuuuunnnnn"
*gasp*. I know, it is pretty unbelievable, maybe someone's been bribing everyone to review me!!
*looks around suspiciously*
anyway, I just read through my second chapter before deleting it off my computer, and I realised that I made a few mistakes, especially in the bit where she's in that meeting with Sir Myles. I had originally written Joren's response to seeing her in a different way, and then I realised that it didn't really fit him, so I changed it, but I accidentally left a few lines in.
So if a few places seem a bit odd, then that's why. I am also bringing some other countries into the story pretty soon, maybe in this chapter, however, having only read some of the Tamora Pierce books, I have a limited knowledge of all the countries and their status regarding Tortall, so if I make a mistake, then please correct me, and I will try to change it.
I also need to day, some of you were wondering about Jorens death again *cough-superalicia-cough* so I want to say that things are more or less the same as they would have been if Joren were dead, except he's alive. So Wyldon still resigned, etc. hmph, I bet u don't bug the other Joren/Kel writers about that!
The last thing that I want to say is, that I may change Kel's character a bit, simply to make it more fun to write for my sake, so you'll just have to go along with that and not complain, like good little children.
Now, since no one actually reads the authors note, (well, I know that I don't usually), I'll just get on with the story. (
Chapter 3
Kel awoke with the words of the song still ringing in her ears. She groaned, and lifted her head up slightly, before sticking a toe out of her cosy nest of blankets and sheets to test the temperature.
She immediately drew it back in, and curled herself up in a ball, pulling the blankets tight around her. She lay like that, unmoving, until Jump reached up to woffle her ear.
"All right, I'm coming." She moaned.
She heaved herself up, the blanket still draped around her, and made a dash for her clothes, pulling them on and wrapping herself up as warm as she could.
That done, she grabbed her glaive and began to practise. Finally the servant that Sir Myles had said that he would send knocked on her door. He told her to take her already packed, easy to carry, cloth bags and meet the others in the kitchens.
She walked in, still feeling slightly groggy. Kieta looked more or less the same as her, but Joren walked in clutching his head, and gave them his trademark glare.
Kel gawped. His long blonde hair was now short, in a commoner's cut.
"Looks like he had a bit too much to drink last night." Kieta commented softly. Joren walked towards the food, still clutching his head, and bumped into one of the tables, nearly knocking it over.
Kel had to hide a smirk as he let out a string of curses. He looked at her.
"What're you staring at?" he asked, rudely.
"Er, it's just that, your hair, it looks, different."
"That generally happens when you cut your hair, it looks different." Joren told her, with a sneer, and the air of someone explaining something to a young child.
At that point Rat entered. He held up a hand to silence them, and walked erratically over to the table. He made to grab a pastry, but Joren stopped him by slapping his hand away. Rat turned to scowl at Joren.
"We can eat on the road, we have to get going." Joren growled, in response to the silent protest.
He grabbed a food basket and his bags, and stalked out, heading towards the stables.
Rat scowled after him. "Who made him leader?" he muttered angrily, his skin turning a violent shade of red.
Kel shrugged, "He's just like that. He's a jerk, you just have to ignore him most of the time."
A wistful look appeared on Rat's face. "Maybe I can use some of that itching powder." he murmured.
Kel couldn't hide a grin at the thought of that.
*****
The sun was just starting to come up, as they approached the border of Corus. People were starting to emerge from slumbering houses, and scurry around, starting their days business.
Kel breathed deeply, and looked up at the sunrise, appreciating its beauty. Rat was drowning cups of a strange foreign liquid called coffee. Kel had tried it, and had spat it out at once, spraying Peachblossom with it.
Joren and Kieta were each poring over separate maps. Kel pulled out her own piece of parchment from her saddlebag, which told them the exact details of their mission.
Keita dropped her pace a bit to ride beside Kel.
"So," she said brightly, "Who's the first guy we're going after."
Kel grinned, "The first guy is a girl."
Rat spluttered, choking on his pastry. He looked up at them and kicked his horse forward, so that he could talk to them.
"We have to kill some stupid girl! Why are they sending us to do this! Some soldiers could have done this!"
Kieta looked at him, a murderous glint in her eye.
Rat shrugged. "Heh, just kidding." He said, sheepishly. He turned back to Kel. "So who exactly is she?"
Kel squinted at the parchment. "Her name is Carcissa Nupida." Kel paused to raise her eyebrows at the name.
"Apparently she picked the name out herself."
Rat snorted. "I said that she was stupid." he muttered.
Kel squinted again, "It says that she used to be mistress to Maggur Rathhausak. Now she has agreed to work as a spy for him, she lives in Galla, near the border to Scanra."
Kieta consulted her parchment, "We'll have to take the Great Road East then." She tucked the parchment back into her saddlebag, and took a deep bite into a pastry.
She chewed thoughtfully for a while, before turning to Kel.
"So how did you do it?" she inquired.
Kel was startled, "Do what?" she asked. "What have I done?"
Kieta gave her a small strange smile. "You know, become a lady Knight. I've heard about Lord Wyldon. There is no way that he'd ever allow a girl to train."
Kel grinned, "Yeah, he put me on probation for the first year, but I passed, and here I am." Kel reached into her bag and brought out an apple. She rubbed it briskly on her shirt and took a big bite out of it.
"What about you?" She asked, looking curiously at her companion. "Where're you from, and Rat too. You seem to know him."
Kieta grimaced. "I'm from a land to the West of the Yamani Islands, you won't have heard of it. Anyway, I don't really know much else about where I'm from, I was taken to the Shang when I was just five. I met Rat when I arrested him a year ago.
Kel looked at her in weak disbelief. "You arrested him." she said, feebly.
Rat came up from behind and reached across to pat Kel's shoulder.
"She sure did, and I let her give me a free ride to Corus. I could have escaped whenever I wanted. I was just letting her think that she'd arrested me."
Kel grinned, "Sure you were", she drawled, leaning back slightly in her saddle. "And what about you Oh Master of Escape, where're you from?"
"I don't really know where I'm from." Rat said, looking thoughtful. "All I know is that I'm been moving from city to city, country to country, ever since I was little. And I'm not just a master of escape!"
Kieta groaned, "Here we go." She muttered.
Rat continued as if he hadn't heard her, "I'm also a master of Illusion, a master of Mystery, and Intrigue. A worker of the Magical arts, a shaper of spells, a man of wit-" "And idiocy." Kieta cut in, as Rat turned to give her a lofty glare. "Why don't you tell her some real stories, huh? Like that time you got really drunk, and ended up kissing a monkey in front of a full pub? Or the time when you were trying to swat that fly, and you ended up getting your head stuck in a jam jar. Or the time when that man-"
"Okay!" Rat exclaimed, cutting her off quickly. "The stories stop right there!"
He saw that Kieta was swelling up, ready to start her rant again. He looked around hurriedly for something to distract her. His eyes fell on Kel.
"Hey!" he exclaimed, "Why don't we ask her for a story. Like why things are so tense with the other guy" He raised his eyebrows questioningly.
Kel grimaced. "There's nothing to tell really. He's a jerk. He doesn't believe that women can fight and be knights. He tried to get me to leave when I was a page and a squire, he tried some very bad things, and he hurt my friends."
They had reached the edge of Corus. Joren glanced back, and stopped his horse, letting them catch up.
"What sort of bad things?" Kieta whispered softly.
Kel glanced furtively at Joren, before muttering softly, "Just bad things. He's not worth talking about."
*****.
By the time they were nearing the border between Tortall and Tusaine, it was getting dark, and when they found themselves in a small town, they took the opportunity of trying to find somewhere to stay for the night.
They were trying to work out what to call themselves, and how to travel with each other. Joren came back after checking the price of a room.
He sighed. "They only have two rooms left. One has two separate beds, and one has a double bed."
"Well that's easy enough, "Rat said jovially. "We'll just have Kieta and Kel in one room, and us in the other. I bags the one with the separate beds!" He yelled, loudly.
"Keep it down you idiot." Joren hissed. "We don't want to draw attention to ourselves."
Kieta eyed him with distaste. "Oh liven up. Look, we can't have arrangements like that."
"Don't worry." Rat said, flashing a grin at her. "You'll have a chance to share a room with me later."
Kieta blanched. "That's what I'm afraid of." She said. "We can't just turn up here together, and then put me and Kel in one room, and you two in another. People would talk. We'll have to pretend that two of us are cousins or something, and that the other two are.married."
Kel gave a sudden hacking cough. She glared at Kieta when she had finished.
"Please tell me you didn't say what I just thought you said." She said, still glaring.
" I hate to say it, but I agree with Mindelan for once. The is no way that I am going to pretend to be married to one of you." Joren said, savagely.
"Well I'm sorry, but you don't actually have a choice." Rat said, giving Joren a withering look. "So I suggest that we sort this out maturely and like adults." Everyone sighed and relaxed.
"Lets flip a coin"
*****
It was 15 minutes later, and they were still watching Rat flip the noble. Finally Kel got fed up.
"That is it!" She stormed. "The next two people to get picked will be in the room with the separate beds. And no, we are not doing the best out of three!" She added, seeing the look on Rats face.
Rat sighed. "Fine." He flipped the coin and looked at Kieta. "You call."
"Heads." Kieta replied instantly. Rat removed his hand. "Heads it is!" he said, grinning wickedly.
Kel felt her insides grow cold. "You have to be kidding me." She threw a pleading look at Kieta.
Kieta chuckled, and shook her head. "No way. There is no way that I'm going to pretend to be married to one of them."
Kel sighed, and crossed her fingers tight, praying for it to be Rat. At least he could make her laugh.
Rat flipped the coin again and looked up at Joren.
"Heads." He said simply, gritting his teeth. Rat slowly removed his palm and gazed down at the coin which lay there.
"Tails!!" He cried, giving a wild laugh, before grabbing Kieta by the arm, and dragging her off.
Kel and Joren were left staring at each other. Finally Joren gave a sneer and pushed past her. "This changes nothing Mindelan" He growled into her ear.
She simply glared at him as he went to register them and get their keys.
*****
Me again. You know, I was going to write more, but then I realised that I've already written 6 pages, and that's enough for one chapter in my opinion. The next chapter may not be up for a while, as I'll be writing the next chapter for my story on fictionpress.net. Please check it out if you have time. It's called Muletto, and I still write under the pen name Amber Faeire on fictionpress.net. And don't forget to review!!
Oh yeah, here's the disclaimer for this chapter, I don't own anything.bladebladebla.
Oh look. Can you see that? There's a pretty button in the corner. I wonder what it does when you press it. Why don't you find out?
"dun dun duuuuunnnnn"
*gasp*. I know, it is pretty unbelievable, maybe someone's been bribing everyone to review me!!
*looks around suspiciously*
anyway, I just read through my second chapter before deleting it off my computer, and I realised that I made a few mistakes, especially in the bit where she's in that meeting with Sir Myles. I had originally written Joren's response to seeing her in a different way, and then I realised that it didn't really fit him, so I changed it, but I accidentally left a few lines in.
So if a few places seem a bit odd, then that's why. I am also bringing some other countries into the story pretty soon, maybe in this chapter, however, having only read some of the Tamora Pierce books, I have a limited knowledge of all the countries and their status regarding Tortall, so if I make a mistake, then please correct me, and I will try to change it.
I also need to day, some of you were wondering about Jorens death again *cough-superalicia-cough* so I want to say that things are more or less the same as they would have been if Joren were dead, except he's alive. So Wyldon still resigned, etc. hmph, I bet u don't bug the other Joren/Kel writers about that!
The last thing that I want to say is, that I may change Kel's character a bit, simply to make it more fun to write for my sake, so you'll just have to go along with that and not complain, like good little children.
Now, since no one actually reads the authors note, (well, I know that I don't usually), I'll just get on with the story. (
Chapter 3
Kel awoke with the words of the song still ringing in her ears. She groaned, and lifted her head up slightly, before sticking a toe out of her cosy nest of blankets and sheets to test the temperature.
She immediately drew it back in, and curled herself up in a ball, pulling the blankets tight around her. She lay like that, unmoving, until Jump reached up to woffle her ear.
"All right, I'm coming." She moaned.
She heaved herself up, the blanket still draped around her, and made a dash for her clothes, pulling them on and wrapping herself up as warm as she could.
That done, she grabbed her glaive and began to practise. Finally the servant that Sir Myles had said that he would send knocked on her door. He told her to take her already packed, easy to carry, cloth bags and meet the others in the kitchens.
She walked in, still feeling slightly groggy. Kieta looked more or less the same as her, but Joren walked in clutching his head, and gave them his trademark glare.
Kel gawped. His long blonde hair was now short, in a commoner's cut.
"Looks like he had a bit too much to drink last night." Kieta commented softly. Joren walked towards the food, still clutching his head, and bumped into one of the tables, nearly knocking it over.
Kel had to hide a smirk as he let out a string of curses. He looked at her.
"What're you staring at?" he asked, rudely.
"Er, it's just that, your hair, it looks, different."
"That generally happens when you cut your hair, it looks different." Joren told her, with a sneer, and the air of someone explaining something to a young child.
At that point Rat entered. He held up a hand to silence them, and walked erratically over to the table. He made to grab a pastry, but Joren stopped him by slapping his hand away. Rat turned to scowl at Joren.
"We can eat on the road, we have to get going." Joren growled, in response to the silent protest.
He grabbed a food basket and his bags, and stalked out, heading towards the stables.
Rat scowled after him. "Who made him leader?" he muttered angrily, his skin turning a violent shade of red.
Kel shrugged, "He's just like that. He's a jerk, you just have to ignore him most of the time."
A wistful look appeared on Rat's face. "Maybe I can use some of that itching powder." he murmured.
Kel couldn't hide a grin at the thought of that.
*****
The sun was just starting to come up, as they approached the border of Corus. People were starting to emerge from slumbering houses, and scurry around, starting their days business.
Kel breathed deeply, and looked up at the sunrise, appreciating its beauty. Rat was drowning cups of a strange foreign liquid called coffee. Kel had tried it, and had spat it out at once, spraying Peachblossom with it.
Joren and Kieta were each poring over separate maps. Kel pulled out her own piece of parchment from her saddlebag, which told them the exact details of their mission.
Keita dropped her pace a bit to ride beside Kel.
"So," she said brightly, "Who's the first guy we're going after."
Kel grinned, "The first guy is a girl."
Rat spluttered, choking on his pastry. He looked up at them and kicked his horse forward, so that he could talk to them.
"We have to kill some stupid girl! Why are they sending us to do this! Some soldiers could have done this!"
Kieta looked at him, a murderous glint in her eye.
Rat shrugged. "Heh, just kidding." He said, sheepishly. He turned back to Kel. "So who exactly is she?"
Kel squinted at the parchment. "Her name is Carcissa Nupida." Kel paused to raise her eyebrows at the name.
"Apparently she picked the name out herself."
Rat snorted. "I said that she was stupid." he muttered.
Kel squinted again, "It says that she used to be mistress to Maggur Rathhausak. Now she has agreed to work as a spy for him, she lives in Galla, near the border to Scanra."
Kieta consulted her parchment, "We'll have to take the Great Road East then." She tucked the parchment back into her saddlebag, and took a deep bite into a pastry.
She chewed thoughtfully for a while, before turning to Kel.
"So how did you do it?" she inquired.
Kel was startled, "Do what?" she asked. "What have I done?"
Kieta gave her a small strange smile. "You know, become a lady Knight. I've heard about Lord Wyldon. There is no way that he'd ever allow a girl to train."
Kel grinned, "Yeah, he put me on probation for the first year, but I passed, and here I am." Kel reached into her bag and brought out an apple. She rubbed it briskly on her shirt and took a big bite out of it.
"What about you?" She asked, looking curiously at her companion. "Where're you from, and Rat too. You seem to know him."
Kieta grimaced. "I'm from a land to the West of the Yamani Islands, you won't have heard of it. Anyway, I don't really know much else about where I'm from, I was taken to the Shang when I was just five. I met Rat when I arrested him a year ago.
Kel looked at her in weak disbelief. "You arrested him." she said, feebly.
Rat came up from behind and reached across to pat Kel's shoulder.
"She sure did, and I let her give me a free ride to Corus. I could have escaped whenever I wanted. I was just letting her think that she'd arrested me."
Kel grinned, "Sure you were", she drawled, leaning back slightly in her saddle. "And what about you Oh Master of Escape, where're you from?"
"I don't really know where I'm from." Rat said, looking thoughtful. "All I know is that I'm been moving from city to city, country to country, ever since I was little. And I'm not just a master of escape!"
Kieta groaned, "Here we go." She muttered.
Rat continued as if he hadn't heard her, "I'm also a master of Illusion, a master of Mystery, and Intrigue. A worker of the Magical arts, a shaper of spells, a man of wit-" "And idiocy." Kieta cut in, as Rat turned to give her a lofty glare. "Why don't you tell her some real stories, huh? Like that time you got really drunk, and ended up kissing a monkey in front of a full pub? Or the time when you were trying to swat that fly, and you ended up getting your head stuck in a jam jar. Or the time when that man-"
"Okay!" Rat exclaimed, cutting her off quickly. "The stories stop right there!"
He saw that Kieta was swelling up, ready to start her rant again. He looked around hurriedly for something to distract her. His eyes fell on Kel.
"Hey!" he exclaimed, "Why don't we ask her for a story. Like why things are so tense with the other guy" He raised his eyebrows questioningly.
Kel grimaced. "There's nothing to tell really. He's a jerk. He doesn't believe that women can fight and be knights. He tried to get me to leave when I was a page and a squire, he tried some very bad things, and he hurt my friends."
They had reached the edge of Corus. Joren glanced back, and stopped his horse, letting them catch up.
"What sort of bad things?" Kieta whispered softly.
Kel glanced furtively at Joren, before muttering softly, "Just bad things. He's not worth talking about."
*****.
By the time they were nearing the border between Tortall and Tusaine, it was getting dark, and when they found themselves in a small town, they took the opportunity of trying to find somewhere to stay for the night.
They were trying to work out what to call themselves, and how to travel with each other. Joren came back after checking the price of a room.
He sighed. "They only have two rooms left. One has two separate beds, and one has a double bed."
"Well that's easy enough, "Rat said jovially. "We'll just have Kieta and Kel in one room, and us in the other. I bags the one with the separate beds!" He yelled, loudly.
"Keep it down you idiot." Joren hissed. "We don't want to draw attention to ourselves."
Kieta eyed him with distaste. "Oh liven up. Look, we can't have arrangements like that."
"Don't worry." Rat said, flashing a grin at her. "You'll have a chance to share a room with me later."
Kieta blanched. "That's what I'm afraid of." She said. "We can't just turn up here together, and then put me and Kel in one room, and you two in another. People would talk. We'll have to pretend that two of us are cousins or something, and that the other two are.married."
Kel gave a sudden hacking cough. She glared at Kieta when she had finished.
"Please tell me you didn't say what I just thought you said." She said, still glaring.
" I hate to say it, but I agree with Mindelan for once. The is no way that I am going to pretend to be married to one of you." Joren said, savagely.
"Well I'm sorry, but you don't actually have a choice." Rat said, giving Joren a withering look. "So I suggest that we sort this out maturely and like adults." Everyone sighed and relaxed.
"Lets flip a coin"
*****
It was 15 minutes later, and they were still watching Rat flip the noble. Finally Kel got fed up.
"That is it!" She stormed. "The next two people to get picked will be in the room with the separate beds. And no, we are not doing the best out of three!" She added, seeing the look on Rats face.
Rat sighed. "Fine." He flipped the coin and looked at Kieta. "You call."
"Heads." Kieta replied instantly. Rat removed his hand. "Heads it is!" he said, grinning wickedly.
Kel felt her insides grow cold. "You have to be kidding me." She threw a pleading look at Kieta.
Kieta chuckled, and shook her head. "No way. There is no way that I'm going to pretend to be married to one of them."
Kel sighed, and crossed her fingers tight, praying for it to be Rat. At least he could make her laugh.
Rat flipped the coin again and looked up at Joren.
"Heads." He said simply, gritting his teeth. Rat slowly removed his palm and gazed down at the coin which lay there.
"Tails!!" He cried, giving a wild laugh, before grabbing Kieta by the arm, and dragging her off.
Kel and Joren were left staring at each other. Finally Joren gave a sneer and pushed past her. "This changes nothing Mindelan" He growled into her ear.
She simply glared at him as he went to register them and get their keys.
*****
Me again. You know, I was going to write more, but then I realised that I've already written 6 pages, and that's enough for one chapter in my opinion. The next chapter may not be up for a while, as I'll be writing the next chapter for my story on fictionpress.net. Please check it out if you have time. It's called Muletto, and I still write under the pen name Amber Faeire on fictionpress.net. And don't forget to review!!
Oh yeah, here's the disclaimer for this chapter, I don't own anything.bladebladebla.
Oh look. Can you see that? There's a pretty button in the corner. I wonder what it does when you press it. Why don't you find out?