To all my usually faithful readers, thank you again for all past reviews, even though I haven't gotten any recently. . .

In any case, I'm going to try to make a comeback, at least with this Gemfire story (which I am also writing by hand & correcting as I type along. . .)

So here's chapter 3 of Rivals Triumphant, maybe I'll get 4 up tonight too (but doubtful – hey, I type pretty fast, but my fingers are cold. . .)

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The boat docked in the misty port. Immediately the gangplank was lowered and sailors scurried about, unloading the precious cargo. Wolfen walked down the board first, then held out his hand for Kat. She took it gratefully, still unsteady in regaining her land legs. They continued to walk down together and reached the platform, Wolfen supporting Kat and encouraging her weak steps.

"How is it that you can always walk just fine, whether it be on land or a ship?" she demanded of him.

Wolfen laughed. "I don't know," he said honestly. "I've just always been able of it."

Kat smiled. Many people tipped their hats and called out to them. Wolfen waved in reply. As they walked down the road to where Wolfen was stationed, Kat shivered in the dampness.

"It's kind of eerie here, with the fog weighing down on you," she mused.

"Only because it's the beginning of spring and the north is still getting over winter's chills and heavy snows," Wolfen told her. "You should see it late spring and summer. It's beautiful."

"I'll take your word for it."

They had reached Wolfen's home. Kat gazed up at the majestic build and tall towers. The turrets seemed to touch the sky. Though smaller than Ander's, this was no less a palace.

Kat blinked in amazement. "Incredible," she said softly.

"I try to be humble, but as you can see, this makes it rather difficult," Wolfen joked.

"I can imagine so. . ." Kat, though awed by the outside, was quite overwhelmed by the decorative inside of the palace. At their arrival, a large, bearded man looking quite cocky and sure of himself swaggered over to them. This was Garth, and he was obviously looking to stir up trouble.

He smirked at Wolfen after sizing up Kat. "So, who's this hussy? Another one of Ander's mistresses?" He gave a short laugh and looked over at Kat. "She's a tart. I never knew you got busy like that, Wolfen! Rowr!"

Kat stiffened and Wolfen scowled. "That 'hussy' is your new drill sergeant, soldier," he said sharply. "And last I checked, you weren't a lord, and have no authority whatsoever. So I suggest you keep your comments to yourself." He turned and walked briskly down another corridor, Kat following quickly.

Garth reddened in anger and embarrassment after Wolfen's counter, his face standing out against his straw colored hair. He too stalked out of the room, in the opposite direction.

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Wolfen sighed in frustration, his hands balled into fists. "I am so sorry," he told Kat. "That never should have happened."

"Well, I probably should have expected something like that," Kat said quietly.

"No." Wolfen shook his head. "No, Garth had no right to say that. He's just trying to get some," he said bitterly. "Try to disregard his comments and ignore him. But between you and me, you have permission to deck him." Wolfen mimed a right hook.

Kat giggled. Wolfen opened a door to the left.

"This is your room." Wolfen mentally kicked himself for saying something so obvious. "Um, there's clothes in the drawers here," he tapped on the dresser," all new and in perfect condition. There's just one thing." He looked at Kat apologetically. "All of the uniforms were made for a man, so I don't know if the, um, measurements are right for the, uh, hips and, um, you know. . ." He turned a bit pink groping awkwardly for the right words.

Kat smiled. "It's alright. If there are any problems, I'm sure I can fix them."

Wolfen looked as if he knew he'd forgotten something and it was bugging the heck out of him. Suddenly, it dawned on him.

"OH!"

He hurried over to the closet and threw open the doors. Brining out a thin cloak, he handed it to Kat. It was royal blue with silver lining, an emblem of a white unicorn on the back – the Lyle crest.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" Kat gushed. "Thank you so much!"

Wolfen's eyes twinkled at Kat's apparent happiness. "I'm glad you like it. Here," he handed her a small insignia, "for your uniform. It shows your position. Hopefully situations like what happened before will become a rarity. The soldiers won't question your authority. . . or shouldn't if they know what's good for them."

"I'll prepare for the worst," Kat said dryly.

Wolfen chuckled. "They'll learn, they'll learn."

Suddenly, his face lit up like a schoolboy on his birthday. "Why don't you try on the cloak, see how it looks?" He helped Kat drape the cloth over one shoulder and fastened it over her other shoulder.

"It's crooked," she said, confused.

Wolfen smiled. "No, it's supposed to be that way. It's really only for military purposes; it says you're higher than the other soldiers. Personally, I find it a bit impractical and it gets in the way. There's another one in the closet, too."

"Another one?" Kat exclaimed.

Wolfen laughed. "Yes, another one. That one should be more to your liking. It's just a regular riding cloak, hooded, and heavy to keep out the harsh weather."

Kat shook her head. "I am going to get so lost in this place."

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it." Wolfen smiled reassuringly. "I'll come by later to pick you up for dinner and show you around some more."

"Thanks again," Kat said.

Wolfen nodded and left. Kat slowly took off the cape then scolded herself for being so trusting and open.

"You're getting soft, Kat," she told herself. "Keep it up and you'll get too comfortable around them, and before you know it, you'll fit Garth's description of you!" She shuddered.

Opening the drawers, she pulled out a shirt. "It seems that I have my work cut out for me," she murmured as she noticed the shirt was made for a tight fit. She sighed. "This is going to take a lot of work." She started her difficult task immediately.

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Yay!! 3 pages!!

Now you can't be mad at me. Right? . . . Right?

Later! Adryl