A/N: Hey! Well...here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Ella Enchanted.

Oh and just a side note: The story gets much more interesting when Jerrold and Leigh go off onto the ogre hunting quest. More twists and turns and puzzles to figure out. Enjoy!

-Chapter 2-

    Leigh came down after one hour and a half. She had actually finished in an hour but had just tried to see if she could annoy her master and stay upstairs longer. And besides, she didn't know what to do with her hair. Up or down, was the question. Leigh preferred her hair down but what if your hair had to be up? In the end, she settled for down. If the guards threw her out, it wasn't like it was a big lost, right?

    When she got downstairs, she saw her master in a sharp attire that made him look as if he were a baron. Leigh laughed. "Hey, looking good, Jonnie," she said. He smiled at her.

    "I suppose you look decent," he responded, his eyes twinkling. "Better than having you covered from head to toe in mud like you did when you were seven."

    Leigh rolled her eyes. "Whatever, sir. Now, when's that carriage coming?"

    Jonas frowned and glanced at the clock. "Any minute now, actually." He stood straighter as he listened. "Hmm...hooves of a horse...yes, I think he is on, Leigh, we better not dawdle."

    Leigh nodded, still marveling over her master's ability to hear so well, and followed him outside to where, sure enough, a carriage stood and the coachman looked as if he was prepared to go and fetch his clients. The footman opened the door for Leigh and Jonas and Jonas climbed in first, Leigh following. Inside, the seats were a dark wince red and the curtains on the windows matched. The coachman started off and Leigh sat in silence, watching as they moved along.

    "Leigh?" Leigh turned to Jonas, who was looking hesitant. "I think that this would be a perfect moment to give you this..." and he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a long, rectangle, velvet box. He opened it and inside, was a silver thin bracelet was there. Leigh could tell, however, that this bracelet was worth a lot more than it seemed. Sure enough, Jonas said, "Your mother left this in my possession before she died. She asked me to give it to you. She...I think she might have felt she was going to be killed, otherwise she wouldn't have given the bracelet to me. This bracelet has been in your family for...oh, I'll say about ten generations. And it was always handed down from mother to daughter, mother to daughter. She wanted to give it to you in person but..." he shook his head in sadness and gave Leigh the bracelet. "She made me promise to give it to you when you were seventeen but I believe sixteen is good enough."

    Leigh looked at the bracelet in awe. This had been her mother's...she had few things that had once belonged to her mother, who had died with her father when she was only four years old. Leigh decided that this bracelet would be one of her most prized possessions, such as her sword, which had belonged to her father.

    Jonas allowed Leigh to study the bracelet and be alone with her thoughts. He leaned back in his seat and smiled a little. Leigh was like the daughter he never had. And she was also the apprentice every master wanted. Determination, defiance, skill, talent...

    The carriage ride was silent from then on, both of them quiet in their own thoughts.

--------

    "Ah, here's the palace," Jonas announced, breaking the long, comfortable silence. Leigh looked out of her window and gasped. It was huge and so beautiful. Fireworks shot over it, as if welcoming the guests.

    "Come, come, Leigh. Better not tarry," Jonas said. The footman opened the door for them, helped Leigh out, and then Jonas followed. Leigh was still in amazement over the palace and Jonas led her to the front entrance, where two guards were posted. They nodded respectively towards Jonas and gave Leigh curious looks.

    "Names?" Asked a bored page. He wasn't even looking at them; he was looking at the long scroll in front of him.

    "Sir Jonas of Frell and Lady Leigh of Frell, daughter of Lord William and Lady Rebecca of Frell," Jonas said. The page practically jumped when Jonas said his name and he bowed.

    "Their Majesties said to be expecting you, sir," the page said. "Come, I will announce you."

    Announce us? What? Leigh thought, panicking. She would rather that no one saw her enter and she entered unnoticed. Fat chance of entering unnoticed now, Leigh thought glumly.

    "Announcing Sir Jonas of Frell and his companion, Lady Leigh of Frell, daughter of Lord William and Lady Rebecca of Frell!" Please no one pay any attention to us, please everyone ignore us.

    No luck. Every head turned towards the grand stairs and Leigh, reluctantly, walked down the stairs. Most people had heard the name "Jonas" and everyone had knew that he was famous for the ogre banishing and wanted to get a glimpse of the great man. Others had hear "Lord William" the other man who helped the banishing of the ogres. The ladies had heard "Lady Rebecca," a gentle, kind woman they had all loved.

    Just let the world suck my into a hole right now, Leigh pleaded but no hold came to suck her away. She kept descending the stairs, which suddenly seemed very long. Jonas, however, looked like he belonged there and it was normal. Leigh envied his coolness and calm.

    They finally made it to the floor and everyone, having caught a glimpse of them turned their attention to the next people being announced. King Char and Queen Ella had been early and made their way to the pair.

    "Jonas! How are you?" The king asked Jonas, shaking his head. Queen Ella, however, turned to Leigh and smiled. "I remember your mother," she said softly. "She helped me when I came to be queen." She studied Leigh. "You resemble her very much, you know."

    Leigh smiled and curtsied. "Thank you, Your Majesty." Queen Ella laughed. "Please, call me Ella. I never liked formalities." That makes two of us.

    King Char, also telling Leigh to call him Char, asked Jonas, "So? Have you made your decision?" He seemed anxious now.

    Jonas smiled gently. "Yes, Char, I have." He indicated with his hand Leigh. "My apprentice will take up the job." Leigh suddenly had a fear that the queen and king would look shocked and demand to have a male fulfill the job.

    But Char only asked with a raised eyebrow, "She is good, right?" Jonas nodded and he beamed. "Well, then. Perfect!"

    Ella beamed as well. "A female being a warrior! We need more women like you, Leigh." Leigh, pleased that they didn't flat out reject, smiled. "Thank you...Ella."

    Ella looked around the large ballroom. "You must meet our son, of course, to be acquainted with the person you are going to protect. Oh, I'm pretty sure you'll get along fine." She saw a large group of ladies, surrounding someone and she sighed. "Well, I can bet you anything my son is being tortured there. I best save him." She called, "Jerrold? Jerrold, come here, son, there are some people I wish you to meet."

    A tall, dark haired boy came out of the mob of ladies. His equally dark brown eyes found his mother's eyes and he looked positively delighted to get away. "Yes, Mother, I'm coming." And he rushed over. He added, in an undertone, "Thank you for that saving, Mother. I swear, one lady tried to rip my clothing in order to get me to dance."

    Ella laughed. Then she took her son's arm and turned him to face Leigh. "Jerrold, this is Lady Leigh. Leigh, this is my son, Prince Jerrold. But call him Jerrold; he dislikes formalities as well."

    How come he isn't saying it then? Leigh thought but she politely curtsied. "It is a pleasure to meet you," she said politely. Jerrold bowed. "The pleasure is mine, Lady Leigh."

    Leigh said quickly, "Leigh, please. I dislike formalities as well." Jerrold nodded, looking slightly bored. Then his eyes slipped to Jonas and his eyes widened. "Jonas? The Jonas?" He cried, looking excited. He took the man's hand and shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I've heard what you and Lord William did about the ogres, really brilliant, really."

    Jonas grinned and raised his eyebrows at Char. "Thank you, Your – err, Jerrold."

    Jerrold's eyes dimmed. "It is a terrible loss to our land that Lord William died. I would have loved to meet the man who I heard won many sword fighting tournaments." Leigh eyed the prince. It was funny to think that he was talking about her father and didn't even know it.

    Jonas bowed his head in respect. "God rest his soul," he muttered. And then he said, "But his daughter and Lady Rebecca's lives and she is an excellent sword-fighter herself. Almost as good as her father."

    Jerrold looked interested. "Really? Do I know her?"

    Jonas laughed. "I guess you met her. Leigh here is his daughter."

    Jerrold focused his attention back onto Leigh with more interest than he had shown before. "Are you really the daughter of one of the best sword-fighters of all history?" He asked. Leigh nodded, uncertain what else to do. She had never really met her father and couldn't explain anything besides the things others had told her about her father.

    Ella cleared her throat and all attention focused on her. "Funny you should mention it, Jerrold," she began. "Because Lady Leigh here is going to become your bodyguard while you are away."

    There was silence and then Jerrold snorted. "Are you joking, Mother?" He asked, looking surprised yet disbelieving. "I mean...she's a girl." He chuckled. "Shouldn't I be protecting her?"

    Anger shot through Leigh and right then and there, she wanted to punch the heir to the throne. How dare he thinks that girls couldn't be warriors! Leigh thought infuriated. How can he base one's skills on one's gender like that? She opened her mouth, angrily, to snap at the prince but Ella cut in. She gave her son a stern look. "Now, Jerrold, she is your bodyguard and you should and will treat her with respect."

    Jerrold looked even more disbelieving. "You...you cannot be serious, Mother. You know most of the ladies faint if they lift a finger!" Jerrold looked like he was now knowing that this was real. He looked like he was preparing for a fight.

    Leigh, couldn't hold back her anger, snapped, "So what? Who says I am like those other ladies who have fainting spells and vapors every minutes?" Her eyes were blazing dangerously and she didn't look at all like the delicate, fragile lady that ladies were supposed to be like.

    Jerrold whirled to her. He sized her up and smirked at her, since she was shorter than him and had no build. "Right," he sneered, "a petite things like you can defend me better than I can defend myself. You're, what, sixteen?" He faced his mother again. "Really, it's better if you let me protect myself, you know. Why, with her around, I'll probably be even more vulnerable to an attack."

    Ella looked angry. "Jerrold, you have no right to judge her like that! I demand – " but Jerrold interrupted her. "Right, like you aren't judging me, thinking I can't take care of myself. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mother."

    Char looked even more angry than his wife. "Jerrold!" He snapped. "That is no way to speak to your mother. Apologize right now!"

    Jerrold glared at his father before resentfully turning back to his mother. "I am sorry," he said stiffly. Ella glared at him, looking disapproving.

    "Now apologize to Leigh here, right now, young man," Ella said sternly. Jerrold swallowed and looked as if he rather drink poison. Nevertheless, he said, although forced, "I – am – sorry- Lady – Leigh."

    So back to formalities? Fine. Two can play your game, Your Highness, Leigh thought. She nodded her head slightly. "I accept your apologize, Your Highness." Both of them glared at each other as the king, queen, and master stood, looking between them both.

    Then Ella said, clapping her hands together. "Well! Now that everyone is all on everyone's good side and happy, why don't you two go share the first dance? It's tradition that the honor of the ball starts the dancing with the choice of his lady! Lady Leigh, if you would..."

    Jerrold raised an eyebrow. "What happened to 'choice of lady'?" He asked, rolling his eyes. His mother stepped – hard – on his toe, making him wince. Leigh said, trying to be politely while she was actually fuming inside, "Actually, I rather not dance. Dancing isn't my, err, isn't an accomplishment of mine."

    Ella pushed her forward gently. "Oh, don't worry dear, Jerrold will teach you all the steps. Go on now. And don't mind if everyone is watching; they usually do."

    So, reluctantly on both parts, the girl and the prince walked slowly to the center of the room. "This is your fault," the prince hissed through a false smile.

    "My fault?" Leigh hissed back through one of her own fake smiles. "I don't have a biased problem."

    "Ladies shouldn't be fighting."

    "Who says you get to them what they can or cannot do?"

    Jerrold was silent as they both stood in the center of attention. Ella said loudly, "My son – Prince Jerrold – will be opening the first dance with Lady Leigh." Everyone clapped politely but some ladies looked beyond furious. Great, I've just been made most hated girl, Leigh thought.

    "All right, let's get this over with," Jerrold hissed. Leigh stared at him blankly. She didn't know how to dance and didn't know how to begin. When Leigh told Jerrold this, he rolled his eyes. "I've never met a lady who could not dance. Really, it's kind of an embarrassment."

    "Just show me what to do, damn it," Leigh hissed, not caring that she had cursed. Jerrold's eyebrow shot up. "Ah, the lady curses. Tsk, tsk." But he took one of Leigh's hands into his large one. "Now hold, with the other hand, your skirt." Leigh did as he said. "And now...we begin the torture. Just try not to step on my toes, all right?"

    Leigh didn't have time to glare; the musicians had started. And Jerrold began moving, hissing directions. "No, no, just follow my lead," he said as Leigh began to tug the other way. "Just follow my lead and you won't make a fool of yourself."

    Leigh did so and she found that dancing was actually easy. Sure, she wasn't the best at it but she did better than she expected, which involved her falling flat on her face. In fact...she did pretty good for a first timer. The pair twirled perfectly in tune and Leigh even remembered to twirl when Jerrold spun her outwards. The dance ended with her sliding into Jerrold's chest. She felt his heavy breathing on her hair as the crowd clapped.

    "Good," Jerrold murmured, "You didn't make a fool of yourself. And I believe you told me this was your first time."

    "It was," Leigh said softly back to him. Then she realized she was still in his arms and quickly entangled herself. She curtsied politely and said in an equally polite voice, "Thank you for the dance, Your Highness."

    Jerrold smirked. "Back to formalities, I see." He nodded. "All right. It was a pleasure to have danced with you, milady. Perhaps we should dance again?" His eyes twinkled mischievously. "Although I doubt you will exceed so well this time. This dance is a gavotte, a very fast-paced dance." Leigh swallowed and glanced nervously at the musicians, who were starting to play a very fast song. Better not to make a fool of myself, Leigh thought.

    "Ah...actually, I was, err," while Leigh tried to think of an excuse not to dance again, the mob of ladies charged towards Jerrold, all shoving one another, trying to reach him first. "Actually, I believe your fan club wants to have their share in dances with you?"

    Jerrold eyed the ladies and, without warning, her grabbed Leigh and twirled her. "Hey! I don't want to dance!" Leigh protested. Jerrold looked her in the eye and whispered, "I rather risk getting my toes bruised than have to dance with those power-hungry ladies." There was a serious look in his eyes.

    Leigh frowned and opened her mouth to protest but Jerrold had already set off, twirling and dancing her. The fan club glared at Leigh fiercely, probably wishing her to fall off a cliff or something like that. Leigh, although not knowing the steps, tried her best. She only stepped on Jerrold's toes twice and was rather pleased with herself not to have proven Jerrold's predication correct.

    They twirled and danced together perfectly. Some couples even stopped to watch them move across the floor, looking at the young pair in awe. Off to the side, Ella clapped her hands together, looking delighted. Jonas was watching his apprentice as she danced, twirling around, and Char was watching his son, as a small smile crept on the young prince's face. He watched as the prince eyed the fan club, and deliberately danced away from them, the girl having to follow him.

    The dance ended, to Leigh's delight. She was growing tired and only had danced two dances! Ugh, how could ladies do this was beyond her. She looked up to the dark chocolate eyes of her partner and then she glanced over her shoulder, seeing the ready to pounce fan club. Leigh, not wanting to be ripped to shreds, thought it best just to leave then and there. "Your Highness, as much as I enjoyed that dance, I believe some other ladies would care to dance with the prince."

    Jerrold ran a hand through his hair, looking distraught. "Sadly, I must dance with them as well." He turned to Leigh. "We will dance again, of course. I mean, if you are to be my bodyguard, you must spend time with me, correct?" His eyes twinkled.

    Don't punch him, he's the prince. Leigh forced a smile, when she rather punch him right between the eyes. "Of – course." She forced out. What had she gotten herself by taking up this job? Was he going to make this miserable for her?

    Leigh took a step away from the prince and, taking this as a sign that the prince was finished dancing with the girl, the fan club jumped forward, all shoving one another to be closer to the prince. Leigh was rudely shoved back and shot venomous looks. She heard a girl whisper in a loud whisper to the person next to her, "She's not even pretty!" The other girl whispered back in an equally loud voice, "And she isn't a baron's daughter, like I am."

    Leigh resisted the urge to roll her eyes at these pathetic women. Did they really think she actually wanted to marry the prince? Leigh definitely did not and didn't even want to be in the same room as he was!

    Leigh walked away from the mob of girls, surrounding the prince, and begging him to dance. She didn't notice, however, that the prince's eyes stayed on her retreating form, even as girls tug on his sleeves to get him to notice them. His eyes held a hint of interest in his eyes.

---------

    Leigh hadn't had gotten a break like she had wanted too. Instead, gentleman after gentleman asked her to dance and she felt that it would be rude to say no. So she danced...and danced...and danced...and she would pretty sure that her legs would collapse anytime soon. That's how tired she was.

    Leigh managed to escape after dancing with a squire, who opened his mouth to ask for another dance but Leigh had hurriedly left. She quickly walked to the balcony, praying that no one would ask her to dance. No one did, thankfully, and she made it outside where a cool breeze washed over her. Leigh closed her eyes, inhaling the sweet scent of roses somewhere below. She made her way to the railing and leaned on it with her elbows, watching the darkened land of Kyrria.

    "I thought you would never stop dancing," came a deep voice from behind her. Leigh's warrior instincts kicked in and she whirled, her hand going to her waist. But she realized that she didn't have her sword with her. And besides, she didn't need to because it wasn't an attacker. It was just the prince, leaning causally against the doorway, smiling slightly. He pushed himself off without his hands and walked towards her. "Nice reflexes. I suppose I should feel glad you didn't have your sword with you or you would have cut me into two."

    Leigh wasn't sure whether he was mocking her or complimenting her. She took it as an insult. Her eyes blazed as she said stiffly, "A warrior is always prepared for anything, Your Highness. Always."

    Jerrold raised an eyebrow and stopped where he was. "Ah. Still on the formalities, I see. Are you that mad at me?"

    Leigh laughed coldly. "Oh, no, how could I be? You just insulted me, telling me that I couldn't possibly be good because I am a girl. Oh, no, of course I am not mad at you!" Her voice was dripping with sarcasm that no one could mistake it as serious.

    Jerrold shrugged. "How am I suppose to know that you are good? How could I possibly believe a lady could defend a man after all the ladies I have met and they could barely hold the sword? So, as you can see, it isn't my fault that it is hard for me to see a lady wielding the sword so well."

    Leigh felt like yelling at him that he shouldn't be so judgmental. Instead, she settled for quietly telling him this. "You cannot just judge girls by what you have met, which are ditzy, idiotic court ladies."

    Jerrold grinned. "You believe court ladies to be idiotic and ditzy?" A flash of respect shined through his eyes but was gone the next second.

    Leigh folded her arms over her chest, glaring at the prince. "Yes, I believe that they are."

    Jerrold stroked his chin, as if in deep thinking. "But if they were so stupid, milady, how could they be so cunning and sly?"

    It was Leigh's turn to raise her eyebrow. The pair was now walking around each other, analyzing each other as if they were in a debate. "Cunning and sly? Court ladies? Since when?"

    Jerrold grinned. "Since they think of schemes and plans to get the dashing and handsome prince to marry them." He looked as if he thought he had won the debate but Leigh felt like smirking. It was going to take more than just a few lines to win against her. If he could possible win, of course.

    "No, the dashing and handsome prince would just have to be really, really thick to actually fall for their scheme. So it's not like the ladies are cunning; it's more like the men are stupider than they are."

    Jerrold's grin vanished and it was now Leigh's turn to grin in triumph. She watched her opponent as he tried to think of a comeback to this remark. Then, he said, looking her straight in the eyes, "You are not like other girls. Usually, girls let me win. But you, no. You actually fight me. Me! The prince!"

    Leigh blinked. "So? Why should I let you win when I am clearly smarter? Why should I pretend to be an idiot and let you win?"

    Jerrold laughed as if the answer was obvious. "Because the girls always want me to think that if I am smarter than them, I would wish to marry them. So am I right in thinking you do not wish to marry the prince, which I might add that you are the only one?"

    Leigh glared at him in pure disgust. "You are right in assuming that. And I am pretty sure there must be some lady who isn't infatuated with you."

    Jerrold chuckled. "Name one lady besides yourself," he demanded, his eyes twinkling and he looked pleased that he was going to trap her.

    Leigh paused and thought and found she couldn't think of one beside herself. She wanted to slap that smug look on his face right then and there. Jerrold chuckled again. "Well, then, I suppose I won that argument."

    Leigh glared but didn't say anything. She was forced to look up at Jerrold, since she was shorter and she hated it. It made her feel like he was better than her, having to look up. Well, then, he is the stupid prince, she thought.

    Jerrold looked down at her and grinned, as if reading her thoughts. "Does milady feel that her prince is superior to her?" No, Leigh thought, milady just thinks that the prince is a stupid moron who doesn't deserve the life of royalty. But, of course, Leigh couldn't say this aloud; she valued her head and neck and wished it to stay connected to her shoulders.

    "Well," Leigh said through clenched teeth, "there is a lady out there; there must be. I mean, I'm sorry if I offend you in anyway, Your Highness, but not all ladies fall for your charms and good looks? Not, that of course, I believe you have these things," she added quickly.

    Jerrold ran a hand through his hair. "So, you still stand by what you say, do you now?" His voice was serious. Leigh, not knowing what to say, settled for a nod. Jerrold continued. "Fine," he said softly. "Fine." His voice was stronger now and there was even a hint of a smirk in his voice. "I'll give you a chance to prove yourself, milady. I'll give you the chance to find a lady who doesn't fall for me."

    Leigh raised an eyebrow. "Is this a challenge, Your Highness? Because if it is, what are you willing to do when you do – and you will – lose?"

    Jerrold chuckled. "Winner of this challenge – which, of course, will be me – will be allowed to ask of anything – only one thing – of the loser of the challenge. Do you agree to these terms, milady?" His eyes twinkled mischievously; he obviously thought there was no possible way he would lose. He stuck out his hand, waiting for her to shake on it.

    Leigh thought for a moment, unsure. What if she couldn't find a lady who wasn't love struck by the prince? What if she was the only one? But Leigh knew she was trapped; that if she refused, Jerrold would think of her as a coward. And she rather die than back down from a challenge.

    Leigh grasped the prince's strong hand and, looking straight into his eyes, said in a clear, determined voice, "You have a challenge, Your Highness." And something flickered in the prince's eyes. Something Leigh didn't catch and even if she did, she wouldn't have understood it. It was gone a split second later and was replaced with a sparkle.

    "Prepare to lose, milady."

    "Don't be counting your chickens before they hatch, Your Highness."

    And both opponents looked at each other, both staring down the other, both determined to win this challenge and prove the other wrong. And, of course, the prospect of having the other do whatever they wanted.

-------------

    "Well...that was an interesting ball," Jonas told his apprentice on the carriage ride home. His companion had been rather quiet, staring out the window into the darkened trees.

    "Yes, very," Leigh said, absent-minded. Her mind was thinking back on the challenge that the prince had issued. She couldn't help but wonder what he would ask of her if he did win. If he did. Leigh was determined not to lose to him; determined for him to do something for her.

    "You and the prince seemed to have gotten off...ahh...at the wrong foot, I would say?" Jonas raised an eyebrow at his apprentice, wondering why. Sure, when two strong-headed people clashed, there would be trouble but he hadn't expected the coldness.

    Leigh started at this and stared at her master. "Yes, we did, didn't we?"

    Jonas shrugged. "Anyway, the prince had decided with his father to leave in a week to go ogre hunting. There will be a small band of knights accompanying him, as well as you."

    Leigh nodded, now focusing her mind on business. "Should I travel as a maiden or a lad?" Leigh prayed he would say lad; she didn't want to go everywhere in a dress.

    Jonas paused, thinking. And then he nodded slightly. "I suppose lad clothing would be best. Give attackers the wrong idea, I suppose. Riding would be rather difficult in maiden attire and I don't see it possible you fighting in a dress without tripping."

    Leigh nodded, glad and relieved. "I can't see it possible either."

    Jonas sighed and closed his eyes. He was silent for a moment before speaking. "Leigh?"

    "Yes?"

    "Be careful during this mission." Leigh looked at her master, whose eyes were still closed. "There...there's something not right. Something doesn't feel right. And there's still the question who wants the prince dead...and why...and how far will they go to have him dead?"

    "When did the royal family realize the danger of the prince's life?"

    Jonas kept his eyes closed, thinking. Then he responded. "He was outside, practicing his sword-fighting. It was growing late; almost dinnertime, I suppose. Then, there was a cry from the front gate and Prince Jerrold immediately, with some knights, rushed to the gates to see what was amidst. They...they saw hooded riders with torches, screaming for the death of the prince's, screaming that he wasn't safe, even within the walls of the palace and they would get him in the end. And he would suffer greatly and those who stood besides him would fall as well. Then...well, they just rode off as the knights everywhere tried firing arrows at them. But they were too quick. They were well talented."

    Leigh blinked. "How did you find out all this stuff?" She asked, curiously.

    Jonas replied, "While you and the prince danced, I spoke to the king and queen. They told me all about it and they feared their son's safety."

    "Then why let him off to go ogre hunting? Isn't he in more danger?"

    Jonas didn't reply; he just stayed silent. After a full minute went by, Jonas's eyes flew open and he said in a grave voice, "He's going because the ogres are lately more active than usually. I don't know why, they never showed themselves this much. Anything that rides on the roads is in danger of becoming an ogre's lunch. And the prince feels that he should end this, as his job as future ruler. He...he, will, sort of shrugged off the danger, as if it was nothing."

    Leigh rolled her eyes. "Stupid, over-confident prince. Really, he's practically asking those men to kill him, that idiot."

    Jonas smiled slightly. "That's what he has in mind."

    "What?!" Leigh's eyes were the size of saucers.

    "Not to be killed. He just wants to draw out the attackers. And – hopefully – he can discover who they are. Leigh...I didn't want to tell you but...but a village was burned. Many people died. And, in the ground, written with fire was: Those who stand with the prince shall suffer. Let this be a warning to all of you and make you all think better of where your loyalties lie."

    Leigh was silent; she was too disgusted to say anything. They would kill innocent people to try and scare the people of Kyrria that that would happen to them if they stayed loyal to the crown?

    "We need to know who is in charge. And why do they want to overthrow the crown so badly," Leigh said, biting her lip. Jonas laughed coldly.

    "Isn't it always the same? Power? Greed? But, of course, we mustn't assume. They could want something else...something...better...but that remains a mystery. All we know is that we need the attackers to be caught and to know who they are. And why are they doing this. I would think that if it was a neighboring land they would attack Kyrria with full force; the army and everything. Not this burning of a village. No. I don't know if they want to overthrow the crown now. This plan...its...sly...cunning...and quiet. They are starting small. But they are growing larger. First, the crowding at the gate was innocent, nothing more. But the killings...they're taking steps, Leigh. We have to prevent them from hurting anymore of our people."

    Leigh nodded. This was an odd move. If they wanted control of the land, wouldn't they attack with full force? Not these smaller attacks. It was odd and unusual. Highly unusual.

    "You must be ready for anything, Leigh. I fear that this is not only about the prince's life. No. This is much bigger. Far more dangerous and terrible. And I rather not see what they have in mind."

    The two were silent the rest of the carriage ride, both thinking of this. Who? Why? And what would be the outcome?

--------------

    "Enter," came a cold voice from a high chair, facing the fire, hiding the person from view of the door. The door opened a timid man entered, looking frightened of the darkened room, the only light coming from the fire, which was making shadows on the walls. "What news do you bring? They better be good," added the cold-voiced man threateningly.

    "M-Master, the p-p-prince is g-g-going on his o-o-ogre hunting as p-p-planned," stammered the nervous, white-faced man.

    The cold-voiced man chuckled as coldly as his voice was. "Excellent. So the ogres are doing as they have been told? Good. Very good. They have drawn out the prince. The first pawn towards our goal."

    The nervous man swallowed deeply and then stammered, "M-Master? D-D-Do we r-r-really n-n-need the prince? We – "

    But the cold man cut him off. "Yes. We are using the prince. We need him. Now, how many companions will he have? We need to be prepared."

    The nervous man responded, "A-A-About five k-k-knights, highly t-t-trained. A-A-And a b-b-bodyguard. I-I-I-I hear Sir J-J-J-Jonas recommended the warrior him-himself."

    A spark of interest lit the hidden man's face. "Ah," he said softly. "Jonas. I should have expected the king and queen to have ask for his help. I only wished that he would have been the bodyguard of the prince's...then I could murder him personally...but, his warrior. Tell me about him."

    The other man looked even more nervous and scared than before. He swallowed deeply, shutting his eyes as he did so. He opened his mouth and said, trying to remain calm, "I-I-I-I c-c-c-couldn't f-f-f-f-find v-v-v-very m-m-m-much in-information on the w-w-w-warrior, M-M-M-Master. O-O-Only that he is s-s-s-supposed to be v-v-v-very g-g-g-good."

    There was silence and then, in a dangerous voice, the other man said, "That is all? Nothing else you couldn't find? I need more information if I wish to make my way to the prince easier. I don't want any troubles."

    The nervous man was sweating now, his eyes darting nervously from the back of the chair to the window. "I-I-I-I know. I-I-I-I-I know. It's just...n-n-n-n-no one seems t-t-t-to k-k-k-know an-anything on this new w-w-warrior. J-J-J-Jonas must have trained him s-s-s-secretly."

    The cold-voiced man swore. "Jonas must have known I would have tried something like this. He knew he had to train someone, secretly, away from my spies. Just in case if I tried to do this again." The man laughed suddenly, his cold laughter bouncing off the darkened walls. "Oh, how I wanted Jonas to be the one I had killed. But...his time will come...soon...his interfering will this time be his downfall...

    "Ready the troops. We attack the prince when he's deep in the forest, away from any prying eyes. And perhaps we can see how well Jonas trained this warrior of his." His cold laughter bounced off the walls, making the other man wince in fear at the coldness and cruelty in his voice.

A/N: Hey! Hope you like.

Question: Would a few "bad words" and intense sword-fighting be PG or PG-13? Because I am hovering in between. Like...PG-10. LOL.

Oh and I'm sorry if Jerrold seems...well, kind of mean. Don't worry, he gets much nicer.

Please review and thanks to those already did, you rock!