I have recently learned that most of you have never even heard of Pumpkin Bars. All I have to say is SHAME!!!!! On that note, I have included the recipe after the chapter. Bake them, and see for yourself. I had no time to convert the measurements to metric, though if anyone does have the time, email it to me, and I'll post it. My email is
A.K. Anomynous- You know what pumpkin bars are! Yey! You will simply have to wait and see...tee hee hee!
Tomb Raider X- Tristan is just so much fun to write. He has very little emotional capacity.
Camreyn- It's okay, I understand having no time. Look on the bright side; you are still my longest reviewer! You will simply have to wait and see.
BillieLiv- I've often wondered what Tristan's mother would be like. I like to think that I've gotten her somewhat on target.
Camlann- For some reason, I thought I read in your profile that you are in college, if so, find someone with a stove-bribe them, threaten them, whatever works for you- and make the PUMKIN BARS! You will love them. No one can not love them. They are THAT good. I would love to see Gawain go postal...from a distance, of course!
Elvenstar5- I don't know about tearing, but hacking is a distinct possibility.
HGandRHrforever- Yey! An empanada! I love you! You are my new best friend! More pumpkin bars for you!
When Fire Meets Ice- You poor deprived child. Make the pumpkin bars, and you will see what I mean.
Tristan vaguely remembered seeing Habren, Deirdre, and Radha leaving the gathering. He had assumed that Deirdre was having more deceptively titled "morning sickness." They had not returned. He would be of no real help. Vanora had never asked for his help in any of her pregnancies, and he knew even less about pregnant women than he did about children. He turned his attention back to Rebekah. To his utter astonishment, Rebekah was actually speaking. His mother was listening.
"No, I'm not pregnant. You'll have to wait a bit longer for grandchildren..." Rebekah was saying.
Api's face fell, but she recovered, smiling at her soon-to-be-daughter-in-law.
"Well, Tristan was always a difficult child...always running off into the woods...I never understood that...he'd always come back covered in dirt...I always wondered what he was doing in there..." mused Api, in her breathless way.
Rebekah flashed a grin at Tristan, who was looking rather sullen.
"And what do you think of his hair? It's rather wild, don't you think? You should do something about that...I've been trying to talk to Tutyr for years about his hair, but he never listens..." said Api, shaking her head.
Tristan and Tutyr exchanged significant glances, reminding each other not to react.
Rebekah inspected Tristan as she fought back a storm of laughter. "He does look a bit savage, doesn't he? That generally works to my advantage, though..."
It was Tristan's turn to raise an eyebrow, and he suddenly wished more than ever that they were very much alone. Various dirty thoughts went through his mind at her seductive smile, and he silently cursed her. She would pick a time like this, wouldn't she? To compromise his thoughts with their surroundings, he pulled her into his lap, holding her close to his chest, face buried in her neck and hair. Api looked a bit shocked at his behavior, but Tutyr copied his movements soon after, crushing her argument.
Gawain and Galahad were currently arguing over who would make a better father.
"...I would teach my sons greater respect of women..." Galahad was saying.
Gawain was unimpressed with this argument. "Count the number of women that you know who would give up a good bedding for eternal chastity." He said with finality, as though this settled the matter.
"I am not chaste! If you hadn't noticed, my wife happens to be carrying my child!" It was out of his mouth before he even realized how much that comment would hurt.
Gawain felt instantly defensive and protective of Radha. If she had heard that, it would make her very upset. Radha liked to pretend that what others thought meant little to her. For the most part, that was true. She did, however, care about the opinion of her friends. Gawain turned to comfort and reassure her, but thankfully, she wasn't there.
Galahad was not feeling at the top of the world at the moment. He hadn't meant it like it came out! All of a sudden, a thought occurred to him: He should be on the ground, looking up at the sky. Deirdre and Radha should have been clobbering him by now. Where were they?
Lancelot had noticed the direction of the debate, and decided to intervene for the sake of humanity. "I know! We could all simply agree that I would make the best father. I have skills gentlemen. Indeed, I could teach my sons to be extremely considerate to a woman's wants and needs. Poor Radha and Deirdre will never be as satisfied as Sera, whether it be in good company, or in bed."
This particular speech had the response he had been hoping for. Sera gave him a good swift kick, and Gawain and Galahad scoffed, their argument forgotten. Lancelot, however, noticed something more. Radha and Deirdre were not the only ones missing. His eyes flicked over the faces that surrounded him. Habren was gone.
Lancelot nearly groaned with annoyance, but brushed it aside. She would have her fun. He simply wished she would stop lying to him. He hated being such a mother.
Sebbi listened to the argument but did not comment. Talk of fatherhood always did it for him. Aine slid a surprisingly gentle hand up his back. It was a soothing gesture; it was a tone that she rarely showed. He gave her a slight smile to show his thanks. Aine nodded. They managed to communicate without words a shocking percentage of the time. While Sebbi still tried to interest her in the lovely terrain of the country, Aine continued to shake her head and muttered in response. It was not a malicious relationship. Aine didn't know what she would do with herself if Sebbi ever stopped trying to convert her to the life of a scholar. Sebbi knew she would never castrate him. All threats were made in a sense of fun...well, most of the time...
Galahad and Gawain were starting to wonder where their lovers had gone off to.
"Lancelot, you have any idea where Radha and Deirdre have gone to?" asked Gawain.
Lancelot appeared nonchalant. "If it was Rebekah and Sera off in the shadows, I wouldn't be too worried, but Deirdre and Radha have never had a 'special' relationship."
Lancelot earned another kick at this, though Rebekah joined in the fun this time.
Now, everyone was wondering where the three women had gone. They all excused themselves, and split up, going to check their various tents.
Galahad ran back to the tent he shared with Deirdre, but it looked exactly as it had before they left for the evening meal. He ran to Gawain's tent, but found the same to be true there as well. They both dashed to Habren's tent now, only to find Lancelot standing outside it, looking confused.
There was someone in there.
Papay froze, and saw the outline of eight figures outside Habren's tent. This was not good. He had been so preoccupied, that he hadn't even been listening for approaching footsteps. There was only one way out of the tent. Papay braced himself for their entry, knowing that this meeting would have gone better under different circumstances.
The curly haired one entered first, swords drawn. They stared at each other quite some time. This man was obviously Habren's brother. Lancelot approached the stranger cautiously. Papay took a chance, raising both his hands so that Lancelot would see that he was not armed.
"Where is she?" demanded Lancelot.
"She isn't with you?" asked Papay; panic beginning to seep in now.
Rebekah stepped forward, and marched up to the unknown male. The others looked about ready to stop her, but she sent them a look, and they desisted. She grabbed the collar of his tunic, and pulled it down to inspect his neck. Habren's signature. She let him go with a sigh, knowing how uncomfortable the situation was about to become.
"I'm Rebekah. You know Habren. What is your name?" she asked.
She knew he wouldn't tell her his name unless she had offered hers first. He eyed her warily, gauging her motives, her character.
"I know Habren. Why is she not with you?" he asked, still not giving up his name.
"She went with Radha to attend to a pregnant woman named Deirdre. We can't find any of them. Do you know where they could have gone?" she asked more calmly than she felt.
"In which direction did they go?" he asked.
The group led him to where they had last seen the women. Lancelot was looking at him in a distinctly untrusting manner. Well, he had no cause to trust him, now did he? For all he knew, this could be the fellow who was currently bedding his sister. Those prejudices aside, he hadn't even given them his name. What did he have to hide?
Tristan, Rebekah, and Papay began tracking them, not knowing what they would find. Why would they have wandered off like that? It wasn't safe...But perhaps that was it! It wasn't safe! That was not exactly a comforting thought. Rumors of bandits were ubiquitous, and most of them did not have a happy ending.
They followed the tracks until they came to Deirdre's dinner. While normally they would have averted their eyes, they now searched the area.
"This is not good. More footsteps join them here. They don't have any footprints after this point. They were carried." Said Papay, dread filling his voice, he ran with the footprints, determined to follow them to the end. What he came across next sent chills through his body. A tent had been left behind; he could see where the others had been. At his feet lay a familiar dagger, one he had prayed fervently never to see again. This simply kept getting worse and worse.
The others caught up to him, wondering what he had found. It was very apparent; none of them needed an explanation. Papay bent and retrieved the dagger. He glared at it, and vowed vengeance. If he thought he could do this, well, Papay would simply have to inform him personally that his luck had run out. He was no one's errand boy any longer. He was his own man. The man had taken his woman, and the man would pay. Oh, yes. He would.
They had finally stopped for the night. The women were kept under heavy guard as the rest of the bandits set up the tents. When the camp had been set up, they were brought to the largest tent.
Wacilla had his back to the women, and didn't turn around until he could sense them fidgeting. He faced them, taking in their lack of energy, their confusion. It was all as it should be, except for Habren's glare. She was holding her head high, a look of distain on her beautiful face. She would be a joy to understand, to know. Yes, this one had complexity.
He took her hands, and pulled her to her feet, studying her. She was not a frail creature; she was sturdy, created for hard rides, stamina, bed. She instinctually drew away from him. He gave a low whistle, and two of his men came in, looking apprehensive. Their leader's mood was not easily forecasted.
"You may take the others. Do what you want with them." He said, never taking his blue eyes away from Habren's face.
Habren considered the situation. She was special to him for some reason; perhaps she could use that to her and her friends benefit.
"Do that, and you have nothing to bargain with." She said softly, yet dangerously.
Wacilla studied her more closely, noting to firm set of the mouth. She would not give up easily. "What do you suggest I do with them?" he asked with polite interest, a tone that had his men backing towards the tent flap.
"Leave them alone. I would be very displeased if something...unpleasant...were to occur." She said, imitating his cool tone.
It was as if they were having a conversation about the weather, rather than the lives of the two women still seated on the ground.
"And if I refuse?" he asked, internally amused.
"As I said, I would be very displeased. I'm not the kindest of creatures when I am displeased."
"Neither am I." Responded Wacilla.
"Good. Then we are in agreement. They are to be left alone." She said, firmly.
Wacilla brought a hand up, stroking the curve of her neck with his thumb. Habren nearly flinched, but contained her emotion. "Are you sure that that is the way you want it?" he asked softly. The implication was clear.
Habren forced herself not to scowl. "Yes." She said shortly.
He never took his eyes away from hers, while he instructed his men. "Take the others to the prisoner's tent. Double the guard. If anything...unpleasant...happens, you can be sure that something equally unpleasant will occur." Again in that calm, polite tone that nonetheless conveyed such power and threat.
When they were alone, Wacilla brought his hands to her sides, stroking with surprising gentleness, occasionally cupping a breast. Habren forced herself not to react. She knew she should attack him, hit him, hate him. But she didn't. She took a deep breath, stuck out her chin, trying to think of Papay. She nearly tricked herself into thinking that the man in front of her was her lover. But then the image faded, and the man bent his head to kiss her neck, right over the mark that Papay had left.
REVIEW PLEASE! I AM IN SCHOOL AGAIN AND AM GOING INSANE!! ARG!
And now, for all you poor unfortunate souls who have never even heard of Pumpkin Bars, here is the recipe.
PUMPKIN BARS Ingredients4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
1 (15 oz.) can of pumpkin
(MIX NOW!)
Mix in2 cups flour
2 tsp. Baking powder
1 tsp. Baking soda
½ tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Cinnamon
½ tsp. Ginger
½ tsp. Cloves
½ tsp. Nutmeg
(MIX WELL!)
Pour into greased floured pan. (i.e. cookie sheet with sides, or "jelly roll sheet")
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes
Frosting1 6 oz. Package of creamed cheese
¾ cup butter
1 Tbs. Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar.
I'm sorry if you use metric units. I don't have the time at the moment to convert everything, perhaps I will later...
For the rest of you, make your wildest dreams come true by voting for Pedro, or by simply making these fantastic pumpkin bars, because they are yummy.