Disclaimer: Sorry, I forgot about it in Chap. 1.Anyways, I am not Gail Carson Levine nor do I own Ella Enchanted. Anything you recognize is not mine blah blah blah....

Author's Note: Hey! Thanks sooooo much for the reviews!!

Shards of Dawn – Thanks! They will meet again soon and don't worry it will not be the hug/makeup kind of first meeting. That's all I'm going to tell!

Sarah- Hey! Thanks for the wonderful review! Here's that update you wanted.

Tazzy- Thanks for the cool review! Don't worry, the ending isn't too cheesy ;)

Please keep on reviewing!

Sassafras

Chapter 2

Alex examined the short man sitting next to him. He was alternately stooped over his drink or hungrily devouring the food in front of him. Kind of dirty looking too, Alex thought to himself, silently wondering when last the man had taken a bath. His hair fell in dirty clumps around his face and his clothes were encrusted with a layer of filth and grime. This was Bones, supposedly named for what was left of his opponents after he was done with them. Of course, he didn't look much different from the other patrons of the Greenwitch Inn. It had not been Alex's idea to come here and he knew why, looking around the place. It was dark, dingy, and dirty. The perfect place for a shady deal, Alex thought ruefully.

"So,Tristan," the man said, "You decided yet?"

Alex couldn't exactly use his own name especially in his chosen profession, so he went by the name of Tristan. "Yes, just tell me when and where," he answered steadily, looking with distaste at his own barely touched mug of ale.

"Well..." the man said, "Now, 'fore I tell you, you understand that this ain't my instructions. I don't want yur men to deliver this, and I don't wan you ter give it ter them ter deliver. You gotta do this un," the man said suspiciously, for once leaving his food to glare at Alex.

"Yes, Bones, I do realize that, and I'll take the utmost care when I deliver it. I did promise didn't I?" Alex answered impatiently, eager to get out of his hellhole.

Abruptly, Bones stood, pushed back his plate after scraping it clean for the third time, and then downed his ale in a single gulp, "Foller, me" he muttered, before walking toward the back of the tavern.

Alex followed him, they reached the back of the tavern and let themselves out of the door and into an empty courtyard littered with filth and heaps of bad smelling trash.

"Wait here, I hafta fetch summing," Bones muttered before going up a flight of stairs that led to the second story of the tavern.

Alex eyed the courtyard, with its piles of rotting excrement, and swatted away the flies that had buzzed over to him. Bones was not one of his cleanest clients, nor did he have much refinement, but he did pay well, and, secretly, he was glad that Bones entrusted no one but himself with the task ahead.

Lusty laughter from behind him interrupted Alex's reverie. Looking up, he caught sight of Bones with some tavern maid hanging off his arm. She coyly whispering into his ear before walking back inside with an exaggerated swing to her hips. Bones watched her before he hurried down the stairs.

"Tristan, m'boy," he wheezed. "'ere's the message and the plan ter deliver." He pulled out of his pocket a little box and a tattered rolled up parchment.

"Tristan, I don' have time ter explain," here he winked at Alex and glanced upstairs, "so read this 'ere piece o' paper. It'll tell yer where to go an 'ow ter deliver it. Should only take a few weeks. Good luck to yer, Tristan, m'boy."

With that he patted Alex on the back, thrust the parcel and paper to Alex and left without so much as a backward glance.

Alex grinned to himself as he watched the man climb the stairs right back into the arms of that maid no doubt. There were only two things that could distract Bones, they were money and women, in no particular order.

Well, that was easy enough, Alex thought as he sauntered into the woods behind the tavern.

He gave a shrill whistle and almost out of nowhere, a huge brown stallion pranced into sight. It was a marvelous animal, with its shining brown coat, and sleek despite its large size. It was almost the only creature that knew everything about Alex. He often found it helpful to discuss his troubles with the horse, since it could neither answer back nor ridicule him.

"I'm sorry, Zeus, I know, the pickings aren't very good here," Alex said as the massive horse snorted. "Okay, okay...don't worry I will give you an extra bag of oats when we go home."

"You know, you really are getting very spoiled," Alex added, laughingly, as Zeus nuzzled him playfully, "Now, come on, you big baby."

With that he jumped atop the big horse and guided him further into the forest. The old trees towered over them, their enormous branches reached up to the sky, forming a giant canopy of green which the light filtered through, making patterns on the forest floor.

Alex hummed softly and Zeus happily skipped along over the roots until at last they came to a halt before a gurgling brook.

"Now, as I was saying Zeus," Alex said jumping down, "We've got an exciting new job to do."

He pulled the tattered parchment out of his pocket and then made himself comfortable lounging against the trunk of a tree.

Cautiously, Alex opened it up. The writing was faded and barely legible, it did not look at all like Bone's illiterate, haphazard style. The instructions read:

This package is of utmost importance. It is imperative that it get delivered with due timing. Follow these instructions carefully and nothing will happen to you. Should you fail, I ensure you that it will be your last failure. Ayortha has an annual Spring Ball held by the Royal family; you must be there before this, on the eve of the vernal equinox. At exactly midnight, go to the Magnolia tree. If you do not know where this is, you will when you arrive at court. The password is "Light is the day". Instructions will appear on the bark of the tree so look carefully and bring a light. It will tell you further instructions. After you have memorized this information, be sure to say "Dark is the night" and the message will once more disappear. Be careful. Once the message has gone, it cannot be retrieved. Do not forget and do not tarry.

Alex's eyes widened and he stared at the paper in front of him. This was obviously a very important delivery. Dangerous, too, he thought to himself. It involved magic. It was a very troublesome thing, magic was. As far as Alex could see, all it ever brought the people that had the misfortune of getting mixed up with it, was more difficulty. You had to be very careful. A person who knew magic was very powerful and usually with equally or more powerful enemies. Something in the back of his mind told him that it was not a good idea to go through with this. It's too late now, he thought to himself, plus, he would be going all the way to court. He hadn't been expecting that. He had thought that Bones just wanted him to drop off a stash of illegal cognac or something like that. This was clearly another case entirely.

Hmmmm....vernal equinox....that was in two weeks time, Alex realized with a start. Well, they'd better get going. There was still a lot that had to be planned before he could leave. It would take three days to get to Ayortha, and another to get to court.

Alex stood and hastily folded up the letter before dusting himself off.

"Zeus,enough wasting time," Alex called to his horse impatiently, "Didn't I say we have work to do?"

Zeus had ambled over the water's edge and was slurping up the sweet water between nibbles of the grass that grew along the stream. Now he looked up and twitched his ears in irritation at his master as if to say, "Make up your mind, first you say work, then you stop by the water, well what is it?"

Alex laughed and walked over to stroke Zeus' luxuriant mane.

"Yes, I mean it this time. Now we will go to see Justin about this little letter I have here. Then in a few days time, we will be leaving for Ayortha."

Zeus whinnied and tossed his head.

"Yes, I know you hate it, but you will just have to get on that boat. Don't worry it will be okay," he murmured to Zeus consolingly. "In the meantime, we'd better get going to Justin's, because as much as you hate it, we have to go and I have to tell him."

Alex got on Zeus and with a flick of the reins they were both speeding through the forest. Once more, Alex's thoughts went back to the instructions. He was curious, who was it that had written these peculiar instructions and what did they want him to deliver so badly?

Zeus slowed to a trot and gracefully pranced through streets of the village. He was showing off and enjoying every minute of it. It was a small village and that was why Alex liked it. He knew all the inhabitants and that they would never betray him. Alex grinned at the townspeople who waved and greeted him and the prancing Zeus. Finally they stopped beside the last of the old homes lining the street. It was a two story house with peeling paint and a wide covered wooden porch. Hidden in the shadows of the porch, a white haired man of medium stature stood, smiling faintly. Alex got off Zeus and patted him on the back.

"Don't roam too far," he told Zeus's tossing head, all he got was a snort in reply. Shaking his head, he climbed the few stairs of the porch.

"Hello, Alex, tea is ready," the man said before Alex could open his mouth.

"Well, hello, Justin. Sorry I'm late," Alex replied sheepishly, following him into the house and shutting the heavy oak door behind him.

"So how did it go with Bones, today?" Justin asked as they walked through the sparsely furnished house to the dining room. The only furniture in it was an ornate looking table for six. On the table, steam curled from two mugs of piping hot tea next to which was a sugar bowl and a pewter milk jug.

As an answer, Alex simply placed the mysterious package and the scuffed parchment on the table before seating himself to the right of where Justin sat at the head.

"Read the instructions, its...quite interesting," Alex added, as he mixed his tea.

Without a word, Justin carefully unfolded the letter and began to read. Between sips of the brew, Alex examined the man that had been his mentor, teacher, and the fatherly figure Alex had craved after his father's death. Even with his advanced age, Justin was still one of the best warrior's in the kingdom. It was he who had taught Alex almost everything he knew. He was also the only person besides his mother, Penelope, and Zeus who knew his true past. Everyone else just took them for one of the many broken families that had been forced to flee from Frell, after...

"Hhhmmm...interesting," Justin muttered laying down the note and turning his clear, sky blue gaze straight to Alex's face. "Magic, too," he said his eyes mirroring the concern he felt.

"Yes, well, I can handle it if I'm careful, after all, I've had the best training in Kyrria,"

Alex answered, trying to keep his tone light.

Justin looked at him carefully, for a moment without commenting, "Looks like an important job. Do you have any idea whose behind it and what they want?"

Alex cleared his throat nervously before replying. "Umm, not really," he said hesitantly, "But I know what I'm doing," he added defensively. God, he was making a mess of things. He knew how ridiculous he sounded, how pigheaded he was being. He was ignoring one of the most important rules of the trade. To always know what you were getting yourself into, for whom or what cause, and its consequences. Alex rubbed his eyes resignedly and looked up.

Still, Justin did not comment on this but merely said, "I take it your going, but who else are you going to take?"

"Actually...I was planning on going alone," Alex replied, once more avoiding his mentor's eyes.

"Alone?" Justin echoed, raising both his brows, "and just how do you plan to accomplish that?" his voice was unnaturally calm, as he slowly enunciated each word.

"Well," Alex paused, it was unnerving to have Justin act this way, "I was planning to take the Sun Goddess with Zeus in two days and then – "

"Let me get this right, you are planning to leave in two days on a dangerous mission, not only because it involves magic, but also because you have no idea who's behind it, and to top it all off, you are not taking anyone with you except a bloody horse." Justin's voice rose in pitch as he spoke till it was basically a roar.

Alex blinked. He had never heard Justin speak that way before. Never before had calm, rational Justin raised his voice or talk profanely for that matter. For a man whose occupation was as far away from being gentlemanly as possible, he was surprisingly polished and well mannered, and so this outburst surprised Alex into silence.

"I'm coming with. We can leave Zeus with your mother. The boys will man the Dancing Nymph. We'll still have to leave in two days," Justin had quieted down quite a bit now, but his voice still carried a strong note of authority.

"No, Justin, you can't!" Alex exclaimed, recovering from his initial surprise.

"Alex," Justin sighed, looking at him, "Look, I lied, I know you are capable of this and much more. But I also know the reason why you are going. Not only because this mission is a challenge and you want a challenge, but also because of something more, isn't it?"

At these words Alex tensed.

"Relax, I'm not going to try and dissuade you from going. I know its want you want, but I have a bad feeling about this and that's why I want to go. Its about her isn't it?"

Silently Alex nodded.

"Well I understand and I want to help, Alex. Will you let me?"

His blue eyes were serious, staring into the brown ones across from him.

"Well, Justin, I have to admit, I lied too," Alex said with a small smile. "I thought you wouldn't approve, that's why I said that I wanted to go alone. But I really would like you to come, and now that I know you're intent on going as I am, there is no way I'm gong to let you back out."

Justin looked relieved and took a sip from his mug.

"You know, if we were honest from the beginning we would have been able to avoid a lot of misunderstanding and headache," Justin said finally.

Alex grinned "That's what being a thief does to you."

"Oh, I almost forgot, Skyes came by today. The boys will be up here tomorrow so we can fill them in then. They'll be here at noon. I told them to find out what they can about what Bones has been up to."

"Thanks, we really need more info," Alex replied massaging his temples. "Now what should we do about this? We need a plan," he said picking up the note.

"Hmm...we are going to need court clothes and court identities, not to mention invitations. And Alex – under no circumstance will you bring that horse. It will just be more trouble. I have a friend who, I'm sure won't mind providing us with some good horses."

"So what are we going to do about the clothes?" Alex asked with a raised eyebrow. They did have some court clothes, but after the little "mishap" from last time it was quite unwearable.

Justin grimaced and stood up, "Come on. Lets see what we can salvage."

Together they drained their mugs and made their way to the attic. Justin walked to one of the many chests that lined the walls and grasped one edge, Alex grabbed the other and together they heaved to the light streaming in from the single dusty window. The trunk creaked open revealing a pair of breeches and a shirt and coat tails. They were made of a soft, fine linen and covered in intricate silk embroidery. The breeches and coat were a soft blue while the shirt was white in color. At least it had been before. Now it was a dull brownish color and splashed the darker reddish brown of dried blood. Not that it was his blood of course. It had happened on one of their "jobs. One of his good friends was the son of a Belhar merchant. Belhar was the kingdom that lay adjacent to Kyyria. They hired Alex and his men to guard their caravan load home. Kyyria was the most dangerous kingdom around, filled with thieves and crooked officials who would not give a second thought not only to stealing goods but killing the owners as well. A portion of Kyyria lay between Ayortha and Belhar, both rich trading lands and so many merchants risked crossing the treacherous area. Alex and his men had just reached the Kyyria / Belhar border when they were approached by some obviously dishonest Kyyrian officers. They were the half orges that were the trademark of Kyyria's new monarch. The half-breeds, though big and strong, were no match against the well-trained and agile fighters they were up against. Needless to say, the clothes were ruined by the end of it, but the goods had made it across intact.

Now Alex and Justin stared at the heap in front of them.

"Well, I may as well try them on," Alex said at last, breaking the silence.

Justin nodded, suppressing a grin. He knew how much Alex hated wearing those "prissy" clothes as he called the costume. He would make use of the time he had while Alex changed to write that letter to his friend about the horses. The sooner it got to him the better. Justin hummed softly as he fetched the parchment and ink and began composing the letter. He didn't get very far, though, for a few minutes later he heard a horse pounding down the street. Quickly he got up, this was a quiet village and for someone to be galloping through meant that something was up. Justin was barely across the room when he caught sight of Alex bolting down the stairs. He didn't seem to realize that he was clad in the tattered remains of the outfit and not in his usual attire.

"It's those damned tax people again," he paused to say while he was already half way out the door.

Alex was jogging down the street his eyes on the tax commissioner who was methodically interrogating the townspeople as why they had not paid their taxes.

"Damn," Alex cursed, when he realized that he had forgotten his sword and dagger in Justin's attic. He slowed down trying to come up with a plan. Suddenly, he looked down at his tattered clothing and his eyes brightened.

Once more he set off at a run down the street, this time yelling at the top of his lungs, "Stop!"

'Probably new' he thought as he caught sight of the tax collector's face. It was a middle aged man with probably a wife and children waiting for him at home. Alex felt a little guilty, as he put his plan into action.

"If anyone of you moves from this spot they will be very sorry indeed," the officer said sternly before turning around. "What is it, boy? Pull yourself together," he ordered roughly to the young man who had just run up next to him. He was bent over and panting.

"Sir – (pant) – stop. You've – (pant) (pant) – got to listen – (pant) to me – (pant) m'lord." The lad continued to gulp air into his lungs.

The tax man stepped closer boy. His clothes, though tattered, were well made; obviously he was some sort of nobility, definitely not one of these dreadful village people. With a start the tax man realized what a blessing this situation could actually turn out to be. With a much gentler tone he urged the boy to continue "Yes, go on. Have you lost your way? Were you robbed?"

Through the slits of his eyes, Alex saw the realization hit the man. He took advantage of this opportunity.

"M'lord, you don't understand, these – people," he walked closer to the man and gestured wildly at the astounded townspeople behind, "they are very dangerous," he raved, "you shouldn't be here alone." He circled around the man, drawing ever closure.

Reaching out the man placed his hands on Alex's shoulders. The boy was obviously delirious. "It's fine boy. You are not feeling well, I'm a grown man I can handle myself."

He had just finished when the boy suddenly slumped forward. "That's just it is not good, for you – " he said unevenly, his voice catching.

Once more the boy moved with out warning, he wrenched himself out of the man's grip and turned his back to him. The man stared at the boy questioningly, before reaching out a hand to turn him back around.

"Put your hand down," a voice suddenly cut through the air. At first the man was startled and wondered where the voice had come from before comprehension dawned on him. It had come from the youth in front of him. Hastily he pulled back his arm and reached for his sword, except it was not there. Quickly he looked up, and found himself staring into a pair of hard, cold eyes. He caught a glint of steel as a sword – his sword – was pointed at his neck.

"You clearly don't understand, Mr. – " the voice was as cold and steady, it sent a shiver of fear down his spine. He'd been tricked!

He gulped nervously before answering. "Wa-watercrest," he managed to mumble pitifully.

"Watercrest," the man-boy in front of him finished coolly, "you obviously don't realize how dangerous it is for people to travel alone nowadays. Its not – safe," the sword pressed threateningly against his throat.

"Now, my dear sir, I want you to give back all the money you have so, err, considerately, collected," the youth continued. The man unhesitantly pulled out a sack from his pocket and held it out, nervously glancing at the sword. One of the townspeople, a big stocky man retrieved it.

The bandit nodded to him. "Now, thank you so very much for your cooperation. It does make things much easier on everyone. If you continue to be so good, I will let you go, but first, let me remind you, if you ever so much as set you eyes on this place again, I guarantee you that I will not be so pleasant next time."

The man was relieved to see that the big stocky man was now bringing over his horse.

"Oh, yes, before you get too worried, we did borrow some of that wonderful material you no doubt looted from one of these innocent townspeople," the horse was only a few feet away now, he was sure he could make it.

"Don't even think about it," the man-boy spoke again, cutting into his thoughts, "You are a bit of a reckless one. Well, then, I'm just going to have to make sure you remember our little pact." Slowly the sword traced a two lines into the skin on the side of his neck. The letter 'T'. The man gasped with realization and his eyes flew even wider.

"It's – it's you!" the man managed to choke out.

"Yes, it is me. Now, if you will, I'm tiring of our little game here," the sword was lazily removed from his neck.

Without looking back the man jumped on his horse and galloped off, followed by the laughter of the man whose name struck fear in the hearts of many men.

The stocky man, Giles his name was, grinned at Alex, his teeth gleaming.

"Thanks, Tristan. The look on his face was priceless when he realized who it was," he guffawed heartily as the gathered people broke into peals of laughter once more at the memory. He sobered up a little and added more gravely, "Tristan, I'm serious. You know I just returned from Ayortha. I don't know why I bothered with buying that fancy stuff anyway, but I just couldn't help it. It's worth quite a bundle and to think that the man was about to take it. Thanks. If there is anyway for me to pay you back, please tell me."

Alex looked at Giles, suddenly. I don't know why I didn't think of it before, he thought to himself. Giles was a tailor and a good one at that. Hhmmm, interesting... Alex paced a bit. The villagers were returning to their homes and work, and Alex didn't notice the stares of the women peeking out of their windows and giggling to each other at his appearance.

"Giles," the man in question looked up when he heard his name called, "You saw all the latest fashions in Ayortha didn't you?"

"Aye, that I did. Quite interesting actually. He women's clothes I becoming increasingly daring, if I may say and the men's – Well I won't go into it now, nobody over here would really have any cause to – "

"And how long would it take you to make some court attire?" Alex cut him off and then quickly added, "Men's I mean." He didn't want Giles to start getting the wrong idea.

"Well if I was making it by myself, it should take around 2 days to make an evening costume and one day to make the day clothes. Of course if I had help it would take much less time – "

"Done," Alex interrupted once more.

"What?!" Giles exclaimed in confusion.

"Well, Giles my friend," Alex replied making his way over to the shorter man and putting his arm on his shoulder, "There might well be a way for you to pay me back."

Giles looked up in interest.

"You see, I will be setting out in a few days and I am in sore need of some nice court clothes. As you can see my present ones are not exactly the epitome of elegance. I will pay you for it, of course, but the onlky problem is that I will be leaving in tow days. Can you do it?"

Giles looked up confidently, "Of course, and I've just been itching to get my hands on that fabric. You'll need to come in for a fitting as soon as possible and I'll be needing some....," suddenly he was lost in his own thoughts muttering about measurements and the like.

Alex grinned and watched the man amble down the street towards his shop before turning around and heading down the opposite way to Justin's.

"So, how did it go?" Justin asked almost as soon as Alex stepped through the door, "I hope you didn't scare him too much."

He was just finishing off the letter to his friend in Ayortha.

"Well just say that these clothes did come in handy," Alex said with a laugh, and I did solve our other problem too," he added.

"Oh?"

"Yes, remember that trip Giles has been saving for, for ages. Well it was to Ayortha and he returned last week full of the new trends as well as some fancy fabrics. Anyway, he agreed to make the clothes for us so we have to go in for a fitting. Most unfortunately I would say if these "new" fashions are as frilly as the old ones," Alex added with a grimace.

Justin laughed as he finished sealing the letter with a drop of wax.

Together the two men walked down the street, ready for what was to start in two days time.

A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed and sorry it took me so long. Anyways this is just a short reminder to please REVIEW! Thanks!