A/n: Hmm… what to say. I don't really know. Review!

Chapter Eleven

The darker haired man fell down from a tree, followed by Samuel. "We will get them, Tom," he said, eyeing me. "Our luck is changing."

I placed my hand delicately on my sword, sitting serenely in it's sheath. I eyed the blond one called Tom, and he looked back at me, obviously confused. The dark haired man circled me cautiously, observing me, as if I was a snake about to attack

I glared at Sam, my jaw slack. "Sam, what's going on?" I asked.

He smiled at me. "There's nothing to worry about," he said. "Jocelyn, come out dear!"

Jocelyn appeared from the brush, dressed in a normal gown. She walked towards me and stood next to me. "Do you know what's happening here?" I asked.

"No idea," she replied. "Seems to be a pattern though, don't you think?"

I nodded. "Absolutely," I said.

"Allow us to introduce ourselves," came a voice I hadn't heard yet. Then appeared the blind lad. "My name is Sir Mischa Canberra, and this is Sir Thomas Eblect and Sir Charles Ballidino."

The three of them bowed elaborately and lavishly, including unnecessary flourishes and superfluities.

"Or Mac, Tom, and Chaz," explained Sam, who gratefully shook Chaz's hand.

"How do you know these men, Sam?" I asked

"Chaz and I grew up together," Sam explained. "You see, I'd often run away from my father's village as a child. Once, when I was in the woods, I met Sam. We were the best of friends as young lads, but I certainly don't see him enough anymore!"

Chaz guffawed and continued. "I introduced him to Mac and Tom, and we offered him a position with us. He declined --mama's boy, you know-- and now we hardly see each other," he said. "But I have had the pleasure to meet his sister a few times. Jocelyn, it is truly a delight to see you."

Ignoring her outstretched hand, Chaz hugged her and planted a kiss on her cheek. I noticed Jocelyn blush deeply. "It's wonderful to see you too, Chaz," she replied when they separated. "I could hardly recognize you with your hair so long! You look like Sam!"

Tom laughed. "I knew you were trying to look like him," he replied. "I told him he was."

Good laughs went around, before Tom spoke up again. "So, who's this?" he asked, nodding in my direction.

"Nora Rose," I said, sweeping an elegant bow and pulling off my hat, making sure my hair fell down my shoulders. "Thank you for not robbing me."

Tom burst out laughed. "You're-you're a girl!" he cried, laughing. "I'd never have imagined that. You certainly brandish a sword like a man!"

I snorted. I hated when people did this; overlooking my talents with a sword because I wasn't a male. "Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean that I can't wield a sword," I said coolly. "It seems to me I'd be quite the match for you."

"Ouch!" said Mac, laughing. "It seems to me you've met your match, Tom."

I ignored his comment, though it was true, and turned to face Chaz. "So what exactly do you do, Chaz?" I asked, trying to be good-natured. After all, if they were friends with Sam, they couldn't be so bad.

He smiled. "Lady Nora, you've just met the three best conmen in all of Kyrria," he said, bowing ornately again. "Mac, Tom, and I are thieves. We rob people."

"Wow," I said, trying to think positively about them. "You seem to be pretty good at it. You certainly fooled me. I actually thought I you were robbing a blind man."

The three began to laugh. "Lady, Mac is blind," one of them finally said through their gasps of breath.

My jaw dropped. I blushed in embarrassment. "I am so sorry!" I cried, mortified. "I shouldn't have assumed. Please forgive me!"

I was humiliated. Leave it to me to say something so absurd. Why couldn't I just remain quiet, like Jocelyn? She was just standing there, docile and observant. I should try to be more like her.

Mac smiled and leaned on his staff. "No, don't apologize," he replied, his blue eyes looking straight at me. "It's that assumption that keeps me fed."

The six of us stood there for a few minutes in silence. It was awkward. Really awkward. Finally, Sam spoke jumped. "Dear Lady!" he cried. "Nora, we've got to get to Jenn!"

I jumped. Ophelia! Sidney! The Broken Bottle! "Oh, oh yes!" I replied. "We've got to leave! Now!"

I kind of ran around aimlessly for a few moments before I realized what I needed to do. "Sam, where's my horse?" I asked.

"Right here," Jocelyn replied, bringing out the three horses from the woods. I quickly took Maverick from her and slipped my foot into a stirrup. With a heave, I pulled myself up onto the horse, one leg on each side of course, ready to go.

"Come on, Sam!" I said, impatiently looking at him. He was speaking with Mac, Tom, and Chaz. They were nodding and whispering to each other, glancing occasionally at me. Finally their little circle broke up.

"All right, Nora, Mac is going to ride with you," Sam finally said as the group split up.

"What?" I said, bewildered. "Why?"

"Lady, we've no horses," Tom said. "How're we to escort you to Jenn if we've no where to ride?"

I shut my mouth when he smirked at me. I didn't think I liked Tom. He was sly; he was hiding something. I called out to Mac, who followed the sound of my voice until I grasped his hand. He felt around for the stirrup, and when he found it, he stuck his foot in, as I had done, and lifted himself up as well. He settled himself behind me, his arms around my waist, his staff on his lap. With Chaz in front of Jocelyn and Tom behind Sam, we began to ride.

I rode up next to Sam. "What's going on?" I asked.

"They're coming with us to Jenn," he replied.

"Why?" I asked.

"Why, my dear Lady, don't you wish for an escort?" Tom asked, his eyebrows raised.

I glanced at him for a moment, my ears ringing with distaste. "No, sir, I don't," I replied placidly. "I'm a big girl, get dressed by myself and everything."

He smirked. "Please, dear Lady, call me Tom," he said.

"All right, Tom, I will," I agreed. "If you stop calling me 'dear Lady.'"

We rode for a less than an hour until we came to a main road. It was late afternoon when we slowed our pace to reach the town gates. Luckily, in Jenn, they were much friendlier than they were in March, and we were able to go through gates without a question. Once inside, we asked for directions to the Broken Bottle. We were told to head straight, that the tavern was at the end of the road.

When we reached it, I completely understood why Sidney had us meet there. It was a run-down, neglected wooden house made of what looked like rotting wood. A dirty sign hung over the door, reading "the Broken Bottle-rooms available." I laughed quietly to myself as we walked it. Inside was no better than the outside. It was dimly lit, loud, and smelly, with fat, hairy men drinking at the bar and a few cloaked individuals sitting in booths, discussing personal matters in hushed tones.

One of those cloaked figures rose from it's booth and walked towards me. It grabbed my arm forcefully and began tugging me to it's partner. "Oh, no- no thank you," I said quietly, trying to free myself from it's death grip. But the person was persistent.

Suddenly, Mac, Tom, Chaz, and Sam were all over it. Mac held his stick low so the being would trip backwards into Tom, who caught it forcefully around the neck and held a dagger to it's throat. Sam pointed an arrow at it's chest. The being began to shake, and Chaz began to move towards it. He pulled of the hood. I gasped.

The hood hid a beautiful girl with flaming red hair, wide blue eyes, and a delicate frame. Ophelia! The poor thing! She was shaking, breathing short, shallow, terrified breaths, crying hysterically. "Please!" she said. "I mean no harm to you, sirs! I just wished to speak to the lady for a moment."

"We want nothing to do with you, wench," Tom said, tossing her from his grip. "Be gone."

I stood there, dumbfounded for a few moments, before snapping into action. "Tom!" I cried. "How dare you treat her that way. Even if I don't know her, you mustn't be so disrespectful."

I ran to Ophelia and helped her up, practically holding her up she was so frightened. She threw her arms around my neck gratefully. "Oh, Nora Rose!" she cried. "I thought -we thought- you were dead!"

I laughed. "I almost was," I replied. "If it hadn't of been for these men, I wouldn't be alive right now."

"Do you know her?" Chaz asked.

I nodded. "Yes, this is-"

"Is this the darling Ophelia I've heard about?" Sam asked.

Ophelia blushed, nodding girlishly and looking at her feet as she curtsied. Sam took her hand and kissed it politely. "Lady," he said to her, bowing.

"Ophelia, this is Sam," I explained. "Mac is the one with the staff, Tom, the fair one, and Chaz is the dark haired one. And this is Jocelyn, Sam's sister."

Ophelia curtsied. "Pleased to meet you," she said gently.

"The pleasure is all ours," said Mac, bowing. "But don't bother with those formal names. We only use those around royalty."

I giggled as Sidney strolled up to us, his hood off. "What in the Lady's name is going on here?" he thundered. "Nora, did you bring the entire forest with you? Who are these people?"

Ophelia and I ushered Sidney back to the booth, as I beckoned for Sam, Chaz, Tom, Mac, and Jocelyn to follow me. "Sidney, these are some of the people I met when I was captured," I explained. "They've all saved my life at least once."

"Who are they?" he blurted out. "And why did you bring them with you?"

"Sidney!" Ophelia cried. "Don't be so rude. Did I not tell you more people would be joining us?"

"Yes," he muttered. "But I didn't think it'd be a bunch of ruffians."

I huffed in aggravation. Why are you being so pompous? "Sidney," I replied through clenched teeth, "this is Sam, the lad who saved my life when I was captured. This is his sister Jocelyn. And these three are the best conmen-"

"Conmen?" he spat, glaring at the three of them. "Nora, you can't be serious!"

"-the three best conmen in Kyrria. Tom, Mac, and Chaz," I finished. "And you better be kind to them. Their lives are as important as mine."

He nodded. "Very well," he replied, sticking out his hand. "I'm Sidney."

Handshakes all around. We ordered a round of drinks and sat awkwardly for a few moments before Ophelia initiated some conversation. "Nora," she whispered, "they're supposed to be here. I know it."

"Who?" I whispered back.

"Everyone," she replied. "This is the group. You, me, Sidney, Sam, Jocelyn, Chaz, Mac, and Tom. We're finished."

I frowned. "What do you mean?" I asked. "I don't understand."

"The Lady," Ophelia replied, sighing impatiently. "I told you, others would join our cause. They're them. They were supposed to find you. The Lady says so."

I nodded. "I see," I said, eyeing Tom. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," she whispered. "You should tell them about-"

Someone coughed. "What's all the hush-hush for, lasses?" Sam said, smiling. It seemed that everyone was looking at us.

Ophelia nudged me. "Um…well, let's see here. How should I put this," I stammered, thinking.

"Nora?" Sidney said cautiously. "Do you know what you're doing?"

I nodded. "Yes," I replied. "Mac, Chaz, Tom, I've got a rather large request to ask from you."

Mac laughed. "Why did I feel like that was coming?" he said.

I laughed. "Yes, well I figured you'd sense it when Sam asked you to accompany us to Jenn," I replied. "You see, I've got a bit of a history you don't know about-"

Sidney slammed his mug onto the table. "Nora!" he said harshly. "Are you crazy? Not here, you don't know who's listening!"

I turned and looked at him sharply. He was being so awful! Why? "What is wrong with you, Sidney?" I asked accusingly. "You've been nothing but sour since we arrived."

He stood up. "If you can't figure it out, I've no reason to tell you!" he yelled.

With that, he stormed across the tavern and up the stairs. A few seconds later, we heard the loud bang of a door slamming. I closed my eyes, putting my face in my hands as I felt it grow red in embarrassment and anger. Why was he being so pompous? Royals. Always thinking they're better than everyone… oh wait. Aren't I royal?

I took a deep breath and looked up. Six pairs of eyes were staring at me intently. "All right," I said slowly. "Although I hate to say it, I do think Sidney is right. We should discuss this somewhere more…private."

Ophelia nodded. "I agree. Let's head up to our rooms, shall we?" she asked.

"How many do we have?" I asked.

She giggled. "Two," she replied. "I guess we'll have to deal with one for the boys, and one for the girls."

I snorted. "I don't think that's going to go over well with Prince Sidney, but it seems we don't have a choice," I said. "Come on, everyone."

A/n: Finally! A reunion! I know all of you were waiting for that. Anyway, review and I'll get the next chapter up as soon as possible. It'll be much more interesting. I promise.