Chapter Nineteen

An Interesting Discovery

The hug broke and we stood there looking at each other, wordlessly. After a few moments, Kia gave a single nervous laugh.
"That was odd," She said. I thought the same. I mean, she just ran to me and hugged me. I was going to tell her that, but she tossed her hair back and gave a less nervous laugh then before. "I mean, you just came to me and hugged me. Why did you do that?"
I was blown away by the statement. "I hugged you? I think it was the other way around." I crossed my arms to show her that I was right.
"No. You hugged me. And even if I was the one who hugged you, you were the one who was crying like a baby."
I wasn't going to say that that wasn't true, because it would be a lie, so I decided to say softly, more to my self then to Kia, "I wasn't the only one."

I had turned around to say that so that I wouldn't start thinking of Dana or any of the others from the real world. But, both fortunately, and unfortunately, Doyle had walked in saying, "She's right, you know, Kia. You were blubbering like a baby." Finally, something I could really agree on with him. Most of everything that came out of his mouth started a fight or a battling game. We were never really on the same side of the battlefield. It was more like we were solders that were supposed to be killing each other, but something (Ahem, the Goddess, Ahem) had us on friendly terms. So instead of really fighting, we satisfy the urge by play fighting. And it seemed to be working to my advantage until the next thing that came out of his mouth was, "But Gwen was crying more then you where." He gave me a playfully menacing look.

"Was not," I said simply.

"Was too," He retorted.

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Not-uhh," my inner child came out, and I no longer cared how anyone thought of me, even though Kia was watching us like we where a tennis game.

"Uhh-huh,"

I thought that this child like bickering would never end, but then a thought came in my head. "I control your food for the next week." I smiled all to sweetly.

He was silent for a moment. Then, "No. I'll just come here." Damn, my plan hadn't worked. Grr. I was getting very cranky by now and I wanted to leave.

"Well, it was nice to meet you, Kia, but I haven't had much sleep lately and I have to go to work tomorrow morning and I'm tired. So I'll just be going."

"Oh, no your not." Doyle said. Have I mentioned by now and with every passing minute he was getting on my nerves?

"Oh, yes I am."

"Fine, go ahead and try. I'll see you in fifteen minutes." He waved me off and went to pour Kia and him a glass of wine.

"What does that mean?" I had the attitude of a spoiled rotten brat.

He mumbled something into the glass of wine that I could not understand, then finished with, "- now go on." I had had it. He was treating me like a child (another thing I hate if I haven't mentioned it yet) and I didn't like it, so I silently stormed out.

I mounted Ayden and rode away. Shortly after the light of the camp dimmed in the background, I realized that I didn't know how to get home, and even more so, the dark was getting to me and I was to tired to make light. I realized what Doyle was talking about when he said I'd be back in fifteen minutes. He knew I wouldn't get very far. Damn him!

I didn't want to prove him right, but I saw no other way out. So I decided that I would at least make his visit short and that's what I was going to try and do.

When I got back to the camp, the band players where gone. Probably to sleep and so where the women and children. I tied Ayden up loosely for a quick get away and walked up to the door of the wagon. I was straightening out my hair and dress before I would make my big entrance and exit.

I slammed open the door and briskly walked to the chair Doyle was sitting in. I grabbed him by the collar, ready to drag him out of his set, but an extra glass of wine caught my eye. And a chair was in front of it. Obviously set out for me, the way Kia was looking at me. I looked at Doyle to see if I could read his eyes, but there was only humor filled in them as he took a sip of a very large glass of wine.

"Cute, but no thanks. I would not be poisoned so easily." But it was tempting. So tempting, in fact, that I grabbed the glass Doyle had in his hand and chugged half of it. When I was finished, and overcome by that jolt of alcohol, I Finished the action of Dragging Doyle out by his collar.

"Ta ta," I saluted Kia, hoping it would annoy her that I was being so rude, but I don't know if it worked because I didn't have time to look back. When I had Doyle outside he flared to life.

"What in the name of the gods was that for?" He ragged.

"TAKE ME HOME!" I yelled. "I'm tired, cranky, and now a possible a little buzzed. If your lucky, I just drank fast enough to get buzzed. If not, then tomorrow will be hell for everyone, including you!" I was already on Ayden, trying to tell Doyle that I wanted to leave. But he didn't mount just yet.

"And how would I suffer if I don't see you tomorrow?" He asked smoothly.

I smiled a sweet-in-a-Chucky kinda way. "I'll find you and hunt you down like a dog. I have the resources." I guess that worked because he streched and hopped on his horse, producing light as we trotted away.

The whole way to town was silent except for a short conversation somewhere in the middle.

"So, would you really hunt me down like a dog?" Doyle asked, looking over at me.

"No, I guess not. Unless you really pissed me off." He looked kinda happy. I thought I would burst his bubble. "You got close. Don't do it again. I get mad pretty easily."

"Okay, but I don't believe you could."

"Really? Well then, go ahead and piss me off and then you'll see." Another question lingered in the back of my mind. "I thought you where tired, anyway. Why did you come here tonight?"

"I wanted a drink, but you drank it all." He scowled at me.

"I only drank half, if not, less." I said, kind of offended.

"No, it was the whole glass. Trust me."

"Nope,"

"Nope, what?" He asked.

"I won't trust you. Not yet. To many things happening right now to be able to trust anyone."

"And what is that."

"Didn't I just say I don't trust you?" I looked over at him.

"What does that have to do with it?"

"I'm not going to tell you anything. Your lucky I'm feeding you. Be satisfied. Maybe, if I ever get to know you better, but you're a...a...I' don't feel so good." I leaned over and started to dry heaved. I brought my head up to continue riding, but I must have brought my head up to fast because the last thing I remember was wiping saliva off my dress.

When I came to, Doyle was bent over me, looking quite concerned for a moment, I might add. When the moment had passed, his concern was replaced with humor. "Have a little to much to drink, there did ya?"

"Shut up," I tried to push him away, but my strength failed me. I tried to get up, but it failed me there, too. "I'm just going to lie here for a moment. Can you get me some water?"

He didn't much seem to find thing funny anymore. I wonder why. "Where is it?" He asked.

"Right saddle pocket." He got it for me and I drank it down like I hadn't had drank in a day. "That was good, want some?" He nodded and took the canteen from me. He drank as I did and laid somewhat next to me, letting his light fade to barely a glimmer.

"I love looking at the stars," He admitted after a moment of silence.

"Me too. There wonderful out here." We lay there for many moments just staring. Then, "I wonder if I can find the big dipper." I said absent mindedly.

"I've already looked. I can't find it." He said.
I sat for a moment, not realizing what happen. But when I went through what he just said, I shot up, despite how much effort it took, and so did he.
"Did you just say you knew about the big dipper?" He asked.
"Yeah, you know about it? How?"
"How do you know?"
"You tell me. You'll think I'm crazy if I tell you how I know." I was sure that's what he would think.
"Where are you from?" He asked suspiciously, making light around us again.
"Why?"
"Answer the question truthfully."
"Truthfully?"
"Yes, truthfully."
"Uhh,... Los Angeles." I said hesitantly.
"Oh, my God!" He shouted as he stood up and jumped around. "Why, why are you...you said God...not gods, God. "Where the hell are you from?"
"Sacramento!" He yelled still jumping.
"Stop jumping like a flipping jumping bean and sit down before your brain jumps out of you head." He actually stopped. I gained my thoughts, emotions, everything and took a deep breath. "How did you get here?" I said slowly.
"I don't know. I actually think I'm dreaming, but I've never dreamt a dream so long. How did you get here?"
"I fell off my dirt bike, I think, and woke in a meadow." We stood in absolute silence. It was more then my head could take, and I fell back into darkness. Whether I was sleeping or I had passed out, it felt good to close my eyes.

Uhh, yeah, twist, yeah. Yes he is from the real world and to those who are confused Dana Is my best friend and i was to lazy to make up another name so I just named Gwen's Best friend Dana also. Got it. She didn't fall into Tortall.

Uhh...to those who have read The Immortals i have a question. Does anyone remember what color Numairs magic was. Was it just black like i thought or was it black with white sparkeles like dana thought. or was that wrong too and was it black with black sparkles or something? Help! please...