Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns everything with the exceptions of Tya, Kalerik, and another upcoming character guess who?
Chapter Four--- The Acquaintance and the Frilly dress
Kel entered the mess hall the next morning. After getting her food she scanned the room and was greeted by the yells of the guys motioning for her to come to the table. She walked over and took an empty seat by Clean.
"So you are coming today?" Fleuron asked as she sat.
Kel nodded. "Yes."
"Jolly great!" Owen said happily digging into his food. They started to talk about what they were going to do that day. Neal walked up to them taking a seat on Kel's other side.
"Hey guys can Tya come with us?" Neal asked setting his plate down and looking around. The guys shrugged and nodded.
"Why not Kel's coming too." Merric shrugged and went back to his food.
"You're coming?" Neal asked shoving a piece of toast in his mouth.
Kel nodded. "Yes is that a problem?"
"No as long as you don't try to kill me again. My collarbone still stings." Neal said indignantly.
Kel shook her head and took a drink of her juice. "I wasn't trying to kill you." Neal snorted and the rest of the table turned to them with raised eyebrows and curious looks.
"What are you talking about?" Roald asked setting his cup down.
"When I met her she asked me if I wanted to staff fight." Neal began. A few of the guys smirked. "Well she hit me and my collarbone cracked."
Kel grinned at him. "Well you should have been able to block it." The guys smirked at Neal, who glared back
"You try fighting her then!" he exclaimed throwing his hands up. They all looked at Kel with a slight hesitation. "See!"
Kel smiled before standing up. "I'll meet you guys are the stable in a bit, I have something to do." She set her tray back on the stack and walked out. Kel headed toward the practice courts. She wandered around a few minutes before finding a short woman with gray hair. "Ida bell?"
The woman turned. "Keladry of Mindelan. I was wondering when I'd see you." Kel smiled and nodded. "Ok I'll give you today to wander tomorrow we start. We'll do afternoon training. I may even use you to train some of the pages." Kel nodded again. "Ok Well I have some people to find and yell at." Kel smiled and walked toward the stable.
"Kel! Where did you go?" Cleon asked swinging up onto his horse.
"To see the Shang wildcat." she replied walking over to her mount and giving him a quick brush down before saddling him.
"You're really staying then!" Merric said happily.
"Did you think she and the king were lying?" Neal asked dryly. He looked around. "So all we're waiting for is Tya?"
"Where is she?" Kel asked buckling her saddle into place.
"She said she went to see the wildcat too." Neal said.
Kel shrugged. "I didn't see her."
Then as if summon Tya walked in. "Sorry everyone." she swung onto her horse that Neal saddled. "I met up with Kal in the hall and had to talk to him. I haven't even talked to the wildcat yet."
"Everyone ready?" Cleon asked clearly uninterested in what Tya had to say. Tya glared at him and he rode toward the door. "Lets go."
They rode through the market Kel talking happily to Cleon. "Studies were a pain, and I was always soar after training but it was ok none the less."
Kel nodded. "I wish I could've but I wasn't going to let them win."
Cleon smirked. "I wish you would've. Hey how'd you get into Shang anyway? They only take children no older then seven."
Kel half smiled. "I started to wander off after refusing probation." she glanced at Cleon who nodded. "Well I also started to work with my brothers and the guards of our fief. Anyone who would teach me really. Well I was wandering through a forest and stumbled upon someone. It was a Shang trainee. We fought. I won. I didn't kill him or anything but I defeated him. I hadn't noticed that we'd gained an audience. When we were finished. Kal asked me who I was trained by. I mentioned my time at the Yamani court and the letter about probation. He tested my skill and offered to take me alone for a while."
"So you weren't actually training?" Faleron asked.
Kel shook her head trying to hide her surprise that most of the company was listening. "He took me in a little and said he thought he could teach me with the skills I had, so I went with them. It wasn't actually my intent to be a Shang but I suppose I'm well on my way now."
"Understatement." Tya replied lightly from behind them.
"So you and Neal have finally stopped uh canoodling each other long enough to catch up." she shot back turning around with a grin to face Tya.
Tya glared at her. "We were not canoodling." she said indignantly.
Kel grinned. "Sure." She turned back to riding when Tya shrieked. She winced and turned around.
"Kel look at this cute dress shop we have to go in!" Tya said already jumping from her horse.
"Oh no. No No No." Kel said shaking her head. "I just went dress shopping with you for that cursed ball no way." The guys laughed at her as she stared in near horror at the shop. Tya started to try to pull her from the horse. "Are you off your head?" Kel asked gripping the reigns tighter. The guys laughed and Cleon practically pushed her from the horse. Kel nearly fell onto the hard ground but she flipped at last minute and landed on her feet with a whistle from the guys. Tya grabbed her arm and yanked her toward the store. "I'll get you for this." Kel growled at a smirking Cleon.
They entered the shop and Kel looked around in horror. It was filled with frilly skirts and lacy dresses. Tya was looking happily around the store. Kel turned to leave when a store clerk caught her.
"Hello!" she smiled excitedly at Kel who froze.
"Hi." Kel muttered turning around to face the clerk.
"You want to try on a dress I have the perfect one!" The woman said and happily went through the store. She practically skipped. Kel tried to inch for the door. The woman caught her and showed her to a dressing room shoving a frilly pale pink thing into her arms.
Kel stared at it a moment. 'Maybe if I stand here a few minutes I can say I tried it on and get away with it.'
"Come show us when you're done!" the woman said happily.
'Damn!' Kel swore. She slid the frilly....thing on. It was a white dress with layers and layers of pink lace. She glared at her reflection thinking about all the things she was going to do to Tya. She opened the door and the woman squealed with delight. Tya tried to hide a smile behind her hand and failed. Kel glared at her. "This is your fault you know."
Tya gave a sudden pull and Kel flew out into the store. The guys were standing there. They all bursts out laughing as she stumbled up. Her face turned a startling shade of red before she could fight it down.
"Tya I'll kill you." she swore, turning around to march back into the dressing room.
"Kel It's so you." Cleon said grinning. Kel quickly reached into one of the frilly sleeves and pulled out a throwing star she'd hidden and chucked it point down into the dirt floor right in front of Cleon he looked up startled. She grinned raising an eyebrow and went to change.
When she'd left the dressing room slipping from the store unnoticed and went outside and everyone was waiting. Cleon handed her the star.
"Thank you." she said grinning and sliding it into a bag.
"That was amazing." Cleon said eyes wide. "You could've killed me."
Kel shook her head. "I wouldn't have and I'd like to think I have more self control and aim then to do that."
Faleron grinned at her. "You gave him quite a fright." Kel just smiled.
"See Cleon she could kill you." Neal drawled from the back of their little group.
"Oh yes Neal my goal is to kill the lot of you. Hey guess what. Tya is my partner in crime." she glanced behind her and saw Neal glance at Tya who had a grin on her face but hadn't said a word. Kel grinned and turned back to Cleon who was trying to hide a laugh at the pair behind them.
"Where's a good place to eat?" Kel asked turning.
"We know the perfect place." Merric said grinning happily. "It's called the Dancing Dove."
"Lead the way!" Kel said with a sweeping motion of her arm.
"Hey I'm surprised you didn't buy that dress. It was very flattering." Neal called from the back.
"I'd hoped we've dropped that Sir Nealan." Kel said dryly.
"How can we drop such a thing so easily." Neal continued. "It was a very beautiful er.....dress."
"Are you asking to be killed Sir squire?" Kel called back.
"Well if you're already planning to why shouldn't I have some fun?"
"Because it'll only make your pain worse." Kel replied again. She stopped as Merric and Cleon did.
"Welcome to the Inn of the Dancing Dove!" Cleon said grinning as he grabbed his, hers, and Merric's reigns. "I'll take your horse. Go get a table with Merric."
"Thank you." Kel replied releasing the grip on the reigns climbing from the horse. Cleon nodded and Kel followed Merric inside.
The inside was smokey and dark. Merric had chosen a large table. Kel took a seat near the center of the table. Merric across from her. Everyone came in and took seats. At the end of the hustle and bustle Kel was between Cleon and Neal. Tya on Neal's other side. Faleron took the seat to Merric's left, Owen to his right. Right after they'd seated themselves Roald walked in.
"Sorry guys. Dad wouldn't let me out." he muttered taking the seat to Owen's right. "I figured I'd find you here."
"So was the meeting fun?" Neal drawled.
"Oh yea." he turned to Kel and Tya. "How do you like Corus?"
Tya smiled. "It's magnificent."
Kel rolled her eyes. "It's great. Well most of it anyway." The rest of the table laughed as Kel glared at them.
"What did I miss?" Roald asked.
"Kel was trapped by some shop keeper and forced to try on this white and pink lace dress." Cleon said grinning. Roald raised his eyebrows and smiled. Kel scowled.
"It was very becoming." Neal added dryly. Kel turned and punched him in the shoulder. "And the punishment starts." he said flinging his hands up.
"Neal thinks Kel's aiming to kill him." Faleron told Roald.
Roald grinned. "Isn't everyone out to kill Neal. Wyldon, The Lioness, and now Kel." Neal nodded.
Soon after they ordered and sat talking quietly among themselves when Kalerik walked up with a tall pale, green eyed, black haired boy not much older then Kel.
"Keladry, Tyana." Kalerik said with a smile. "What a pleasant surprise."
"Kal!" Tya said smiling. Kel's eye were locked on the boy behind Kalerik.
"Keladry." he said with a quick smile.
"Lathander." she addressed him quietly. Everyone grew quiet and looked at the two of them. A smile playing across the lips of Lathander. Kel's face showed nothing.
"It's been a long time." he replied. "Care to introduce me to your friends?"
"That's Cleon, Neal, you know Tya I presume?" when he nodded she continued. "Faleron, Merric, Owen, and Prince Roald."
"Your highness." Lathander said with a smile and nod.
"Care to join us?" Tya asked suddenly.
"Gladly." Lathander said looking right at Kel as he sat down across from Kalerik at the ends of the table. "Did you order already."
"Yes." Cleon replied quietly. He didn't like him. Just by the way Kel was acting it made him distrust this Lathander.
"I'll catch a serving woman when she come back." he said flashing a smile.
"How do you two know each other?" Neal asked Kel and Lathander bluntly.
Lathander opened his mouth but Kel cut him off. "It's a long story." she shifted, uncomfortable under everyone's gaze.
The table sat in an odd, awkward silence. The only noise at the table were the occasional shuffle of someone shifting. The food was delivered and Kal and Lathander's were brought and no one said a word. Cleon couldn't help but notice Lathander kept looking at Kel who was immersed in shoving her food around the plate. They sat in the weird silence for the entire of everyone's meals. When everyone was finished they just sat there.
"It's on me." Kalerik said quietly setting the money on the table. "Since we intruded it's only polite." he smiled at them. "Well we must be off. Let's go Lathander."
"Bye everyone." Lathander waved to them standing. "Bye Keladry."
"Goodbye Lathander." she replied voice devoid of any emotion.
Everyone watched them go before turning to Kel.
"Who was that?" Faleron asked.
"An old Acquaintance." Kel replied simply.
"Some Acquaintance." Cleon muttered. He looked over at Kel worriedly.
"Don't let him ruin this guys." Kel said shaking her head. "Let's go do something."
The group left the Inn and found the horses in the stables. They mounted and set off.
"Hey Kel will you teach my that throwing star trick?" Faleron asked excitedly.
"Trick?" Kel asked turning to look at him. "There was no trick. I just threw it at the floor."
"I really can't throw that well….I've never needed to throw an edged weapon before." Faleron said quietly.
Kel shrugged. "If we have time."
"Thanks!" Faleron replied happily. "Owen you've been especially quiet today?" he asked suddenly turning to his young companion.
Owen shrugged staring off into space.
"He's in love." Merric said grinning.
"Who?" Neal asked riding up next to a very red Owen. "Who is she?" A very dejected Tya went up to ride with Kel as Owen answered.
"Lady Sara." he said blushing scarlet.
They guys began to clap him on the back and ask questions. Kel shook her head and Tya motioned her a little away from everyone else.
"Hey guys we'll be back." Tya called to them.
"Where are you going?" Cleon lifted his head.
Tya glared at him obviously not forgetting the fact that he blew her off that morning. "Sacred Shang stuff." Kel grinned as a confused Cleon ducked back into the group. She headed toward a group of trees with Tya. They climbed from their horses and sat in the grass.
"Why is Lathander here?" Tya asked Kel.
Kel shrugged. "I have no idea."
"We should ask Kal." Tya replied.
"Kal wouldn't tell us anything and you know it." Kel snapped. "Mithros. Why is he back?" Kel sighed and set her head in her hands. "I wish I knew what he was up to."
Tya nodded. "So do I. He has nerve though and style."
Kel lifted her head and raised an eyebrow at Tya.
Tya shrugged. "Oh you know he do-" her statement was cut off by a dagger landing right in between the warriors.
Kel the jumped up. "What In the name of the dark god!" When nothing else came she yanked the dagger from the ground and studied it. "Up to our games again are we Lathander?" he called.
"Lathander?" Tya asked and Kel handed the dagger to her, eyes not leaving the surrounding wood. Tya studied it and saw a dragon wrapped around the hilt. It was Lathander's.
Chapter Four--- The Acquaintance and the Frilly dress
Kel entered the mess hall the next morning. After getting her food she scanned the room and was greeted by the yells of the guys motioning for her to come to the table. She walked over and took an empty seat by Clean.
"So you are coming today?" Fleuron asked as she sat.
Kel nodded. "Yes."
"Jolly great!" Owen said happily digging into his food. They started to talk about what they were going to do that day. Neal walked up to them taking a seat on Kel's other side.
"Hey guys can Tya come with us?" Neal asked setting his plate down and looking around. The guys shrugged and nodded.
"Why not Kel's coming too." Merric shrugged and went back to his food.
"You're coming?" Neal asked shoving a piece of toast in his mouth.
Kel nodded. "Yes is that a problem?"
"No as long as you don't try to kill me again. My collarbone still stings." Neal said indignantly.
Kel shook her head and took a drink of her juice. "I wasn't trying to kill you." Neal snorted and the rest of the table turned to them with raised eyebrows and curious looks.
"What are you talking about?" Roald asked setting his cup down.
"When I met her she asked me if I wanted to staff fight." Neal began. A few of the guys smirked. "Well she hit me and my collarbone cracked."
Kel grinned at him. "Well you should have been able to block it." The guys smirked at Neal, who glared back
"You try fighting her then!" he exclaimed throwing his hands up. They all looked at Kel with a slight hesitation. "See!"
Kel smiled before standing up. "I'll meet you guys are the stable in a bit, I have something to do." She set her tray back on the stack and walked out. Kel headed toward the practice courts. She wandered around a few minutes before finding a short woman with gray hair. "Ida bell?"
The woman turned. "Keladry of Mindelan. I was wondering when I'd see you." Kel smiled and nodded. "Ok I'll give you today to wander tomorrow we start. We'll do afternoon training. I may even use you to train some of the pages." Kel nodded again. "Ok Well I have some people to find and yell at." Kel smiled and walked toward the stable.
"Kel! Where did you go?" Cleon asked swinging up onto his horse.
"To see the Shang wildcat." she replied walking over to her mount and giving him a quick brush down before saddling him.
"You're really staying then!" Merric said happily.
"Did you think she and the king were lying?" Neal asked dryly. He looked around. "So all we're waiting for is Tya?"
"Where is she?" Kel asked buckling her saddle into place.
"She said she went to see the wildcat too." Neal said.
Kel shrugged. "I didn't see her."
Then as if summon Tya walked in. "Sorry everyone." she swung onto her horse that Neal saddled. "I met up with Kal in the hall and had to talk to him. I haven't even talked to the wildcat yet."
"Everyone ready?" Cleon asked clearly uninterested in what Tya had to say. Tya glared at him and he rode toward the door. "Lets go."
They rode through the market Kel talking happily to Cleon. "Studies were a pain, and I was always soar after training but it was ok none the less."
Kel nodded. "I wish I could've but I wasn't going to let them win."
Cleon smirked. "I wish you would've. Hey how'd you get into Shang anyway? They only take children no older then seven."
Kel half smiled. "I started to wander off after refusing probation." she glanced at Cleon who nodded. "Well I also started to work with my brothers and the guards of our fief. Anyone who would teach me really. Well I was wandering through a forest and stumbled upon someone. It was a Shang trainee. We fought. I won. I didn't kill him or anything but I defeated him. I hadn't noticed that we'd gained an audience. When we were finished. Kal asked me who I was trained by. I mentioned my time at the Yamani court and the letter about probation. He tested my skill and offered to take me alone for a while."
"So you weren't actually training?" Faleron asked.
Kel shook her head trying to hide her surprise that most of the company was listening. "He took me in a little and said he thought he could teach me with the skills I had, so I went with them. It wasn't actually my intent to be a Shang but I suppose I'm well on my way now."
"Understatement." Tya replied lightly from behind them.
"So you and Neal have finally stopped uh canoodling each other long enough to catch up." she shot back turning around with a grin to face Tya.
Tya glared at her. "We were not canoodling." she said indignantly.
Kel grinned. "Sure." She turned back to riding when Tya shrieked. She winced and turned around.
"Kel look at this cute dress shop we have to go in!" Tya said already jumping from her horse.
"Oh no. No No No." Kel said shaking her head. "I just went dress shopping with you for that cursed ball no way." The guys laughed at her as she stared in near horror at the shop. Tya started to try to pull her from the horse. "Are you off your head?" Kel asked gripping the reigns tighter. The guys laughed and Cleon practically pushed her from the horse. Kel nearly fell onto the hard ground but she flipped at last minute and landed on her feet with a whistle from the guys. Tya grabbed her arm and yanked her toward the store. "I'll get you for this." Kel growled at a smirking Cleon.
They entered the shop and Kel looked around in horror. It was filled with frilly skirts and lacy dresses. Tya was looking happily around the store. Kel turned to leave when a store clerk caught her.
"Hello!" she smiled excitedly at Kel who froze.
"Hi." Kel muttered turning around to face the clerk.
"You want to try on a dress I have the perfect one!" The woman said and happily went through the store. She practically skipped. Kel tried to inch for the door. The woman caught her and showed her to a dressing room shoving a frilly pale pink thing into her arms.
Kel stared at it a moment. 'Maybe if I stand here a few minutes I can say I tried it on and get away with it.'
"Come show us when you're done!" the woman said happily.
'Damn!' Kel swore. She slid the frilly....thing on. It was a white dress with layers and layers of pink lace. She glared at her reflection thinking about all the things she was going to do to Tya. She opened the door and the woman squealed with delight. Tya tried to hide a smile behind her hand and failed. Kel glared at her. "This is your fault you know."
Tya gave a sudden pull and Kel flew out into the store. The guys were standing there. They all bursts out laughing as she stumbled up. Her face turned a startling shade of red before she could fight it down.
"Tya I'll kill you." she swore, turning around to march back into the dressing room.
"Kel It's so you." Cleon said grinning. Kel quickly reached into one of the frilly sleeves and pulled out a throwing star she'd hidden and chucked it point down into the dirt floor right in front of Cleon he looked up startled. She grinned raising an eyebrow and went to change.
When she'd left the dressing room slipping from the store unnoticed and went outside and everyone was waiting. Cleon handed her the star.
"Thank you." she said grinning and sliding it into a bag.
"That was amazing." Cleon said eyes wide. "You could've killed me."
Kel shook her head. "I wouldn't have and I'd like to think I have more self control and aim then to do that."
Faleron grinned at her. "You gave him quite a fright." Kel just smiled.
"See Cleon she could kill you." Neal drawled from the back of their little group.
"Oh yes Neal my goal is to kill the lot of you. Hey guess what. Tya is my partner in crime." she glanced behind her and saw Neal glance at Tya who had a grin on her face but hadn't said a word. Kel grinned and turned back to Cleon who was trying to hide a laugh at the pair behind them.
"Where's a good place to eat?" Kel asked turning.
"We know the perfect place." Merric said grinning happily. "It's called the Dancing Dove."
"Lead the way!" Kel said with a sweeping motion of her arm.
"Hey I'm surprised you didn't buy that dress. It was very flattering." Neal called from the back.
"I'd hoped we've dropped that Sir Nealan." Kel said dryly.
"How can we drop such a thing so easily." Neal continued. "It was a very beautiful er.....dress."
"Are you asking to be killed Sir squire?" Kel called back.
"Well if you're already planning to why shouldn't I have some fun?"
"Because it'll only make your pain worse." Kel replied again. She stopped as Merric and Cleon did.
"Welcome to the Inn of the Dancing Dove!" Cleon said grinning as he grabbed his, hers, and Merric's reigns. "I'll take your horse. Go get a table with Merric."
"Thank you." Kel replied releasing the grip on the reigns climbing from the horse. Cleon nodded and Kel followed Merric inside.
The inside was smokey and dark. Merric had chosen a large table. Kel took a seat near the center of the table. Merric across from her. Everyone came in and took seats. At the end of the hustle and bustle Kel was between Cleon and Neal. Tya on Neal's other side. Faleron took the seat to Merric's left, Owen to his right. Right after they'd seated themselves Roald walked in.
"Sorry guys. Dad wouldn't let me out." he muttered taking the seat to Owen's right. "I figured I'd find you here."
"So was the meeting fun?" Neal drawled.
"Oh yea." he turned to Kel and Tya. "How do you like Corus?"
Tya smiled. "It's magnificent."
Kel rolled her eyes. "It's great. Well most of it anyway." The rest of the table laughed as Kel glared at them.
"What did I miss?" Roald asked.
"Kel was trapped by some shop keeper and forced to try on this white and pink lace dress." Cleon said grinning. Roald raised his eyebrows and smiled. Kel scowled.
"It was very becoming." Neal added dryly. Kel turned and punched him in the shoulder. "And the punishment starts." he said flinging his hands up.
"Neal thinks Kel's aiming to kill him." Faleron told Roald.
Roald grinned. "Isn't everyone out to kill Neal. Wyldon, The Lioness, and now Kel." Neal nodded.
Soon after they ordered and sat talking quietly among themselves when Kalerik walked up with a tall pale, green eyed, black haired boy not much older then Kel.
"Keladry, Tyana." Kalerik said with a smile. "What a pleasant surprise."
"Kal!" Tya said smiling. Kel's eye were locked on the boy behind Kalerik.
"Keladry." he said with a quick smile.
"Lathander." she addressed him quietly. Everyone grew quiet and looked at the two of them. A smile playing across the lips of Lathander. Kel's face showed nothing.
"It's been a long time." he replied. "Care to introduce me to your friends?"
"That's Cleon, Neal, you know Tya I presume?" when he nodded she continued. "Faleron, Merric, Owen, and Prince Roald."
"Your highness." Lathander said with a smile and nod.
"Care to join us?" Tya asked suddenly.
"Gladly." Lathander said looking right at Kel as he sat down across from Kalerik at the ends of the table. "Did you order already."
"Yes." Cleon replied quietly. He didn't like him. Just by the way Kel was acting it made him distrust this Lathander.
"I'll catch a serving woman when she come back." he said flashing a smile.
"How do you two know each other?" Neal asked Kel and Lathander bluntly.
Lathander opened his mouth but Kel cut him off. "It's a long story." she shifted, uncomfortable under everyone's gaze.
The table sat in an odd, awkward silence. The only noise at the table were the occasional shuffle of someone shifting. The food was delivered and Kal and Lathander's were brought and no one said a word. Cleon couldn't help but notice Lathander kept looking at Kel who was immersed in shoving her food around the plate. They sat in the weird silence for the entire of everyone's meals. When everyone was finished they just sat there.
"It's on me." Kalerik said quietly setting the money on the table. "Since we intruded it's only polite." he smiled at them. "Well we must be off. Let's go Lathander."
"Bye everyone." Lathander waved to them standing. "Bye Keladry."
"Goodbye Lathander." she replied voice devoid of any emotion.
Everyone watched them go before turning to Kel.
"Who was that?" Faleron asked.
"An old Acquaintance." Kel replied simply.
"Some Acquaintance." Cleon muttered. He looked over at Kel worriedly.
"Don't let him ruin this guys." Kel said shaking her head. "Let's go do something."
The group left the Inn and found the horses in the stables. They mounted and set off.
"Hey Kel will you teach my that throwing star trick?" Faleron asked excitedly.
"Trick?" Kel asked turning to look at him. "There was no trick. I just threw it at the floor."
"I really can't throw that well….I've never needed to throw an edged weapon before." Faleron said quietly.
Kel shrugged. "If we have time."
"Thanks!" Faleron replied happily. "Owen you've been especially quiet today?" he asked suddenly turning to his young companion.
Owen shrugged staring off into space.
"He's in love." Merric said grinning.
"Who?" Neal asked riding up next to a very red Owen. "Who is she?" A very dejected Tya went up to ride with Kel as Owen answered.
"Lady Sara." he said blushing scarlet.
They guys began to clap him on the back and ask questions. Kel shook her head and Tya motioned her a little away from everyone else.
"Hey guys we'll be back." Tya called to them.
"Where are you going?" Cleon lifted his head.
Tya glared at him obviously not forgetting the fact that he blew her off that morning. "Sacred Shang stuff." Kel grinned as a confused Cleon ducked back into the group. She headed toward a group of trees with Tya. They climbed from their horses and sat in the grass.
"Why is Lathander here?" Tya asked Kel.
Kel shrugged. "I have no idea."
"We should ask Kal." Tya replied.
"Kal wouldn't tell us anything and you know it." Kel snapped. "Mithros. Why is he back?" Kel sighed and set her head in her hands. "I wish I knew what he was up to."
Tya nodded. "So do I. He has nerve though and style."
Kel lifted her head and raised an eyebrow at Tya.
Tya shrugged. "Oh you know he do-" her statement was cut off by a dagger landing right in between the warriors.
Kel the jumped up. "What In the name of the dark god!" When nothing else came she yanked the dagger from the ground and studied it. "Up to our games again are we Lathander?" he called.
"Lathander?" Tya asked and Kel handed the dagger to her, eyes not leaving the surrounding wood. Tya studied it and saw a dragon wrapped around the hilt. It was Lathander's.