Chapter 11
Disclaimer: I don't own the things that Tamora Pierce owns!!!

In the heart of Maren; where for miles it was nothing but parched infertile land, the grey walls of a massive industrial fortress was tolling in the autumn heat. In the second tallest building, stood on the balcony, was a man beyond perfection. He shed his mage robes and wore only breeches and a thin shirt. His name was Dominus Glyde, but he was known throughout realms as the Master.

He over looked his small yet powerful fortress. The place was like a small realm of its own. North of the fortress was the mines and the furnaces and the industrial part of his realm. South of the fortress was acres of training grounds and fields of corn. Both are powered by the weary people who lived there. The army pressed them on day and night, so the fire in the furnaces is never cool. The mill never stopped to grind.

East, was where his supporters lived, they lived in tall buildings, where families crammed into each building. In the West of the fortress was his production centre situated. It was where he produced his weapons, and soldiers. He shaped each item to perfection as a cast would with cold steel. In the Centre of the fortress were two identical towers. One was where his council was held, and at the top of it, was where he lived. The other tower was a mystery which no one knew of. Some civilians say it is a tower where the Master stores his magic and it was guarded by three dragons. Some say it was a tower, which was there before the human era and it was filled with dark powers, the essence of this fortress.

The civilians were once friendly comfortable people, until the Master came one day, bewitched them and made them swear loyalty to him. When the spell was broken, they were taken into hard labour and lived through short and ruthless lives.

A delicate pair of arms slithered around his defined body. He didn't flinch or react; but the delicate hands had a mind of their own and were crawling all over his body. He firmly peeled the two hands from him.

"I'm in no mood Kimiko."

He dropped her hands like a hot brick and strolled back inside his chambers. He pushed back the heavy velvet curtains to his room and with a flick of his hand, silver candles lit the room. He moved to a chest of drawers where he searched for a shirt. Kimiko moved silently towards the bed, where she waited for her lover seductively.

"Is there anything wrong my love?" She purred. "You have been down ever since you got back. Why don't you come here and let me cheer you up?"

The Master ignored her and began to change into his robes, this made Kimiko fumed.

"It's that girl isn't it? You love her don't you? You don't love me! You don't care for me anymore! How could you do this to me?" She shrieked.

"Enough!"

The Master turned round and threw his hand at her; magic shot out and it swallowed her squirming body. She kicked and screamed with agony, the Master stood woodenly beside the bed, keeping a good distance between him and his mistress. With a flick of his hand, the fire which had almost consumed the woman vanished. It left the revealing woman on the verge of almost passing out, but she sat up, her arms shaking as they held her. She looked up into the eyes of someone who used to be her lover.

"You never were like this. She never loved you! She never will, but I do!" Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted onto the bed.

In a large richly furnished circular room was a bed made of what seems like clouds of comfort. The Master looked around and found a blond knight leaning against the side of the bed, away from his view.

"Good afternoon Sir Joren of Stone Mountain." In a flash, Joren jumped his body in a fighting stance.

"Relax; I have no intention of hurting you." The Master said; he conjured a high back armchair, in which he sat in. Joren stood firmly, taking no chances. He wore breeches, shirt, tunic and boots which were made of the finest material and craftsmanship, fit for a king. He no longer had the cuts and bruises inflicted on him, but his skin was clean and soft. His eyes were no longer dead of life, but were still as the lake but a hint of fire could be seen burning in them. The tension between him and the Master was as still as the suffocating heat outside.

"I hope you had a, pleasant journey here." The Master smirked.

"If you call pleasuring the wench pleasant, then yes I loved the journey. It was the best thing that ever happened in my life." His words were dripping with sarcasm.

"Well, I'm sorry I couldn't find you another whore to keep you occupied. Kimiko is the desperate sort." The bitterness toward Kimiko spat out of the Master's mouth as if it was mud in his mouth.

The Master rose from his seat, which evaporated in the air. He moved purposeful steps around the room. Joren crept away from his protective corner, but was still attentive of signs of attacks.

They lunged and parried blows. Joren blocked two punches, one aimed at his head and one at his stomach. He dipped and swivelled in hope to catch the Master's foot. But he jumped and kicked, which was aimed for the blonde's nose. Joren moved swiftly to the Monkey's sprint a Shang move, a move to break one's neck. But the Master blocked that and threw the dragon's claw at Joren. He managed to block and turned to do a back kick, which hit thin air as the Master dodged. Another dragon's claw was thrown at his chest. He closed his palms on it, a grasp almost powerful enough to crush. With his leg he kicked the Master's foot, to move his footing and causing the mage to trip.

An unseen elbow smacked Joren in the back of his head. He fell to his knees and blacked out. The Master straightened out his robe and with magic pulled Joren over to the bed. Soon Joren slept soundly with a sword beside him, and a pendant around his neck.

AN: Ok that is chapter 11 (which I have written ages ago, but it just never occured to me to put it up.) Well I'm not going to say much, since I'm in a really foul mood. Here's some happy chocolate bunnies, (since they didn't make me happy)
Happy New Year! Take care!
Thanks for the reviews:

Alenor, FanfictionFantom, ubiquitious girl, VampiricEternity, Joren's Kel, heartdamoose (I'm going to put your poem up in the next chapter since it will fit better in that one than in this one.) Ti-Ti, jumping-jo, Ethuiliel, warrior of tortall, Allimba, oceanspike, PsychoLioness13, Lady of Masbolle, Soccerchick-08, Alcapacien.