-To DarkJamAB: hope the potential Kel/neal thing doesn't make you stop reading this...puh-lease!
-To Mango Sam: Sooo glad you're back...i missed ur reviews!
-Thanks for the reviews from: PyschoLioness33 and oceanspike
-Chapter Fifteen:
It was after the evening meal and most of the pages had made their way to the library to study. Mitzi walked there with Kel and found that Merric, Faleron and Seaver were already there, sitting at their regular table.
Since none of them had had afternoon classes, there wasn't much schoolwork to do. But Kel, who wanted to get ahead, dived straightaway into her history book. Faleron and Seaver were busy playing cards but Merric was practically bouncing out of his seat as Mitzi pulled up a chair.
"Mitzi! Kel!" he said eagerly. "Guess what I just heard? There are rumors that Tortall's threatening to declare war on Norwestia!"
"Hmmm...WHAT?" Mitzi said, distracted from filing her nails.
Kel looked up from her book.
"Yeah...I heard some of the older pages talking about it."
'What did they tell you...exactly?" Kel asked.
Merric was so excited that he didn't seem to notice Kel's cautious tone.
"They said the Norwestia had been threatening to send some immortals to attack Tortall unless they released someone to them.'
"Did they say who they wanted?" Mitzi asked. She had gone very pale but her voice was casual.
"No," Seaver commented. "But it's probably some POW they want back."
"It might be a general of theirs that we've captured," Faleron suggested.
Merric started talking again, fast.
"Yeah...but King Jonathon won't release this 'person'. So we might actually get a chance to fight!"
"I can't wait to take out a couple of Norwestians who think they can boss us around!" Seaver said while aggressively throwing down one of his cards.
"It's not Norwestia's fault!" Mitzi cried out. They all turned to look at her. She concentrated on filing her nails even though her hands shook. "At least, that's not what I heard," she continued more calmly.
"What did you hear?"
"Well...I heard that the royal family has been betrayed, and those traitors are the ones who are threatening Tortall."
"I wonder when they'll strike?" Merric asked. "I hope they let us pages defend the palace if any immortals come around!"
"You actually want to fight?"
"That's why I became a page...so I can train to be a knight...and that's what knights do...they fight," Merric answered Mitzi. "Isn't that why you became one?"
"Well.." Mitzi paused for a little while. "I guess I just don't think I have enough skill to fight yet." This answer seemed to satisfy Merric.
"Hello everybody,' Neal's drawl said behind them.
"Where were you?" Kel asked, punching him playfully. "You were supposed to meet us here."
"My dad needed to talk to me." He said gloomily.
"Another one of those lectures about not talking back to the Stump?"
"No...a different one."
"Hey Neal!" Merric broke in. "Did you know that we might go to war with Norwestia?"
"Not with Norwestia!" Mitz said fiercely. "We're going to war with the traitors in Norwestia!"
"Yeah...I heard."
"Is that what your dad talked to you about?" Mitzi asked.
"That and something else," Neal wouldn't meet her eyes.
"Oh..."
"Neal...wanna play cards with us?" Faleron asked.
"No thanks...I think I'll go to my room now." He turned and walked out.
"What's wrong with him?" Seaver asked nonchalantly.
"Probably some new beauty he fancied got engaged or something. He'll get over it in a day or two," Kel replied knowingly.
The two boys nodded their heads in agreement.
Mitzi, put her nail filer away, stood up and left the table as she saw Roald leaving the library with a handful of books. She caught up with him at the door. He seemed more serious than usual and his blue eyes were troubled.
"Roald," she asked, her voice serious. "Is there really gonna be a war?"
'I'm afraid so."
There was silence.
"All because of me..."
"Look Mitzi," Roald said, suddenly stern. "Don't beat yourself up about this! It's not all about you! Norwesita and Tortall have been allies for a long time. We're joining this war so that we can get your family back on the throne."
"Is there any news about my family?"
"Yes...we do know that your parents are alive...but we don't know where your sisters are."
"Why doesn't people tell me these things!" Mitzi said.
"Because the staff is pretty busy."
"Too busy to tell the girl who most of this involves? This war is revolving around MY parents, MY home, and...and..."
Two tears pushed their way through her eyes.
"Don't cry!" Roald said...alarmed. "I'll...I'll asked Sir Myles to update you on events if you want me to..." He looked at her face hopefully.
"Fine," she said dully.
Roald turned to go but Mitzi put a hand on his shoulder. The touch of her hands caused him to immediately turn around again.
"And...thanks." She said with a sad smile.
-Next chapter: An attack!
