Hey, Weird! I actually got reviews… That usually never happens. BTW- for us people who need to know: Pocky is a biscuit stick (like the Handy Snack breadsticks that you dip in cheese) and it's dipped in chocolate. It's quite good (I tried my first today actually with some friends). And I know how you feel nothing else worked- cliffies are BAD and EVIL to read. Not so bad to write about though…. I'll try not to leave one this time.

Oh and the rating's only 'cause of the intelligent conversation and maybe violence. I am NOT writing a romance (For once).

Disclaimer (I forgot to write it last time- thankies to blue mariposa for pointing that out to me): I do not own Tamora Pierce. That's 'cause slavery's illegal. Darn Yankees….

Protecting the Head – Chapter 2

Kel fished out some of the dried meat she had left over from the meal. As he ate she gave him a better look at.

Arthur was wearing black robes, but these were not those in the style of a master mage. This seemed to have been made with them in mind, but there were the distinct features of pockets, no sleeves, and ties instead of buttons that set these apart.

She also noticed that the boy was quite thin and that his robes were thin, ragged, and covered in dirt. So he had probably been traveling far, and not traveling on light roads either.

When he finished eating the piece of jerky she gave him he looked up at her. He squinted and then shouted out, "She's not that bad, guys. Look, you can already see that she's starting to like me!"

Arthur then grinned back to the bushes, where the other two apparently were, as Kel wiped any look of attachment off of her face and growled at the thought.

"What makes you think that I like you?" she asked.

"Arthur can tell because he can read emotions," said the second voice. Kel looked up and there was another boy who had appeared out of the bushes.

Then he turned to Arthur. "Imbecile. It's never wise to reveal to everyone around you exactly what you know. It can be used against you."

This boy was about 16 years of age and was about a head and a half taller than Arthur. This one had really curly, coarse, jet black hair that sat on his irritable looking face. Inside a round shaped face were big hazel eyes that Kel could relate to her own, a nose similar to Arthur's, but this boy's lips were fuller and his freckles weren't as prominent because of his slightly darker skin tone. The two were definitely brothers. This boy also wore black robes like his comrade's, with the only exception being that they were longer so the pockets were higher.

"Aw, Tomas," Arthur replied. "You know I was just trying to get you two to come out. And now you know it worked." With that he grinned up into his comrade's scowl.

"Well it didn't work all the way either. Eric is still refusing to come out," Tomas said.

"That's right," Kel heard the third voice reply. "You two may be completely ignorant to the fact that she could still be a spy, but I feel that it is necessary for me to keep myself concealed."

"You call us ignorant?" Tomas said. "You ran those tests yourself. They showed up that she had only the truest of intentions seeking us out. If it had came out any other way then we would've just let her go remember. So stop being stubborn about your real reason and reveal yourself."

"Eric's just ashamed," Arthur told Kel. "He hates the way he looks."

"I do not!" the third voice shouted. "And I'm not being stubborn. I'm just being cautious, unlike two brothers of mine!"

"If you were anymore cautious," Tomas said, "then you'd be dead from not eating."

"FINE!" the third voice retaliated, and soon Kel saw a third boy come out of the bushes.

All in all he was quite normal looking. He was another head taller than Tomas, though he looked to be only 14. His hair was more dark brown than black, but his hair was wavy in a way similar to Arthur's. Another similarity to the younger comrade was his heart shaped face, but he had lips that were full like Tomas' , and a rounder nose. His eyes looked to be a beady dark brown, but were complimented nicely with round, black framed glasses. And he, also, wore shabby black robes like his brothers.

"See, Eric?" Tomas asked. "Are We finished playing the part of the baby now? Because I thought that that was Arthur's job."

After an indignant "Hey!" from Arthur, Eric replied. "Yes, fine, whatever you like to think. Let's just get this over with."

"What's the matter with his looks?" Kel quietly asked Arthur.

"His glasses," Arthur replied, in a not-altogether quiet voice. "Didn't you notice? Nobody hardly ever wears them, except old men and priests. He thinks it's a curse that the Gods bestowed upon him, to have to don them in his early age."

His comrades heard him and rounded on him. "Hush up, little silly one!" "Why you loud mouthed, fool!"

"Well, it's true!" Arthur remarked. "Doesn't he say that every morning as We wash up!"

Tomas replied to this, while hushing up the reddening Eric. "He may say that, but just because he does, doesn't give you permission to shout it all over the country."

"Whatever you say," muttered Arthur. "You still owe me 15 coppers…"

Kel jumped in before either of the two older boys could get close enough to Arthur to hurt him. "Who are You three, by the way?"

"Oh!" Tomas realized. "We deeply appologize for involving ourselves in another affair and ignoring our responsibilities to you. We are the Head of Tortall."

Kel stared at him. "You are not serious are you?"

Tomas smiled. "The one and only. You've heard of Us?"

She just looked more confused. "How can you be the head of Tortall? Wouldn't that be the royalty at court? I mean I should know, I've been there enough…"

Eric laughed mockingly. "She thinks that you meant that We rule Tortall, Tomas! No, lady knight, we do not rule over this land, as superb as that would be. We are…a kind of club? Group? No, a society! We are a society, and are base is at Our home in Emtuem."

Kel looked around at the three boys, still fairly confused.

"You see," started Arthur, "We're not at all ordinary boys. We've been given certain abilities. You've already seen mine. That's emotion reading. And We all have a gift of that sort, among other mage qualities. They're all actually quite useful and We've all been told that We're also powerful mages."

"Actually," Eric said, "Tomas and I have been told that we're powerful mages. You've just assumed that since We are all brothers that you have the quality too."

"Yeah," Arthur replied indignantly. "But then why do I always make the sleeping potion? Wouldn't it be the task of an equal if not more powerful mage?"

"No," Tomas told his youngest brother. "You just always get suckered into it."

"Okay, back to topic," Kel said, not liking them when they bicker. "What exactly IS the Head?"

"The Head," Tomas replied, "is a group Us three had formed with the thinking that We stand stronger united than divided. Though a fat lot of good that did."

"It's main purpose," Eric said, "is to benefit Us. Which is why we have called upon you to assist Us."

"You see, Our father died about three years ago," Arthur said. "Which was just fine with Us, because he ignored Us most of the time anyway. But since then, Our mother felt the need to 'provide' Us with another father."

"She chose unwisely, though, and We ended up with an evil git for a step father instead of a 'role model.' " Tomas said, with distaste in his voice. "He in turn murdered Our dear mother and now retains custody over Us. Not only that, but he somehow became a black robe mage and knows about Our powers. So most attempts that We make to 'help him rest peacefully in his eternal bed' is already known about and prevented."

"We're kept locked up most of the time," Eric said. "That is why none of Us are as powerful as We should be. But We need aid from a non power holder, because he has also set up a barrier so that no magic other than his own can be performed within a 20 mile radius of our fief."

"This is why We've sought you, lady knight," said Arthur. "Because you would be the one most willing to fight for Our cause. Other knights would just laugh at Us and think that We are telling falsehoods. The Lioness is a powerful warrior too, but your name is the Protector of the Small."

"That," Eric said. "And the fact that the Lioness is rumored to have a tongue that's sharper than her sword. Knowing those two, she would be so frustrated that she'd end up knotting them up and then throwing them up a tree."

"What, would you be quivering in fear somewhere while we fought?" Tomas asked.

Eric opened his mouth to answer but Arthur cut him off. "So will you help Us?"

Tomas tried to elbow him in the ribs, but this time Arthur was smarter and dodged his eldest brother's darting elbow. Arthur then, very unwisely, stuck his tongue out at the attacking brother.

Tomas started after him with a very threatening look in his eyes, but Kel stepped in-between and stopped him. "Just me? Aren't you going to get anybody else to help you?"

He looked exasperated. "Haven't you heard a single thing that we've been saying? No other knight WOULD help Us. They're too pompous and proud. No time to do what they're actually supposed to be doing," Tomas said with a certain distaste in his mouth.

Kel had other opinions, though. "Well, how do you think I accomplished anything if I didn't have people by my side? I needed my friends to help me do the important things, like earning my shield and defeating the Scanran iron giants."

"Fine, whatever you think," Tomas replied. "If your 'friends' could assist Us as well, then you may acquire their help. But don't say that We didn't warn you when they laugh you out of their homes."

Kel smiled. "Good. Now that that is settled, why don't we all go to the palace and rest for a bit. If all of you are as weary and famished as you look, then you are all dead on your feet."

&&&&&&&&&

There. Was that a cliffhanger? I hope not. I tried to not make it one, but I may have slipped up. Please reply with answers of your favorite Tortallan character that's NOT the main character shero. Thankies!