Well, here is chapter two of the story. All characters in this story are owned by someone so no stealing. I don't own anything of Tamora Pierce's.

Sorry I didn't do this last chapter.

"Talking"

'thinking'

Enjoy.

Chapter 2

The reached a hill overlooking the city just as night fell and TakaDen was glowing from its many lights. Kassy sighed and ran ahead of them to look at the beautiful sight.

"TakaDen looks so beautiful at night." Kim rolled her eyes and pulled the lagging Jake forward. He stiffened but allowed her to pull him along, eyes staring at the city.

They were soon walking down the streets, passing night vendors, and entertainers. They had just passed a juggling act when she thought she saw someone looking at them from a side alley. When she looked closer there wasn't anyone there.

"Kim. What are you looking at?" Kassy asked as Kim paused once again at another alley way. Kim glanced ahead at them then back at the alley. She stood there for a second, then joined them again, Kassy looking at her in concern.

"Are you all right? You aren't sick, are you?" Kim shook her head and smiled at her.

"I thought I saw someone but it was nothing." Kassy nodded and they continued on their way. They turned another corner, not seeing the dark figure following them from above.

They stopped next to a door surrounded by little white flowers and a small garden patch to the left. Kassy stepped up to the door then turned to the other two.

"Well, this is where I stop, see you later Kim. Jake, my Master will come by tomorrow to check on your wounds." with that she quietly slipped inside, leaving them in the dark.

"Come on Jake, my house is just down the road." they walked down the dusty road in silence before Jake spoke up.

"Why do you care?" Kim stopped and looked at Jake. "Why do you care what happens to me? I'm nobody important."

There was a silence as Kim looked down at the road. Then she turned to him with a smile.

"Because you deserve it." Jake blinked, not used to the kindness she was emitting, then shook his head.

"If only there were more people like you." Kim smiled again and started down the road once again, Jake a few steps behind.

Soon they reached a busy inn with a sign saying, "Corven's Place", hanging above the door. There was a small stable behind and to the right of that, with a small dirt road leading behind that.

Kim took the road after carefully sneaking under the windows of the inn. Confused Jake did the same and looked up at the house that now appeared from behind the inn. Two stories tall it sat far enough away from the inn where the noise didn't reach it and had a larger stable that stuck out on the right of the house and opened into a field.

Kim walked up to the gate and quietly opened it, motioning Jake through then closing it silently behind them.

'Oh, I'm in so much trouble, I am over four hours late. Mom is going to have a fit.'

As soon as she finished her thought, the front door burst open. A shadow blocked some of the light that spilled out into the yard and onto them.

"KIM! Where have you been? And who is that?" shouted Silvia. Kim cringed before moving in front of Jake who had gone as white as a sheet.

'Oh no, I'm sneaking into a house in the middle of the night, with her daughter. Oh I am so going to die.' he paled even further at the thought of the torture he was sure to go through.

"Mother, I'm sorry that I'm late, but I had to help a friend." Jake shook himself from his tortured thoughts to look at her in surprise.

'Did she just call me friend?'

"He needs a job and a place to stay..."

Silvia cut her off with a shake of her head. Then she smiled softly.

"You know that I never turn someone away Kim. You didn't need to go sneaking around the house you know." she looked over at Jake. "Well come on in."

Kim sighed in relief and Jake followed her inside, greatly relieved that he was going to live with all limbs intact. Silvia waved to an amber haired woman who had stepped through one of the doorways and pointed toward Jake.

"Audry, could you make something up for our guest?" Jake looked up.

"Oh, you really don't need to do that." he trailed off as Silvia shook her head.

"No you're probably hungry and besides, it gives me an excuse to get to know you better." she handed him a cool glass of water, it felt so good on his dry throat. Walking down a long dusty road without any water was not his idea of fun.

"So how long have you known my daughter?" off to the side Kim started choking on her water.

"Mom!" she cried indigently her face red, from the choking or embarrassment Jake wasn't sure. Silvia laughed and waved her hand at Jake.

"Never mind. So Kim says you need a job, well can you handle stable work?" Audry set a sandwich down in front of him as he nodded, he muttered a thank you and slowly started eating. "Well, there is sort of a room in the loft above our stable, you can stay there if you want. During the day you can take care of the horses in the inn's. Sound good?" Jake thought for a bit before nodding again. Silvia smiled.

"Well then, now that we have that settled, here is something incase you're still hungry and tomorrow, or..." she looked out the window. "Or when it gets light we'll see what else you'll need."

With that she gently pushed him in the direction of the stable building. Once he was inside and out of ear shot Silvia turned to Kim with a smile.

"Well Kim, he's kinda cute."

"Mom!" Silvia laughed and walked upstairs.

Jake quietly entered the kitchen and glanced around. It had just gotten light and Silvia had wanted him here.

'She must have been a little tired last night since she didn't ask for my name or give me hers.' Jake looked around again. 'Well, it's a nice place and everyone seems nice.'

He heard a rustling noise behind him and turned to see a small figure standing by the door. He backed up and the person turned to him revealing their face. It was a little girl wearing a dirty tunic and pants that were even worse, both had their share of holes, she was also bare foot and her feet were covered in dirt.

"Jake, Zemer is looking for you." Jake stiffened and frowned. He opened his mouth but the girl scurried away and Kim entered the kitchen from behind him.

"Oh. Hi Jake, come on breakfast is ready." Jake took one last look at the open door then followed Kim. They entered the dinning room and sat down to eat. Jake was secretly surprised at all the food there was. There was fresh fruit and bread that looked as if it had been baked that morning, cutting a slice and taking a bite he found it was. There was also a type of porridge that was very thick and very good, it got better when Kim sprinkled some brown powder on it. She whispered something that sounded like cinnamon. Lastly Audry came out with a bowl of strawberries and a bowl of pudding. Jake didn't think he had ever tasted something so good before. After the meal was done and all the dishes cleared away Silvia turned and smiled at them.

"Well, I don't think I've properly introduced myself. I am Silvia Oldive, Kim's mother."

"Jake." he replied. Silvia smiled then frowned as she got a better look at his cloths.

"Kim, I think a trip to town is in order and judging by your height, maybe the tailor's." Jake looked down and she turned to Kim. "Can you take him down? Your father needs help at the inn today so I won't be able to." Kim nodded and handed Jake a wrapped sandwich, then pulled him out the door.

"Well, you going to stay?" asked Kim as they dodged shoppers. There were many even this early in the morning.

"I guess, I like animals and the food's not too bad." Jake ducked some beams someone was carrying. "It's busy today."

"Yeah, it is, oh here we are." Kim pulled Jake to the building and opened the door.

After an hour or so of getting measurements and picking outfits, Kim exited with a heavily burdened Jake.

"Well, lets get these things back, oh." she turned to him. "After that would you mind if I showed you around town later?"

Jake paused then nodded, shifting one of the bags uncomfortably on his shoulder.

"Are you related to the healer Oldive?" Jake asked as they moved down the warming streets. Kim fell back next to him and nodded.

"Yes. He is my grandfather, my mother's father." he looked at her in confusion.

"Why don't you have your father's name?" Kim scrunched her face.

"It is too hard to pronounce, even my father thinks so." she looked thoughtfully ahead. "I don't know if he even knows how to say it." Jake stared at her in shock before starting to laugh quietly. Kim glanced at him and soon she was laughing to.

"You know I think that is the first time that I have heard you laugh, you should do it more often." Jake looked down blushing a little but smiling a little too. They continued on in a happy silence.

They passed through the gate and Kim glanced up to see an older man sitting with her mother in the shade of a tree. Her face brightened and she ran to them, dropping packages as she went.

"Grandfather, grandfather!" Oldive looked up and smiled. Kim ran to him and bowed then threw herself into a hug. Oldive returned the hug laughing. Jake watched from a distance and picked up the packages Kim had dropped, they were his anyway.

"Kim, how have you been?" Kim smiled and stepped back.

"I've been good." she turned puppy eyes on him. "Could you let up on Kassy, she is no fun anymore, study, study, study that is all you have her do." her smile took the sting out of it. Oldive laughed again shaking his head.

Jake slowly turned towards the stable, not wanting to interrupt the family reunion. He had only gone a few steps when Oldive's voice rang out.

"Jake?" he stopped and turned toward him.

"Um, yes sir?" Oldive shook his head.

"Just Oldive would do. I'm here to check on that wound you received." at this Silvia stiffened and she turned to Jake looking upset.

"What! You were hurt? When, how did that happen?" Jake shifted uncomfortably and Oldive turned to Silvia.

"Now, now. It wasn't bad. He was able to walk from the river to here." Silvia nodded slowly and Kim guided her inside.

"Mother, why don't we get lunch ready?" Oldive turned to Jake.

"Is there someplace where I can check your shoulder?" Jake nodded, pointing towards the stable.

"Well, it should heal soon, just don't do anything to stress it." Jake nodded and pulled his shirt and tunic back on.

"So you're Kassy's teacher?" Jake mentally winced at how stupid it sounded, but Oldive nodded none the less. "How long have you been teaching her?"

Oldive closed his eyes at the question and smiled sadly, making Jake wonder if he shouldn't have asked.

"Since she was two, so fourteen years." Jake stared at him, sensing some deeper meaning, then looked down.

"Well, if I'm not mistaken, I think I can smell some of my daughter's delicious cooking. Come, let's eat." Oldive started down the stairs and stopped when Jake didn't follow. He looked at him in confusion and Jake waved him on.

"I need something first, meet me down there." Oldive nodded and continued down.

Jake drew the blanket that separated the rest of the loft from his room closed and looked at the small bundle sitting next to his bed. He picked it up in his hand and pulled a small object from inside. He looked at it for a while before slipping it over his head and letting it rest under his shirt, safely out of site.

End Chapter

Well I hope you enjoyed that, won't be a third chapter for a while I am afraid. Good reviews always appreciated.