Hey again, I managed to update a little faster this time, it may be because I've now official left school YAY! lol. Anyway Here'sthe next chappie and I hope my writing skills are getting better.

Sashenka


Chapter Five

They all saddled up there horses and they were about to set off when the man who served behind the bar rushed out with his grey hair blowing in the early wind. "Thank You" he said bowing. Tikka and JuAnn looked down at him surprised, AmaLy simply smiled. "There's nothing to thank us for" she said warmly. "My life, for one" the man said. "Did you not notice there's a great big charred hole where I was stood, it looks like fire!" he gasped.

At this point JuAnn abruptly turned away. "Anyways I have a basket of food here for you, its simple but wholesome. Miss your are too pale. I think you may need it" the old man said.
"Thank you, Tikka could you strap it to your horse?" she asked kindly. Tikka obeyed automatically. Within minutes they had said goodbye and they were off again riding at ferocious speed that almost felt as though they were flying instead of riding.

They stopped for dinner and ate some of the fresh food that they had been given as thanks. The yet again they were riding again. AmaLy began to break out in a cold sweat and she began to shake violently. It was cold almost freezing and she couldn't stand it. When they stopped to let the horses drink she threw her cloak around her shoulders even though the sun was warm. "Are you sure that your ok?" Tikka asked
"Of course she's not," JuAnn answered before she had even opened her mouth "She's ill, looks like she had a fever" he said sniffing as he took a gulp from his water flask.

"How do you know that?" AmaLy asked surprised.
"Simple, the sweating but the violent shivering and the feeling of coldness…early symptoms" Tikka looked over at them and joined the conversation.
"Like the lady said," he sat down next to JuAnn suddenly alert and wary, swiftly he pulled a knife from his boot and held it against JuAnn's throat. "How would you know that"
"Tikka, what are you doing?" JuAnn said astounded.
"You cant be JuAnn" Tikka shook his head "The JuAnn I knew never knew anything about symptoms" Tikka shook his head.

JuAnn looked at him stupidly. "Look Mate, after the last incident with Aramis I thought I would make better use of myself. I took your idea of heading into nobility and registered myself. I had to be able to do something so I have spent the last three years training to be a Healer. Then I finally got a post and was sent here to Bain" JuAnn said almost casually still looking at Tikka stupidly.

Tikka sheathed the knife and looked at JuAnn, he looked him up and down. "Let me ask you a question that only the real JuAnn would know." JuAnn looked at him and smiled.
"Sure"
"What's my real name?" JuAnn laughed and leaned forward slowly and almost deliberately. Something was whispered and a secret shared between them. AmaLy raised an eyebrow . "Well Im sorry about that" Tikka laughed "I just had to check you know" he apologised to JuAnn. "Its ok" JuAnn replied. "Its hard in this country now isn't it"
"That it is JuAnn, that it is" Tikka agreed.

AmaLy shook her head and just ignored them. Swiftly she refilled her flask with cool water. She then stood and whistled so that Pilgrim came to stand by her side and she hauled herself up onto her steady mount. "You lads going to dawdle all day or not?" she said. The guys laughed and stood up.
"Where coming young sparrow, where coming" Tikka smiled and filled his flask. "Where are we camping for the night?" she asked casually "Oh there's a Inn straight ahead, its about thirty minutes walk though…" Tikka stopped suddenly "Why"
"Thirty Minutes walk? Hmm, that's about a fifteen minute ride isn't it"
"Yes" JuAnn answered without suspicion.

Amaly leaned forwards. "Be my eyes Pilgrim and ride like the wind" she whispered. "So boys" she smirked. "Beat me there if you can…Yah!" she kicked the sides of her horse and they were off riding. AmaLy's hair flew in the wind, her cloak rode behind her. The lads immediately took up the challenge and leapt onto there own horses, and followed swiftly behind her. They soon caught up and they rode together in a long line. "You cant win" Tikka laughed.

"Oh Yes I can" she smiled and laughed. The laughter died as soon as it had started for suddenly AmaLy began to cough and splutter. AmaLy shook her head and continued to ride. It seemed that today was the day that everyone was out to get her. Pilgrim reared up suddenly and something launched itself from the tree's at the side of them, something huge with razor sharp teeth that shone like jagged diamonds. AmaLy tried to steady Pilgrim but her horse's eyes rolled to the back of his head and AmaLy found herself being thrown harshly from her horse. JuAnn was battling with the creature that had scared Pilgrim and it wasn't a long battle, it was over in a roar of pain and a flash of fire. "Are you ok?" Tikka asked and jumped off from his horse. AmaLy held out a shaking hand for Tikka, she couldn't see or sense him at all…something was definitely wrong.

Tikka pulled her up a little too strongly and AmaLy ended up crashing into his frame. Tikka put his arm around her. "Are you sure that your ok?" he asked. "Normally you can tell where your going"
"I just don't know, something wrong I cant sense anything" AmaLy shook her head.
"Its because your ill" JuAnn said slightly panting.
"Great" AmaLy muttered and whistled, Pilgrim now calmed came to her side and Tikka helped her up. "I was winning too" AmaLy muttered which immediately put a more cheerful environment on the scene. "Yeah ok" Tikka joked as he and JuAnn pulled themselves back onto their horses. "Face it Young Sparrow, I was winning" they all laughed as they set off on a walk. AmaLy wandered off a little and was certain that she was right behind them.

Tikka rode up to her and pulled on her horses reins. "Hey, were over here" he muttered. AmLy looked confused. "I think maybe you should ride with me" Tikka said slowly. AmaLy was slow to reply even when she did so, she did it hesitantly.
"Aye, maybe so" she sighed. In one swift and very strong movement Tikka transferred AmaLy from her own horse to his. Soon she found herself leaning against his chest with his arms supporting her from the sides as he held the reins. Wearily AmaLy whistled a low but merry sound. "Pilgrim, follow" she said. Pilgrim whinnied and obeyed following just behind Tikka's. It seemed the horse knew what her owner was thinking before she even gave the command.

As promised it only took around thirty minutes to arrive at the Inn, there Tikka pulled her from his horse gently and set her on the ground. JuAnn took the horses around the back as Tikka led AmaLy to the door and he felt her suddenly begin to shake, she began coughing again and collapsed to her knees. "AmaLy!" Tikka said in shock.
"I'm ok" she muttered
"No your not" he laughed "So stop saying you are". AmaLy felt tears spring to her eyes, she knew that he would find out but he was acting kind not annoyed and it made her feel happy but sad like she wanted to cry. "Whats the matter?" he asked
"I cant get up" AmaLy said reluctantly. Tikka smiled and gently picked her up. "There you see your up"
"Put me down Tikka"
"erm…no" he smiled again and kicked open the door. It was lucky the Inn seemed empty, it didn't really look too great a man carrying a teenager inside. Tikka deposited a few silver pieces on a desk with some difficulty. "Two rooms" Tikka asked "A single and double" he added as the keeper looked at him. Carefully the woman behind the desk gave him two sets of keys. "This one is your single" she said handing him a key with the number 32. Then she handed him a key that said 33. "This is your double" she said. Then as she raised an eyebrow as Tikka took AmaLy upstairs she said "Have a good night"

With more difficulty thandropping some coins Tikka finally managed to open the door . AmaLy was half asleep when he laid her down on the bed. "Are you alright now?" he asked her "I think I'll feel better in the morning" she said softly.
"Are you going to be able to ride in the morning?" Tikka asked.
"Course I am" she smiled the strength in her voice was more than the strength that she felt inside. Tikka hesitated and then brushed a sweeping kiss across her forehead before hurrying from the room.

AmaLy shook her head slightly, shocked, she hadn't expected that at all. Slowly she slipped into a world of dreams and imagination where for once she wasn't worried, where she didn't feel any pain. AmaLy fell into a place where she could sleep and dream of memorable times with her family…the family she no longer had.

Deep into the night AmaLy was woken suddenly by a loud shout. AmaLy shook her head and convinced herself she had just been dreaming. However just as she got herself comfortable she heard scraping and banging's next door, almost as though there was a silent struggle going on. It came again AmaLy sat up in bed and sat shock still. Listening, waiting for the sounds again.

As soon as it came again AmaLy jumped out of bed, suddenly she remembered that her staff was still on the pack her horse carried and yet again she found herself completely weapon less and this time there was no fireplace and no poker. Still she had to do something so swiftly she left the confines of the bedroom and made her way to the double room next door.

More noises and a growl of pain without hesitation AmaLy rushed into the room. AmaLy should have been glad that she could not see the sight set before her. Tikka and JuAnn had both been grabbed and restrained by some creatures that only slightly resembled a human. There were three creatures to each man pinning there arms to there sides and with rotten hands clamped over there mouths. In fact the creatures themselves were rotten, flakes of dried skin and shards of bone fell to the floor as they even moved and yet…AmaLy could almost taste the magic in the air. The creatures were strong, unnaturally strong with a stench of death and magic lingering closely to them. Like bee's to honey they creaked when they moved like something ancient and terrible.

AmaLy moved forward and a woman's voice echoed through the air, though she couldn't sense anyone else in the room. "This pathetic creature is supposed to save millions of souls?" the woman asked mockingly. AmaLy span around there was no one else in the room so where was the voice coming from. "Who are you?" AmaLy asked out loud "That is of little importance" the voice said bitterly.
"What do you want?" AmaLy asked.
"I want you!" she hissed. AmaLy frowned, if she really did want her alone then what were Tikka and JuAnn doing being dragged into it.
"Then let them go" AmaLy replied indicating towards her guardians.
"Do you think that it will be that easy?" the woman laughed menacingly. "You will have to do better than that, make your way to the Three Lemons. Its an Inn, use your ears and eyes and then there we shall barter" the woman laughed again
"But I cant…" AmaLy began. However she was cut short as the floor shook beneath her feet and a sudden wind blew up around her. AmaLy shielded her head, wary of any flying objects. AmaLy heard more scuffles and before she could do anything. The shaking stopped the wind died and there was no one left in the room, except her. "see…" she muttered the last word to her sentence.Silence overcome her as though she had lost her hearing as well as her sight. AmaLy was alone in the room, alone as always.

"But That's not going to stop me" she muttered. Turning round swiftly she made her way back to her room and picked up her cloak and threw it around her shoulders. Then as fast as she could she went downstairs into the bar area. Yet again the woman was stood behind the counter and was shocked to find AmaLy knocking on the counter rapidly. "Yes?" the woman asked. AmaLy jumped backwards she didn't know she was already stood there. "Oh sorry, Could you please tell me where the Three Lemons Inn is?" AmaLy asked. "Yes it's a few hours walk away, why"
"I need to get there, could you give me directions?" AmaLy asked.
"I could draw you a map" the woman said.
"What's your name?" AmaLy asked
"Gail"
"Well Gail, you could draw me a map but I wont be able to see it" AmaLy said realising her voice sounded nasty and pettish "I'm sorry but I am in a rush" she added.
"Oh ok. Something weird happened again?" Gail asked "A lot of weird things have been happening here lately, wait a minute I may be able to get my husband to take you" Gail said. AmaLy heard her walk into the back and she heard a male voice reply huskily.

AmaLy stood there silently, she didn't care how se got there but she just needed to get there. Gail came back swiftly. "My husbands going to stay here while I take you" she said with a sniff. Obviously some argument had gone off. "Lets get going its going to be long on foot" she sighed. AmaLyturned to her "We don't need to walk Gail, I have three horses around the back" she replied smiling. "That's even better, I think because we are riding so fast then you should ride with me" Gail said hesitantly the way Tikka had.
"I agree" AmaLy replied. Gail swung herself over the counter and led AmaLy out of the Inn by holding her hand.

Everything was moving so fast for AmaLy she hardly realised that they were already mounting a horse. AmaLy smiled it was Shadow, Tikka's horse. AmaLy whistled and Pilgrim followed her out of the stables. "Wait" AmaLy said
"What?" Gail asked.
"JuAnn's horse" she muttered. Gail leaned across and grabbed hold of the reins
"Seem's like its called Iza" she said slowly.
"How do you know?" AmaLy asked intrigued. Maybe this woman had some magical ability. "It says so on the saddle" Gail replied
"Oh" AmaLy said disappointed.
"Let go of the reins" she told Gail. Again she performed some of her horse magic and whistled low along with Iza's name. Iza pricked up her ears and followed. The ride was fast and furious but Gail never stopped talking.
"Anyway a lot of people have gone missing around this area, were loosing a lot of business. We don't know whats happening, guests disappear and then they reappear again at the Three Lemons." Gail explained rapidly.
"It must be quite hard for you" AmaLy said with sympathy, she did honestly sympathise with the woman's suffering with the business but at the moment all she could think about was getting to the Three lemons.

It must have been at least a two hour ride in many different directions and AmaLy knew that she would never have reached it if she had gone off by herself. Finally AmaLy felt Shadow slow beneath her and Gail relax behind her. "Were here" she whispered into her ear.
"I thank you" AmaLy bowed pulling a gold piece from the purse that hung at Tikka's saddle. "Please I beg you take this in payment and leave"
"Thank you miss, I'll do that" Gail smiled and jumped down from the horse and walked away. "If you ever need help, send word and I'll come" Gail smiled and walked away. AmaLy however hardly had time to acknowledge her pledge before she was barging straight through the front door. Boldness showing in every step she took.

Immediately she felt the magic in the air as the doors closed behind her. The very air hung heavily with the magic that she sensed. It was like a hand pressing over her mouth, every inch of her tingled wildly as though ghostly hands and fingers were trailing along her skin sending shivers up her spine and back down again with suppressing force. "Hello?" AmaLy's voice rang out clear and warm, sounding strangely muffled in the heavy atmosphere. "I see you found this well, little sparrow" the same woman's voice said. "How do you know that……how do you know the name Tikka calls me"
"I know everything about your guardians, AmaLy" the woman laughed again.

Suddenly the feeling of magic hightened so much that AmaLy could almost hear it, smell it and taste it. AmaLy sensed a presence standing straight in front of her. "Who are you?" AmaLy asked "That is not important" she replied
"What do you want?" AmaLy asked
"You, just you and then your friends shallgo free". Suddenly the stench of magic grew once more into a fierce brilliance. Immediately she felt Tikka and JuAnn's presence in the room. Growls of pain erupted from them, harsh growls of fierce pain and agony. "
Stop it, your hurting them" AmaLy cried out. Distress flooding the beautiful features which lined her face.
"Stop it yourself if you want them to live" the woman cried out. AmaLy couldn't think, she couldn't see and the feverish pain she had grew worse and worse with every single breath she took into her fragile body. AmaLy couldn't think clearly at all, what could she do? A poor blind girl with no real experience except for hand to hand combat.

Suddenly the answer was only too clear to her, if it was not for her then Tikka and JuAnn would never have been in this mess, there lives would not be in danger. AmaLy held out her right hand, not knowing what to expect but she did so expecting something. Something heavy fell into her hand andher hand glew a strange white glow and then faded until a silver dagger rested in her hand. "What are you dong?" the woman asked. AmaLy ignored her. Raising the dagger silently she smiled and threw it concentrating hard, it stopped a centimetre away from the woman, she shrieked a little and closed her eyesand flew backwards towards the teenage girl, her heart and mind bent on a mission…to save her guardians. The dagger struck harshly into her body and she staggered backwards, she lost her footing and collapsed to the floor. Instantly the spell broke. Tikka and JuAnn were immediately released and frantically ran towards where AmaLy lay a pool of blood slowly surrounding her.

The disguise from the woman broke and both men immediately recognised her. They did not bother with her but immediately knelt beside AmaLy. AmaLy heard Tikka's voice and felt the magic slip away . "Come on AmaLy, stay with us" he muttered gently. AmaLy felt the warm pool surround her gently and then all hearing died, senses died with them. The inky blackness that always accompanied her grew blacker still like a candle that had been blown out. Along with the dieing flame, her life was dieing with it.