Disclaimer:The characters, and the settings belong to Tamora Pierce, so don't sue because it would be pointless to sue a kid, not only would you lose me as a reader, but you'd take my money as well. Wouldn't want that to happen.

Emotionless

By: Chicken Puffs

be easy on me let's pop a bottle
listen from the fellas in the spot that wanna rock with me (be easy)
so now i wanna find me a model
New york came here to do what we do (just be easy)
I know u ain't trying to get caught up (no)
U don't got problems (oh), chillin in the spot with me (be easy)
so we just wanna have a good time
VIP is about to get hotta
Massari, Be Easy

Kel had woken up in a strange bed, to the feeling of soft black silk covering her, but providing little warmth to rid her of the cold morning. She'd been wondering what the hell had happened to her until the point when she'd seen him, and then it had all come back to her, the events of last night.

He'd looked like a child, his face unguarded and open, blond strands falling softly in his face, framing his high cheekbones. The picture he'd created had been a thing of beauty, and she was scared of coming back to reality, which she knew that she had to accept.

She still felt tired, a feeling which was impossible to rid of, and the Black God had taken her soul with him when he'd approached her, only narrowly being saved by Joren, but she was still uncertain of how he'd done it.

Tenderly, she reached a hand up to her tender neck, feeling the thick band still in place, although she'd half expected to wake up and find all of this a horrible dream.

Observing the room around her, she'd come to accept the fact that Joren was a very dark person. The room was enshrouded in darkness except for a narrow crack of sunlight that peaked out from his silk curtains, which told her it was morning.

A red covered book caught her eye, and she carefully climbed out of his comfortable bed to reach for it, touching him ever so slightly to grab it.

His body jerked and she'd been afraid of waking him, but he merely shifted his head on the desk, continuing to rest.

It said that the black god struck rarely, only when his chosen were weak enough and lost to their own world. Only then could the portal between the rhealms be opened.

So little was known about the bands that it was almost never taught of, or even mentioned to mages, and that was why they had to make the journey to find the seer. It was possibly the only chance for their survival now.

Her defenses had been down for so long that she couldn't even protect herself anymore. She risking everything that she'd worked for, and she could possibly be kicked out of her training if anyone was to discover that she'd gone on some hunt with her enemy to find a person who might not exist anymore.

Joren. He was weak. He was a human just like her. He felt, and something must be plaguing him to or the Black God would never have been able to attack him. Who had saved him? Who might have wanted to help him as much as he needed?

"Stop brooding lump, we have to leave, and soon. Tonight, before the last bell. Wear something plain, for we cannot have people knowing who we are or word will spread back to the palace." The silence was interrupted by his vicious voice, causing her to shiver slightly. Really, she couldn't stand his moods. Sometimes he caused her to wonder if he'd changed, and others, like now, made her realize that he would always be the same.

"And where exactly are we supposed to go, oh mighty one," Her voice challenged his, and she raised her calm hazel eyes to meet his cold blue ones. Joren had lost any warmth he'd held towards her last night, as if he hadn't had anything to do with saving her.

His eyes traveled down her body before answering, catching sight of what was in her lap. Before she could move a muscle, though, Joren had jumped out of the chair he'd been occupying, reaching for it, and slamming it closed in front of her face.

"What the hell do you think your doing? You fucking good for nothing whore!" Anger flooded his body, his face turning a sickish red color against his pale skin.

"I…"She was at a loss for words, in all the years she'd known him; he'd never gotten this angry.

"Get the fuck out Mindelan, and be ready for tonight. I'll leave without you if I have to." Already he'd turned his back on her, making for the door. She was left to wonder if possibly, death could be better than this.

There was something in that book though, that he hadn't wanted her to find, and she was determined to find out what it was.


"I'm sorry Neal, but I have to leave. Father is very sick and their not sure if he'll make it. I've already talked to Raoul, and he understands. He said to take as much time as I need. Please understand as well."

He took in her disheveled appearance, and her tear stained face, wishing desperately that he could ease her pain; because he knew how much she loved her father.

Kel tried to smile for his sake, but it was all too much. She wasn't going to see her father, in fact, he'd probably outlive her, but that was beside the point. She was traveling to the West of Corus in search of a seer who could help them remove the bands. He told her it was the only way to remove themselves from the clutches of death itself. Or at least that's what the note had said; he'd ignored her all day, ever since their argument that morning.

"I do Kel….do you want me to come with you; to make sure everything's alright?" He asked hopefully, wishing that for once, she'd let him help her.

"No, I'll be fine, it's a short journey." Her words came out rushed, as she hoped he wouldn't catch her uneasiness.

"Well alright, if your sure?" Neal asked reluctantly, knowing that Kel was stubborn and refuse.

At the nod of her head, he hugged her before exiting the room, leaving her alone.

She leaned back in her bed, feeling the loneliness engulfing her, but refusing to cry. She'd been doing too much of that lately, and she promised herself that she wouldn't anymore.

To put it plainly, she was confused. Confused about the band, confused about Joren, confused about herself, and everything that had happened in the course of a few hours.

Kel was ready though, and she had a feeling that many unexpected things would come on this struggle to survive, and not all of them would be pleasant.


"Queenscove, step away from me. I'm not like you, and if I was, I wouldn't be interested in you." Joren smirked at the older boy, as he tried hard to control his temper.

"Are you calling me queer Stone Mountain?"

"Since you put it that way, yes, I'm calling you queer. I've seen you looking at that oaf, Cleon, when you think no ones watching." This was just too easy, he thought to himself as he dodged the fist that he'd just barely dodged.

"You'd better fucking listen and give me some straight answers Stone Mountain. What the hell have you done to Kel, because I know it's something, and I'm tired of it! No more of these games Stone Mountain." Neal's face had gone from red to a strange purple color, which only made him roll his eyes. The boy really needed to learn to control his temper if he was ever to be duke.

"Jealous, that her attention isn't focused on you? She must know your secret."

This time he threw all of his weight on Joren, pinning him down so he couldn't move from beneath.

"Listen as I'm only going to say this once. Stay away from Kel because if I ever see you hurt her again, I'll leave you so bruised that you'll be confined to your bed, forever. I'll let you go now, but you'd be best to fear me, because I have no more sympathy for you."


"Take your sweet time Mindelan? You're late, and I was just about to leave." In truth, that wasn't exactly correct. For this plan to work, he needed her there, or he couldn't proceed with the next step.

"It's not exactly easy to sneak out with this on," she pointed to the course wool dress she wore.

"I don't even see why I can't dress normally. It's not like we're spies or anything."

"You're an idiot if I ever saw one. Seriously, do you believe all women go out and about fighting for their king, as if it were the daily routines of life? You may not be a spy, but there are others, and in case you've forgotten, you're supposed to be with your sick father. It wouldn't look very good if people saw you with me. They might get the wrong idea and as soon as they find us missing, they'll assume I kidnapped you. Do you see my reasoning now?"

Kel blushed at her own stupidity; mounting Hoshi before anything more could be said. Really, it was quite easy for anyone to see why they were in disguise if they knew the situation, and yet, she was too dense herself to see it.

She shivered inside her heavy sweater as they set off on their way, glad that the dress was warm. A heavy mist had settled over the blackness and she could see nothing but the white puffs of breath from her horse and herself.

What was he thinking? He was perched atop his horse moodily staring straight ahead into the distance? Was he laughing at her for following through with this stupid plan? What if this was some kind of trap, or someway for him to be rid of her? What would she do if he was planning on killing her?

She had no defenses, and nothing but her sword in her saddle bag. Besides, in her state, could she possibly hope to defeat him?

Maybe he'd placed the necklace on her to confuse her, and even though she'd unsuccessfully been able to remove it, but, then again he could've had a mage spell it for him.

No, he didn't possess the gift, and it would have been impossible for him to create an illusion. Besides, what she felt was not mortal.

The night wore on, as no words were spoken between the two companions, one lost in thought, the other searching for the light at the end of the tunnel.

Joren was wondering if he would have enough time to complete the prophecy, and still arrive back at the palace before his ordeal, which was in a little more than three fortnights.

It would take exactly ten days to arrive in Ebony, and then he could get the seer to spell a letter from Kel to Neal, explaining what had happened and where she had been over the course of time she'd been missing. From there he could make it back to Corus in little less than six nights, and stay out of the target of suspicion. By then, he'd be under no god's control, and could pass his ordeal.

The stage of sacrifice would be completed quickly and free, he'd make sure of it. Maybe she didn't deserve it at all, but he didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention. This was the only way to be released from the Black God's powers, and he was determined to be his own person, no matter what the stakes. In all reality, this would make his father proud, as disgusting as that was.


"We should stop," he told the half awake girl riding next to him. "It looks as if you need sleep, and the horses need feed and rest if there to make the journey both ways."

She nodded her head, trying to keep her eyes from closing, rubbing them wearily.

The sun was starting to rise overhead, and the sky went from a dark blue to a light purple hue. They'd ridden through the night, staying in the shadows of the thick, burly trees, and finally they'd reached a small inn, where they'd agreed to spend the night.

She'd stepped down from Hoshi, only to have the reins taken away from her, and his rough voice told her to follow him inside the stables.

The stables were abandoned, and the sounds and smells comforted her greatly. To her surprised, as she stood, Joren spoke softly to the horses as he rubbed there sweat soaked bodies down with an oiled cloth.

"We have to share a room." He said it simply, as if he was talking about a friend.

"What do you mean," she said worriedly. What if she talked in her sleep?

"Think about it, a woman and man traveling unaccompanied, they'll know something's wrong. We need a cover, and that's all I can think of right now. I'll explain later, but right now, you're my betrothed from a lower class and we're running from my father."

She couldn't really understand what he was saying, and decided to wait for him to finish up with the horses and for him to explain to the innkeeper what was happening.

Sitting down in the soft hay, Kel laid her head down, promising herself she wouldn't fall asleep, and not noticing that Joren was watching her, a glint in his eyes.

She didn't mean to, but she did, as usual, fall asleep.

Finished grooming the horses, he walked over to where she lay asleep, thinking about kicking he, but deciding otherwise. Disgusted, he picked her up, thinking that he was doing this too much lately, and carried her into the cozy inn.

It did help their disguise, the loving boy cradling the lady in his arms while she slept peacefully. At least, that's what the woman thought as she was all soft smiles, handing over the key, remising in her own memories of young love.

He climbed the steps, opening the door with a squeak, dropping her onto the bed lightly.

Joren slipped his tunic over his head, revealing the necklace that was changing colors again. The silver had turned into a deep red, signaling that his time was running out.

Glancing over at the sleeping figure next to him, he told himself to feel nothing for her, that she was important to him in only one way and that was to complete the prophecy.


"Don't leave," she pleaded with him. "Please Joren, something's going to happen to you, I know it!" Tears had started to slip down her face as he pulled her through the alley's heading towards the palace.

"Nothing will separate us, I promise. If I don't try, then I might as well become a peasant. You don't know what my father is capable of."

"You're going to die," she whispered the words, stopping him in her tracks.

He grabbed her roughly by the shoulders, saying, "I won't leave you Keladry. Not tomorrow, not in a week, month or year. I told you I wouldn't before, and no chamber can defeat me."

Didn't anyone teach you never to temp fate, because that's what you're doing now.

Hours later, she stood in the chapel, her knuckles white as they opened the doors to the chamber.

Two Mithran priests cloaked in white went inside, and the room went quiet, expecting to see a badly shaken Joren, but instead they carried a body between them bathed in crimson blood.

People around her gasped in shock and looks of sympathy were passed around the room, but for one, there was no pain, just a cold hard emptiness.

No one seemed to see the girl sitting in the back row, with a blank expression on her face, and no tears fell from her large eyes.

'You promised." She whispered to no one in particular


The lump was dreaming about him, or at least that's what he thought, hearing his name mentioned throughout the course of the evening, as he stayed alert and awake.

Now how could he twist this to his advantage? Mindelan had obviously harbored feelings towards him as she used announced to the air that she loved him.

A Stone Mountain considered all options, and this made it all the more easily to gain her trust. His plan was going to work if it killed him…Literally.


A/N: Hmmm didn't expect this to be up for a while. Thanx for reviewing, and keep it up. Reviews are much appreciated:):):):)

Plot's movin a little fast but I have to keep it going. Charavter's might be a little OOC and somewhat confusing but you'll get over it.I'm sorry about it...

School's out in a week and I have to study for exams and then I'm off on vacation for a while so I doubt the next update will be in before July...SOrry bout that. Have a good night!