Disclaimer: I only own the little kiddies, Vicky, and Shawn…

Jeff ducked as a hand came flying towards him. His light blue eyes held no emotion as he circled his foe, watching for an opening. His opponent came at him, his fist clenched, ready to attack. He quickly swung at Jeff with his right hand. Jeff blocked it, but it was a feint. His rival's left hand was ready and got him square on the chin. Jeff dropped and rolled, up on his feet in a moment. His right foot curled up and in, then thrust out, slamming into his rival's belly. His opponent fell down, slapping the ground as he hit it. In a moment, Jeff was in front of him his foot on his foe's neck.

"I yield," he said, before laughing. "Well done, cousin! Your skills have grown since the last time I saw you." A young man picked himself off the ground, looking to be no more than 10.

"Sorry, Shawn," Jeff smiled, helping him up. Shawn was three years older than him, and a first year page.

"I guess Auntie Kel was right when she said that you were no one to be underestimated," Shawn said, shaking his dark brown hair out of his hazel eyes. He grinned. "Last time I fought you, you were just a little tyke." It was true. Shawn hadn't seen the quadruplets since their fourth birthday, exactly three years ago. Conal and Kel were never that close to begin with, ever since he had hung her off the balcony those many years ago. They only saw each other every couple of years, and when they did, they barely ever spoke. Ironically, Shawn and Jeff had grown close, exchanging letters every so often. Shawn loved his Auntie, and always asked about her. Jeff, however, was always reserved around Conal, for some reason he couldn't put his finger on.

"Oh shut up, cousin. You aren't that much older than me."

"Old enough to become a knight!" Shawn said, drawing himself up indignantly and sticking his nose in the air. Jeff whacked him in the stomach, causing him to lose his breath. Jeff laughed and walked towards the fief. Shawn ran to catch up to him, and mussed Jeff's hair. Jeff's eyes narrowed threateningly at his older cousin. No one touches his hair.

"Don't look at me that way. It was payback for that thing you just did to me." Shawn said sticking his tongue out jokingly. Jeff smiled.

"I suppose so," he said, ever fair. "Lets go eat! I'm famished!" He ran off, Shawn following close behind.

Kel smiled as her son ran into the kitchen, putting down her book. It would be the last time she saw him in a while, for he was leaving to go to the Shangs tomorrow. She bent down and kissed his forehead, happy that he had made a decision and stuck with it.

"Awwww, come on, Mom!" he said, his dignity ruined. He wiped the kiss off with his hand. She smiled knowingly. Shawn smiled at his Aunt as he came in.

"Go wash up, boys. Dinner will be ready in a moment." As Shawn turned to leave, she called him back. "I saw you fighting out there. Practice your kicks on your left side." Shawn nodded and ran to hurry up to his cousin.

Kel made sure they were well away before opening up a letter on the table.

Dear Mommy,

I must apologize, for I cannot make it for dinner on our birthday. I have some experiments going on that our masters are teaching us, and I can't fall behind. I've learned a lot of stuff here, now I can make more complex spells! The masters say that I've been the best student since some boy named Thom, but they won't tell me who he is. I want to be able to talk to this person, maybe he can tell me some new spells that only the best sorcerers know! For some reason, they say his name with scorn, but I think they are jealous of him. I've made up my mind, mom. I want to be the best sorceress in the world! But in order to become that, I will need to spend every waking minute I have studying spells and practicing. I know you will understand my competitiveness. You were like this at my age, I just know it. I'm going to make you and Daddy so proud of me! Send my love to my siblings!

Love,

Kassi

Kel frowned. She knew exactly who this boy named "Thom" was. However, she doubted that Kassi would become as overconfident as he was, and do something stupid.

"Mommy?" Kel looked up to see Nolee standing there. "Kassi's not coming home, is she?" Kel held out her arms, and Nolee came and gave her a hug.

"No, sweetie, I'm sorry. She had to stay and finish up something."

"I knew it! She never comes home! All she cares about are her stupid scrolls and spells! Whenever she can leave to come home, she always makes some blest excuse! She never liked us! All she ever cared about was herself!" by this time Nolee was in tears.

"Honey, you know how important magic is to her. She just can't come home when she's in the middle of a complex spell."

"A complex spell you can always start over, if necessary. Once you lose your family, you never get a chance to restart." This cool remark came from Dan, who stood at the kitchen door.

Kel sighed. "I know. Go tell everyone to wash up and we'll have dinner."

Jeff mounted his mare, Shaman, before turning to his family. He grinned, happy that he finally would be able to learn the ways of Shang. He had his jar of magical bruise balm that Kassi had sent him, a blanket woven tight enough so that even the tiniest of coldness couldn't penetrate it from Nolee, a practice sword from Dan, and enough money to last him years on the road from Kel, Dom, Neal, and Yuki. Vicky had given him a necklace that in Yamani said, "God-born", and Shawn had given him a dagger.

Waving to his family one last time, he yelled a cry of triumph, before setting off.

The Shang Wildcat, who had come this far to pick him up, nodded once to Kel before following the young boy, sensing in him a strength that not many possess. Perhaps Vicky's necklace had said more than she realized.

A/N: Done. Next chappie up hopefully soon. Sorry about the delay.

Kit