Hello all of my readers and faithful reviews please forgive me for doing this so late. School just started and I just had to get into the groove again. Well hope this one you like!

Paige looked over her things one last time. Just to make sure she had everything she would need. As she was looking through her clothing a knock came at her door.

"Come in!" She said not even looking up to see who had entered. When she did she was surprised to see Liam. He and her had not talked since three days before when Paige had just woken up. He smiled in her direction.

"So, um you ready, I am." Liam said hurriedly. Paige started to nod, but stopped herself and slowly turned in the direction of the prince. He was smiling a half smile that filled his eyes with innocence. She shook her head slightly trying to clear it.

"I'm sorry I must have missed something, what are you ready for?" She knew the answer as soon as it left his lips, and she regretted hearing it. She looked away and sighed thoroughly annoyed.

"Prince, I'm afraid it's to dangerous to come with me." She said as kindly as she could. Liam flinched at the Prince she had added into it. He thought she might object.

"George and I think it would be best if I went with you. He said he has no others to watch me, and," He stopped from what he was about to say. Paige looked at him startled. She needed to know what he was going to say, and she wasn't sure she would enjoy it either. She stood up from her sitting spot on the bed. Her eyes narrowed and focused on Liam's eyes. She would know if he lied.

"What else, Prince?" Paige asked stiffly not trying to hide anything this time. Liam winced under her gaze. He sighed, he knew he wouldn't be able to lie to her so all he could do was tell the truth, or run. Running didn't seem the proper thing to do at the moment.

"Listen I never said this ok?" He waited for some motion out of Paige, but she just continued to glare at him. "Well, George wanted me to go with you to make sure your ok." He stopped abruptly and through up his arms. As soon as Paige heard this she wanted to pick something up and hurled it across a courtyard, unfortunately she didn't see anything that she could.

"So, he doesn't think I can handle this stupid little race on my own, does he?" Paige said all the bitterness in her spilling out through these words. Liam took at step back from her as if he could feel the anger radiating to him. Silence pervaded trough the room. Paige was not looking at Liam she was just staring at the wall with an emotionless face.

"Paige, you don't understand what this 'race' is, do you?" Liam asked looking out of the top of his eyes at her. She drew her attention back to the boy in front of her. His light carefree blue eyes were now astounded at her. She waited a second before shaking her head. She had never read about this race, because she had never cared about such things. Liam laughed softly from annoyance, himself.

"This 'race' isn't just a race, it includes the whole world. People from everywhere come here just for this tournament. It started a long, long time ago when a mage was experimenting and created a rock that whoever owns it will become immortal, well sort of. Anyway, throughout the years the rock drove the mage insane, and he now lives up in the mountains somewhere. But no one knows what happened to the rock. And it is said that with the rock are jewels as glorious and the prettiest you have ever seen. Now whoever owns this jewel leaves clues from once place in the world to the next. The person is just waiting for someone to find him or her." Liam rocked back and fourth on his heels, and watched Paige's expression change constantly.

"Well, then why, if no one finds it, do people keep searching?" Paige asked feeling totally lost. Liam was quiet for a minuet pondering the subject.

" Because, Paige, people are greedy and they would do anything for these kind of riches. Most men die in the race though. The ones who come back are so bedraggled that they stay in bed for months." Liam shook his head, and lowered it, but it popped up a second later. "So, you ready?" Liam asked smiled a mischievous and a 'lets go get them' look. Paige saw this and grinned.

"I do, believe I'm ready for an adventure such as this." Liam smiled as she said it.

They took one last glance at George, then road on down the path to Corus. They reached the city.

"Do you know where we're supposed to go?" Paige asked looking sideways at Liam. He nodded, speechless. She just nodded in response to his own nod. Paige was very suddenly aware of how loud it was in the city. People were walking and talking all around them. There were many men walking from store to store making sure they had everything they needed. Paige blocked the noise from her brain. But what she found inside her head was a more frightening thing, Eric.

How long has he had feelings for me? Why didn't he tell me? What do I think about it all? Do I like him as well? Such thoughts as these raced around and around in Paige's head making her feel a sort of discomfort creep up on her. She didn't want to think about Eric. She didn't want to think about what had to be done about him, but she knew she might as well face it now.

How did she feel about Eric? This question she could answer right away. He was her best friend, nothing more. She couldn't remember what it had felt like to kiss him. She just knew that if she couldn't remember it couldn't have been that great. After all, maybe he hadn't really meant it, maybe it was just some trick to get her to think that was the reason for joining the race and not because he wanted riches, but Paige knew the answer clearly to that. Eric would never do something like that to her, would he?

"Here we are." Liam broke into her thoughts. Paige was grateful. She looked around at where they were. She found herself confronted by a stable, and an inn. One she had never been too. Liam hopped down from his horse, and handed the reigns over to a hostler. Paige did the same. Liam smiled at her as they walked inside the inn. Once again noise greeted Paige's ears. Men sat everywhere and stood in the corners. Paige was almost instantly being whammed against the wall by some big body.

"Hey, honey want to join me?" A big man said cocking an eyebrow at her. Paige tried to get away but found the man had her firmly in her place. Her thoughts now focused on one thing, get away. She looked into his face. It was big, ugly, and covered in black fuzz. His teeth were yellowing and his lip cracked. His breath smelled of liquor and she didn't like it. Abruptly, the man turned around and brought his attention to Liam.

"What do ya' want!" The man asked rudely obviously not recognizing Liam as royalty. Liam didn't seemed fazed by this at all he merely nodded his head in the direction of Paige.

"I believe you have my lady." He said. The man now looked back at Paige. She grimaced at the sight. His mouth was hanging half open and his breath was almost too much to bear. Before the man could say another word Liam grabbed Paige by the wrist and wrenched her away from her captivity against the wall. He guided her in front of him so that Paige was no longer in the man's reach.

Liam bent slightly down and whispered in Paige's ear, "Good thing I was here." Paige only sighed and kept letting Liam lead her through the crowed room to the stairs.

"Up we go." He said. Only at this point did Liam finally let go of Paige's hand. She smiled at him, but a grunt from the top of the stairs drew both of their heads up. There standing at the top of the stairs was Eric. His face looked as if it had been made to scowl and he was doing a fine job at it.

"Told you it would happen!" Eric said bitterly between his teeth.

Ok end of the chapter. I hope this one was better than the last, and another reason for this one being so late was that I had writers block. But I don't like admitting that to people, but on well it's apart of life I guess. Well, I really hope I did better on this one than the last one! So, weather you liked it, hated it, or just don't know what to think, Review! Thanks!