AN: here's the next chapter. Sorry it took a little bit guys. But we're going through some major testing at school soon and most of my time has been concentrated on preparing for that. Anyways, here's the latest chapter. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks to:

Libby: It hasn't been exactly a month. Just close to one. lol

Fillipa: I'm glad you like it. :)

Danna: Nope, its not Evie. You probably won't guess it because its a totally new character. So new, I don't even have a name for her yet. Got any suggestions? lol. And yeah, she hides her hair under a wig.

Mage Light: I think that is the best compliment I could ever get. lol.

Flower Kid: Here's a quick family tree. And I can't tell who the lady is cause that would ruin the mystery. lol. And if you haven't already read the stories, I have two more stories posted that are complete on Novellee and Burdock and one on Ciem and Evie.

Unknown lady (there are several hundred years in between with some unknown connection to the two families)

Dom and kel married and had two kids, Derek and Mira.

Novellee and Burdock married and had Ciem first (who married Evie and is now expecting a child) and Torianna (who was kidnapped at birth and doesn't know she related to them)

Cylobaby: I'm glad you liked that.I wasn't sure if I did a good job, but I guess I did. And you can rest assured, there will be plenty more of those scense. lol.

Gothamin: Bastard with a stick works to. lol. And I'm sure you'll be quite surprised with the ring. lol.

Beth: Yes, she called him when she was mad a Derek, but thats not exactly what happened. Lets just saythe callinghas something to do with her emotions.

Warrior of Tortall: I'm glad that you liked and that I've reached the standard of amazing in you eyes. :)

Incarnated-soul: You should definately keep an eye out for Zahib. He is important. What happened with the thief guy is hard to explain because not all the facts have been reveiled, but lets just say that a magic power was used. Yes, their is a romance between Derek and Tori in the future and yes they will find out that she isn't really a boy later on.

Wingedrider:)

Ephone: yes... cool.

Chapter Six:

Tori gasped as she sat up right, fighting with the blankets that struggled to hold her down. Her breath was heaving, she was sucking for air, her body trembling as she pushed at the hair that had fallen into her eyes.

Her eyes blinked rapidly as she looked about her, trying to make sense of where she was for several moments. She was sleeping on the ground, fully clothed, her sword inches from her hand. The bedroll that had once been made neatly was now very much disarrayed, but she knew that was because of the dreams.

Her body shuddered as she thought again of the dream. It hadn't been a dream so much as memories, much like that experiences she had had before. Only these were worse. These were filled with blood and pain, screams and fear. Of stalking and ruthless killing and all from a mask of emerald eyes. Eyes that were mirror to her own.

She supposed that's what scared her the most about the dreams. Not that they were familiar to her yet so distant from her memory. Not that they were violent and filled with murder, something she wished no part in. It was none of that. What scared her the most was that the woman who watched these happen was so like herself it was uncanny. They thought the same, felt the same, looked the same. Everything in them was identical. So if the woman got such great pleasure out of killing, wouldn't she?

She shuddered again, her eyes focusing out of the haze to see the camp around her. She was confused again before she remembered. Two days before they had received a summons by Lady Knight Kel at New Haven that Scanran tribes had been attacking heavily for almost a week and they needed back up. Derek and his squad had been sent ahead because they were a smaller group and could move faster. And for longer periods of time.

They had been traveling almost none stop for two days, going as fast as they could without endangering anyone. No one blamed him for it, it was his mother after all. But someone had finally said something the night before when Torick had fallen asleep in the saddle and almost fallen off. Derek had looked at her with such a look on his face that she had bitten back her protests and insisted she was fine. He had made them stop anyways.

She had stayed awake long enough to do what was required of her, then had fallen into her bedroll and hadn't stirred till just a few moments ago. Judging by the sky that had been almost seven hours ago. More sleep then she had gotten in some time. The dreams had been plaguing her nearly every night since that fateful day in the chapel two months ago. Knowing from experience that she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep, she forced her protesting muscles into action.

She could have taken a bath in the river a little ways off, but she was to tired to bother with it. It would be less of a hassle if she waited until she got to New Haven. Instead, she quickly fixed her bedroll into a semblance of order and scurried to the fire. It was cold here, up near the border.

It would be light soon, so she set about fixing biscuits with meat in the middle. Soon after they were done, Derek stirred and came to sit beside her at the fire. Without looking away from their enchanting depths, she handed him one. He took it with a murmured thanks.

She stretched her arms up over her head and the ring on her chest moved, bringing the emerald into direct contact with her skin. It startled her, the sudden jolt of the cold stone. She gasped, her arms thudding to her sides and slumped forward as her eyes closed over a vision.

The woman with emerald eyes smiled as the man bowed before her, his nose touching her leather-clad foot. He was trembling like a leaf caught in the wind and she could smell his fear. She breathed deep through her nose and sighed as the aroma filled her. She leaned back in her chair, a content smile on her face.

She had spared this one just days before, hoping he would bring something to her army, but he hadn't. In fact, he had nearly killed one entire squad with one stupid mistake. If he groveled will enough, she might just allow him to live.

"Well?" she demanded as she sat forward suddenly, kicking him in the chest and sending him sprawling across the floor. "What do you have to say about yourself?"

His eyes, she noticed as he returned to his kneeling position were so very pretty. A fluttering started in her chest, one that she squashed down. He smiled and she nearly sighed at the angelic look on his face. "That you're beautiful."

She cleared her throat, embarrassed by the blush that crept up her cheeks. She had killed hundreds, defeated more, and conquered entire armies and she blushed at this simple complement. "Regardless… you're stupid mistake nearly cost us the entire front line squad. We could have lost to the Tortalian devils. What were you thinking?"

"About your sweet face, my love. Only your sweet face," he grinned ruthlessly as her blush deepened.

"Torick," a frantic voice called to her. She moaned deep in her throat, almost sad to leave this place. The man, he seemed too familiar to her, comforting. She wanted to run to him and fall into his arms. He would sooth away her fears, she knew it. But someone was shaking her shoulders, calling her out of this far away place.

Her eyes fluttered open and she stared up at Derek, saw his worried expression and released that she must have dozed off sitting there. She sat up fast, too fast, misjudged and ended up hitting her forehead against Derek's mouth.

"Ouch," she said as she fell back. Derek cursed and sat back, holding his mouth. She saw blood dribbling down his chin, felt it on her forehead and wanted the world to swallow her whole. She had fallen asleep in front of him and hurt him.

"Here, let me help with that," she stammered, grabbing from the pack a few feet away. Luckily it was hers and she knew where bandages where. She grabbed one and with a no-nonsense attitude that she used with Robert's sisters, pulled his hand away, and swabbed at it, cleaning away the blood, then pressed on it to staunch the flow. She had split his lip.

"I'm sorry about this," she said, looking up at him. His eyes were sparkling and she realized that he was laughing. At her, at the situation. It didn't matter. "Hold that, please. I think you hit my head with your teeth."

She grabbed another cloth and with the same efficient moves, set to work on hers. She couldn't see it, but when she felt with her fingers, there was a sting, so she knew there was a cut. She dabbed it clean and pressed the bandage to it, stopping the blood flow.

"What was that Torick? You just fell asleep and I couldn't wake you for several minutes," Derek's voice would have been muffled accept he had removed the bandage. To cover up what had really happened she scolded him and made him put the bandage back on.

By the time the blood had stopped, the others had woken and were gathering around the fire. She took advantage of the commotion to sneak away to where to horses were tied and groomed her horse. She had decided to call her Wildfire, since she was such a feisty beast.

They mounted up within the hour and were on their way. About midday they came in sight of New Haven.

When they entered the gates to New Haven, something immediately caught her attention. There was a family standing next to the Lady Knight, and judging by the way they were dressed, they were nobles.

The family stood tall and proud, but she could see that they weren't really a family. With the father at the front, his a stony face his set in a disapproving frown. The mother was small and frail, her skin pale and fragile. She looked small enough that a strong wind would knock her over. Her hand was on the small boy's shoulder, as if to include him in the family. Tori could see by the way her hand clenched on his shoulder that it was to restrain him.

Her emerald eyes flew to his face, struck by his excited blue eyes. And excited they were. He was nearly salivating at the sight of them. He wants to be a warrior, she thought as she watched the way he shifted from foot to foot, his eyes feeding on the sight of Derek and his squad. On her and her horse. Even though they were worn and tired, dirty from the dust on the trail, he still saw them in a holy light.

And he could make a good warrior, she saw. Already his small body was strong with wide shoulders that could bare much weight. His small arms looked strong. But it was the fire lighted in his eyes that would make him a good warrior. He was born for the fight, and the need to do so burned in his eyes.

Derek held up his hand to signal a halt and she stopped Wildfire with a touch of her knees. Wildfire was very receptive to things and she had taught her pressure signals very easily.

She watched as Derek separated from the group slightly, dismounted and bowed before his mother. She laughed, a very light sound that surprised Tori, and bid him to rise before embracing him in a hug. Tori saw the corners of the father's mouth tighten. So it was the Lady Knight he disapproved of.

Mother and son began speaking and she watched the Lady Knight's face for a sign on what was being said, but her face was as calm as a lake's surface on a windless summer's day. She could read nothing in it. She would have looked to Derek's for his was very easy for her to read, but his back was turned to her.

She settled for straining her ears to try and catch a whiff of their conversation, but soon found herself drifting into thoughts. They wandered for a few minutes before zeroing in on the events that morning.

The more that she thought about it, the less it seemed that she had fallen asleep. She couldn't even remember closing her eyes. It was almost as if… her eyes popped wide and a startled sound had escaped her throat. She hadn't been asleep; she had been sucked into it. When the emerald had touched her skin.

Her hands fluttered up and around her chest, wanting to grab for it but not sure if she should touch it. Derek, as if hearing the noise, turned to look at her. Her face, she knew, was pale, her eyes wide and vulnerable. What had the ring to do with her visions? The memories?

Wildfire, already fidgety at her sudden anxiety, had the great misfortune of being stung by a bee. She reared, nearly unseating Tori, who managed to grab the pommel of the saddle. Her horse, very much wanting to be free of the bee's presence, tore across the yard at full speed towards Derek and his mother as soon as all four of her feet were on the ground.

Tori, already very much unbalanced, did her best to remain seated, but as Wildfire swung wide to avoid hitting the family, she lost her hold and went flying. She tried to curl, but only managed to arch her back into an outward curve, her arms going up to protect her head. Luckily something broke her fall.

Unluckily what broke her fall was Derek. Her back slammed into Derek's chest, knocking him back into his mom, who caught him. He in turn caught her, catching her under the arms, his hands, incidentally, landing on her chest.

The embarrassing touch only lasted a few startling seconds. But it was enough to have her blushing and praying that he hadn't felt anything that made him suspect. She scrambled away from him, stumbled and caught herself hurriedly. She spun around, stammering her apologies and bowing furiously.

"It's alright, boy," Derek said with a hint to his voice. She looked up through her lashes to see the laughter twinkling in his green-brown eyes and allowed herself to breath a sigh of relief. "No harm done."

She flushed even darker when she felt the Lady Knight Kel's eyes on her. Derek turned to his mother and gestured. "This is the soldier I mentioned."

"This?" she demanded, clearly surprised. "This is the soldier?" she turned to Tori with new interest and looked her over very carefully. She knew what Kel saw. A short, pale, little blond boy with striking emerald eyes. The fact that a slender sword was belted around her hips was so long it nearly dragged onto the ground only made her look more ridiculous. She was certain the Lady Knight found her wanting, but she didn't bother to look to see the expression in her eyes. Instead she frowned at Derek. Why had he been talking about her to his mother, and what about?

"Come, we must go talk about plans and things. Torick, you will attend me," Derek said, motioning her to follow. She gawked, stammering, trying to weasel out of it. She just knew Derek would find a way to ask her about the vision.

"I have to… the horse needs to be… I can't," she made a vague pointing motion with her hands, and turned to leave but Derek grabbed her arm and began pulling her after his fast retreating mom.

"Harlow will take care of it," she turned back to nod to Harlow but instead saw the noble family moving to follow them. Puzzled she turned back to Derek.

In a low voice so only Derek could hear she whispered. "Who are those people?"

Derek turned, looked, and shrugged. His grip on her arm loosened some, but he didn't let go entirely. "Not sure. Mother said something about them being attacked by a Scanran bandit group and seeking refuge here. Other then that, next to nothing."

She smiled faintly as she looked back again also. "Bet that made the little boy happy."

"What?" Derek almost yelled, clearly very surprised by that and taking the wrong meaning. Laughter threatened to escape, but she knew it would sound horribly girly so forced it back.

"Not like that. The boy's a fight, Derek. A warrior. Didn't you see it? It probably made his day seeing a fight," she smiled softly up at him. His face had a strange look on it. Almost… soft. She quickly looked down, feeling her cheeks start to burn. Derek cleared his throat and quickly dropped her arm.

"We'll have to see about getting him into the Own then. Or made into a knight," he smiled at his mother as they entered the headquarters of New Haven. Derek gestured and she took a seat next to him in front of the desk that Lady Knight Kel sat behind.

"It seems we have much to plan if we want to get the Scanra situation under control. Derek what do you have in mind?" she turned to him. He began speaking about something or other, but she wasn't listening. The boy had come to stand beside her, listening intently. She watched his eyes light with the excitement of the talk and she couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips.

"What do you think Torick?" Derek asked turning to her. She nearly blushed when she realized that she didn't have any idea what they were talking about. He raised his eyebrows expectantly and she nodded.

"Good," the Lady Knight Kel nodded her head once, quickly. "Now all we need is to find a sitter for young Jon."

"Torick will do it," Derek offered and before she could protest Lady Knight Kel nodded her assent. The father made a strangled sound in his throat and she turned to him to see his face red from holding back vicious words. She could tell.

"Good. It's settled then. Torick, Jon will bunk with you so you get to sleep in the main house. From now one, Jon will go everywhere with you. You've just been given a permanent companion."

Tori blanched at the thought. How would she explain to her new companion if he ever found out that she wasn't a boy?

AN there you go. Hope you enjoyed. Sorry for the wait. And if you want a disclaimer, I don't own anything. Review me!

Nubia