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Now for the second chapter!

They reached town quickly, talking while riding hard. Though Cami liked these new strangers, she was careful not to say anything about her business with the ruler, no matter how important they looked. They were strangers in this weird new country, and she wasn't sure that she could trust them.

When they arrived at a small inn called 'The Wise Owl', Kel and Alanna stopped their horses. Kel motioned to Cami to get off, the girl swung herself off the horse with ease. She had always been comfortable with animals, though she didn't know any noble would march around with so many sparrows and a mangy dog. But Cami kept her mouth shut so she wouldn't offend her rescuers.

Cami reached out her hand to pat Kel's horse's head, or tried to. The moment her hand reached out, the horse's jaws snapped forward and Cami snatched her hand away from the spot. The horse's mouth closed on thin air, and the two women grinned as the horse snorted.

"I guess this isn't the time to say 'nice horsie'," muttered Kel under her breath and she stared in disbelief at the now-violent horse.

Kel laughed and said, "This here's Peachblossom," She pat the animal's head and he whinnied softly. Cami snorted, and the horse stared at her with a look that seemed to say 'Watch it.' "He's a one woman horse, and doesn't take well to strangers."

"Do you realize what a huge understatement you just made?" said the other lady wryly. Cami didn't know her name. As if she read her mind, the woman turned to Cami and said, "By the way, my name's Alanna. Nice to meet you."

Cami gasped. "Alanna? The lady knight? The one that found the Dominion Jewel?"

Alanna nodded, shamefaced.

Then Cami turned to Kel and said, "Then you-you must be Keladry of Mindelan, the one that killed Blayce!" She fumbled and said, "I should curtsy or something-"

"Please don't" interrupted Kel.

"Why not?"

"One, you're a Scanran, meaning that you really shouldn't honor us, from what we've done to your country and all. Two, I'm tired. Manners ask that we bow in return, and my back's sore." explained Kel calmly.

Cami grinned, and the y finished picketing the horses and entered the inn.

…

They found themselves inside a large, very crowded room filled with drunk people. They were all celebrating for the end of the war, and obviously there was a huge party going on. Alanna, who was at the front, helped push their way through the crowd to an empty table in the corner. Food at last, Cami thought to herself as they sat down.

"Now," began Alanna the Lioness firmly. Kel groaned; she was obviously used to these speeches, Cami noted. "You two go find the innkeeper and asked for two adjoining rooms with two beds in one, and one in the other. Also, two hot baths, one for each of you. I'll stay here and order food."

Now it was Cami's turn to groan. She was starving.

"Come on Cami," said Kel, who was standing up. "It's a bad idea to go against the wishes of the Lioness here. She has a wicked sharp temper and a strong Gift to boot." Before Alanna could reply, Cami felt her small hand enclosed in Kel's big one, and she was yanked up. She and Kel walked away quickly to do as Alanna bid.

Cami watched as Kel told the innkeeper what they required and paid him two copper pieces. Then she turned to Cami and said, "Here's your key. Tolian, the innkeeper, promised to have a hot bath in your room in a moment."

Cami accepted her key with thanks and headed up the stairs. There was her room: 24. She fit the key into the lock and opened the door. Sure enough, there was a maid putting a steaming basin down on the floor, along with towels and soap.

"Here's your bath milady," said the maid as she stood up to leave.

"Oh, don't call me that," protested Cami. "I'm no lady."

"As you wish, lady," answered the maid, and she closed the door behind her before Cami could protest any further.

Cami shook her head, and stuck her finger into the water. She yelped; it was hot. Then she undressed and slipped into the water. I'm no lady, she thought to herself as she laid down with a contented sigh. She closed her eyes…

She was five again, running around her village square with her other little friends as parents watched. She screamed with delight; the one who was 'It' had almost tagged her. She was enjoying the summer's day, and she was glad that she could run and play as she pleased.

Then a long dark shadow was cast over her. She turned to look into an awful face. He had dark scraggly hair and mean green eyes. His teeth were yellow and rotting, a sign of how he took care of himself. He was tall and was clothed in rawhide armor. She was too frightened to cry.

"Warlord Maggur," someone whispered and everyone backed away, children to their parent's arms. Except her.

"What," he spat, "is this?" He stared at her like she was a bit of filth on his shining crooked dagger on his side. Her mother ran forward, her face terrified.

"Please, sir, that's my daughter-" she started to say, but he slapped her across the face. She fell to the ground, her body making a thumping sound as it hit the cobblestone. She lay there, eyes wide with fear. Nobody dared to breathe.

"I didn't give you permission to speak, swine," yelled Maggur. "I am your warlord and you will bow down to me!" His evil face twisted into a horrid smile as he leered at the woman on the ground. Then he turned back to the child who was whimpering softly. "You see your mother, girl? You see her laying on the ground in fear? Well, that's how it should be. That's how you all should be!" He roared. "I think I will have to teach you a lesson not to cross King Maggur's path again." He added softly. A searing pain spread across her arm, and she sank to the ground screaming in pain…

Cami sat up, spraying water everywhere. She looked wildly around, expecting to see the awful king's face grinning down as she bled, but only saw the comforting light of her inn room. She then turned to look at her arm, which was throbbing worse than ever. Since the wound was inflicted by the warlord, it pained her whenever a war was, or was going, to happen. Furious that Scanra had lost the war against Tortall, King Maggur was readying troops for another war with a magic weapon so powerful, he believed that noone could sustain it. That's why Cami had to see the king. She had to warn him of the impending danger.

She quickly finished scrubbing and got out of the bath. She got dressed and ran downstairs to her new comrades, whom she had decided to tell the whole truth. They needed to know.