A/N—Nope, I haven't fallen off the edge of the world or anything and sorry to any readers I still have left that I haven't updated in so long. This is actually a direct response to Sam ()'s update request I got the other day. I decided that updating would be fun and sat down to write the next installment, when I realized I had unposted material on my computer already, so—here's some of that. I hope you enjoy. Oh, and all the chapter name's changed because ff won't let me post multiple chapters under the same name anymore so I changed them.
Rahallow, Tortall
Summer 458 H.E.
Kel pulled Chet to a stop beside Iness and Daecon stopped on her other side. Iness glanced around at the modest sized town that straddled the fork in the Great Road North as it turned into the Vassa Road.
"Where are we?" Kel asked Iness, but it was Daecon who answered.
"Rahallow. Home of the best horserace in the eastern lands and some of the best horse flesh in Tortall."
"Have the men find places to camp along the road." Iness ordered Mercen, who nodded and rode back to tell the men. "You two," Iness said, addressing Kel and Daecon together as many did now, "let's see if we can find an inn to stay in so we don't have to camp again." Daecon looked absolutely thrilled at the prospect of getting to stay in Rahallow. They set out down the street, their eyes scanning both sides of the road for and inn or, as always, any sign of Andera.
"That's odd." Iness said, stopping his horse in front of an old brick tavern. Kel and Daecon exchanged confused glances.
"What's odd?" Kel asked.
"The Rider's Own." Iness said, gesturing to the sign that hung above the door. Kel waited for him to finish explaining. Finally he saw that she didn't understand and said more. "The Queen's Riders and the King's Own. They were disbanded after the Conquering." Iness frowned. "It's probably nothing. Come on, I think that's an inn up there." They rode forward again, Iness glancing over his shoulder at the tavern.
The inn was a small, quaint, cream-colored building with a balcony around the outside. A sign just inside the door told all guests that meals could be purchased at the Rider's Own Tavern. A bell dangling from the door rang as they stepped through. The lobby had only two small windows but its lively décor gave the impression of a well-lit room. A small, round, white-haired woman came down the stairs and smiled at them.
"I'm sorry to say, sir," she said before Iness could speak, "but we're full. The races are this month." She explained. "In another week you won't even be able to find a place to camp. This time of year most people rent out rooms, though." She went over to a short bookshelf and pulled out a large, brown book, opening it on the table along the wall. "How many rooms are you looking for, youngin'?"
Iness smiled at the woman. Kel guessed it had been a long time since anyone had called him youngin. "One or two." He answered, but only for two nights.
The woman flipped through her book. "So you aren't here for the races, how unusual. Why have you come to Rahallow, if you don't mind my asking?"
"No, not at all. You might even be able to help me with it." Kel was only half listening. Conversations like this one had taken place at every town and woods hut on their trip, and Kel hardly paid attention to them anymore. "I'm wondering if you've seen a girl, ten years old, come through here. She has blonde hair with some red in it. She's pretty tall and thin and has purple eyes." The woman looked up from her book as Iness described Andera. "She's my little sister and goes by the name of Andera." Iness finished.
"I haven't seen any girls like that myself," the woman said and Iness sighed, "but Evin Larse has a stray living with him. She's been with him awhile and I doubt she's noble, but you can try."
Iness brightened. "Where can I find this Master Larse?"
"Ah, he's no master. He runs the tavern and he lives here." She flipped to a map of the town on the back cover of the book and showed Iness. "Also, you could ask for rooms here, here, or here." She said, sliding her finger across the map. "Just tell them the inn sent you."
"Thanks, mistress." Iness said, leading Kel and Daecon back outside. "Daecon, find the men and tell Mercen Kel and I will probably be joining the camp again tonight."
"Yes sir." Daecon said, untying his horse and leaping back into the saddle.
Iness smiled at Kel, the first real smile she'd seen on his face in a long time. "Let's go talk to Mr. Evin Larse." He said cheerfully. They went to the tavern first, since it was just down the street. They asked around and finally found someone who was a regular and knew who Evin Larse was.
"Don't know where he is, though." The man told them, then, "Hey Conner, you seen Evin?"
"No." Another man yelled back.
"Who's lookin' for him?" Added a woman's voice from over by the bar. Kel looked around and found her sitting by and talking to a tall, blonde-haired man, who was standing behind the bar.
"Iness and Keladry of Mindelan." Iness answered when the first man looked questionably at them.
"Sir and Lady of Mindelan." The man bellowed to the woman. Kel now understood why the tavern was so loud. She saw the blonde haired man nod and the woman smiled.
"He's behind the bar." The woman yelled back and Kel guessed Evin was the blonde. Iness, upon seeing the woman and man, came to the same conclusion and led Kel over to the bar.
"What can I do for you, sir, lady?" He asked, giving a short nod to each of them, while drying a large, glass mug.
"We are looking for my little sister and the woman at the inn said you had a girl of about ten staying with you. My sister's name is Andera. She's tall and thin. She has red-blonde hair and purple eyes. If you know anything, I'd really appreciate it."
Evin was quiet except for the drumming of his fingers on the bar. He looked between Iness and Kel several times then sighed.
"The corrals for the races are set up at the far end of the street. You shouldn't have any trouble finding them. There's one corral for the tavern—has half dozen horses in it." He paused and Kel could tell Iness was holding his breath. Evin shrugged and set down the mug. "She's there."
Neither Kel nor Iness moved. "Are you sure it's her?" Kel asked.
Evin smiled and it lit up his face. "Yeah, I'm sure. She might be riding but she'll be done soon."
They left the tavern almost at a run and rode as fast as they could. The crowd thickened when they reached the corrals and they dismounted, pushing their way through. Kel was the first one to see her. She was dressed in a plain cotton skirt that was too short for her and a blouse that was slightly too big. She held the reigns of a tall, long-legged mare and was talking to Daecon. A white ferret jumped from the mare's saddle to Andera's shoulder. Kel turned to call to Iness but he was already at her shoulder. Andera and Daecon were the only ones around the tavern's corral.
"Kit!" Iness bellowed. Andera looked up and smiled. The ferret jumped down to the ground just as Andera shoved the reigns into Daecon's hands and ran towards them. Iness spun her around and Kel hugged her fiercely, all three of them talking at once. Finally they calmed down some and all three of them stopped talking. Kel glanced at Daecon, who was stroking the horse's nose and smirking at them.
"You have some explaining to do, Kitten." Iness said. Andera dropped her eyes and an unreadable Yamani mask came over her face.
"I'm sorry." Andera said.
"Do you know how much you scared us? We woke up and you were gone—no explanation. And then the healer told me you hadn't gone to get your ankle looked at." Iness gained momentum and sternness. "With Scanran raiders on the road this time of year and Gennature patrols—always Gennature patrols. What were you thinking? What possessed you?" Andera's eyes were riveted on her shoes, and Kel and Daecon had dropped their smiles.
"I heard you and Oranie talking." Andera said in a small voice. "I heard what you said and I thought…I thought it'd be better if…if…I thought it'd be easier on you." She finished lamely, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears.
Iness grabbed her in another tight hug. "I'm sorry, Kit." Iness said, all his fatherly sternness gone. "I just worry about you. I wish you hadn't been listening."
Andera pulled away and wiped her eyes. "But you were right."
"I was a fool." Iness corrected.
Andera shook her head and opened her moth to say something more but was cut off. "So, are you takin' her home?" Asked a lazy drawl from behind them. Kel turned. Evin Larse leaned against a post of the corral across from them.
"Yes." Iness said.
"No." Andera said at the same time. Kel stepped back to stand by Daecon.
"Yes." Iness said again.
"I'm still going to stay for the races." Andera said, her tone unyielding. Daecon smiled and Kel could tell he really wanted to stay as well.
"No." Iness said in a terse way that meant he was just saying what he thought he should say.
"Iness, I've been training and I won't do anything I shouldn't, I promise."
Iness looked at her. "How's your ankle?"
"It's fine. Mistress Kelly took care of me." Andera replied, glaring up at him.
"Alright, but I'm going to send half of the men home. There's no reason we should take up so many good camping sites with these famous races coming to town." He smiled down at her and she smiled, too. Iness kissed her forehead. "You are going to have to tell me everything about your adventure later." He said.
"They're camped north east off the road we came in on, sir." Daecon said. Iness nodded.
"Kel can sleep with me." Andera invited. Iness looked to Evin, who agreed with a smile.
"Then we'll meet for dinner." Iness said to Kel and Andera.
"It'll be a good chance for you to tell us your story. How about you two come to the camp?"
"Great." Andera said.
"Sure." Kel said, though she groaned inwardly at the thought of another night of her brother's camp food. Iness glanced at Andera again, giving Kel the impression he was making sure she was real, then left. Evin, too, had left, though Kel hadn't noticed when. Andera grabbed the reigns back from Daecon and started putting the horse away. Kel and Daecon helped her and while they worked, she talked.
"I'm ridding for the Rider's Own in the big race. It takes an average of five days, looping through the hills and mountains. I've ridden parts of it. Nobles and Gennature and commoners all enter, though Evin says that the people's favorite to win is a stable hand from fief Treabond. He came in second last year on his first race. I'm hoping to come in at least third because there are winner's purses for the first three to finish and that's the only way I'm going to be able to get Oranie a new horse. Evin said that some of them go for pretty cheap after the races. You'll love Evin, Kel." They let the horse back out in the corral. Andera glanced around then continued in a quieter voice. "He's teaching me to sword fight. You can join us tonight and he has something else you might be interested in. He can tell you tonight." The ferret was back and climbed up to Andera's shoulder, chattering loudly. "This is Kaji." Andera introduced. "He has sort of adopted me." She switched back to horses, suggesting they both enter in some of the small races.
They stayed on horses while Andera led them through the town to a nice house. She let them in and pulled her boots off, dropping them by the cot in the room. They exchanged stories until they had to meet Iness for dinner then went through them all again. After dark fell Evin, Andera, and Kel went to the tavern and practiced sword for an hour in the courtyard, which looked to Kel like it was accustomed to such use. Evin also told Kel about the military training deal he had with the Gennature and the purpose of the Rider's Own. After the days of long riding, the excitement of finding Andera, and the practice, Kel was exhausted, falling asleep the moment she lay down on her bedroll.