In case no one remembers the names of the characters in IJATTOD here is a run down. Spielberg and Lucas's Characters Mola Ram: The bad guy who ripped the hearts out of sacrifices Chattar Lol: The right hand man to the young Maharajah Indiana Jones: If you don't know who he is then you shouldn't read this Willie: A singer with a bad case of screaming Short Round: Indiana's small sidekick and friend There will be very little of Indiana and Short Round and Willie in this story but they do come in at the end. My Characters Kani Lol: Chattar's mischievous daughter Lani: A rescued monkey who almost became food Disclaimer: I only own the unfamiliar characters. Everything and everybody else is the property of the genius of Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas.

Living Dangerously
By Kateera
Crawling certainly wasn't the best way to live your life but it had its distinct advantages, like when your father was looking to punish you for the latest escape from the palace menagerie. Kani didn't think it very prudent to let her height get in the way of an unnoticed departure so hiding the small creature under her arms she ducked into a small opening which led to the multitude of secret passage ways throughout Pankot palace. Sneaking into the catacombs she found a large empty amphitheatre and sighed in relief. Kani bent towards her new friend. The creatures small paws were shaking with fear and her small squeaks echoed in the empty spaces. The room wasn't lit but an eerie glow was coming from the center. Placing the monkey friend on her shoulder, Kani went over to investigate the phenomenon. It was a red light that glowed with intense heat and as she got closer sweat seemed to stream down her back into her shoes. She looked down into the small opening to see a swirling pit of fire and molten lava. Recoiling in horror Kani ran out of the area and into a recently hidden tunnel. Crunching and slipping her way down the tunnel she burst out into the feast area. The whole table turned to look at the young girl who had emerged seemingly from nowhere.
"Greetings honored ones. My pet had escaped and I was chasing her and not watching where my monkey led me. Excuse my intrusion," Kani said plainly.She thought it wise not to act suspicious.
The Maharajah smiled beneath his napkin and looked to his newly appointed advisor with amused eyes.
Mola Ram stood up and beckoned her forward. Wincing inwardly at the upcoming beating she slowly made her way toward the tall man.
"Kani Lol I presume?"
Kani nodded as she thought,
"He knows who I am. Now they will call my father and he will receive instructions to keep me under lock and key so that I do not disturb them again. Then I will be forced to wash feast dishes for three weeks while my father tries to repair his declining image in the palace."
She had gone through this with the other advisors before and this one would be no different.
He bent down and leaned close to her ear, "Kani, I think we can overlook this one little accident. I have heard of your pranks little one but I think they should stop now. You are thirteen and no longer a child. I believe your father would punish you if he heard of your recent explorations into the castle catacombs. I don't think he needs to hear about this one so long as you try to behave yourself."
Kani nodded solemnly as he said this. He smelled like cinnamon and another odor she didn't know. He seemed nice. She looked over at the Maharajah and bowed. He smiled at Kani and The Advisor patted her on the shoulder, "By the way Kani, if you come to the third room on the second floor I will supply you with a cage to keep your monkey in so that she won't escape again."
Kani smiled into his deep brown eyes and curtsied to show her appreciation. She had never seen anybody in this light before but his kindness and laughing mouth seemed to fill her with a squirmy and warm feeling. Bowing once again to the Maharajah she raced out of the room towards the safety of her spacious rooms. Kani clutched her new furry friend to her chest and ran until the door of her bedroom slammed behind her. Screaming with glee, she let go of the brown fuzz ball in her arms and spun around the room. Kani's room was her sanctuary. Her father had too much etiquette built into him to ever come through her bedroom door so she could hide here until his temper died down. She thought,
I won't get in trouble because the new advisor approves of my pet and my father doesn't know about my journey through the forbidden catacombs so I am totally off the hook.
Walking towards her bed Kani saw a new dress draped there. It was made of gold colored silk and beaded pearls. She groaned. My father gives me a new dress for every birthday in hopes that I might wear one of them someday.
Kani picked up the dress to hang it beside the multitude of other dresses that hung in her closet gathering dust when a small piece of parchment caught her eye.
Kani, it would please me if you would wear this to the feast tonight in honor of the new Advisor.
Chattar Lol Kani groaned again.
How could he ask such a thing? I never go to his parties .Boring is only the first word used to describe the festivities that take place with the adults.
Kani sat on the bed when her little friend put her furry head on her knee and squeaked. She looked down at the sweet face and brown eyes and remembered another pair of brown eyes she had seen that day. Smiling shyly to the sweet monkey now curled around her shoulders Kani whispered,
"I think I will go to a party tonight my love."
Laughing at her cocked head and confused face Kani set her new pet on the bed and draped the dress across her small frame. Taking her outer garments off she stared at the thirteen year old body reflected back through the floor mirror across the room. Shaking the gold dress over her body Kani fastened it and then looked in the mirror again. She blinked to clear what she thought was a dream. Her body had seemed to grow overnight. Kani was by no means a great beauty but her tan skin, petite frame and fair face was enough cause boys to take notice of her. She needed to brush her long black hair and put on suitable shoes but after that she would take those stuck up place brats by surprise the next time she walked in the room. and maybe he would notice her as well. Kani's hair had not been combed in a while and the tangles brought her to tears but finally it was lying straight and black against her back. She found matching shoes to the dress under her draped bed and smiled at her father's predictability. He always thought of everything just in case. After her extensive grooming procedure Kani glanced at the clock and jumped from her bed. The feast was about to start! Racing out into the hallway, She pointed herself in the direction of the Throne Room, hiked up her dress and ran. Sliding through the doors Kani entered just before the Maharajah did and sighed with relief. Taking her place beside her shocked father Kani stood and faced the crowd. As she had feared there were many merchants and noblemen as well as a few British soldiers in the crowd so the talk was likely going to be about money or politics. She sighed with resignation but then glanced down towards the table's end to seek out Mola Ram. He seemed on edge and unhappy so when he glanced her way she gave him her best "I am your friend" smile that always works with the palace guards. He lifted the corners of his mouth as he continued his sweeping glance and she almost leaped to his side right then and there.
What has gotten into me? He certainly isn't the most handsome man at court and he most definitely is not in my age group but I feel drawn to him like a bat to fresh fruit, she pondered. Kani's father whispered into her ear, "Kani, you finally followed my suggestion. Thank you. You may keep the monkey."
"Thank you father, I am going to get a cage from Mol- I mean the Advisor so she won't escape and terrorize visitors." She said with as much of a straight face as she could hold.
Her father went back to looking shocked and she would have to admit that making the people notice her is really fun. The Maharajah took his seat and the feast began. Kani didn't know what was with her but looking at the Pankot food always make her sick so the servants brought her a bowl of fresh fruit and she peeled her orange as everyone else peeled their beetles. Stealing another glance towards Mola Ram she saw that his food consisted of rice and vegetables. Kani sighed with longing at the forbidden food and went back to her fruit. In Pankot only the upper class or guests could order separate food and not get fruit. Looking at the baskets of fried cockroaches she decided fruit wasn't so bad. After dinner was finished it was time for the formal announcement of the new Advisor. The Maharajah stood and clapped his hands to receive everyone's attention. Kani saw everybody starting to stand up and grinned. Motioning for everyone to sit down again, he actually glanced in Kani's direction and smiled a small smile. Turning to Mola Ram he beckoned him to stand.
Facing the gathering he spoke, "As everyone knows by now through gossip my former Advisor was killed by a guard who saw him sneaking my money out to rebellion sympathizers and shaming the Pankot Palace. Now I have a new Advisor who I am sure is loyal to the Pankot Palace. A former guard who did all of us a great service is now my right hand power. I give you Mola Ram."
Kani cheered louder then the rest of them and now understood why he knew of her pranks. He most likely saw her commit many of them while he stood there unable to do anything. She was always nice to the guards but it didn't make teasing them any less fun. Mola Ram glanced in her direction and her smile stretched till her face threatened to crack. Kani reached up to massage her cheeks and he cracked a grin that spread all the way to his eyes and made them melt like rich chocolate. Kani gulped and tried to breathe through her fast beating heart.
I don't know if I could ever get used to this, she thought.
About two hours later the feast ended and I walked boldly up to Mola Ram. Tapping him on the shoulder I bowed low, "I am sorry to disturb you but I was hoping to retrieve that cage so that my monkey would no longer cause interruptions."
He smiled at me again and my knees grew weak, "Of course my dear. Follow me." We walked out of the still crowded room and meandered our way towards his rooms. I was astonished at the difference in his attitude as we wandered farther away from people. He was laughing and telling jokes and making fun of the guests that were present.
"Did you see that fat British guy start to sweat when the snakes and bugs began to travel around the table? He must have been so scared that he would go hungry to night. You could almost hear his stomach shrinking!"
The pair collapsed on his door laughing and holding thier sides at the thought of the fat man's pained face.

He is so perfect. He has the same sense of humor as me and he isn't that comfortable around a lot of people, Kani thought.

Kani looked up at him and he smiled sweetly before winking and grimacing in pain and doubling over in simulated agony. She laughed and stooped as if to help him up. He took her hand and a jolt went all the way to Kani's heart as he stared into her eyes with kindness and mirth. Pointing towards the bottom corner of the door he motioned for her to get the hidden key. Kani trembled with disbelief.

He is showing we where the key is! I could come and go from his rooms whenever I wanted with that knowledge, Kani thought with jubilant glee.

Reaching down she opened the door and grabbed the small brass key. Taking it from her, Mola twisted it into the lock and they stepped into the room. It was his bedroom. Kani stood at the doorway not daring to come closer. Walking towards the standing wardrobe in the corner, He drew a rather large cage that was plenty big enough for a monkey to stay in if someone really needed her to.
"So what have you named her?"
Kani blinked and then hurried to answer, "I haven't really thought about it. What do you suggest?"
He looked around the room and spied an old text sitting open on the table. The writer was Farli Holoni.
He smiled, "How about Loni?
She thought for a while and nodded in consent, "Very well she will be Loni and be honored to have such a noble person her naming parent."
She grinned mischievously and he reached as if to swat her across the head but she ducked and fell onto the bed in the process. Jumping up immediately Kani grabbed the cage and after thanking him breathlessly, ran as fast as she could in the cumbersome dress to her own bedchambers.

I touched the bed. I can't believe I did that! He is probably never going to want to see me again, she thought with horror.

No honest woman touches a man's bed unless she wants to-to make him her mate!

Kani paced the room for about an hour trying to figure out why she was so upset.

"I am only a thirteen year old girl. He wouldn't take my actions as anything more than clumsiness," she finally concluded

Satisfied with her reasoning she sighed and looked at the clock beside her ornate bed. Twelve o clock and ticking was the answer to the time and Kani needed to be ready for training Loni tomorrow. Placing the cage by her bed and slipping off the dress, she climbed into bed and after praying that her actions would not turn the wonderful new advisor against her, Kani fell asleep.

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