Tales to Tell:

Disclaimer: It's amazing how my name isn't Tamora Pierce and yet I like to play with her characters. Too bad that I only own Eriko and her family but what are you going to do when all you have is an overactive imagination and proudly make no money from this.

A/N: Yep, I finally updated so hope you like it!


Merric was in no mood to wake up the next morning but got up, as the incessant knocking grew louder. Getting up, he rushed to the door ready to tell the person off.

"What the hell do you want?" Merric scowled.

"Good morning to you too," Faleron chirped before pushing his way in.

Merric made to shut the door but was pushed back as Neal, Seaver, Esmond, and Prosper followed Faleron inside. Grumbling again, Merric shut the door and fell face first onto his bed as the others took up room either on the floor or chairs. They were chatting aimlessly with such perkiness that Merric grabbed the nearest object and hurled it blindly towards someone. Unfortunately it broke the mirror situated above Neal.

"What the hell!" Neal exclaimed. The others only stared at Merric before helping Neal with the glass.

"If none of you is going to tell me why you're all so damn perky then get out," Merric spoke through the pillow.

"How can you be grumpy at a time like this?" Esmond questioned.

"Because it's too damn early!"

"Are you kidding me? It's almost time for midday meal," Seaver said.

Bolting up, Merric looked at them questioningly to see them all nod their heads. Looking out his window, he could see the sun high in the sky and the various noises finally filling his ears.

"How much did you drink exactly?" Neal inquired.

"I didn't. I'm just tired," Merric responded.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were sulking," Prosper commented, putting the paperweight back onto the nightstand.

"I'm not sulking!" Merric yelled.

"Is it possible for him to have monthlies?" Faleron whispered to Neal, who only shrugged.

"I heard that!"

Merric was completely ignoring them and they could hear his muffled swears but whether it was directed towards them was a mystery. They had all met on the practice court when they noticed Merric was missing, so they went to look for him. Esmond and Prosper, who had just came back the day before, wanted to do some catching up, not to mention talk about all of the beautiful ladies they have met. Seeing that Merric wasn't in the mood, the group trudged out the door and left.

Merric was irritated from last night and he was sure by now that Eri's brothers (except for Eric) were all out to get him. Every time he tried to ask Eri for a dance one of them would pop out of nowhere and ask her first. He thought they were only doing the brotherly thing, but the looks they sent him were downright scary. Even when they were only talking, he more than once argued with Mako lightly, which didn't bode well till they finally noticed Eri dancing with Prosper. It went on like that for the whole night where some other lucky fellow dancing with Eri whenever Mako's attention was elsewhere. By the time Eri had snuck off with a dark expression, Merric decided to give up and went to look for some other ladies to dance with. The only problem? It was late and everyone was leaving.

Hearing his stomach rumble, he got up and dressed lightly for the practice courts. Rubbing his eyes, he walked out of his room, as he was about to turn towards the Mess Hall, he saw someone with a cloak walking out the door.


When I was sure that no one was around, I slipped behind an empty shed and called on my Gift. Feeling my hair and making sure that the cloak covered most of me, I walked out of the gates like a servant and into town. Wandering around town with a carefree atmosphere, I checked the little shops and stores for anything interesting.

Seeing the streets clearing up as the bell tolled the hour, I realized that it was time for midday meal. Even if there were more than enough people around, it was pretty much less crowded and dense. Passing by a small bakery, I ventured inside and bought myself two hot meat buns. Walking around a bit more, I suddenly became aware of something behind me. Pretending to ignore it, I walked a few more steps before turning around quickly to see a see dog following me. Looking around to see if anyone was missing anything, I beckoned the dog towards me and broke off a piece of the bun and handed it to the dog.

"So how long do you intend to follow me?" I asked openly before getting up and turning to my left. Getting no answer, I continued walking but making sure to lose myself and sharply turning right. Finding my stalker, I decided to have a bit fun. Creeping up behind another stall, I waited a bit before going up to him and mimicking his every move.

"'Ello," I greeted.

"Mithros!" Merric jumped. Taking a meat bun out, I bite into while leaning up against the wall. It took Merric a while to calm down before rounding on me with a cool demeanor.

"Whadda ya lookin' at?" I asked.

"What's the big idea with sneaking up on people?" Merric said through clenched teeth.

"All 'ell sir, yer the one followin' me."

"If you weren't so suspicious-"

"Who says I were suspicious milord? 'Sides, how's whistlin' freely a crime?"

"Well it's not but you were in the Palace and all."

"'S that all sir? Whadda I suppose to do? Laze 'round the Palace? Me Ma woulda screamed me an earful I tell ya."

"Yeah... bu-but I saw you sneaking off and behind the shed. And... and your hair was longer too! I'm not blind it was long."

"Nots ter be disrespectin' an' all but yeh sure yer okay?"

I am not ashamed to say that I was enjoying Merric's discomfort. Not to mention that it's fun playing with his mind, although I was sure I heard Faleron say he had slept in. Finishing off the pastry, I dusted my hands and walked away but not before he pulled me back.

"'Ey! Wha's the 'ells yer problem?" I asked scowling but it dropped as soon as he shoved his face in front of me. He was looking at me critically and he was too close for comfort. He was studying me closely and it was unnerving me, like he was slowly piercing through my spell. My eyes darted around to see an empty street.

When the hell did we end up in an alley? I thought at myself.

To anyone else, I was a lanky boy with cropped messy dark hair and normal brown eyes. There was even a hint of stubble, which itched like hell.

"Eh milord, ya scarin' me 'er-"

"Eri?" Merric asked in surprise.

And the Black God's realm has just frozen over, I thought in a panic, as I saw a flash of recognition in his eyes.

Racking my brain, "Ain't that a girl's name?"

"What the hell are you doing looking like that?" Merric whispered harshly.

"Now look 'ere milord. Imma say it once only. I ain't swing that way or no nancy so yeh can get outta me face now," I stated irritably pushing him away. Turning around, I tried to make a run for it but he only blocked my way. Praying to the Goddess that no one will see me, I kicked him in the groin and ran for it. As the crowd started to thicken again, I made a whole bunch of twist and turns to lose myself. Turning in at another alley, I leaned against the wall to catch my breath.

"Well ain't you the saddest runt I'd seen."

Is this what I get for kicking Merric? I thought before finding two boys standing in front of me.

"Look. I ain't lookin' for no trouble," I started to say.

"Yea? We been bored all day. Right Devin?" the shorter one addressed the taller one.

"Reckon this one'll last a minute Tim?" Devin voiced.

"I say less," Tim commented looking me up and down.

""Ey now. No need ter be all tough or nuthin' I just passin' on through ya see."

The Devin guy didn't look more than a year older than me while Tim was younger... about fifteen. They both had dirty blonde hair with the same green blue eye and from the looks of these two; I'd guess that they were brothers. Pressing against the wall, I tried to ease on out of the alley but Tim caught on and blocked the way.

"Crap," I muttered.

"An' that's what yer eating," Devin said throwing the first punch.

Ducking out of the way, I charged forward and kneed him as hard I as in the groin but he grabbed my ankle and I toppled over. Tim joined the skirmish while his brother was down and started to throw punches at me. Even if he was younger than me, he was quick and knew how to throw well-aimed punches. I could use magic but that'd be unfair and dangerous. As soon as I threw Tim onto the ground, Devin got up and jumped me from behind. Kicking him away, I tried to run for it but he dragged me back into the alley. The only advantage I had was that I was quicker and knew how to duck and roll.

Knocking the wind out of me, I wait for another blow but it never came. Getting up, I saw Merric give him a weak upper cut before getting knocked onto his backside. Looking around, I found a small bucket and threw it at Devin. As Devin fell down, Tim started to wake up. Helping Merric up, I heard Tim give a shrill whistle and started to panic again. Within a moment three other guys appeared at the entrance of the alley.

"Get 'em!" Tim shouted.

Grabbing Merric's hand, I ran the opposite way while they chased us. While we were faster, the other guys were scarier and bigger. Turning a sharp left and then another sharp turn, I pushed us into the niche behind the stacks of crates and made a silencing gesture. Peeking out into the alley, I quickly ducked back in and pulled up the hood of my cloak. We heard them argue for a few minutes before running back the way they came. Turning back to Merric, I realized that he was red and looked faint.

"Yeh alright?" I asked deciding to stay with the speech.


Merric was very close to Eri. Very close.

"I said yeh alright?" she asked.

"Uh...yeah. I'm fine," Merric replied looking away.

Merric started to chuckle, which soon became a laugh. He was laughing and the more he did, the more he realized how funny this whole thing was. He liked Eri but with her like this it was all too funny. The way she carried herself as a boy and the speech was all too convincing if one didn't look close enough. Merric continued to laugh until it subsided only to see her giving him a wary look.

"Yeh sure yer all right?" she inquired.

"Yes, yes. I'm not crazy," Merric assured her.

"Good. Come on."

Eri checked the alley once more before guiding Merric through the twists and turns. Merric stole glances at her every other minute trying to figure out what she was trying to do. All he could tell was that she was keeping a huge gap between them. He could see that she had a plain tunic and breeches much like his except that he had his fief crest on it. He even caught her giving him wary glances every once in a while as if to assess him. Taking a side step towards her, Merric notice Eri casually moving away from him making the gap bigger than before. Grinning to himself, Merric rounded on her and stopped her.

"Whadda ya want?" 'he' asked.

"Are you sure you're not a girl?" Merric asked casually.

"I told ya I ain't no nancy. Now if yeh want ter get out, yeh better not do somethin' funny," 'he' growled.

"What's your name?"

"Alex."

"And you work in the Palace?"

"What's it ter ya?"

"I've been at the Palace since I started Page training and I've never seen anyone like you."

"Yeah well Imma quiet sort."

"Really?"

"Look yeh want ter to get out or not?"

"Can I meet your mother?"

"Wha-whadda 'ell yeh ter prove?" Alex growled angrily.

"If you're real or not," Merric said thoughtfully.

"Are yeh nutters or somethin'?"

Getting as close as he could without blushing, "You should bind your chest more carefully next time," Merric whispered.

Noticing Alex's eye widen, 'he' pulled back quickly and turned around to check something.

"What are you doing?" Merric asked as casually as he could, rounding on Alex once more just in time to see 'him' check the bindings. Stopping, Alex looked at him and started to turn red before slamming him into a wall. Merric was surprise at how quickly she did it and hard she had pushed.

"What the hell is your problem with following me, you pervert!" Eri whispered harshly, reverting back to her normal speech.

"I... can't... breathe!" Merric managed to say. Eri let him go but not before giving him another little shove.

"Well? I'm waiting," she asked tapping her foot annoyingly.

"I saw you sneaking out and thought you were a thief. And I am not a pervert!" Merric responded rubbing his chest.

"When you felt the need to mention my chest," Eri huffed.

"Because you're the idiot walking around like some boy!" Merric snapped quietly. If they had raised their voice someone was bound to find out.

"And that's your business because..."

"Did you not see the guys back there? If they found out you were a girl, they would've torn you apart!"

He could see her roll her eyes at him and continued on her way. Following her, he could tell that she was mad at him but he couldn't tell if it was because he had found out. Merric didn't even know where she was going until they entered the Dancing Dove.

"Uh...I don't think you should be here," Merric told her carefully but she ignored him and went up to the bar.

"Alex! Wha'll it be hun?" the older woman asked cheerfully behind the bar.

"Just some cider Dee," Eri said shifting her speech.

"An' yer friend?" Dee questioned. Merric settled himself beside her as Eri scowled at him.

"He ain't a friend," she said as Dee put the mug of cider in front of her.

"Now Alex don't go chasin' my customers away. Whadda ya want dear?" Dee asked him kindly.

"I'll have whathe's having," Merric told her and got a mug of it set in front of him.

"So Alex anythin' interestin' today?" Dee asked.

"Nothin' 'cept I ran into this loon right 'ere," Alex told her.

"Who are you calling a loon?" Merric snapped.

"An' I swear the guy gots no wit 'cept a dirty mind," Alex spat.

"Be nice Alex," Dee scolded motherly.

"Eh. Just tellin' the truth," she said nonchalantly.

"I do not have a dirty mind," Merric scowled.

"Coulda fooled me."

It took all Merric had to not strangle her right there but the fact that she really was a girl and had three scary, older brothers stopped him. Draining his mug, he watched as one of the thief in the place snatch a purse from her with Dee attending someone else.

"He ain't smart enough yet," she said before he could speak.

"But he just stole your purse," Merric thought confused.

"Yeah wid rocks in 'em. Can I get 'nother one Dee?"

"Oh no you don't," Merric stated before paying for their drinks. Boy or girl, he pulled her by the ear and out of the bar.

"Ow. Ow. Ow. OW!" she yelled. Letting go of her ear, Merric glared at her as she rubbed her ear.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a priss," he heard her mumble.

Merric was about to retort when someone else spoke, "And if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to hide from us."

Merric panicked a bit thinking that it was the guys they fought before realizing that it was just Kel but that didn't mean she was any where near nice. Furious was more like it but she wasn't looking at him but at Eri.

"Well see ya later chap," Alex told him trying to walk away.

"And where do you think you're going?" Kel questioned placing a hand on Eri's shoulder.

"Er... don't ya mean him, milady?" Eri said cowering a bit under Kel's stern gaze.

"I'll deal with Merric later. It's you I've got to deal with first."

"Hey! What did I do?" Merric exclaim before cowering just like Eri.

"You saw her run off and didn't tell me," Kel scowled.

"Oh... uh I didn't know it was her at first," Merric tried to explain.

Kel only ignored him as she grabbed both of them and pulled them behind the Dancing Dove's stables.

"Change back right now!" Kel hissed. Eri complied as quickly as she could and soon her hair was growing as her eyes changed back.

"H-how did you know it was her?" Merric asked.

"You don't really know her without learning a few of her tricks," Kel commented before dragging them both with her. It wasn't until they were outside the Palace tailor's door that Eri said something.

"We can walk you know," Eri retorted yanking herself from Kel's grip.

"Look this is all your fault that I had to go with them for a dress fitting that I didn't have to do. You know how long it took them to decided from three shades of red that all looks the same? An hour, one stupid hour! Shinko and Yuki are friends but that was too much," Kel exclaimed.

"Dress fitting? We're going to a dress fitting!" Merric exclaimed.

"Not you, her. Oh and you'll just die for the dress I chose for you," Kel told Eri, before shoving her through the door. An argument soon erupted inside as Kel dragged Merric away.

"Uh... Kel? You're hurting me," Merric tried to say.

"It'll be worse after we're done jousting," Kel said a bit too happily.

"We're jousting?" Merric squeaked.

The last thing they heard before turning the corner was Eri's voice, "THERE'S NO WAY IN THE BLACK GOD'S REALM I'M WEARING THAT DRESS!"