A/N: Wow. I had a LOT of reviews. There were twenty-some emails in my inbox. That's so COOL! I don't think I've ever gotten that many at once before. It is most awesome.

What with the flood of reviews, look for your username at the end of the chapter. Anywho, here is yet another update! It's quite a long time before 2007; in fact, it's only about halfway through the next school year for me, and I still haven't finished the one I'm on NOW. Although, I do have a month to go... Drat. Ah, well. Despite that, onward through this insane chapter.

Oh, as a final annoying note, I shall try to make Dom appear a little more intelligent. As I said, my opinion of him is biased. He'll still portray somewhat of the jerk he is, however. GAH! I loathe him... (Alanna doesn't like him either. That is the good thing about being able to manipulate characters like this... Yay!)

Disclaimer: Is anybody really that slow? If someone is, they would probably spell it: K-N-O-O-O-T-T-E M-I-E-N-N, when it's really I-T. (Not mine; muahaha!)

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

CHAPTER 6

"Well, um... You see, uh... Um... Uhhhh..."

"Pardon me for my bluntness, your grace, but SPIT IT OUT." Kel said these words icily, her eyes glinting in the lighting of the infirmary. Unfortunately for the lady knight, who would appreciate an answer to her question, this only proceeded to scare the poor Duke Baird of Queenscove further, which made him less likely to emit coherent speech. This was not the result Kel wanted.

Although this particular lady knight was raised in the Yamani Islands, and therefore barely ever showed any sign, whatsoever, of any temper to speak of, much to the dismay of the ill-fated duke this was one of the rare times Kel did. When this event occurred, the wise would either bolt or give her what she wanted. Duke Baird could do neither, and was automatically doomed. Woe to him.

Had it not been for the sudden appearance of the first lady knight, Duke Baird would have most certainly been a luckless fellow. Beneficially for him, he was, so to speak, "saved by the bell." (Considering that the bells of the palace in Corus were loud, obnoxious, and often caused pains in numerous places which resulted in massive headaches the duke had to deal with time and again, in himself and his patients, this is a rather odd phrase to be said about him; those bells usually caused him more harm than help.)

In any case, the Lioness definitely did stride in at that very moment to remove Baird from that angry glare. He, of course, immediately fled, thanking every sacred being in the Divine Realms for his escape.

Alanna of Olau and Pirate's Swoop could and would appease the knowledge of the girl who was lying down in the bed before her. "But," she said with utmost authority. "There are some things you must agree to." Kel nodded, her mask back on her face. "Firstly, do not run after Duke Baird and kill him." Alanna began ticking off on her fingers. "Second, don't run after Neal and kill him. Third, don't run after Dom and kill him. Wait, scratch that; the guy's an idiot. Go ahead and kill him, if you really want. Fourth, don't run after Yuki to kill her, because you can't, but I'll get to that later." Kel blinked confusedly at this, which the red-headed knight before her dismissed with a wave of the hand. "Fifth, don't kill any of the following people; King Jon, Raoul, Queen Thayet, or basically anyone else in the castle. Sixth, don't go off in a tearing rage. STAY IN THIS BED. Lastly, don't kill me; although I doubt you could. If you do any of these, I'll use my Gift to keep you in this bed. Understand?" Kel nodded again.

Alanna's fingers began to glow purple. Gently, she rubbed them against Kel's temples. The girl's muscles relaxed, the tension left. Still doing this, the Lioness began to explain, in a soothing voice, all that she knew had happened since Kel had left Neal's dressing room. In a slight stupor, Kel put a vague, sleepy smile on her face.

She promptly fainted.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o0o0o0o0o0

Meanwhile, in a room not too far down the hall, a certain Nealan of Queenscove was banging a certain head against the wall of his room; namely, his own head. Blearily, he wondered why. Shrugging it off, he continued with the treatment. It didn't seem to be doing anything though; he just kept at it.

After pacing a hole in the floor, Neal had thrown himself onto his bed and cried his eyes out. Then, he decided to faint. After finding himself in an uncomfortable position on the floor, consequent of his falling off of the bed, Neal instantly went under his bed to a loose floorboard. Pulling it out revealed a small stash of alcohol, which Neal had reserved for a special occasion. Healers didn't drink often, as magic under intoxication hardly ever worked, but Neal did not care at that moment.

An hour later found him banging his head on the wall. And that, little kids, is why you shouldn't drink. It's bad for you. Remember that.

By that time, it was one in the morning. This resulted in Neal passing out onto his floor. In the long run, that was not going to help his morning hangover. Thankfully, Duke Baird had come to check on his son after he fled, so he put Neal onto a plushy cushion and placed a vial of hangover cure on the night stand. Softly blowing out the candle, he closed the door and walked down the hall. (The duke was in trouble once again, however, as he had forgotten one deity in his relief. This god wasn't pleased.)

0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o0o0o0o0o0

"Kel. Kel? KEL, FOR THE LOVE OF MITHROS, WAKE UP!"

But it's so comfy...

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE UUUUUUUUUUUUUP!!!!!!!"

Alright, already, geez...

Kel opened her eyes, seeing that someone had passed smelling salts under her nose. Alanna stood over her. "Figured that would happen," the redheaded knight told her. "But now that the initial shock is over, YOU have to come with ME to go reassure your husband."

Despite being under the influence of Alanna's gift, Kel's brain had processed what Alanna had explained to her. Right now, her brain was telling her that this was a VERY BAD IDEA.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO!" However adamant she might be, struggling violently, she was being forced to walk down the hall to Neal. Uh-oh.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

[I hope you're happy. Meanwhile, since purple is so utterly awesome, radiating amazingness throughout why don't you click the little button in the corner? Purple... See ya later!