Disclaimer: Some characters, the world, some basic plot, some ideas, etc are derived from SS's CCD series. I claim no ownership of anything except an over-active imagination and I compulsion to write.

Author's Note from Erkith: This one comes very soon after the last update, simply because I cliffhangered my writing, and felt no inspiration to write my other fics – just this one. I hope you enjoy, what a chapter that is (I hope) not too predictable.

Erkith

Recap: "Try not to fall too far behind, Tlanth." Eldenwood taunted as his mare broke into a run.

I wouldn't. After all, Aunt Mel had taught me that short cut. Black Rose and I would be right behind him, until I made my move – then we would see.


Betrothed

Chapter 5: A Taste of Revenge

I was laughing as I hit the short cut, knowing that I'd beat them there. At the changing point I had grabbed the first horse – a lively grey mare – and ridden quickly away. In the distance, I could hear Alec shout something to Eldenwood.

"Anders! Where the hell did she go?"

Dirt whipped up behind me. Wind swept through my hair. I felt wild and wonderfully free. I could feel the powerful body of the grey mare as we sped down the path, her muscles rippling with strength and excitement. She knew we were racing, and I was sure her blood pounded just as fiercely as mine.

The countryside was blurred by our speed. I glanced back a couple times to be sure that I had not been followed and that my companions were far, far behind, because my plan would not work if they were close. No one was there.

I pushed the grey a bit more anyway.

Did they really think I was that stupid? That I had not seen through the wager? The first two winners dance indeed! "Hmph!" Well I'd hang them with their own noose, I thought, and doubled my pace.

It was time to make my move...

Several candles later, I arrived at the inn, muddied from head to toe. I dismounted quickly and calmed my mare. I tossed her reins to the stable boy, pressing two coins into his palm. "See that she gets the best grain," I said, patting her softly. "I rode her pretty hard, and she held up wonderfully. Keep the " The boy looked at the coins, at me, at the grey and grinned.

The inn was not what I'd call "well lit", but the glow of firesticks made it bright enough. Besides, the inn had atmosphere. It was the kind of place where one can find quite a variety of patrons. Walking through the common room, I made some polite inquiries, and headed down the hall to the tapestry at the farthest end.

I could hear voices on the other side, laughing, no doubt, about their wonderful trick on me. On how I'd so cleverly run myself into a corner. They must have assumed I had arrived first. Normally, pride would have demanded it. Well, that illusion was easily shattered...

Their laughter died as I walked in, still fully dressed in riding gear.

"Good evening, my lords. I trust you had a most enjoyable journey?" I asked, pulling off my riding cloak and gloves. I turned away to drop them on the small table beside the tapestry and hid my laugh. Stunned is the only word that described them suitably.

Predictably, Eldenwood recovered first. The cool reserve with which he so often treated me was back in place. He assessed me wordlessly. But I got the distinct impression that he was catching on when he leaned back and shifted his gaze to the ceiling. He let out a long breath.

I smirked. Hopefully, he was cursing himself.

Alec finally found his tongue, but his eyes were still wide open. "Shay! How long have you been here? When did you get in?"

I lifted an eyebrow. With a sweeping gesture, I said, "Just now."

"What! Surely not! We were sure you were ahead of us! You took the..." he trailed off with a wince. My smile widened a touch. Apparently Eldenwood was not so interested in the ceiling that he refrained from kicking Alec.

"Unfortunately, it seems I took a wrong turn somewhere, for I passed straight by the town several candles ago, and it took me some time to return. So, as I find your lordships here before me – and considerably better dressed – I believe you gentlemen have won our little wager. Though one must admit that had I known the trail better; it would probably be I who took the prize." I mused with practised good humour. I played my role of gracious defeat to the hilt, knowing that Eldenwood at least would grasp the irony.

They had been planning to lose in order to win, and found that I had stolen their strategy with considerably more style.

"Alec you don't look pleased. I thought for sure that you would brag insufferably." I frowned, or tried to. It was hard when I was already struggling to contain a laugh. "When I heard the laughter issuing from this chamber, I assumed that you already knew of my unfortunate demise. Surely, you did not think I'd already arrived!"

"But..." Alec winced again in pain and glared at Eldenwood – who was showing remarkable indifference and was the veritable picture of innocence. I had to bite down, hard on my lip to stop the bubbling laugh.

"In fact, it hardly makes sense!" I paused dramatically and let confusion flood over my expression. "Unless you gentlemen were laughing over some private wager..." I deliberately let that hang.

"Uh... no."

Alec flushed. I felt a small twinge of pity for him, but it was very, very small. He'd tried to set me up with Eldenwood!

Please note that Eldenwood had not yet said a word. Smart man.

I let my eyes narrow with suspicion, but I picked up my gloves and cloak at the doorway. "I'm going to go change out of these wet clothes. I'll let you know about the party." And with that I left.

I let the tapestry fall closed behind me, but stood for a moment at the entrance. Manners were not going to stop me from listening to this!

"Burn our luck!" Alec cursed. "Who'd have thought Shay'd get lost?"

"Luck?" Eldenwood's self-mocking tone carried through the cloth between us. "Luck had nothing to do with it."

"You're saying she knew?" Alec asked in horror.

"Of course," came the dry reply.

"She's going to hang us."

Smirking, I started to move away. Eldenwood's last words followed me.

"Well that's the thing. She doesn't really have to. We've already hung ourselves."

I returned to my room with the sweet taste of revenge on my grinning lips.


A/N: lol my apologies to poor Felsong and any others who were apalled by the predictability of the wager... I hope you enjoyed the Shay factor :D I certainly had fun writing it, and I suspect rewriting it from Anders' pt of view will be even more fun (I'll be posting a companion fic soon.) It's a bit shorter, but I hope I'll be forgiven...

Thanks for reading! Thanks for reviewing!

THANK YOU TO MY REVIEWERS

Felsong: lol I wanted to email you and tell you the wager wasn't as predictable as it seemed! Lol I hope the race was better than you thought it was going to be. Shall I assume that the "conversation with Nimiar" was the conversatioin with Elenet? Lol in any case, thanks!

Goddess Of The Moon: I'm glad you've finally tuned into the CD fanfics! There are some awesome ones lying around! As to the Mel/Danric fic... it might have to wait for a bit, but I'll get to it eventually :D I hope you liked the conclusion of the wager... lol and the ball is going to be SO much fun to write lol!

Syl Rose: Oh, Shay and Anders are going to grind sparks off each other! Lol glad you liked that chap 4, I struggled with it. Hope this one didn't disappoint!

WAKE-ROBIN: My goodness! Get cracking already! Readers are dying here pretends to melt seriously! Consider yourself kicked in the butt! Lol as for the wager of a kiss... was soooooo tempted to do that, but Shay would never have agreed... sighs lol beside if I'd ended it the same way, I'd have to engineer a guy on guy kiss! Not my thing... lol nor theirs!

StardustPixie: oh that Nita! I'll have to get her evil juices stirring again :D lol she's so hateable! Lol did you get the loser of the race right? I'll try to explain some of the tension soon...

Gwendeleryn: lol glad you liked the chappie! As I told Syl Rose, it was really hard to write, for no explicable reason... lol the wager explanation is around the corner... poor Anders, she keeps throwing the past in his face... not that the courtier crack was undeserved given his comment : p

Autumn Fairy: I'm always happy to answer questions! Lol or avoid them if they give away pieces of my plot ; ) Thank you for the compliments! I've always pictured Elenet as a quiet ballerina type with a mean streak. Glad you like the wager, and I hope this update is soon enough :D

Midnight Knight: lol all I can say is, Eldenwood was wise to make the truce, because a piece of her mind would have been due! lol somehow the manners are almost worse, aren't they. Put this element of uncertanty into the mix... did she do it deliberately or not...who can tell? Cough besides us and the cynical Anders ; )