Is it me, is it you
Nothing that I can do
To make you change your mind
Is it me, is it you
Nothing that I can do
Is it a waste of time?
Is it me, is it you
Nothing that I can do
To make you change your mind
So why are you running away?
Why are you running away?
...What is it I've got to say...
So why are you running away?
...To make you admit you're afraid...
Why are you running away?
Running Away- Hoobastank
Review Responses:
emeraldi- the agent is certaintly not Kearney.. how many times do I have to repeatt this to everyone? lol... thanks for the review
stormrider7- I am very impressed by your psycic powers.. lol... I bet you don't know whats going to happen next though.. lol... you'll be VERY surprised.. so read... and be merry
DreamlndxFantasy- Jacqueline is more then a little vicious lol... haha... thanks for the compliment on the dialogue.. I try to keep it as real as possible... thanks for the review.. I hope you enjoy this chapter..
Erytha- ahh I love the word wicked.. lol... yeah I love twists.. but you're getting another in this chapter.. so be prepared.. take a few breaths and what not... now you're probably anxious to read lol.. thanks for the awesome review
Paksennarion- Oh you're going to be soooo happy to read this chapter... lol... oh yes you are... you'll never see this one coming.. yeah jacqueline isn't 'the agent'... oh well... I originally did have plans to have her as 'the agent' but changed my mind... just read on please... thanks for the review...
maliaphire- yeah I was wondering where you went.. oh well.. it is good to hear from you... lol... yeah I love lee she is awesome... and jacqueline is evil.. what else is new? lol... thanks for the review
Misled Nymph- opps.. lol.. my bad.. I must have missed that one.. oh well.. thanks for the el correction... and thank you for the compliments... I appreciate mucho.. read on.. and thanks for the r&r
juliette- you are such a bragger... lol...you act like you wrote the whole story.. haha... when you obviouslydid not... cough cough me... lol.. but youare a good editor.. i'll admit that.. have fun in the land of theswiss.. I'll have to find a replacement for you for now... oh welll... bye bye
authorgirl87- yeah I love twists... they're mighty cool.. you're going to enjoy this chapter.. I promise... I shall check out this book by sherwood smith.. I would have updated sooner.. (I already wrote out this chapter the day after I posted 25..) but I was waiting for reviewers to review.. some of them cough did not.. so I decided to update now... thanks for the review
Elspeth25- why thank you... waves off compliments.. it was nothing really... well I hope you enjoy this chapter and continue reviewing because I love to get reviews.. yay.. thanks!
Jamie Lynn- wow I haven't heard from you in a while... good to see you back.. lol.. thanks for the R&R... I hope you enjoy this chapter... Bye!
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Dedication: authorgirl87 because she is awesome
A/N read authors note on bottom.. very very important information and plus I got Chuck norris jokes down there too.. yaya...
Previously:
Jzet gaped at the letter in her hands. She was so surprised, the letter fell from her hands and landed on the floor at her feet.
"Well, that's a shocker," Jzet mumbled.
Anyone who looked upon Jzet of Queenscove during the last few days saw a girl with heavy, dark bags under her eyes. Her maid, Lee Florenna, and her many teachers were concerned for the Page's well being. She was becoming distracted and disoriented. She was also falling asleep in class more often, only to awaken moments later, looking obviously shaken. The only person in the world that she could talk to her about her problems was Lee, who lately had been less pert to her mistress because of her realization of the seriousness of mistress' dilemma.
Jzet walked into her rooms, heavy eyed and obviously stressed.
"Bad day?" Lee asked her from the dressing room, as soon as she had entered.
"Could be worse." Jzet figured, looking at her maid, who was folding her laundry carefully. "I haven't caught a whiff of anyone suspicious."
"Neither have I." Lee remarked. "But, we'll soon find out. The agent is supposedly arriving tomorrow."
"Don't remind me." Jzet groaned, exiting the dressing room and flopping down on her bed. The dagger, which had been resting at the end of her bed, fell to the floor with a bang.
Lee cursed, startled, and ran into the room with her daggers unsheathed.
"It's nothing Lee." Jzet reassured her maid. "A dagger just fell onto the floor."
Lee sighed. "I knew you shouldn't have so many weapons lying around here." said Lee, putting her daggers back in their sheaths. "They're plain dangerous."
"Lee, you justhad two daggers in your hands." Jzet said, stating the obvious. "I work with weapons every day. It's a part of my life."
"But having them lying on your bed?" Lee cried.
"Just a safety precaution," Jzet retorted. "You never know who could enter this room at any second."
"You're too paranoid, noble girl." Lee snapped. "One day you're going to sit on top of one of those many daggers you have lying around here and it's going to go up your arse. And I'll tell you the truth. I will laugh, a lot."
Jzet ignored her maid and settled herself at her writing desk. She had meant to write to Jonathan and Cole for a week now, but she hadn't enough time. She decided to write to Cole first. She told him about Jacqueline and the whole agent controversy. She asked about his well being and the war. She then wrote to Jonathan and basically said the same thing, but going into more detail. She knew Jonathan would understand her more, than Cole.
"Oh, Jzet," Lee's voice penetrated the silence that had fallen in the room, while she wrote the letters. "I forgot to tell you that the Scanran ambassador and his family are arriving tomorrow. It's been all over the castle. The crown tried to keep it quiet because of all the bitterness most nobles and commoners stillhave towards Scanra."
"Well, that's odd," Jzet mumbled. She thought the crown would publicize the arriving of an ambassador, but she guessed she was wrong.
"Do you think that agent of yours could be with the ambassador's party?" Lee inquired casually. She obviously did not want to upset her mistress even further.
"Maybe, I don't know." Jzet replied. "Many people leave and enter the palace every day. It can be anyone. That's why I've been so paranoid lately. The agent could be right under my nose." Jzet sighed. "I wish Ganiel never made up that stupid prophesy." Jzet mumbled under her breath.
Hearty laughter reached her ears. It was so loud; Jzet had to cover her ears with her hands.
"Jzet, dearest," Ganiel drawled. "I sense bitterness towards me."
Jzet glanced over at Lee, who seemed to be frozen in place.
"Long time no see, Ganiel." Jzet retorted. "You left me here to make a mess of everything. I thought you were going to help me with Zulch."
"Jzet, I've been a busy man." Ganiel replied. "My brothers and sisters needed help trying to lock up the rest of the Fitrakis. We didn't want them to join up with Zulch in the Human Realms." He grinned slightly. "So I have been helping you, believe it or not. So let's not play the blame game."
"What about the fact that Zulch, not the Fitrakis in the Divine Realms, wants to kill me?" Jzet snapped. "Did you ever think of that?"
"I did, somewhat." Ganiel told her. "But, I knew you could handle it. You're a strong girl."
Anger boiled up in Jzet's stomach. "I am not strong enough to fight a whole army of assassins, practically by myself." Jzet shouted. "I even have one living a few doors down from me for Mithros' sake!"
Ganiel shook his head. "Temper, temper, Jzeliette," He scolded. "I just came to you to help you out and now you're blowing up in my face like a child having a tantrum."
"I have every right to." Jzet snapped coldly. "My friends hate me, I have an assassin coming to the palace tomorrow, and I am practically a nervous wreck. What do you expect? You think I would be happy?" Jzet shouted. "Thanks to that prophesy of yours I am extremely miserable. Why couldn't you have just picked another person? Why me?"
Ganiel smiled softly.
"Because Jzeliette dear, you are the most talented human being I could find and plus a dream seer. You are perfect for this job, even though you doubt it." Ganiel explained. "You just don't realize it yet, but when everything is said and done, you'll be thanking ole' Ganiel. And plus revenge is sweet." He added with a grin.
"What do you mean by 'revenge is sweet'?" Jzet asked, confused.
"You'll see my dear." Was Ganiel's only reply.
And before she could utter another word, he was gone.
Jzet cursed softly, before glancing back at Lee, who was as alert as she had been before Ganiel had arrived.
"Noble girl, are you even listening to me?" Lee asked.
Jzet shook her head, trying to come back to her senses. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking clearly." She replied. "I need to get some rest."
"Okay, if you say so." Lee commented, before returning to Jzet's dressing room. "Crazy nobles," She added, mumbling under her breath.
Jzet just shook her head and returned to her bed. She sighed, before burying herself under the covers. She hoped she wouldn't dream tonight. A dream was the last thing she wanted on her mind.
The Scanran delegation arrived the next morning. Jzet longed to see the delegation's members, but had to attend classes. She instead, got her information from Lee.
"They're staying in the regular ambassador's wing, milady." Lee told her. "There are thirty in all, seventeen men and thirteen women."
"It could be either a man or women." Jzet pondered. "But, Nammir did not say which."
"I'll try to tail them, as often as I can." Lee promised. "But, there is only one of me and thirty of them."
Jzet tried to smile, to lighten up the mood, but failed. "I understand, Lee."
"Just try and get some rest." Lee replied. "You're driving yourself crazy over a bunch of dreams."
"Lee, they aren't just dreams." Jzet told her maid. "They're reality and if I don't do something, I might die."
A week passed with no sign of suspicion from the Scanran delegation. Lee tailed them, as often as she could, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. This worried Jzet slightly. What if we're tailing the wrong people? This was a thought that went through her head, many times, during the last few days.
The bell chimed, signaling the end of lunch and the start of afternoon training. Jzet headed towards hand to hand combat, alone. This was common for the last two weeks. Jzet and her friends, Kearney and Audrey, did not make any notions to forgive each other. The stalemate was fueled by the loathing Jacqueline and Jzet had for one another.
Jzet sighed, as she entered the training facility, which sheltered their hand to hand combat classes. Without looking around, she tossed her knapsack, which carried water flasks and weights, to the ground.
Jzet was completely exhausted from lack of sleep and did not even notice, when the people around her, gave a collective gasp.
She looked up, startled and spotted a man walking through the door. He was obviously Yamani with black hair and extremely tan skin. He sauntered to the center of the room.
It took Jzet of all her strength to keep a straight face, as the man looked straight at her.
It was Rae.
Jzet felt her heart thump wildly, as his grey-blue eyes met her own. Jzet was beyond surprised at the appearance of the Shang Tiger. The look he gave her, however, was not full of hatred and loathing, as she had expected. Instead, he looked rather sad and regretful. This confused Jzet, even more than his sudden appearance.
She kept her eyes glued on him, as he began to reintroduce himself to the group of pages. What was he doing here? She thought, bewildered. She wanted to lash out at him with all her might, but kept her composure. Did he not realize what he did to her? And still he felt smug in her presence. Anger boiled slightly in her stomach. How dare he return after the events of two years ago. She thought, while only half listening to his speech. He tried to kill me and now returns, hoping to be accepted with open arms.
His voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Jzeliette," He addressed her in a normal voice.
She met his gaze.
"Yes, teacher," She replied hardly.
"You will be paired up with Mandash." He ordered.
She bowed slightly, before responding, "Yes, teacher,"
She then scurried away out of his presence, quite flustered. She couldn't believe this was happening. This was like her worst nightmare. Rae was actually back.
"Throw your opponent over your hip and twist them slightly, while doing so." Rae barked to the senior pages.
They began to do so, while Rae began to instruct the first years.
Jzet glanced over at Kearney, who was staring openly at Jacqueline.
"Are you ready to go Mandash?" Jzet asked him coldly. "Or are you going to stare at Jacqueline of Blue Harbor all day with your tongue hanging out?"
Jzet saw Kearney flinch at the sound of Jacqueline's name and he soon became flustered.
"Yeah," he replied. "And I wasn't looking at Jacqueline!" He added hotly.
"Yeah, right," Jzet responded sarcastically.
"Let's just start the drill." He snapped, wanting to bring the conversation to an end.
They started it and performed it efficiently. Kearney was a challenging partner. Surprisingly, the usually clumsy page was very smooth, when it came to hand-to-hand combat. He performed it, like it was an art. Jzet enjoyed working with him. It cleared her mind of Rae for the mean time.
Rae soon whistled, signaling the end of the drill and the beginning of a new one. This went on for another hour until the bell rang. It was time to attend archery.
Jzet, trying to move quickly, but not make it obvious of her evasiveness of Rae, walked over to her knapsack and slung it over her shoulder. She scampered out of the training facility, not even bothering to look back. When, she was finally a good distance from it, she sighed in relief.
"Wasn't that the guy that tried to kill you, two years ago?" A voice questioned from behind her.
Jzet turned and saw it was Audrey. She did not want her face to give away that she was pleased to see her friend talking to her because of the bitter stalemate.
"Yeah," Jzet replied gruffly. She turned around again. "Where's Kearney and Jacqueline?" She spit out the last name like it was poison.
"Back there," She pointed to a giggling Jacqueline and a grinning Kearney. "All they do is flirt. It's rather disgusting."
Jzet relaxed a bit and looked at her friend with pity. "I hope Kearney doesn't get in trouble for flirting. The Rattler would have a fit if he found out."
"Kearney has his punishment schedule filled out for the next ten years, the way he gets in trouble." Audrey told her frankly. "He'll most likely be careful with flirting, while the Rattler's around."
"You're right, Audrey." Jzet said. "And I just want to tell you I am sorry about not liking Jacqueline the way you two do." She added. "I just don't think we can ever be friends at this rate."
Audrey nodded in response. "I forgive you, Jzet."
"Good, because I need a friend like you, especially in times like these." Jzet told her.
"Then, I am the right person for the job." Audrey said, grinning.
"Rae is back!" Jzet practically shouted, after closing her door behind her.
"Who's back?" Lee asked, confused. She entered the room with a jug of water in hand.
"Rae, a Shang I knew from the Yamani Islands." Jzet replied. "We used to be good friends. Until he found out I had the Gift. Then, he exploded and tried to kill me."
"Some friend," Lee mumbled sardonically.
"I know." Jzet told her. "But, for some reason, I don't see hatred in his eyes anymore. It's like he changed."
"For the better?" Lee questioned.
"Well, obviously," Jzet replied. "Would you rather have some one try to kill you or be nice to you?"
"I'll take the second choice, thank you very much." Lee said, grinning slightly.
"That's what I thought," Jzet replied. "Well, I'm going to go for a walk, before bed. You know, to clear my head and stuff."
"Okay, be careful." Lee advised.
Jzet pulled on her cloak and carefully headed down the pages wing, as quietly as she could. She tiptoed around the corner and then made a mad dash for the door, which led to a courtyard.
She slipped into the cover of night and pulled the cloak closer to her body. It was very nippy out for an October evening. She let the light of the moon guide her through the courtyard. She spotted a pair of lovers, kissing on a bench. She felt envy course through her for a second and then it left like the wind that was grazing against her.
"Jzet?" A crisp voice called.
Jzet turned on her heel and saw Rae leaning against an old oak tree. Jzet was startled for a second and then regained her composure.
"What do you want from me Rae?" Jzet asked coldly. "Why come back here?"
"Because I realized my silly faults and decided I needed to apologize to you." Rae told her. "It was stupid to blow up in your face like that. I don't know what came over me."
"Rae, you just didn't blow up in my face." Jzet replied hotly. "You tried to murder me. How am I supposed to forgive you for that?"
"You can't," Rae said, leaving the tree and approaching her. "You can never forgive me for that."
"Then, if you do not seek forgiveness, why did you come back?" Jzet whispered softly.
"Because, I couldn't live with myself." he told her. "I couldn't live with the fact that I wanted to hurt you. It ate at my conscious."
"I am sorry for your suffering." Jzet replied sincerely. "But, things can never, ever, be the same, as they were five years ago, never." She added firmly.
"I understand, Jzet." Rae said, looking slightly down trodden.
"Well, I need to go Rae." Jzet announced. "I will be in so much trouble if Lord haMinich finds me out here."
He bowed to her Yamani style.
"Good night, Jzeliette," he whispered, as she walked back towards the palace.
A/n (please read!) Ahh you Rae/Jzet fans must be oh so happy right now.. and you jonathan/jzet fans must want to kick my (excuse my french) ass... oh well... and just a fyi my editor is in switzerland for 3 weeks.. so I was just wondering if anyone was interested in taking over for the next 3 weeks... just email me if you are interested... ohand... I am sadly leaving tomorrow togo to soccer camp in upstate new york at Cortland so I won't be back until next week... so no updates until then..sad I know... so leave me lots of reviews.. if you care...
Love your demented authoress,
Caiti and her editor who is in the land of the swiss.. Juliette
And finally... I promised you guys would get some Chuck Norris jokes...lol.. I have a good memory... so here it goes..
-The chief export of Chuck Norris is pain.
-When Chuck Norris plays Oregon Trail his family does not die from cholera or dysentery, but rather roundhouse kicks to the face. He also requires no wagon, since he carries the oxen, axels, and buffalo meat on his back. He always makes it to Oregon before you.
-Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull.
-If paper beats rock, rock beats scissors, and scissors beats paper, what beats all 3 at the same time? Answer: Chuck Norris.
-On the 7th day, God rested... Chuck Norris took over.
-Although it is not common knowledge, there are actually three sides to the Force: the light side, the dark side, and Chuck Norris.
-Chuck Norris' roundhouse kick is so powerful, it can be seen from outer space by the naked eye.
-If you want a list of Chuck Norris' enemies, just check the extinct species list
-Chuck Norris has never blinked in his entire life. Never.
-Chuck Norris once shot an enemy plane down with his finger, by yelling, "Bang!"
-Chuck Norris eats transformer toys in vehicle mode and poos them out transformed into a robot.
-Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.
-Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.
-Rather than being birthed like a normal child, Chuck Norris instead decided to punch his way out of his mother's womb. Shortly thereafter he grew a beard.
-Since 1940, the year Chuck Norris was born, roundhouse kick related deaths have increased 13,000 percent.
-Chuck Norris sold his soul to the devil for his rugged good looks and unparalleled martial arts ability. Shortly after the transaction was finalized, Chuck roundhouse kicked the devil in the face and took his soul back. The devil, who appreciates irony, couldn't stay mad and admitted he should have seen it coming. They now play poker every second Wednesday of the month.
-Chuck Norris was the fourth Wiseman. He brought baby Jesus the gift of "beard". Jesus wore it proudly to his dying day. The other Wisemen, jealous of Jesus' obvious gift favoritism, used their combined influence to have Chuck omitted from the Bible. Shortly after all three died of roundhouse kick related deaths.
-Chuck Norris is Luke Skywalker's real father.
-Once a grizzly bear threatened to eat Chuck Norris. Chuck showed the bear his fist and the bear proceeded to eat himself, because it would be the less painful way to die.
-Chuck Norris does not use spell check. If he happens to misspell a word, Oxford will simply change the actual spelling of it.
so there you have it.. Chuck Norris jokes.. horray!