This chapter has been…DISCLAIMED! MUAHA!

The Disclaiming Bandits

O.o (stares upwards) Well, that was unexpected.

In regard to many of the reviews: How on earth could you think I was going to kill off Kenan? He's too cool to die! Nah, this mission he's on isn't that high risk. Really.

And without further ado, welcome to chapter forty-five of Like the Moon! It has an ass of a title, but one hell of a plot! Sort of!

I'm writing this while watching Beauty and the Beast. That's the best Disney movie ever, and my favorite fairy tale of all time! Yay for Beauty and the Beast! Can I get a woohoo?

No?

Well, I guess I'll just write the chapter, then.

Kamaria left her second Farsight lesson with Jasen, who was kind enough, but merciless in trying to find the root of her shielding problem, for Weapons. Chatting with Tara as she walked to the salle, she stepped through the doorway and, upon seeing who was finishing the tutoring of an advanced student, tripped over her own feet.

"Father?" she gasped, incredulously, as she stared at Lord Garethe, clad only in breeches, shoes, and a half-undone shirt dueling with said student, which Kamaria realized with a start was Ruana. Garethe half-raised his free hand towards his daughter, devoting most of his attention to Ruana.

Thanks to Kenan's weapon-teachings, Kamaria recognized that Ruana was indeed very good with the short-sword she wielded against Garethe's rapier. Still, Garethe had the advantage of experience, and was holding his own very well. As the rest of Kamaria's class filed in, he disarmed Ruana with a neat little flick of his sword and bowed, saying, "Well done, but your lower guard is still weak. I'll see you tomorrow."

Ruana returned the bow, in the flamboyant Bardic style, and once she had put away her practice weapon, paused to whisper to Kamaria, "You didn't bother to mention your father was Lord Chantrea!"

Kamaria blinked at her. "Uh…it didn't occur to me?" she said, her tone more than half a question. Ruana shrugged and left the salle with a cheery wave.

"Hello," said Kamaria's father to the students, holding his practice-sword in a loose grip, "As many of you know, particularly you in my Strategy classes, I am Garethe Chantrea. In lieu of Herald Kenan and until Herald Rhi returns, I will be your sword-teacher. Please find your staffs and begin the first drills."

The class followed the instruction, delivered in the steady, quiet tone of Garethe, and lined up with less than the usual chatter. As Jakob counted off the strokes, since there was an odd number and he had no partner, Garethe walked up and down the lines, patiently observing each student.

Kamaria concentrated on Maverick, the Bardic Trainee across from her, who had a tendency to hit a little harder than necessary for warm-up. Also, he was nearly a foot taller than her, which made the majority of Kamaria's blocks high ones.

Today, however, Maverick was distracted, glancing every once in a while from Garethe to Kamaria and back. He was so distracted he fumbled a block, and Kamaria rapped his side smartly.

"Ow!" he yelped, jumping back, but he hastily returned to the line.

Garethe picked up his own staff and began working with Jakob, taking over calling the counts. He picked up the pace slightly faster than was comfortable for most of the students, though they were already warm. At last, he broke the drill and said over the chatter that immediately sprung up, "It looks like all of you are fairly proficient. Please find your practice-swords."

The following candlemark was very odd for Kamaria, since the other students kept giving her incredulous glances. Her father seemed oblivious, giving out orders and tips as he walked around the salle watching them practice, occasionally stepping in to demonstrate a counter or blow he thought they should learn. The Trainees did exactly what he told them to do with a certain awe in their eyes, surprising Kamaria with exactly how large her father's reputation was.

Her next class was History, and Kamaria was still musing over the Weapons class when she dropped a page and, bending to pick it up, felt something strike the back of her head, hard.

Yelping, she slapped a hand to her skull and sat up, wincing-and saw Tara's hands covering her mouth in shock. "Oh, gods, Kamaria, I'm sorry!" she said, her tone of voice horrified, but muffled by her hands.

Puzzled-it hadn't hurt that much-Kamaria suddenly realized there was wetness on her hand. Hastily, she whipped her hand around to stare, and saw-

Blue?

Since when do I bleed blue? Kamaria wondered, blinking several times and staring at her hand, I'm pretty sure-wait.

"Tara, what did you do?" she asked, slowly, becoming aware of giggles in the classroom. Looking down, Kamaria saw an overturned ink bottle on the floor.

A suspicion grew in her mind, and Kamaria took a lock of hair in one hand to see her normally pale blond turned royal blue. She stared in horror.

Herald Kyra was snickering along with the rest of the class, but managed a, "Kamaria-go wash your hair-" before giving into outright laughter.

"I'll help," said Tara hastily, jumping to her feet, "It's my fault anyway."

Several minutes later, Kamaria dunked her head into the tub for the third time, blue-stained tunic tossed to the side as she and Tara scrubbed at the ink in her hair. "It's not fading," said Tara, desperately, as Kamaria came up gasping, keeping her head tilted forward so not to stain the rest of her clothes. Settling a towel around Kamaria's shoulders and setting the hair on it, Tara mutely held up a looking-glass someone had left on the counter.

The ink had been mercilessly scrubbed from where it had stained Kamaria's skin, but most of the right side of her hair, along with random streaks on the left, was still a vibrant royal blue, only emphasized by the white-blonde unstained hair. Kamaria stared at herself, both eyebrows raised as she moved the looking glass to better see the sides of her head.

"So what do we do now?" asked Kamaria, settling back on her heels and wringing some of her hair out.

Tara shrugged helplessly. "We could dye the rest of it, leave it, or cut it off," she listed, counting them off on her fingers.

Kamaria sighed. "Is there any possibility that this is the type of ink that doesn't come out of clothes? Ever?"

Tara nodded, looking guilty. "I like this shade best," she said, "And it doesn't fade. It's what the Chronicler uses."

Kamaria rubbed the bridge of her nose. Thankfully, most of what was blue was towards the back of her head, saving her the indignity of blue eyebrows. Not that the rest of it was any better, but Kamaria figured she'd have to take what she could get.

"I don't really fancy going around with an entirely blue head," she said, at last, to the guilt-stricken Tara, "But leaving it like this is bad. I guess we should just cut it short, and as soon as it grows out cut it again."

Tara nodded. "Who do we know who can cut hair?" she asked, scratching her own head. Kamaria looked enviously at the other Trainee's dark brown hair-if her hair was that color, the blue would be practically unnoticeable.

And so it happened that Kamaria wound up trying to explain the whole situation to Kavin, one of her father's manservants, who had been a barber, of all things, before he had joined the Guard. Kavin made no secret of his amusement, snickering as Kamaria explained her solution, but agreed to cut her hair.

"Now, I'm a little out of practice," he said, as he rummaged in a drawer of his room beside the Chantrea suite, "And I think we should go outside."

Luckily, classes were still in session, so they didn't have an audience-not even Tara, who had reluctantly returned to History once Kamaria said she'd take care of it. Kamaria sat on a bench, Kavin behind her, and closed her eyes in the sunlight as Kavin muttered to himself.

However good Kavin was with knives, it was clear he was just as good with a pair of scissors and a comb. Kamaria soon felt the breeze on the back of her neck as Kavin snipped away, occasionally chuckling to himself. At last, he stood back and pressed a looking-glass into Kamaria's hand, so she could see the result of his work.

Kamaria stared. Her hair was now as short as a boy's, cut very close to her head, but it had the effect she'd wanted; the blue was confined to random streaks, and somehow Kavin had made them look fairly evenly spaced. "This will work," she said, finally, smiling at the sheer ridiculousness of the situation, "Thanks, Kavin."

"It's a good thing your mother isn't here. She'd have an apoplexy," snickered Kavin, his amusement clearly still there. "You run along, now-don't you have chores or something?"

Kamaria took the dismissal for what it was and was on her way to her rooms, riffling a hand through her newly shortened hair, when-

:Kamaria! came a frantic Mindcall, from what sounded like a very harassed Alain, :Helphelphelphelphelp-:

Kamaria turned on a heel and headed straight for the Mindcall, dodging through the gardens past several startled Healer-Trainees and into Companion's Field.

Homing in on her 'sense' of Alain, Kamaria followed the Terilee to…

The lovers' grottoes?

There was no more time for questioning, however, when Kamaria whirled into one of the small stone alcoves and saw a girl Blue lying mostly atop a stunned Alain.

Without thought, Kamaria grabbed the back of the girl's tunic in a stranglehold learned from Sivanand flung the Blue straight into the Terilee.

Alain blinked dazedly as Kamaria took his hand and helped him up. He raised a free hand to the back of his head. "She said she had to tell me something," he said, in a still faintly-stunned voice, "Said it was private, then pounced on me. Somehow knocked my head against the wall, too."

Kamaria checked the back of Alain's head, moving some of his hair aside with gentle fingers. There was a nasty bump near the top of his head, though it wasn't bleeding much.

The sound of drips on rock made Kamaria whirl around to glare at the Blue climbing out of the river. Said Blue was one of the highborn students, and had long, dark hair and an impressive figure. Kamaria thought her name was Edolie. "Alain, how could you do this?" she said, folding her arms in such a way as to emphasize how her wet uniform clung to her…torso.

Alain gaped at her. "I-do what-Edolie, you're the one who jumped on me."

Edolie pouted in a way more suited to a noble fluttering her fan and eyelashes wearing something that wasn't soaking wet. "But Alain, how could you choose her over me?"

Alain sputtered. "Edolie-does being lifebonded mean anything to you?" he gasped, waving his hands in emphasis, "I love Kamaria. I only love Kamaria. You're just not-it's just-"

Edolie's pout became more pronounced. "But she's a scrawny, short, pale little girl. I thought you'd prefer a woman."

There was a definite caress in the last phrase, but as Kamaria blanched and flinched back, Alain's face went red in fury.

This time he was the one who threw the Blue into the river, and Alain threw so hard Edolie ended up halfway across the Terilee. Whirling away from the Blue, he snarled, "How could she spout that-that-that-"

Next came a string of words in a language Kamaria vaguely recognized as the Clan-tongue. As Alain ranted, he didn't even seem to realize that he'd slipped away from Valdemaran. Either that, or he didn't consider the oaths he knew in Valdemaran strong enough.

Kamaria's shoulders drooped under the tirade, though it wasn't directed at her. Edolie's insults had hit home, every one, though Kamaria knew it shouldn't affect her at all.

Noticing the look on Kamaria's face, Alain instantly reverted to Valdemaran-though his accent was more pronounced than usual, a sure sign of lingering anger. "Kamaria, thank you for coming."

Kamaria stepped into his embrace, leaning her head against Alain's shoulder. "How's your head?" she asked, tilting her chin slightly to look up.

Alain's mouth flickered in a slightly ironic smile. "I'll have a lump for a few days. I swear to the gods, Kamaria, I had no idea what was going on until she jumped on me."

Kamaria gave a small, short laugh-perhaps a bit shorter than normal, because Edolie's insults had still hurt. "I guessed that from the tone of your Mindcall," she said, dredging up some amusement.

Alain frowned and took Kamaria's chin in his hand, tilting her head back to study her expression. "Kamaria, you didn't believe any of that horseshit she was spouting, did you?" he asked, anxiously.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kamaria spotted Edolie dragging herself out of the river at last, on the other side. She glared venomously at Kamaria and Alain, and a flare of jealousy spiked in Kamaria for perhaps the first time.

Half to spite the Blue, half to reassure Alain, Kamaria looked back at her beloved, looped her hands up behind his head-carefully avoiding the lump-and dragged him down into a kiss.

A long kiss.

When at last Kamaria let Alain go, both were taking long gasps of air and Edolie was gone. Alain rested his forehead lightly against Kamaria's. "I didn't know you got so…possessive," he murmured, wryly, between breaths.

Kamaria didn't want to move. She was quite comfortable where she was, wrapped snugly in Alain's arms, and the remaining adrenaline from her mad dash to help her beloved hadn't exactly been extinguished by that kiss.

But just then, a flash of white caught the corner of her eye, and Kamaria turned her head-slowly, so she wouldn't jar Alain's, resting against hers-to see…

Ramya and Sitara, standing on the grass above the grottoes, both of them looking highly amused. :Well, I got the Mindcall and thought I'd better help, but by the time I got here, you had things well in hand: said Ramya, to both of them, :It seems even a Companion can't get to their Herald faster than a lifebonded to their lover.:

There was a definite tone of amusement in the mare's Mindvoice, and she clearly meant it for teasing.

:Oh, don't let us interrupt you, said Sitara, picking up the thread, :It was quite interesting indeed.:

:And the Blue's gone: added Ramya. :You're all alone now.:

Alain and Kamaria exchanged a glance. "Somehow, I don't believe that," called Alain up to the Companions, heavy irony in his voice.

:Oh, we hardly count now, do we? teased Sitara, :Besides, we're…enjoying the show.:

:It's so cute: added Ramya, :Except…Kamaria, what the hell did you do to your hair?

Alain took a good look at Kamaria's hair for the first time and stared. "I second that."

Kamaria sighed. "Tara spilled ink on it," she said, "It wouldn't wash out."

Looking back up at Alain, she whispered warmly, "Though that's hardly what I'm interested in at the moment."

The Companions just barely stifled their snicker-whickers as Kamaria pulled a startled Alain into another involved kiss, which was only broken by the warning-bell for dinner sounding.

Kamaria sank back down onto her heels, having risen on her toes to kiss Alain. "I have serving tonight," said Alain, with a reluctant sigh.

Kamaria shook her head. "You are going to Healers to see if anything was cracked with that bump," she said, sternly, "I'll swap for dishwashing tomorrow lunch."

Alain nodded. "Fair enough."

And as they turned from one another, Kamaria could have sworn the Companions sighed, though as she shot a glare at them, both Ramya and Sitara looked innocent.

Kamaria was found after dinner by Jasen as she finished her last bit of work for the night in the library. "Kamaria, I just thought of something I wanted to teach you!" said Jasen, brightly, "I don't know if it ever occurred to Kenan to teach you, I'll ask him-but it's something you can do without your shielding problem getting in the way, so we'll be doing more than giving each other headaches."

Kamaria nodded in memory of the class-Jasen had tried imposing his own shields on Kamaria, with…interesting results. Luckily the headache had been temporary.

"Should we go anywhere?" she asked, reluctant to move from her spot in one of the squashy chairs by the fire. Jasen shook his head. "Not for now. Shut your eyes, though, if you will."

Kamaria leaned into her chair and closed her eyes. "Now, use your Farsight to give yourself full vision all around your head, as far as you can before your shields drop," said Jasen.

Kamaria gave her mind that peculiar twist that signaled the beginning of Farsight, and suddenly had a full view of the room around her. Behind her, two Reds and a Blue were scribbling on a diagram about how to improve an instrument, and ahead of her, Jasen was watching her carefully.

"How's this?" she asked, knowing he was looking at her with Othersight.

"Perfect," replied Jasen, "Now you can let it go, but tomorrow I'd like you to keep that perspective as long as you're awake."

Kamaria's real eyes flew open as she stared at Jasen. "What is that supposed to do?"

Jasen gave her a wolfish grin. "Keep you alive," he said, cheerfully, "It's a real help in Weapons, actually, if you're several-on-one. Saved my life-and Kenan's, for that matter-a lot of times. And to help you remember, use this."

The Heir tossed Kamaria a chunk of cloth, which on closer examination turned out to be a blindfold. "Keep that on, my dear blue-haired student," said Jasen, amiably, standing up, "And do try not to trip over things."

With those last whimsical sentences in the attitude undoubtedly picked up from Kenan, Jasen ambled out of the room, leaving a bemused Kamaria behind.

The next morning, Kamaria got up, got dressed, and started brushing her now-short hair before realizing all she needed to do was run a comb through it to be presentable. This may have some advantages, she thought, then saw the blindfold.

With a sigh, she picked it up and tied it around her eyes, effectively blocking out the world, then invoked her Farsight.

It was incredibly disorienting, Kamaria found later, to walk down the stairs while watching yourself walk down the stairs from a slight distance. Breakfast had gone well enough, but now she had to get to History, and the Trainee had to hold onto the wall as she tried to fix her view so she wouldn't be so damn dizzy.

:And why are you blindfolded in the first place? asked Sitara, sounding groggy.

Kamaria raised a mental eyebrow at her Companion. :Weren't you paying attention last night? It's a Farsight exercise. From Jasen.:

:Oh. And…uh…no, I wasn't paying attention, Sent Sitara back, sounding somewhat sheepish.

Kamaria stopped at the bottom of the stairs to think back to last night. Let's see…she put in her two cents at dinner, and then…

:Didn't you shield on me after dinner last night?

Sitara's feeling of sheepishness grew stronger. :Um. Yes?

Kamaria sighed as she continued down the hall and nearly walked into an opening door. :Why?

Sitara became evasive. :I was busy.:

:With? pried Kamaria, relentlessly.

:Flirting, since you ask, Sitara snapped finally, and Kamaria got the definite equivalent of a blush. She started sniggering as she turned a corner and headed to the History classroom.

:And to think, you tease me about Alain!

Sitara Sent a feeling of laying her ears back. :It's different when you've got no idea how they'll react, she said, reluctantly, :I just…I guess I didn't want you to see me blundering through it.:

:Ah, thought Kamaria, then Sent, with a tone of mischief :Well, if you need advice-

If her Companion had been there in person, Sitara would have snorted. :And you have experience? she said, her teasing tone returning, :You and Alain have to be disgustingly sweet to each other. It's law or something. No fear of rejection.:

"Kamaria?" said a voice, and she realized that Herald Kyra had said her name three times. The Trainee blushed. "Sorry. Chatting with my Companion," she explained, as she felt Sitara draw back triumphant with the last word.

"Is she telling you about the Iftel negotiations of Elspeth the Peacemaker?" the Herald wanted to know, raising an eyebrow.

"Um…no?" hazarded Kamaria, and gave Kyra her most charming smile.

With a hint of a smile on her lips, Kyra said, "Then I'd like you to read for us page one hundred and twenty-six, since you're listening this time."

Well, the end of that was a bit strange, but I thought it was overall well-done! Sorry about the wait-I have been very busy indeed with sophomore year of high school. Hopefully that's enough fluff to sustain you for a while!

I had something I wanted to say, but I forgot it so I'll just say a few things to a few reviewers:

To those actually familiar with the Irish tunes: I love 'em too! I've been working on the harp, but I'm not that good at it yet. I have a lot of fun with the Bards! Expect to see more of them!

Kaelin: Farsight, shielding and flashy-back-thingy: totally unrelated. Keep guessing.

Shara: Thank you so much! No, I didn't realize how LONG this is. I refer to it as my epic and my monster, depending on what mood I'm in. And I am actually working on a novel-two related ones, really-this is how I practice and bounce character types off people to see how they react! Also it's fun to unwind here. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Next update: Hopefully sometime before December! However, what with honors classes and clubs and dance and music and all, I can't guarantee it. Ah well. Hope you enjoyed what you've got!

Concerning rewrites: I have 26, that's 26 chapters to rewrite. Yeesh! Be patient with me, please!

Fireblade K'Chona