Author Note:
Yes I am well aware that it is not Monday, but that it is Thursday. However, I am now half done with Chapter 8 of this fic and to give you an estimated time in terms of Inara, that would be her second Midwinter as a page. Yep, I'm over a year ahead of what I have posted. So in honor of being so far ahead and because I am really happy because I've just been exempt from my Studies in Mythology final, I thought I'd give everyone and myself a little present. I hope you all like this one and give me lots of reviews… it's 19 pages!

Oh, and I've only received 2 anonymous reviews thus far from someone named "Me". Just curious, but do I know you personally? Or do you just call yourself "Me"? I only ask because one of my good friends has a tendency to review my stories without signing in and calling herself "Me".

-3-
Odocoileus

Days at the palace began to turn into weeks as Inara continued to train. She practiced at her arm muscle exercises every morning before breakfast, sometimes alone, and sometimes with Lidia looking on in amusement. One morning she'd left the shutters open and Evan, who claimed he couldn't sleep, caught her doing them. After that, he often stopped by to practice with her, sometimes bringing one or two of the others for the morning work out. Only Asten never joined them, claiming only insane people gave up precious sleeping time.

One November morning she had woken up extra early and decided to write a letter to her parents. She sat at her desk, a small candle lighting the room, as she tried to figure out how to write it. She'd recently received one from her mother, so she figured it was best to start by answering her mother's questions.

Dear Mama and Papa,

I miss you terribly every day. Please tell Aunt Kel thank you for the jar of bruise balm she sent me. It has come in handy, as I still get my knuckles hit every once in a while when we practice with staffs. I am trying my best to stay out of trouble and do all of my work, but I do believe it is impossible to complete everything the Masters set for us. Sometimes I wonder if they only assign it to torture us. We just finished our last week with Master Numair. Mistress Daine will be teaching the class on wildmagic on her own for the next few weeks. I hope she continues to bring Skysong. The dragon is so pretty, and she's incredibly intelligent. I wish I had her brain.

My friends are wonderful, although Corin can be a pain sometimes. I can't say that my presence is liked by everyone. I try to stay calm whenever Sir Zahir tries to get me to quit. He does it less often now though, but his punishments have gotten worse. He made me shoot an entire quiver of arrows until each one was in the center of the target. But it doesn't make me angry. He doesn't realize that with all the extra work he's giving me, I'm going to be one of the best archers in all of Tortall by the time I have my shield. You were right about the boys, though. There are a few who give me trouble, but I'll find a way to deal with them. I have to because I'm getting rather tired of falling down.

She sat back and looked over what she had written, knowing it would be bad to end the letter with something that told her father she'd been actively fighting with the other pages. Her mother might not know what she meant, but then again, her father wasn't a very good liar. She chewed on the end of her quill for a moment before dipping it in the ink and continuing.

Papa, grandpa told me to tell you he may need your help around Midwinter at the infirmary, so he hopes you and Mama will come for the holiday feasts. I hope you will come as well. Even though I won't be serving, it will be nice to know you aren't so far away. Sir Myles also asked me to let you know he is alive and well, so you shouldn't worry about him passing out in the middle of class.

I have a free day coming up in a few weeks to go into the city, and Lord Padraig says I can bring someone along. I'm going to ask Evan of Jesslaw to go with me, and try to visit Donalin. He told me that he should be able to get an afternoon free if I gave him a week's notice. My brother claims he's very busy. If you write to Baird, Emry, and Kennith soon, please send them my love and tell them that I will write when I get the chance. I barely had time to write this letter as it is.

Also, Mama, I'm out of tea, and I would be so thankful if you could send me some more. I shared most of it with the boys. Prince Jasson has offered to bring me some from his mother, but I don't want to impose on Princess Shinkokami.

I miss you both and I love you,

Your only daughter,

Inara.

By the time she finished her letter, the sky was lit in predawn. She sighed and blew out her candle and let the ink dry while she exercised, wondering if maybe she should have asked her mother to send her glaive as well, but thought better of it; Gilyith had called her a half-breed again just the day before, and while she'd given him a few nice bruises, he'd blackened her eye. It had been hard enough to ask her mother for more tea. She couldn't bring herself to ask for the Yamani pole weapon.

She exercised alone that morning and then went to change into her practice clothes (after Lidia brought her water and started the fire) before one of the boys showed up her door to walk with her to breakfast. She checked that the ink was dry before folding the letter on her desk. Lidia would be back to clean the room once Inara went to breakfast and she always checked Inara's desk for any post that needed to be sent, or left any that were addressed to the page. She had just finished sealing the letter with wax when Yancy and Seth knocked on the door.

"Hey pup, are you decent?" Yancy's unmistakable voice reached her through the door.

"I'm coming," she called back, double checking that the letter was in plain view and properly addressed, then grabbed her key and followed the boys to the mess hall. The others were already at the table when the three of them arrived with their full trays. They were all leaning over a note on the table. "What's going on?" Inara asked, falling into a seat beside Sam and popping her roll into her mouth.

Jasson handed the note to Seth, who read it frowning. "We're to meet in the indoor practice courts this morning. Lord Padraig will address us there," he told the other two.

"What's so odd about that?" Benton asked. Sam and Inara nodded agreement. Meeting in the indoor practice courts didn't seem like such a big deal to them.

"Wouldn't be if the weather was horrible and Lord Padraig was here to tell us where we'd be practicing," Asten told the three first years. He and the other older boys looked worried. And it wasn't only their group. Many of the other pages seemed to be worried as well.

The nine finished eating as quickly as they could while still being careful not to choke themselves or make themselves sick, something Inara had been taught at a very young age. By the time they were done, so were a majority of the other pages, and almost as one, the twenty of them half walked- half ran down the hall to reach the indoor practice courts. There they found the four of their teachers: Hakuin Seastone, Eda Bell, Sir Zahir, and Lord Padraig, all conversing so quietly that even if they all fell silent and strained, they still wouldn't have been able to hear. A fifth adult in the uniform of the royal army stood with them. He was tall and looked like he might have had some Bazhir blood in him. Either way, he was most definitely a southerner. It was Eda who noticed the pages presence and inquiring faces first, and she tapped her companions on the shoulders to get their attention.

"Good morning," she told the pages smiling, although they all could see the obvious unhappiness behind her eyes.

Lord Padraig looked like he was about to tell the boys to quiet down, but then realized they were already silent. "I see you all got my instructions. No doubt you're wondering why we've asked you to meet here. This man," he said gesturing to the soldier beside him "is General Theodore Vice, the commander of the Royal Army. I will let him explain it to you."

"Well, um… yes," the man began, taking his cue from Lord Padraig. It was obvious he wasn't used to speaking to a group as young as they were. "Men… no, boys… um," his eyes had fallen on Inara. She gave him a small smile, begging him to forget her and go on. "As you all know, rumors of strange new immortal creatures have been streaming in from all over the realm. These creatures bare a striking resemblance to deer that have learned to walk on their hind legs and eat only meat. Just recently the mages at the city of the gods have found records vaguely describing these creatures and dubbing them Odocoileus. Some of you have heard that several groups of these creatures have been attacking Port Legann viciously despite the promise they made to the Wildmage in early September. Last night Port Legann was over run by hundreds of Odocoileus; many more than the defenses could defeat. This morning, at dawn, our people reclaimed the city, destroying as many Odocoileus as they could before the creatures fled and seemingly disappeared." He paused to look over the pages. Many of them had gone white. General Vice seemed to be waiting for the boys to break out crying before he realized that these were the future warriors of Tortall. If they couldn't take news like he was giving them than Lord Padraig wasn't doing his job. "Many of the town's people were killed or injured. There were thirty four deaths among the twelve squads of the army that were there. Fourty six more soldiers were injured. Third company of the Kings own lost five. Eighteen more were injured, including Knight Commander Lord Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, although he is expected to make a full recovery. No knights were killed, although three are hurt, and one is in critical condition. Duke Baird of Queenscove has departed the palace to care for Lady Keladry of Masbolle personally." Inara felt Corin's knees almost collapse beside her. She squeezed his hand, although the boy continued to look sick and on the brink of tears. Seth had placed one of his large hands on the younger boy's shoulder. General Vice wasn't finished yet. "The main reason we have insisted that you practice indoors is that the Odocoileus have made their first appearances in the Royal Forest at dawn, around the same time that they disappeared from Port Legann. They kidnapped the son of one of the palace smiths. The boy's body has not been found yet." He bowed the pages and looked at Lord Padraig.

"I am giving you the morning off to collect your thoughts. Instead of classes this afternoon, you will report back here for training after lunch. Page Corin of Masbolle and Page Inara of Queenscove, please see me. You are dismissed," the training master nodded to the boys. No one moved for a moment, as if the news had glued their feet to the ground. The hesitation didn't last long, but the silence that had over taken the boys did, because they left the practice court nearly silent. They all knew it was the first time a group of immortals had overthrown an entire city alone, even if the Tortallans had reclaimed it. Inara and Corin didn't move, but stood together, Inara clinging to her cousin's hand as much for her own comfort as his. Once they were alone, Lord Padraig moved towards them. He could tell that the boy didn't look as if he trusted his legs to move.

"Page Corin," the training master stated. The boy continued to stare at his feet. "Look at me," he commanded. The boy obeyed, brushing a tear off his cheek so the man wouldn't see. "Do you want to go to my office?"

Inara had never heard the training master speak as he did now. There was genuine caring and concern in his normal baritone. He understood Corin's feelings at that moment. Corin shook his head in answer, as the training knelt beside the two pages so he could look them in the eyes.

"Listen to me, both of you. I can't say I know how you're feeling at the moment, nor do I wish I could," he told them. "My own mother, may she rest in peace, never… well, she never got hurt like yours," he added to Corin. The boy nodded, still trying to keep his face brave. "Do you wish to know the extent of her injuries?" Inara looked at Corin. This had to be his decision, not hers. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.

"Yes my lord," Corin mumbled.

"Alright; she was cornered by five of the Odocoileus just after dawn, separated from help. We've recently learned that the saliva of these creatures is highly acidic. One of them spat in her face after she killed two of her attackers. Once she was blinded, the remaining three proceeded to slash at her with their claws. She has three large gashes down her right arm, two more on each of her legs, and one along the length of her spine. Lord Raoul managed to kill the remaining three of them before they could slit her throat, but he broke his arm in the process. The healers burned out the infection, but she lost a lot of blood. I'm not sure what Duke Baird will be able to do," the training master told the two of them honestly. Inara and Corin nodded. Inara noticed her own cheeks were wet with tears.

"My father?" she asked the man. Lord Padraig nodded.

"We sent him a message just as soon as we heard. I've no doubt he's already on his way to her side to assist your grandfather." The man looked them over before continuing. "Your father has also been notified, Page Corin, but no one has written to your older brother. Do you wish me to?"

"No sir," Corin told him. "I'll write to Tobe," he added. "He should hear this from family."

Lord Padraig nodded. "Do you wish the afternoon off?" This time the boy shook his head, stubbornly. The training master sighed, but nodded to him just the same. "Alright; Queenscove, see to it he gets some rest and eats something. You're both dismissed."

"Yes my lord," Inara told him, and tugged on Corin's arm. Her cousin seemed to need convincing to get him to move. He didn't appear to have any control of his body until they were safely in his room, sitting on his bed.

"Cor? Come on Corin, talk to me," Inara pleaded with him. The boy only stared at his hands. She sighed and kissed his forehead and left the room. She needed help; Corin was too much for her to handle alone.

Her sponsor's door was open. She found Asten sitting backwards in Evan's desk chair. Jasson was lying on Evan's bed, and Evan was pacing back and fourth.

"What happened?" Jasson demanded as soon as Inara walked into the room. She tried her best to keep her emotions from showing through her Yamani mask.

"She was attacked by five of them. They almost killed her but Lord Raoul saved her. She lost a lot of blood though. And they burned her face."

"Saliva," Jasson informed the other two boys. Inara nodded.

"Where's Seth?" she asked the three of them.

"He went to his room to write to his mother, father, brother and sisters. Yancy, Benton, and Sam are with him," Evan told her.

"How is he?" Asten asked, looking up. Inara shook her head.

"I don't know. He won't talk to me. He told Lord Padraig that he'd write to Tobeis, but he hasn't moved. He's just sitting on his bed," Inara told them. "I feel so helpless."

"We'll come. Maybe all of us can get him to say something," Jasson assured her, hugging her around the shoulders. "It's alright to feel helpless in a bad situation," he added. Inara shrugged but allowed the older boys to steer her back to Corin's room.

He hadn't moved since Inara left him, but he did look up when his friends came in. Asten hugged his best friend around the shoulders, quietly telling him that it was alright. Corin resisted him at first, but finally allowed his year mate to drag him into a tight hold. He finally started sobbing. The other boys and Inara let him, patiently waiting until Corin was able to get himself under control.

"Narie?" he asked, using his cousin's nickname. "I can't write it."

"Shh," she responded. "It's alright. I'll write to Tobe. I'll tell him everything."

The boy nodded and looked at his friends. "I'm scared," he admitted.

"You've every right to be," Jasson assured the younger boy. "But you can't let that fear control you."

"Jasson's right, Corin," Evan told him. "Your Ma wouldn't want you to submit to fear. We should do something to get your mind off it."

"Come, we'll practice with staffs in one of the practice courts," Asten told him. Corin nodded and grabbed his staff.

"I'll write to Tobe and meet you there," Inara told them, kissing Corin's forehead again. "Have faith, Cor."

"I can, but only because your Da is on his way there," he told her. Inara nodded understanding and followed her friends as far as her own room where she disappeared inside to write to her older cousin. With luck, she'd be able to get the letter out at the same time as her earlier one.

Three days later the pages sat in the mess hall eating breakfast, quietly. While there was no longer silence resting over them, the news was still fresh in their minds, and it affected their behavior. Over the past few days many of the other pages stopped by Inara's friends' table in the mess hall or whichever room they happened to be doing their extra work in each night. Each one wanted to talk to Seth or Corin, promising to keep their parents in their prayers. Even Lorrence, Thorville, and Hakim spoke to the two boys. Gilyith, while he didn't say anything, pat Corin on the shoulder one night at supper, and he was visibly nicer whenever the group was around. By the second day, news had reached Corus that Duke Baird had successfully healed Lord Raoul's arm. Lord Raoul had written to his son himself, promising full mobility of his arm, although he did concede that it was a little stiff. Seth had brightened in his mood after that.

However, there was still no word on Lady Keladry. Duke Baird was refusing to relay any information to them, which could only mean that things were no worse, but they weren't any better. Inara was getting anxious, and she could see that Corin was as well. She had half a mind to write to her father and demand to know what was happening, for her cousin's sake. The only thing that stopped her was the fact that in the time it would take for her letter to reach him, news could have already reached Corus.

"Morning fellow pages," Asten greeted the group as he arrived at breakfast that morning. Corin was rolling his spoon around in his food. "Eat," Asten commanded, and surprisingly Corin took a bite. Inara had found out that the year before there had been rumors that Asten and Corin liked each other a little more than was proper for two boys. Apparently her friends had put a stop to those rumors in rather unpleasant ways. However, when Inara watched the two of them she agreed that the boys were very close, but not like lovers. They resembled the relationship between her twin brothers Emry and Kennith; Asten acted much like a bossy older twin like Emry, while Corin behaved as Kennith did, submitting to Asten's will without holding a grudge. They trusted one another completely. That made their relationship perfect. "Any news this morning?"

"Nothing so far," Yancy told him. "But Lord Padraig hasn't made the announcements yet. But look, General Vice is with him."

"Think we might hear something?" Benton asked, shoveling another spoonful of porridge into his mouth.

"Maybe," Jasson answered him. "But I don't like the look on General Vice's face. So if we are, I doubt it's good." He placed his hand on Corin's shoulder.

"It's probably not about aunt Kel," Inara told her cousin. "They'd have called you in privately if any news were to come, Cor."

The second year nodded. He seemed a little more human than he'd been when they first got the message, but not much. "You're probably right," he told her. He attempted to stop eating, but Asten was glaring at him.

"So, we're meeting in whose room tonight?" Sam asked the group. The other two first years shrugged. They'd already met in Evan's, Yancy's, Seth's, Asten's, Corin's, and Jasson's, which meant that all the older boys had hosted the study group.

"We're onto you three. Who wants to be first?" Seth asked the three first years.

"Inara!" Benton and Sam volunteered for her.

"Inara it is then," Jasson laughed.

"What? I never volunteered," she protested, although she was slightly amused.

"Come on, Inara," Benton pleaded. "We like your room, it always smells pretty."

"You want to meet in my room because it smells pretty? I could just bring the incense to yours," she told him. "Then you could have a pretty smelling room." The boy shook his head.

"No it wouldn't. My man smell would clog up the air."

"Is that what you call that rancid smog drifting out of your windows?" Jasson teased him. "I thought a skunk had slipped in and died under your bed."

"Benny's right though," Yancy said, slipping his arm over the smaller boy's shoulder. "Inara's room always smells like… well, it's pretty."

"You're all seriously obsessed with the smell of my room?"

"Face it, Narie. You have a woman smell in your room," Corin told her, smiling for maybe the first time in three days. It was his smile that made her break.

"Oh, alright, alright; we can study in my room. Mithros, not even Midwinter yet and you've all lost your minds," she told them.

"Insanity runs in our families too," Evan told her with a grin. "So, do you think you could wear a gown and face paint to go with the woman smell?"

"I think you've cracked," she told him. She paused, seeing the training master standing up to the pages attention. "Oh…" she exclaimed silently and pointed. She and the other boys started to stand and bow.

"Please, sit," Lord Padraig told them. "You all remember that General Vice told you the son of one of our smiths was taken by the Odocoileus?" He paused as a murmur of accent went up through the crowd of pages. "They broke into his house again last night and took his daughter. They also took an infant from the neighboring home. In place of the little girl they took, however, they left the boys head."

The pages mouths hung open. They had never heard of immortals doing such at thing. Purposely leaving a warning or something to scare humans behind coupled with their ability to take over an entire city made them seem far more intelligent than any other immortals the pages had studied, excluding dragons and basilisks (tall creatures resembling lizard and possessing the ability to turn anything they wish to stone). The fact that they knew how to attack and immobilize a full grown knight made them dangerous. It didn't help that they were able to disappear at will.

"We will continue practice inside. As much as I dislike being unable to allow you to practice on horseback, these precautions are necessary. The king has scheduled for First Company of the Kings Own, four Rider groups, and six squads of the royal army, as well as anyone else who wishes to embark on a hunt for the immortals to leave in two days time. We will know more then. You are dismissed. I will meet you at the practice courts." With that, he left the pages to talk amongst them selves.

Hand to hand combat followed the normal routine that morning, leaving Inara feeling bruised and worn as she always did. However, her hands were no longer raw, but had steadily become callused.

Weapons practice was a different story all together. All the pages had taken their practice staffs and paired off to practice before Lord Padraig arrived. He was usually pleased to see that they were all enthusiastic even after the beatings they received in hand-to-hand.

"Staffs away," Lord Padraig told them stepping into the court. The boys obeyed immediately. "Older boys, go to your rooms. Get your swords. Be back in five minutes. Go!" The older boys didn't hesitate, as Sir Zahir placed a bucket of wooden practice swords down in front of the four first years. "I had meant to start you all on this a few days ago, but circumstances… you know," the training master told them. "Choosing a sword is very different from choosing a staff. Not only must the sword be perfectly balanced," he told them, picking up one of the wooden practice swords and balancing it on his finger just above the hilt. It teetered for a moment before becoming perfectly straight, "but it must also feel right in your hand. You will pick one of these to work with for the next three days. During the time you usually spend riding, you will be at the smiths, learning to forge your own practice sword. Only once Sir Zahir or I have cleared you, will you begin to use it instead of the wooden one. Make your selection by the time the older boys return."

That said, he turned his back on them, leaving Sir Zahir to watch as they each lifted and tested the practice swords in the bucket.

"That one won't do, Tirragen. Can't you see the hilt is too heavy?" the knight told the boy. He moved between the four of them, examining how they made their choices.

"Interesting choice, Naxen. You don't think it's too large for you?" The boy shook his head then remembered his manners.

"No, sir. My grandfather let me try one of his once," he replied. "I prefer longer blades," he added as an afterthought. Sir Zahir just shrugged and moved on.

"Better, Tirragen," he called to Samuel as he inspected two swords that Hakim was debating between. He handed one back to the Bazhir boy and toss the other back in the barrel. Finally, he reached Inara. Unlike the other boys, she didn't have a pile of wooden practice swords at her feet. Her first choice fit her small hand perfectly, and it didn't even teeter when she balanced it. The Bazhir knight caught her tossing it into the air off her index finger and catching it delicately in her right hand before throwing it to her left and taking a couple of practice swings. The knight stared at her eyebrow raised, and held out his hand. Inara handed over the practice sword. He examined it for a few moments before handing it back to her without remark and walked off, leaving Inara smiling. For once, he hadn't found anything to fault her on and for the first time, Inara sent a silent prayer to Mithros thanking her for the education her father gave her on swords.

The first years had finished making their choices by the time the older boys returned. Lord Padraig asked Seth and another fourth year boy called Baldin of Welner Creek to demonstrate the high, middle, and low strikes and blocks much as he had done with the staffs. He then split them up, the older boys working together and the four first years in their own group. Samuel was paired with Inara. By the end of the drill, they were pretty evenly matched.

Nothing changed in archery except that it was harder to pull on the string now that her arms had been given a very different workout than she had been used to. Sir Zahir seemed angry that he hadn't been able to find fault with her during sword practice. Now he eagerly corrected her each and every mistake. Inara wanted to tell him that the other boys needed some attention when one of Lorrence's arrows flew off in the wrong direction, but she managed to remind herself that it would have been a very bad idea. She already had two bells of punishment work for getting into a fist fight with Thorville and Gilyith days before. It hadn't lasted long, and she'd managed to scratch up Gilyith's face pretty well in addition to knocking Thorville's head against the wall. Unfortunately, she'd gotten another split lip, several bruises on her arms and legs, and Gilyith had punched her in the stomach again. She didn't think she should add another bell of work when she also had two essays and four math problems to do that night.

After archery the older boys were told that they could use some more practice with the sword, and were paired off with Sir Zahir to look over them. Lord Padraig took the four first years to the smiths.

Inara and Sam walked down the hall towards the pages wing together after Lord Padraig had finished with them. They had each been paired with one of the large muscled men and had watched as a sword was made. The next day they would make one themselves, and if it was declared fit, on the third day the smith would help them fasten it to a plain hilt. If it wasn't, they would use the third day to try again, and would have one hour of punishment that Sunday to make the hilt.

"Who's that?" Sam asked, pointing down the hall at a tall seventeen year old who stood in front of Inara's door, knocking. She frowned for a moment, before suddenly sprinting down the hall.

"Tobe!" she called as she threw her arms around her cousin's waist. The tall squire caught her and hugged her tight. She didn't know why he was there, but she was still very glad to see her cousin. "What are you doing here?"

"I got your letter two days ago. Sir Owen got permission to go to Port Legann to see Ma. I asked if we could stop here on the way. I wanted to make sure you and Corin were alright. Da left Dominic home with the servants, although I'm sure he must have thrown a tantrum." Inara nodded. Her youngest cousin often threw tantrums when he didn't get what he wanted. "Are you alright?" Tobeis asked her. He was a tall boy; much taller than Corin. While both boys had gotten their mother's hair and their father's nose, Tobe's eyes were a deeper blue and Corin was two inches shorter than Tobe had been at his age.

"I'm doing alright. I've got my friends to support me," she told him, nodding to Sam who had come up behind him. "Tobeis of Masbolle, this is Samuel of Tirragen."

"It's nice to meet you, Sam.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, sir," Sam replied.

"You're the boy my brother has chosen to sponsor, right?"

"Yes sir."

"I'm sorry," the older youth told him, shaking his hand and smiling. Sam smiled back. "And Corin? How's he dealing with this?"

"I'm not sure. Sometimes he goes really quiet, and there's nothing we can say or do to get him to talk, or at least none of us but Asten. And then there are other times when I think he tries to forget about Aunt Kel, and he smiles and jokes around with the rest of us." Tobe just nodded, as if everything Inara had just explained was completely normal.

"Where is he?"

"The older boys are still in sword practice. We'll be having lunch in mess hall in about an hour, sir," Sam told him. Tobe nodded again.

"Alright; I'll ask Sir Owen if I can have lunch in the mess. I'll see you in a little, Narie," he replied and hugged her before starting off down the hall.

"Tobe, should I tell Corin that you're here?" she called after him.

"No. He'll probably try to hide. If I wanted that, I would have gone to his room first."

"You're right," Inara confirmed and she let herself and Sam into her room, shaking her head. It was good to see Tobeis, she just wished it hadn't had to be under such circumstances. She wondered if Evan knew his father was in the palace.

Halfway through lunch, the mess hall fell silent as everyone watched a lone figure approach Lord Padraig's dias. The two spoke for a few moments before the training master nodded. Through out the conversation the pages had all watched, fascinated at the youth who spoke so bluntly to their training master. Corin, however, watched through narrowed eyes. He couldn't decide if he was pleased or not to see the boy who was conversing with Lord Padraig. However, when the training master summoned him up to the dias, he immediately put his tray up and went.

Inara and her companions watched as the second year bowed both to Lord Padraig and then to the squire before the three began talking. Lord Padraig said something and both boys bowed to him, and left the mess hall together.

"So, Tobe's here, huh?" Seth asked once talking started again. Inara had heard that her cousin had been Seth's sponsor his first year as a page. She nodded.

"He said Sir Owen got permission to ride to Port Legann and Tobe asked to stop here to check on Corin." She neglected to tell her friends that he'd also come to see how she was. She didn't consider it an important detail.

"You knew he was here and didn't tell Corin?" Asten accused her. She turned to meet the older boys stare but only raised an eyebrow. "Point taken," he muttered, knowing what would have taken place if Corin had known. As much as Corin loved his older brother, he preferred to deal with things on his own. If he'd known Tobeis was here before hand, he would have claimed he was sick rather than allow his big brother to nurse his wounds. That's just the way they were and always had been with Tobe being six years older than he was.

"Didn't tell me he was coming," the third year at the end of the table muttered. Inara and the other boys looked at him.

"Evan? You alright?" Yancy asked him.

"I'm fine," he replied, slamming his utensils down. Before any of them could answer, Evan had disappeared to put up his tray and had walked out of the mess hall.

"This week has just been oh so much fun," Jasson said sarcastically. Inara almost wondered whether or not he was right.

Lord Padraig had excused Corin from afternoon classes so he could spend time with his brother. It wasn't something that usually took place, but apparently the training master knew how tough the situation was for the page, and Inara was pretty sure that Lord Padraig agreed with her that speaking to Tobe might help him. Corin didn't even appear at supper.

The boys were assembled in Inara's room after they'd eaten, just as promised; Evan's outburst at lunch had been long forgotten by most of the boys. Inara planned to talk to him later. She'd just finished her essay for Master Jinu when someone knocked on her open door. She looked up to see both of her cousins at the door. They beckoned her forward. She put her quill down and stood, then carefully maneuvered her way around the boys on the floor.

"Hey. Feeling any better?" she asked Corin who nodded.

"Much," he assured her.

"Good. Do you want to join us?" Once again he nodded.

"I'll go get my things," he added, and disappeared down the hall to his own room.

"Inara, is there anything you want to give to your parents or anyone at Port Legann?" Tobe asked her as Corin left. Inara thought for a moment before nodding and inviting her cousin in. Tobe stood in the entrance way as Inara went over to her mantle. He said hello to the boys he knew from his own time as a page: Seth and Jasson; and then turned his attention to one of the third years. "Evan, your Da says he's sorry he didn't get the chance to come and visit, but he hopes to see you at Midwinter," he told him. Evan just glanced up and nodded before turning back to the math problem he was working on. Tobe shrugged and turned back to Inara who stood before him, a small item wrapped in a handkerchief.

"It's one of my porcelain cats. Please give it to Aunt Kel for me?" she asked him. Tobe nodded as Corin came in, walking around him to find room on the floor between the other boys.

"I will."

"When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow, at first light. Don't you two get into too much trouble," Tobe told them. He kissed Inara on the top of the head and nodded to his brother, and then he turned and left them alone.

"Quit poking me," Asten's voice complained. Corin's elbow was now poking into his leg.

"If you're going to complain, you don't get to study in the room with the woman smell," she told him. Asten just looked up at her and grinned.

"Uh-oh, the puppy's angry," Yancy teased. She gave him a mock glare and fell into her desk. There was no arguing with them when they started calling her the puppy.

They worked for another hour or so before they were all, for the first time ever, caught up on school work. The boys all turned to leave, stretching, and bidding Inara a good night.

"Evan, can I talk to you?" Her sponsor looked at her and shrugged.

"What's up?" he asked, reseating himself on her bed as soon as the other boys left.

"You seemed really upset that your father didn't tell you he was here," she told him bluntly.

"It's no big deal."

"I think it is. You can't honestly tell me it doesn't bother you?"

"Listen Inara, when you live with a man who doesn't like you for twelve years, you get used to being ignored. Really, it's no big deal. Like I told you, one day he'll come around to me."

"And until that day you're just going to sit back and let him pretend you don't exist?" she argued. Evan shrugged.

"You're not going to let this go, are you pup?"

"No. I don't think it's fair to you. You're just as much his blood as your sisters are."

"I know, I just don't think he does. I don't know what to do."

"You could try talking to him," she suggested, sitting down beside him. Evan raised an eyebrow at her. "Don't give me that. All you boys think about is solving your problems with actions. Words can help too," she added.

"Alright; if I promise to try talking to him at Midwinter, will you let it go?"

"Yes," she agreed, holding out her hand. He took and shook.

"Can I go to bed now, or do you want to play fetch or something."

"Go! Before I bite you," she laughed. He bowed and left, closing the door behind him. Inara shook her head. Her friends were a strange lot.

Two days later, Inara joined her friends in the indoor practice courts a little earlier than the rest of the pages. Seth had challenged Jasson to a mock duel, and the others had agreed to let them do so as long as they used the wooden practice swords and not the metal ones. As the two boys went at it, Yancy monitored to make sure neither boy got too out of control.

Corin and Asten leaned against the wall, while Inara sat on the floor, her back against Corin's legs. Evan was taking bets from Sam and Benton on who they thought would be the winner.

"I think I've forgotten what the sky looks like," Inara remarked to no one in particular. Corin looked down at her, and she grinned up at him. He smiled back. He'd been smiling a bit more each day since Tobe had visited. Whatever the older boy had told him, it seemed to brighten his mood.

"Yield!" Seth shouted on the other side of the room. Jasson was on the floor, balancing on his elbows, his sword four feet away, and Seth standing over him, sword tip at his throat. Sam and Benton each handed a copper over to Evan.

"Alright, I yield," Jasson laughed. "Now kindly remove your sword point from my throat."

"Aww… did I hurt his majesty's pride?" Seth teased, but pulled his sword back and offered his hand down to his year mate.

"If you did, I don't deserve to have any," Jasson told him.

"Conte! Goldenlake!" Lord Padraig's voice broke through the amusement of the nine pages. Jasson and Seth both jumped before turning to face the training master who stood in the doorway blocking the entrance of the other pages. He strode forward, stopping in front of them. "Good form," he told them, "next time get permission."

"Yes my lord," both boys replied, as the other pages filed in. Only Lord Padraig was present. They knew that meant that the two Shang fighters and Sir Zahir had chosen to accompany King Jonathan, Prince Roald, Prince Liam, and Prince Jasson the elder on the hunt for the Odocoileus.

"We'll be skipping hand-to-hand combat this morning. Instead we'll use the time to improve your staff work. Mithros knows some of you need it," the training master ordered as his charges fell into line.

The rest of the morning followed their normal schedule, with Lord Padraig filling in for Sir Zahir during archery. It was the first time since she'd arrived at the palace that Inara didn't get criticized for her work with the bow. She was disappointed to know that unless Lord Padraig continued to substitute, it would probably be one of the only times. The training master did switch up their last lesson, but it was only because he didn't have anyone to monitor the older boys while he accompanied the first years to the smiths to finish their practice swords. He did, however, suggest that the boys use their free time to catch up on extra work they undoubtedly had.

Only Benton had to spend the lesson trying to make another sword. Inara's, Sam's and Hakim's all passed Lord Padraig's inspection. As he set them about attaching the blade to the hilts provided for them, he went over their instructions.

"Although the late Duke Gareth and I didn't always agree on things, there is one practice of his that I wish to continue. The sword is the knight's most important weapon. Therefore, as long as we are training with it, you will not be seen without it. You will attend all practices, all meals, and all lessons with your sword until it becomes part of you. I am sure you've noticed the older boys carrying theirs. If you are caught without your sword by anyone and I am informed, you will be given a bell of work in the stables for each offence. Is that understood?"

"Yes my lord," the four of them told him.

"Naxen, Sunday morning you will report here after breakfast to attach your sword to its hilt. Then you will bring it by my office for inspection," he addressed the boy.

"Yes, my lord," Benton said. He glanced at Sam and Inara who each gave him a sympathetic look before going back to their work.

As they finished, Lord Padraig looked over what they'd done, nodded to each of them in turn, and sending them on their way. Inara was the last one to finish. She wanted hers to be perfect.

"Queenscove," the training master called her back when she went to leave.

"My lord?"

"Sir Zahir says you chose your wooden practice sword just by looking. He says it was the first one you picked up, but it was perfect. May I see it?"

Confused, Inara walked toward him and handed over the wooden tool she had attached to her belt. Was he angry with her? Inara watched as he checked its balance, the swung it a few times, frowning. She waited patiently for him to hand it back. When he didn't, but continued to stare at the sword, she finally worked up her courage.

"Is everything alright, my lord?"

"Superior," the man whispered.

"My lord?" Now she was really confused. "If it displeases you, my lord, I am sorry. I just… well, my father, he…"

"Your father is not an expert swordsman, if I'm correctly informed."

"No, my lord, but he is a decent one," Inara retorted as politely as she could. Lord Padraig appeared taken back a bit but then realized his mistake.

"I apologize, Page Inara. I didn't mean to criticize your father. I only meant… he taught you had to choose a sword?"

"He says I have an aptitude for it, my lord."

"Aptitude is an understatement, Queenscove," the training master informed her. He saw that she still looked confused. "You chose the perfect sword on your first try. And your practice blade, well, I didn't want to say anything in front of the other boys, but I must tell you, I am amazed."

"Thank you, my lord," Inara said, slightly puzzled by the praise.

"Now, we have only to see if your abilities using the sword as a weapon are as superior as your ability to choose a blade," he said, handing back the wooden weapon.

"I hope so, my lord. I don't think I could resign myself to choosing blades for others," she joked, hoping he wouldn't take offense. Lord Padraig only smiled and nodded to her. Inara took it as a dismissal and bowed, before leaving.

She was still pondering what he'd said to her when she reached her rooms after having taken a detour to visit Hikari. While they weren't allowed out onto the practice courts outside, the stables were not off limits, and she hadn't gone to visit her mare since the announcement about Port Legann were made. Now she was a little later than she should have been getting back to her room to bathe before lunch. She wasn't expecting to find Evan in front of her room, pacing back and fourth.

"Why does there seem to be an over abundance of men outside my room these days?" she called.

"Where have you been!" he yelled when he saw her.

"I'm sorry; I didn't know I'd be missed. I just went to visit Hikari," she told him.

"Never mind that. You're needed in Lord Padraig's office. He got back a quarter hour ago, and immediately sent for you and Corin," Evan told her. Inara frowned.

"But I just left him," she explained as she tossed her wooden sword into her room, made double sure that her new blade was at her waist, and then half ran to keep up with Evan as they made their way down the hall.

"The servants say he was fine until went into his office to read the post. Then he just went all weird, and started commanding people to bring him Queenscove and Masbolle," Evan told her.

"Where's Corin?"

"Seth went to get him from the library. He should be in there by now," he said, motioning toward the door that led to Lord Padraig's office. "You'll let us know?"

"As soon as I know what's going on," Inara promised him. Evan nodded and ran off, leaving Inara to knock alone on the training master's door.

"Come in," the familiar voice greeted her.

"You asked to see me, my lord?" Inara asked, coming into the office. Corin was seated in a chair in front of Lord Padraig's desk looking extremely pale. She wondered if he knew something.

"Yes. Please, have a seat," he motioned toward the chair next to Corin where she had sat a few months before beside her father. Inara silently slipped into the seat and reached her hand out to her cousin. Corin gripped it. "I received an urgent message addressed to myself and the two of you when I returned from morning lessons," he informed them. "I have not opened it yet. With your permission, I will do so now."

"You have mine, my lord," Inara told him. Corin just nodded agreement. Lord Padraig didn't need more from the boy. He broke the wax seal on the letter and began reading.

"Lord Padraig haMinch from Sir Nealan of Queenscove,

Please convey the following to Pages Corin of Masbolle and Inara of Queenscove.

In regards to the incident occurring the morning of the twentieth of November: Lady Knight Keladry of Masbolle is in extremely stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery,"

Lord Padraig took a breath to let the news sink in to the two pages. Corin had thrown his arms around Inara and was crying outwardly, not caring that his training master saw. Inara let a few tears of her own fall as she held onto her cousin. It was such a relief to hear the word recovery after so many days of no news at all. The training master silently allowed the two pages to calm down, although he did clear his throat after a few minutes.

"I apologize, my lord," Corin managed to say, sitting up and giving Inara a weak smile. She smiled back.

"I'm glad your mother will pull through, Page Corin," Lord Padraig told them. "Shall I continue?"

"Yes, my lord," both pages stated, settling back in their respective chairs. He nodded to them and turned back to the paper.

"Duke Baird of Queenscove and I were able to keep her body from using too much blood before her system could renew the amount lost in the battle. The wounds on her arm and left leg have been completely healed, with only light scars remaining. The one on her back and on her right leg will take more healing before she is able to stand on her own, but slow healing is to be expected in these areas as the infections from the Odocoileus' claws were worst here. We have also been able to successfully repair the burns on her face and in her eyes, fully restoring her sight.

Lady Keladry has not woken from the Gift induced sleep Duke Baird placed her in yet, so she is unable to send either of you her regards. However, I am sure that she would be as proud of both of you for staying calm as I am. Duke Baird and myself, as well as half of Third Company will be escorting the lady knight back to Corus for further healing in the morning. We should arrive a day after this letter reaches you. As soon as she is awake, I will send someone to fetch you. Until then, continue your studies and listen to Lord Padraig.

Sincerely,

Lord Sir Nealan of Queenscove."

The training master nodded to both pages. They knew a dismissal when they saw one. Neither of them hesitated, but jumped to their feet and bowed. "This is not an excuse to be late for lunch," he called after them, slightly amused as the children ran out of his office, calling for their friends. They may have been knights in training, but they were still very young.

Inara sat in Mastor Ivor's class the next day working out an algebra problem when one of Lord Padraig's servants entered and gave a small piece of parchment to her and Corin. Inara took the paper and watched him leave before glancing at her mathematics instructor. The Mithran priest nodded, granting both pages permission to read their notes.

Page Inara of Queenscove,

You may visit the infirmary for two bells of time after supper tonight.

Lord Padraig haMinch

Smiling, Inara tucked the paper into her belt and watched Corin do the same. Apparently, his didn't say anything different. The two pages did their best to calmly finish math class, but twice, Master Ivor had to beg them to pay attention to their work before the bell dismissed them.

"Why do we have to wait until tonight?" Corin begged as they walked to Misstress Daine's class. Inara shrugged, knowing the wait was probably killing him.

"Because Lord Padraig is a cruel man?" Yancy offered.

"Don't say that," Inara scolded. "He was nice enough to give us time to go up to the infirmary, and he's been kind to you since this happened," she added, specifically to Corin, who nodded in response.

The rest of their classes went by slowly. More slowly than usual; almost as if the bells knew that Inara and Corin wanted to be somewhere else sooner and were going to make them suffer instead. At supper, they both ate so quickly, that Asten had to threaten that both of them would end up in the infirmary for different reasons if they did not slow down to get them to eat a more normal pace. However, they were still done well before the rest of the pages and all of the boys were still in the mess hall when they presented themselves before Lord Padraig.

"You've both eaten?" he asked them, eyeing them carefully. "I will not have Duke Baird coming to accuse me of not feeding you if you…"

"We've eaten, my lord," Inara told him.

"And you paid attention in your classes?"

"Mostly, my lord," Corin replied honestly. Lord Padraig seemed to ponder his statement for a moment.

"Go. But be on your best behavior. I don't want to hear that either of you was kicked out for any reason."

"Yes, my lord," both pages responded before sprinting out of the door towards the healer's wing. Corin led the way inside once they reached the outer rooms, breathing heavily.

"I'm here to see Lady Keladry of Masbolle," Corin explained through labored breaths when the clerk eyed him.

"Lady Keladry is resting. She is not to have any visitors."

"But," Corin protested, as Inara stepped around him.

"We've written permission for Lord Padraig," she said defiantly.

"I don't care if you've written permission from his Majesty. You aren't getting in," the woman retorted. Inara glared.

"I wish to speak to my father or grandfather," Inara replied, keeping her calm. The woman sighed and disappeared, although she wasn't happy about it, returning moments later with Duke Baird.

"Inara, Corin, why didn't you come in?" the Duke asked them.

"Your clerk wouldn't let us," Corin replied. Inara nodded agreement.

"Well, ok. Come in," he said after a moment, leading the pages in. He'd have to figure out what to do with the clerk later. As soon as he'd let them in, he disappeared into his private office.

"Neal, if you do not let me out of this bed, this instant, you'll wish I'd never saved your butt when we were pages," they heard a familiar voice demand.

"If you hadn't, you wouldn't be here to argue with me," Sir Nealan's voice reached the page. Corin couldn't contain his composure any longer, but ran to his mother's side, burying his face in her bed clothes.

"Oh," Lady Keladry exclaimed, surprised at the sudden weight in her side. She smiled as she looked down. "Now, lad, are you sure it's proper for a page to cry in front of his Ma?"

"No," Corin sobbed, but he didn't stop.

"Come on now. Look up. I'm fine. Or I would be, if your Uncle Meathead would let me out of this bed."

"Call me all the names you want. You're staying put," Neal advised her, smiling at Inara. He nodded to her.

"Ma, you need to listen to Uncle Neal. He knows best," Corin told her, sitting up and whipping his eyes. Keladry smiled at him, and then looked past her son to the female page hanging back.

"Thank you for the cat, Inara."

"You're welcome, Aunt Kel," Inara replied, taking the hint that it was alright to join Corin at her bed. "I'm glad your well."

"Yeah, well, I'll be glad of it when your father lets me up."

"Kel, for Mithros sakes, you're to stay in that bed, and remain there until I say otherwise," Neal snapped at her. He waved his hand at her and turned around to sit at a desk where he began to go through paper work.

"You got your ears pierced, Ma?" Corin asked suddenly, touching his mother's ears.

"I did what?" she hissed, sitting straight up, roughly.

"You did, see," Inara added, handing Kel a small hand held mirror from the table beside the bed.

"When the? How the?"

"As soon as Dom found out you'd live, he told us to pierce your ears. Said he always wanted a lady who wore earbobs," Neal said calmly without looking up.

"I'm going to kill him. I'm going to ring that man's neck. He knows how much I hated the idea of piercing my ears. And you… how dare you," she went off on a rant, sending out a stream of curses, the children had never even heard before. Finally, Neal stood up, and took the mirror from his daughter. He waved his hand in front of Kel as if to tell her to shut up and handed her back the mirror.

"It was an illusion, Lady Keladry," he told her. "Next time you mess with me, I'll make sure it's worse."

Kel just stared at him, speechless for a few moments.

"Ma, what was fighting the Odocoileus like?" Corin asked to take her mind off killing his uncle. Kel continued to glare at Neal for a few more moments trying to ignore her son, but the constant tugging on her arm drew her attention to him. She gave her friend on last look promising revenge and then turned to Corin.

"The truth? They are horrible enemies. Nearly impossible to find a weakness if there are many of them in a group."

"That's why you couldn't defeat them?" Inara asked. Kel nodded, and touched both pages on the heads.

"Both of you; you shouldn't worry. We'll find a way to take these monsters down for good, long before either of you have won your shields."

"Will you leave me at least one?" Corin asked with a sly grin on his face. "I owe them my blade," he added.

"For you, I will leave as many as you wish," she told him. "You've been practicing indoors?"

"Yes ma'am," Inara replied.

"The hunting party returned at lunch though. The Odocoileus disappeared. Master Numair thinks they can sense a battle they will loose and disappear before it can take place. Lord Padraig is going to keep us indoors for a few more days to be certain, but we'll resume training outdoors if they stay gone," Corin explained. Both adults nodded.

"Aunt Kel, this may not be the time to ask, but did you know that Sir Owen had a son?" Both Kel and Neal frowned when she asked the question. She couldn't understand how her aunt and father could have known and not done anything about the treatment of the boy. Corin had confessed that he never mentioned Evan to his mother, at the request of the older boy.

"I admit, Tobeis mentioned his name to me, once or twice since Sir Owen took him as a squire, but I always thought Evan was the nickname of his eldest daughter, Lady Evinany," Kel told her honestly. "Your father informed me this morning. Had I been conscious at Port Legann, I would have beaten that idiotic boy silly."

"It took all the self control I had, not to," Neal informed them. "But Evan's relationship with his father is something Evan must try to rectify himself." Inara had heard that before. Sir Nealan had sent her several letters in regards to her feelings about her sponsor's situation.

"Well, if he fails, I'm going to give Owen the thrashing of his life," Kel assured him. "Stupid man."

"It's your fault, you know," Neal told her. "You were always encouraging him."

"I was not," she argued back. "Well, I didn't do it on purpose."

"Blayce?"

"It would have taken too much time to hand him over to the authorities."

"Joren?"

"He fought back on his own. I told him to run."

While the adults argued, Corin and Inara watched fascinated. They were used to such quick verbal exchanges between their parents, but they usually didn't involve the past.

"Alright, you win," Neal conceded. "Come on, Inara. Lets give Corin some time with his mother," the older knight told his daughter, and guided her into a small office that Duke Baird had granted him use of. Inara took a seat while he closed the door. Neal turned and studied the child before taking a few steps closer and kneeling in front of her. He ran his finger over a fading bruise on her eye.

"You've 'fallen' recently, haven't you?" he asked her. Inara looked down at her hands and nodded. Neal sighed. "Why didn't you tell me when it first started happening?"

"I didn't want you to be ashamed of me."

"Ashamed? Narie, I could never be ashamed of you. You haven't beaten him yet?" he asked her. Inara shook her head.

"I will though."

"I'm sure you will," Neal informed her. "In the mean time, try your best not to keep falling. Your grandfather doesn't need to spend hours fixing you up."

"I've only visited him twice. I sent the other guy to him once," she added, remembering a time she'd dodged and Gilyith had run into the wall. That was the time he'd bent her finger back until it broke.

Neal shook his head. "You're too much. Have you tried using your words?"

"He's the type of boy you have to speak real slowly to, Papa. Words just past through his head," she laughed. Neal had to suppress a grin. "How long will you be here?"

"Only a few more days or so. I've got to get home to your mother to bring her back for Midwinter."

"You are coming?" she asked, happily. Neal nodded.

"Your grandfather insisted that he'll need help, and your mother wants to visit Donalin, for some reason," he laughed. Inara knew what he meant. Donalin was the hard one to get along with in the family. He always had an answer for everything, and Neal was positive he'd started talking back as soon as he learned to speak. The knight insisted the boy's first word was "No".

"Donalin behaves around Mama," Inara reminded him.

"That he does," Neal agreed. "Alright young lady; I know Lord Padraig gave you two bells to be here, but if I remember correctly, you've got more extra work than you can handle to do tonight."

"Papa," Inara whined.

"Don't you 'Papa' me, little girl. This is the life you chose. To think, if you'd listened to me, you could have been living the quiet life learning how to curtsy and sew at the Convent," he said, holding the door open for her to leave the office and following her own.

"I'd probably have stabbed myself more times with the sewing needle than I've had my fingers smashed with a staff," Inara assured him. "I'd be no good as a lady, Papa. I'm sure of that."

"As much as I don't want to admit it, I think you might be right. Now, out. Go do your work," he told her as he resumed his place at the desk near Keladry's bed.

"You too, young man," Kel told her son. They'd looked up once Neal and Inara emerged from the office. "You're still lousy at analyzing poetry. You need to get better so your love poems don't embarrass you, like your uncle's did."

"I would have only been embarrassed if I'd let you send any of them," Neal assured her. Kel rolled her eyes and kissed her son's head.

"Go on. I'm just fine. You can see that."

"Yes ma'am," Corin replied. He kissed her back and then followed Inara out of the infirmary. "I wish they hadn't made us leave."

"I do too, but they're right you know. Your poetry needs work," she laughed. "Come on, we'll tell the others they can study in my room again tonight. Asten says he particularly likes the way his man smell mixes with the woman smell of my room."

"I think you were right. He's cracked."

Author Note:
I am proud of this one. It shows a bit more of the emotional side to my writing, as well as brings out more of Inara's character: her determination to help her cousin. It also introduces part of the conflict for the whole series. For those of you who may have read my attempt at a TP fic years ago called Karian of ? (if you haven't please don't… it sucks, but I don't have the heart to remove it) you'll probably recognize these immortals. I really did like the idea of them, so I wanted to use them in a more adequate sense. Everyone have a good weekend. Regularly scheduled weekly updates will resume Monday.

Fateless Wanderer