Thanks for reviewing everyone! I really apperciate it. Here's chapter 2. I hope you all like it. Please don't forget to review.
Chapter 2
Keladry of Mindelan had just about finished her early morning glaive practice when she heard a sharp knock at the door. It was followed by the tall, lanky Neal waltzing in and plopping himself in the nearest chair.
"Morning!" he exclaimed as he grabbed an apple, surprisingly cheerful for it still being fairly early in the morning.
"What tragedy dragged you away from Yuki's arms?" teased Kel. "I regret missing that moment."
As Kel turned around to set her glaive down, Neal pulled the first clue out of his pocket and cautiously dropped it in the chair he was sitting in. Neal took a bite of apple, and as Kel turned around he made a face at her. It didn't really work though, because is mouth was crammed full of apple. Instead of swallowing his food like a normal person, he tried to talk with is mouth full. It turned out as squawking noises that didn't make sense.
"Meathead, do you have any idea how rude it is to talk with food in your mouth? Now what was it that you said?" inquired Kel.
Neal gulped, glared at Kel, and said in a mocking voice, "I'm sorry oh dear Protector of the Small for not using politer manners. I beg your forgiveness. As for what I said before, it doesn't matter for it was rude. Now if you'll excuse me I have some love letters to compose for my beloved Yamani Petunia." With a dramatic bow he left just as swiftly as he came.
Kel rolled her eyes and thought, "I don't even want to know what he's up to." She turned around to grab her glaive.
Neal was whistling as he walked down the hallway when he ran right smack dab into just the person he wanted to see.
"Sir Meathead!" exclaimed a certain blue eyed sergeant cousin of his.
"Dommy Boy!" yelled Neal, "How are you on this frosty Midwinter's morn?"
"Have you been composing love letters again, Meathead? Ordinary people don't talk like that," taunted Dom.
"Ordinary people. And whoever said astonishingly, brilliant not to mention charming me was ordinary?" asked Neal as he halted in front of the door to Dom's room. "Aren't you going in?"
"No, actually I was going down to the mess hall to eat…" said Dom giving Neal a questioning stare.
"Oh! Well imagine that, I'm going the exact opposite way! Got to go!" call out Neal has he turned on his heel and fled down the hall.
"Meathead, what in the world are you up to now?" mumbled Dom. He smiled and mumbled, "Dommy Boy?? What will he think up next?" Dom grinned and strolled down to the mess hall.
"One thousand nine hundred and ninety six, one thousand nine hundred and ninety seven, one thousand nine hundred and ninety eight, one thousand nine hundred and ninety nine…" counted Neal. He didn't hear someone creep up behind him.
"Boo," whispered Alanna.
Neal yelped, turned around, and tripped over himself. He toppled to the ground. Alanna chuckled at him.
"Queenscove, what in the world are you doing?" inquired the lady knight.
"Making sure Dom is gone before I break into his room," whispered Neal.
"So you counted until one thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine?" she asked.
"I was going to stop at two thousand until someone interrupted me!" yelled Neal.
"How are you going to break in?" sighed Alanna.
"I'll pick the lock with a hairpin!!" stated Neal.
"A hairpin? You use hairpins, Queenscove?" teased Alanna.
"No of course not! It's Yuki's! Do you have a better idea?" questioned a red faced Neal.
"Magic." Alanna stated simply. She sauntered over to the door and as her amethyst colored Gift flowed out of her callused hands, Neal heard a lock click and the door swung open.
"You're welcome!" called Alanna as Neal raced into Dom's room. He placed the first clue right on top of Dom's pillow and flew out of the room just as rapid as he had sped in there.
"Is the mission accomplished?" taunted Alanna.
All Neal did was glare at her.
As Kel was getting ready for bed, her dog, Jump scampered over to her and nudged her foot.
"What have you got there?" asked Kel as she pulled an envelop from the dog's jaws. On the front it read: Lady Knight, in what she thought resembled Neal's handwriting. She carefully pulled out the letter. It read:
Lady Knight,
For you Midwinter gift this divine year I thought I would give you a scavenger hunt. Clues will lead you to another clue, which will lead you to another, and another. It will eventually lead you to the thing you most desire and love. But it will only work if you start at noon on Midwinter's Eve. So don't be late! I don't care if your dog, or a birdie, or Toby is kidnapped! Start at NOON! Do NOT be late! Enjoy!
Fondly,
Gallant Sir Knight Neal
Clue #1:
"Snap! Ouch! Bite! Scream! Is what you hear when the Gallant Sir Meathead comes around this beast. Where this beast lives, and what it stands on is where you'll find clue #2.
Kel rolled her eyes. Obviously the second clue was in the hay somewhere in Peachblossom's stall. That part was easy. But why did Neal have to make a scavenger hunt? Why couldn't he just give her what she "loves" and "desires" most? Kel laughed at herself. Because it's Neal, and he never makes anything easy. Kel sighed she had no reason not to the scavenger hunt and besides it might be fun. Kel flopped down on her bed and fell asleep dreaming of what could be at the end of the hunt.
It had been a long, tedious day. The darkness of night had just rolled in which made want to jump for joy but instead he sighed with relief and calmly made his way to his room. When he got there, Dom leisurely walked towards his bed. There he turned down the covers to find an envelop with the name: Dommy Boy on it, unmistakably in Meathead's handwriting. Dom smiled and opened it. It read:
O Dearest Dommy Boy,
This glorious year for your Midwinter's present, I am sending you on a scavenger hunt. Don't scowl for I believe this gift was inspired. Clues will lead you to other clues (that is if your undersized, uneducated brain can figure out those clues), and those clues will lead you to others until eventually you find your prize. Also known as my Midwinter's gift from me to you. What is the prize you ask? The prize is what you desire and love most even though you don't know it. But it will only work if you start the hunt at exactly noon on Midwinter's Eve. NOON! Not 1:00 or 12:30 but NOON! Have fun!
Fondly,
Sir Meathead
Clue #1:
In a fiery, purple-eyed healer's room that he/she stays in while visiting the palace is where clue #2 resides. Where is clue #2 hidden? Somewhere amidst his/her clothes.
HINT (not that I should give you one): If I were you, I would be sneaky. Very sneaky. For this hero had a temper and doesn't know about clue #2 in his/her rooms. Have loads of fun!
Dom actually started laughing when he finished reading it. Of course he'd do the scavenger hunt. But sneaking into Lady Alanna's room was crazy! Yet somehow Dom knew he'd do it. Only Neal would think of that thought Dom. Only Neal.
Yuki was getting ready for bed as she heard that insane husband of hers sprint into their room, lock the door, and then just stand there panting.
"I take it Lady Alanna almost caught you," said Yuki stifling laughter.
"NEVER sneak into her rooms! She almost caught a glimpse of me! But I was too smart for her of course," said Neal.
"I told you not to," stated Yuki.
Neal glared at her and proclaimed, "As if I wasn't going to! But I laugh at Dom tomorrow!" Neal sighed. "I really just hope this all works out,"
"Oh it will," stated Yuki smiling.