Thanks for reviewing everyone! Okay so here's Chapter 3, I hope it turned out as well as you all hoped it would. I'm not sure I like how this chapter turned out. Happy New Year!!
On my other two chapters I forgot the disclaimer, so I'll just do one and it'll be for the entire story.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or Tortall, they belong to Tamora Pierce. The only thing I own is the plot.
Chapter 3
At about 10 until noon Neal and Yuki strolled down the halls to go to the mess hall, the location where they would meet up with Raoul, Alanna, Owen, and Merric.
"I've decided that Owen, Merric, and I will follow Dom. Raoul, Alanna, and you will follow Kel," proclaimed Neal.
"You don't want Alanna to see Dom sneak into her rooms! I can't believe Sir Meathead is actually being nice to his cousin!" exclaimed Yuki.
"Hey! But don't you think that could cause…unwanted difficulties?" inquired Neal.
"Yeah, you are probably right," supposed Yuki.
They arrived at the mess hall to find the other four waiting for them. Neal informed them who would be in each group.
"Don't you think at least either Yuki or me should be with Neal? I can at least keep him under control," said Alanna.
"Or cause fights that aren't very jolly," whispered Owen to Raoul.
"Do you guys really think this will work?" questioned Merric trying to change the subject.
"It'd better!" exclaimed Alanna, "I'm wasting my entire day for this!"
"Wasting?" inquired Neal in mock hurt, "Wasting a day where two hearts shall recognize their love for one another? You should be ashamed that you think that is a waste of time,"
As Alanna sent Neal death glares, Yuki called out, "See, this is why you two aren't together! Let's just go already, it's almost noon."
Meanwhile, as Yuki, Raoul and Alanna headed for the stables and Neal, Owen, and Merric for Alanna's room, Kel pulled on her warmest coat and mittens. Then she reread the first clue for about the one thousandth time.
"Well, off we go!" cheerfully declared Kel as her and Jump started their short hike to the stables.
When they stepped outside an icy breeze made Kel's cheeks turn rosy red, and snow lightly fell covering the ground in a blanket of white.
As Kel and Jump tromped through the snow Yuki, Raoul, and Alanna were trying to hide in a stack of hay next to Peachblossom's stall.
All of a sudden Alanna cursed. "I forgot my sword! I have to go get it!"
"Nooo!!!!" shrieked Yuki. "Why can't you wait a minute, an hour, maybe a month?!? Kel's going to be here any minute!"
"But I need it. I'm useless without it!" explained Alanna.
"It's not like we're going to be chasing bandits and killing random people out on the street!" fiercely whispered Yuki.
Raoul, seeing the violent look in Alanna's purple eyes stated, "I think she should go get it. I mean it couldn't hurt."
Before Yuki could say another word against it, Alanna marched off to get her sword, bumping into Kel on her way out.
"Great," mumbled Yuki. "Thanks, you just killed one of your best sergeants and my husband's cousin! Neal hid Dom's first clue in Alanna's room."
Raoul chuckled. He thought it was funny! For that he received a wack on the head from Yuki's fan. That's when they heard Jump bark and saw Kel wandering in. They both scrambled to get beneath the hay.
While Kel went into Peachblossom's stall, Jump scampered over to the pile of hay where Yuki and Raoul were hiding. He started licking Yuki's face. She just laid there grimacing and barely breathing so Kel wouldn't notice.
"Hello Peachblossom," greeted Kel, petting his nose. Kel squatted down and started searching through the hay.
Under Peachblossom's right back hoof, she saw an edge of an envelope peeking out.
"Peachblossom!" exclaimed Kel, "You stepped all over it!" She nudged the horse out of the way.
"I know you don't like Neal, but you didn't have to stomp all over this! You're lucky it didn't rip," stated Kel.
On the front it read: Protector of The Small. Kel rolled her eyes, she hated that name! She began to read clue #2.
Protector of The Small,
I hope that nasty beast of a horse you have didn't shred this to pieces with its sharp teeth. For your information, he almost tore a chunk out of my arm with them too! So if I can't fight or pick up my sword anymore I'm completely blaming you!
Sir Meathead
Clue #2:
Globes, maps, and a semi-ordinary teacher galore. This old classroom of ours might have actually been considered fun. In a twisted way, that is. In between the folds of a map of the place where the Nothing Man dwelled is where you will find clue #3.
Meanwhile in a broom closet, squished between cleaning supplies; Neal, Owen, and Merric were watching Dom pace in front of Alanna's room.
"Why won't he just break in?" murmured Owen.
"It can't be that hard. Can it?" asked Merric.
"Be quiet you two! I'm enjoying watching my cousin contemplate on whether to commit a crime or not. I think it's entertaining!" whispered Neal
Dom tried the door. How was he to know if it was actually locked? But of course it was. He had also tried knocking, actually banging on the door for about 5 minutes straight. No one answered. Dom was going to have to break in.
Well at least she doesn't appear to be around, thought Dom. And if she is, I'm dead.
Using a hairpin he had stolen, no, borrowed, and had no intention of returning from Yuki, he picked the lock. He dashed into the room and closed the door.
"Where did he learn to pick locks?" asked a confused Owen.
"Uh well, let's just say Dom and I had fun during the summers of our childhood, reeking havoc and making my mother and my aunt's life a misery." explained Neal.
"I can just imagine you two together. Running around in circles, and breaking into peoples rooms just because you think it's fun," stated Merric.
"At least we were using our brains! I read a book on ways to break into rooms. It wasn't a complete waste of time." said Neal.
As Don crept into Alanna's room, he looked around and reread the first clue.
"Somewhere amidst her clothes," mumbled Dom to himself.
He sneaked over to a pile of Alanna's clothes and he started searching through them. Then he heard the lock click on the door and he heard it swing open. As Alanna strode into her room Neal, Owen, and Merric's jaws literally hit the floor.
Dom slowly turned around to see Alanna reach for her sword. Which, of course she didn't have. He heard her mutter a string of curses and then she just attacked him. After several kicks and punches from both of them, Alanna got Dom pinned to the ground. As light from the window shone across his face, Alanna realized it was Dom. She punched his shoulder and asked eyes blazing, "What the heck are you doing?!?!?!"
Dom, who was shaking, managed to thrust clue #1 at her as she let go of him. She read it and her face turned so red he thought she was going to explode.
"Queenscove," growled Alanna. She stomped over to her dresser and started furiously searching through her clothes. Dom took a step towards the pile of clothes he was looking through before, but she roared at him, "Don't you dare touch my clothes. Just stay there!!!" Dom gladly did as he was told.
A few minutes later and a room full of clothes thrown every which way, Alanna found clue #2. She hurled it at Dom and asked in the sweetest voice she could muster, "Know where he is?" Dom shook his head. "Out then! Out! And be happy I didn't have my sword in my hands!!"
Dom sprinted down the hall as fast as he could, knees wobbling away. He actually did consider himself lucky. Very lucky. And if Alanna didn't kill Neal, he certainly was going to. He read clue #2.
Dom the Sergeant,
I can't believe I'm writing this, but if you are alive and reading this clue I am very proud of you. You actually survived sneaking into Lady Alanna's room. But then again, I wouldn't have expected anything less from you. If the fiery, purpled-eyed healer did come after you though, well don't hate me. And remember I'm a knight and you're just in the King's Own so I could easily kill you.
Neal the Knight
Clue #2:
Up twisting, iron stairs in the highest part of the palace is where clue #3 is located. Mostly astronomers and mages us this "needle" but it has been known as a place where maids and dogs have been kidnapped and placed.
Alanna was boiling mad. She was so furious that her former squire would even think to have Dom break into her rooms. It was a crime! She was practically steaming. Alanna grabbed her sword and trudged out of her room.
Neal, Owen, and Merric had just stumbled out of the broom closet and were trying to speedily run away before Alanna came out of her rooms. They heard a door slam shut. Alanna turned around to see them. She raced towards them, sword raised.
Owen and Merric leaped back in the closet. Alanna chased a screaming Neal down the halls.
A few minutes later Merric and Owen emerged from the closet.
"He was a jolly friend," commented Owen.
"A good knight," chuckled Merric. "I'll miss him.
"Yuki's going to attack us with her fan again isn't she?" asked Owen grimacing.
"We'll just bring her the body. Maybe she'll be so overcome with grief that we can snatch her fan and run away before she realizes we're gone," joked Merric.
"Jolly idea!" exclaimed Owen. With that they ran to catch up with Dom and perhaps find Neal before Alanna rips him to shreds.