Chapter 18

"We usually have big party at our home in honor of the rescued sacrifice," said Theo glumily. He asked Tyler, "Will we still have one?"

Tyler shrugged. "I suppose so. The ladies will sure to be cooking up something big as they always do. We can honor Jesse and...Percy," here he smiled briefly. "Will you two honor us by coming to our home for tonight?"

"I think the pleasure and honor will be all ours," I said. My spirits had not been completely dampened at the news we had learned. Conrad was a out and alive and probably looking for me or a way home. I was glad that he had actually finally gotten out of a scrape by himself.

Tyler had looked like he had wanted to give the wild leader a big scolding about kidnapping people and giving them to their gods, but Troy had looked pleadingly at him, afraid that maybe the rescuing adventures might be stopped if the wild men got scared and obeyed. The man had again thanked us, because we brought them a suitable sacrifice for their gods.

"Good," said Tyler. "Our women would scold us tremedously if we did not bring home some guests who them could fawn over and show off to."

I smiled. "Just as long as we get food."

Perceval rolled her eyes.

Dusk had set in and we all rode back into town, tired, hungry, and the T's were disheartened to know all that yelling and tracking had been for naught. As we rode down the streets some people cheered and waved to Perceval and I, thinking we were the captives. The T's just nodded and smiled, content to let them think we were the rescued.

"Those T boys have done it again," said one old man. "Did you know they've been rescuing prisoners ever since their grandfather's time? Let me tell you, it is a great tradition they have."

The T clan was situated on the other side on town, but we were greeted by a score of children before we got there. They ranged from fourteen to two. Two boys about eight and six attacked Tyler's horse with squeals and smiles. Tyler scooped them up into a hug and said, "Thomas! Ted!"

Oh, great, more Ts. Thankfully it was only Tyler's father and sons that had T names besides the brothers. After all it was tradition for only the oldest son to name his sons with the letter T. All of the sisters and wives all of the other brother's family could name their kids whatever they wanted, just as long as they didn't start with T.

Confusing, eh?

Well, I was confused, but was glad I didn't have to memorize any girl names like Tracy or Tabitha or... or... yeah, Tabitha.

"Are those the prisoners?" asked a young girl who looked like she was twelve or thirteen. She looked like Troy with an up turned nose and bright red hair.

"Not exactly," said Theo and he quickly explained exactly what we were.

"Well, don't just stand there," she said looking up at us and shielding her eyes from the sun. "Get down from those horses and come into the camp site, the food is just ready. I can take your horses."

"No, no," I said quickly. I didn't want to run the risk of getting the girl kicked in the head. "Ares here is rather wild, so I'll take him."

He was already stamping his feet at the little kids who tried to get close and his eyes rolled dangerously. The girl looked at him for a moment then shrugged and took Perceval's and Theo's horses instead. Several other boys and girls grabbed the other horses and started out for a barn not far ahead. I followed them and tried to block out all the names I heard that were said back and forth. I was only supposed to remember Thian, Tyler, and Theo, remember? Ok, and Troy, he was easy.

"By the way," said the girl suddenly. "My name is Tabitha, what's yours?"

Tabitha. Oh great. So I did have to memorize that name.

"Jesse," I said, a little curtly.

"Where are you from, Jesse?"

"Depends on what you mean. I just came from the capitol, but I'm from Gaul."

"The capitol? Did you hear anything about Prince Lance being kidnapped?"

I rolled my eyes, surprised at my being such big news among the common folk. "Yes, I heard that he is not kidnapped."

"Oh." Her face fell. "Then that means Pa is right. Prince Lance did run away because of the princess. Pretty sad, huh? I thought he was braver than that. But then again, I heard that he really didn't like her at all, so I guess that is ok, becuase he is our Prince and he can do whatever he pleases, and we don't want to force him to do anything. See what I mean?"

"I'm not sure he ran away," I said. "He is braver than that."

"Really?" her eyes brightened. "Have you met him?"

"Ye...no, not really, no. But I hear a lot of gossip from the stable boys at the castle."

"Then you must hear first hand how he's ever so nice to his siblings, and so skilled at taking care of the horses, and how smart he is because he spends most of his time at the library. And...how how incredibly handsome he is..."

That startled me. How in the world did she hear all this? She exaggerated on me, dreadfully. I mean I wasn't nice to my siblings! Did she hear about the time I threatened to dump Jesse down the castle well, and I nearly did, and all his screaming made mother think he was being murdered. She must not have heard how I love to take the pins out of Elaine's hair, or embarrass her in front of the guys she has crushes on.

Or how when I was younger I would draw pictures of knights on all of my homework, and set my teacher into such a frenzy he had to be taken to the hospital wing. Ok, so maybe I grew up and spent half of my time in the library and the other half in the stables, but still! I've been thrown off by hundreds of horses that had taken a dislike to me. Humph, so much for my skill with horses. But then I suppose the story of how I tamed Ares got around.

That made me nervous. I hoped none of the people around here had heard of a great big bay horse with a fiery spirit belonging to the Prince of Adelfos. 'Cause if they did I would be toast.

We led the horses into the stalls and Tabitha continued to go on and on about how much she knew and adored the Prince of Adelfos. I felt extremely uncomfortable. After all what do you do with a little girl that has a crush on you, but she doesn't know she's gushing about you in front of your face?

"Tabitha, leave off with your talking about the Prince," said one of the older girls. "I'm sure the guest wants to keep his ears on. Excuse my sister," she said turning to me. "She is overly infatuated with our Prince."

I nodded sheepishly and looked around for a face I recognized. I saw Perceval sitting in a ring around a fire with all of the T brothers. They were laughing about something. Perceval only smiled, and I was glad she was having such a good time. Theo suddenly said something and then to my horror Perceval laughed.

No, she did not just laugh, and no I'm not jealous. But it was not a Perceval laugh. It was a Minerva laugh. In other words, she sounded exactly like girl. I gulped as Theo and Tyler looked at her in surprise, and her hand flew to her mouth as she blushed.

I stepped up, ready to save the day. "Gosh, Percy," I said. "I thought you had gotten over the squeak."

She chuckled nervously in a Perceval way. "So did I," she said.

"That's ok," said Tyler. "Troy still squeaks and it's quite funny to hear him giggle."

"I don't giggle!" cried Troy indignantly.

"Sure, you just laugh and talk like a little girl."

The teasing went on, and I would have joined in but Perceval nudged me, indicating she wanted to talk to me alone.

"Lance, I'm afraid they've suspected, Thian to be exact."

"Why do you say that? It was just a giggle."

She frowned. "I just do. Tyler as well. These people are not nearly as dumb as Robina's men and..."

"Oh, and I am," I huffed. "I don't put myself or Robina in the catagory of being dumb."

"I didn't mean that," she said quickly. "It's just that, well, I think my gift is failing."

"What? You mean to tell me you have a gift for acting like a teenage boy and that gift is not as sharp as it use to be?"

She hesitated. "Basically, yes."

I swallowed my temper or indignation. It was as if she expected me to believe all this. She sounded like those wild men when they said their trap was sacred. I reminded myself to treat her as a good little girl, but still, this was agravating.

"What do you want me to do about it?" I asked.

"I just want to leave this place, and continue on to wherever we were going in the first place."

"We'll leave tommorrow. Is that all you wanted to tell me?"

She seemed very embarrassed and down hearted; that made me feel bad. I added, "I guess what you said also meant I better be on my guard and be ready to cover you for you, eh? Like saying you still squeak."

Her face brightened. "Correct. You'll have to cover me more often."

"No problem. It's actually rather fun." I turned to go.

"Lance, I..." she stopped and I turned back, waiting.

"Yes?"

She hesitated and sighed, "You'll have to ask for food, the food on the donkey got spoiled and there wasn't very much."

"What! Dang it. Ok, thanks for telling me. I'm sure the T clan has plenty of food."

She looked at me a little confused then rolled her eyes and followed me back to the fire where the ladies were just handing out plates of food.

I quickened my step.

Princess Anastasia was not happy, not at all. She glared at the tavern keeper and asked, "I thought you said he'd be back."

"I did," said the man. "But I don't control the mind of the boy. So what if he decided to spend the night some place else, it's not my business, Princess."

Robina smirked at both the man and Anastasia as the princess yelled for a full minute about how she hated the man, the town, the country of Adelfos, and last but not least the stupid Prince of the horse land, before gasping for breath and saying sullenly to the keeper, "Do you have any idea where he might be?"

"Yes," said the man stoutly. "But I shan't tell you, Princess of Kuran."

Princess Anastasia gaped, blinked her eyes and straightened.

"Fine. Be that way."

"I can tell you, Princess Ana," said a male voice behind her.

The princess swung around and met the eyes of the most handsomest man she had ever seen. He was the Prince Charming she had read about in every fairy tale with blonde wavy hair, bright blue eyes, and a muscular tall frame.Unconciously she compared this man to Lance. He was fairer and slightly shorter than her runaway Prince, but with eyes so bright she nearly melted. She immediately stopped her gawking and said stiffly, "And who are you?"

Robina answered first with a gasp, a glare and then a firm punch to the man's jaw.

"That," she said menacingly. "Is my brother, Eric."