Disclaimer - By now, anyone who doesn't know what is mine and what is T.P.'s should stop reading my fanfic.

CHAPTER 9 – September - Son

Kiyra walked through the palace stable, singing a quiet song so that Stefan would know that it was a friend. It was after midnight, but Kiyra didn't want to talk to him. She did want to use the secret passageway that led up to the pages' wing.

Kiyra walked into the empty stall and removed the loose boards, exposing the hole and trapdoor. She yanked the iron ring and slid into the hole. Kiyra followed the winding passageway for about five minutes until she got to the little room. She could climb up another trapdoor and appear near the pages' stable, but she didn't want to do that. She continued down the passage, which started to get steeper.

Kiyra was going to visit Tyrell, Merci, Finn, and Toady. They had recently become pages. Rye and Emma could have become pages, but they had decided not to. Kiyra was glad, because she hated not seeing her Goats every day. Lars had been at sea for a month now. They had told the Goats that Lars had decided to join on and he had been allowed to say goodbye to his friends. There were the four pages, which just left Rye, Emma, Wren, and Dann.

Outside of a small door, Kiyra listened. She didn't hear anything and opened it cautiously. It opened into the stone pages' hallway. Kiyra knew which rooms her Goats were in and picked the lock of Tyrell's room.

Tyrell was sprawled out on his bed, just like he slept back in the Hovel. He looked tired and had a fresh black eye. His books and parchment were stacked neatly by his bed. Kiyra tiptoed up to him.

"Tyrell, you'd be dead by now if I was out to hurt you." She whispered into his ear. He jumped up wildly and calmed when he saw it was her.

"You scared me." His words were as crisp as if he hadn't just woken up.

"I'm sorry. How'd you get the shiner?"

"Some noble cat scratch thought Toady was easy pickings. He didn't know that Goats stick together like glue." Tyrell said venomously.

"So you gave him what you got?"

"He won't be bothering us again." Tyrell laughed.

"Not if he knows what's good for him." Kiyra agreed. "Are they giving you lessons on your Gift?"

"Yes, but I still go to the teacher Geoff got for me. He's real good. How is everything back home?" Tyrell wondered.

"Anna's teething already. Cart and Julie are really happy ever since they've gotten married. Cart's working at the carpenter shop and really enjoying it." Kiyra ran out of things to say.

"That's good." Tyrell replied. "So, what about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"What about you? Gotten into any trouble lately?"

"I'm clean." Kiyra laughed, meaning that she hadn't done anything bad in a while. She really hadn't, apart from the loaf that she'd nicked for a street kid's breakfast.

"Listen, I'd better let you sleep. I hear that they work you pages hard." Kiyra hugged Tyrell and left the room.

Next was Finn's room. Kiyra was halfway through picking the lock when the door was yanked open.

"Finn, it's just me!" Kiyra whispered.

He grinned sheepishly. "I thought it was one of the pages." He let her in and shut the door behind them.

Turning, Finn called out to the bed. "Toady, it's just Kiyra. You can come out."

Toady popped out from under the bed and grinned up at Finn and Kiyra.

Kiyra shook her head. "Breaking rules already?"

"We were working on the schoolwork. It's hard." Finn complained.

"We can already do stuff better than the other pages. It isn't fair." Toady whined.

"You knew that being pages wouldn't be easy." Kiyra reminded them. "It's all about being the best that you can and working until you drop."

"I know, I know." Finn groaned, candlelight reflecting off his black skin. "All of our teachers reminded us that a million times already."

"Help the poor, protect the weak…." Toady began and Finn clamped his hand around Toady's mouth.

"Can you help us with our work?" Finn begged.

"No," Kiyra laughed. "Face your own consequences. Geoff already made me learn what you're doing. I'm done."

Finn and Toady dropped their heads in their hands and moaned.

"Stop that!" Kiyra yelped, feeling guilty. "Here, let me help."

The two boys immediately stopped and looked triumphantly at each other. Once again, Kiyra felt bested.

It only took ten minutes of Kiyra's explaining and demonstrating for them to finish their work. Kiyra left them with the advice of maybe paying attention in class in the future.

Merci was asleep over her schoolwork. It was only half-done. Kiyra shook her awake.

"Hello, Kiyra." Merci's voice was slurred. Kiyra knew that she must be exhausted. The Goats still worked hard, but pages were pushed to the limit.

"Hey, Merci. I'll tell you the answers, but you have to write them down." Kiyra was always easier on Merci than the boys because she wasn't constantly planning mischief.

"Thanks. I didn't want to get in trouble, but I was so tired."

"I know. Just work hard and don't give in. I know you can do it." Kiyra hugged Merci. "Now, for those answers."

Merci fell asleep again after the last answer was copied down. Kiyra smiled wryly, almost wishing that her four Goats weren't pages. Then again, she knew that was selfish. Kiyra was proud of all of them, though.

Kiyra and Geoff were sitting in the common room of the Dancing Dove a week after Kiyra had visited her Goats. Both were sipping from tankards of ale and talking between sips.

"King Jonathon said that he could increase our fund, but only by five percent. I know it's better than nothing, but still."

"Geoff, things will go better. The earthquake damage is almost repaired. Just wait." Kiyra assured him.

Geoff's eyes started to look mischievous, but he kept them focused right on Kiyra's eyes. She raised an eyebrow in confusion at him.

An arm wrapped around her neck and cut off her air supply. Kiyra panicked for a second, but calmed down when she saw that Geoff was doing nothing. If she had been in trouble, Geoff would have helped. Kiyra relaxed and the arm loosened. She whipped around to see who it was.

"Tyrell, you little monster." Kiyra greeted him. "Finn, Toady, and Merci? What are you all doing here?" They were dressed in simple breeches and cotton shirts.

"We took the passage." Toady explained. "It's not allowed, but if we don't get caught…"

"We brought someone we want you to meet." Merci moved aside to reveal another page.

Back in January of last year, the Goats had spied on the pages as they were training. Lars had cheered when a younger boy had bested an older boy. The page that stood before them was that younger boy.

"I'm Hashim of the Bloody Hawk." He said, a little nervously and quietly. The second-year was about Finn's height and had long shanks of black hair.

"His mother was taught by the Lioness." Merci supplied. "Her name was Kara."

"The Lioness stayed with his tribe for almost a year after she was made a knight." Toady bragged for his friend. Hashim ducked his head with embarrassment.

"Hashim sponsored me." Finn looked thankfully at the page. "No one else would, 'cause of my dark skin. Most of the open-minded pages already took them three."

"Thanks." Kiyra told the boy. "I appreciate it."

"Fianola and Johanna took me and Merci." Toady said. "Jasson took Tyrell."

Kiyra had heard of the two fourth-year girls and the third-year prince. She was proud that her Goats had been taken by such as them. Hashim seemed like a good type, too.

"They had punishment work AND schoolwork to do tonight, so they couldn't come." Tyrell explained.

"Oh." Merci remember her manners. "This is Kiyra and this is Geoff."

"It's nice to meet you, Hashim." Geoff offered.

The page's eyes were wide. "You're the Rogue Majesty!"

Geoff's eyes twinkled. "Call me Geoff. Any friend of the Goats is a friend of mine. Any of you want a drink? Lemonade? Ale?"

"Randy!" Kiyra called out to the bartender. "We need two lemonades and two ales over here! Thanks!"

Once the four pages were sitting with their drinks, Kiyra and Geoff proceeded to quiz them about their lessons and weapons training. They treated Hashim like one of the Goats and he began to feel comfortable.

"Hey, look!" Toady shouted in the middle of Finn describing the palace food. "It's Cart!"

Cart had entered the Dove's door and was heading straight for Geoff's usual table. "Anna is sleeping through the night now!"

Kiyra and Merci were familiar with Anna's fussiness and both cheered. Geoff looked grateful, because being Cart's best friend, he had heard numerous complaints about it.

"So Anna sleeps through the night and you come to celebrate?" Tyrell teased.

"Yep." Cart said proudly. Kiyra rolled her eyes.

"So, how's Julie then?" Geoff asked.

"Catching up on lost rest." The redheaded father grabbed a pint and chugged it. Hashim looked impressed.

"Cart can sure hold his ale." Tyrell told Hashim.

"I guess so." The newcomer's eyes were wide at the racket and bright colors of the Dove.

"Don't you pages need to be up with the sun?" Cart asked. The Goats ignored him.

"Where are Rye and Emma and Dann and Wren?" Merci searched the common room with her eyes.

"They're in the Hovel." Kiyra informed her.

"Can I go get them?" Toady jumped off of his chair and raced off without waiting for an answer.

Within minutes, the four sleepy-eyed Goats stumbled into the room, followed by Toady.

"Hashim, this is Rye and Emma." Tyrell began the introductions.

"They're twins." Merci added.

"I think I could tell." Hashim said with mirth. Rye and Emma had the same olive skin and dark curly hair. The only differences between them were the hair length and Rye looked manlier.

"Wren is that one and Dann's the little guy." Finn smirked as Dann scowled at the 'little' in front of his name.

"This is Hashim." Tyrell pointed to him. "He's a page with us."

"Pleasure." Hashim said. "So all of you are the Goats?"

"Lars is at sea." Dann reminded them.

Emma looked at the ground. "Cole died this July."

Hashim looked awkward. "I'm sorry."

"He killed the one who did it first." Finn said with cold fury.

Kiyra knew that they needed to think of lighter things. "Remember when Cole glued Geoff's britches to his bench?"

Tyrell grinned. "That was back when Geoff was just a little pick."

"Geoff had to climb out of his pants to escape." Cart gloated at Geoff's reddened face.

"Well, remember the time that I smoked out the outhouse while you were in it?" Geoff asked Cart.

Kiyra bent over with laughter. "Cart ran out in a flash and tripped on his britches, which were still around his ankles!"

"Oh, yah?" Cart challenged. "Remember the time that you got caught for stealing that rock and going to the temple?"

Kiyra knew where this was going. "Cart…" She warned.

Tyrell finished where Cart had left off. "And Geoff kissed you in front of everybody?"

"Yah, but that time…"

Kiyra whistled as she climbed the stairs to Geoff's room. Geoff used his room as an office, so that was usually where he could be found when he was working on the Rogue.

Kiyra rapped sharply on his door and waited for a reply. She narrowed her eyes, hearing voices inside. They paused when they heard the knock.

"Kiyra, come in!" Geoff called. Kiyra pushed the door open, curious to see who Geoff was talking to.

No one else was in the room.

"Who were you talking to?" Kiyra asked, peering around every corner.

"Never mind that." Geoff smiled at her. Kiyra frowned at him and checked the window. It was open and the curtains were blowing in the breeze.

"Did he leave from there?" Kiyra wondered.

"That's for me to know and you to never find out." Geoff teased Kiyra, who glared at him. "Did you need something?"

"Yes. Something strange happened down at the Market district this morning. Rye was there and he told me that a little street kid blew up a stall. The funny thing was, the kid wasn't any older than Dann, probably lots younger. Rye said that he got caught stealing meat pies and panicked. The shop owner wasn't outside the stall, grabbing the boy's arm, or else he would have burned with his stall."

Geoff sat silent for a moment. "I've heard already."

"What should we do?" Kiyra asked. "I mean, he obviously needs some help, but Rye tried finding him and the kid had disappeared."

"What do you want me to do?" Geoff looked thoughtful.

"I think we should find him." Kiyra said finally. "Not only does he need some training and probably a place to stay, but if he gets into the wrong hands…"

"I like the way she thinks." A voice behind Kiyra caused her to whirl in surprise and fright.

It was a man, about as tall as Kiyra, with white and gray hair and beard. He wore simple breeches and a tunic, but wore lots of gaudy jewelry. Kiyra recognized him as the man who she had seen after Anna had been born. Once again, she got the feeling that she had seen him before, and not just that time.

"What…how…" Kiyra blurted.

The man laughed at her confusion, but soon got control of himself. "You're right. You need to find this boy. His name is Demi. Don't forget that, or your job will be harder."

Kiyra snorted indignantly. "So, you're giving me a job? I don't even know you. I don't have to do what you say."

The man chuckled. "Do what you wish. But believe me, it will backfire on you."

"How can you tell?" Kiyra asked scornfully. "Are you some kind of mage or fortune-teller?"

The man's laughter grew louder. "You could say that."

Kiyra turned to look at Geoff. "Is this what you want me to do?"

"You better do what he says." Geoff smirked.

Kiyra scowled and turned back to the man.

He was gone.

Kiyra turned around again.

"Geoff, I'm not doing this 'cause he told me to. I'm not. I'm doing it because you told me to. Really. Oh, do shut up."

"Shouldn't we stop looking now?" Wren asked. "He's nowhere and it's getting dark."

Kiyra paused. "I think that we should keep going. That man had seemed kind of important. I should probably listen to him."

"What if a bad guy gets him?" Dann demanded. "Will he get hurt?"

"Yes." Kiyra said. "That's why we have to keep going."

"Kiyra!" Emma ran towards her. "A pick told me and Rye that there was a boy living in an old warehouse."

"Where's Rye?" Kiyra asked.

"He went ahead." Emma looked stunned as she realized what he had done.

A shout and the smell of smoke caught their attention. Kiyra tore off in the direction of the sound, with Emma, Wren, and Dann close behind.

"Rye!" Kiyra screamed. She found the warehouse easily enough, damaged and with a thin trail of black smoke pouring out a broken window. Kiyra whipped open the door.

Rye had backed up into the wall and a boy was standing before him. Flames were licking the boy's hands, but he didn't seem to mind.

"Demi!" Kiyra shouted. "Stop that right now!"

Demi backed off and the flames disappeared. Kiyra knelt and gestured to the boy. He walked up cautiously. Kiyra gently put her hands on his shoulders.

Demi looked to be about three years old. The boy had tight, wiry blond curls and plaintive blue eyes. He was pale and smudged with soot. He was wearing tattered clothes and was barefoot.

"We want to help you." Kiyra explained with a kind smile. "No one's going to hurt you now."

"Are you her?" Demi asked in a clear, sweet voice. "Are you me mama?"

Kiyra blinked in shock and was speechless.

"You look like the one in my dreams. He said you was." Demi's face pleaded for her to agree with him.

"Yes. I am your mother." Kiyra followed her feelings.

Demi smiled widely and Kiyra pulled him towards her in a hug. She stood, still holding him. He rested his head on her shoulder.

Rye, Emma, Wren, and Dann were frozen still. "Does Geoff know?" Rye asked in a scandalized voice.

"Geoff's the father." Kiyra joked. Rye's jaw dropped even further. "C'mon, let's go home."

"Geoff!" Kiyra knocked on his door. "Open the door!"

Geoff pulled the door open and his eyes widened when he saw the sleeping boy. Kiyra walked in and carefully set Demi down on the bed. Geoff closed the door so that they could talk privately.

"You found him." Geoff sounded surprised.

"Geoff, he's convinced that I'm his mother. I guess he saw me in a dream, but how could that be?"

Geoff thought for a minute, then burst out into laughter. Kiyra pouted.

"Let's just say that the mage probably sent him those dreams. He would think of it as a joke."

"But it's not funny!" Kiyra protested. "What am I supposed to do?"

"I think that you'd make a good mother." Geoff teased.

"I can't be a mother! I'm not even sixteen yet!"

"I'm sure you'll manage." Geoff turned away, choking back his guffaws.

"That's not fair." Kiyra said petulantly.

All further conversation was cut off when Demi stirred and opened his eyes.

"Mama, who's that?"

Kiyra smiled impishly. "This is your Da." Geoff softly groaned.

"I got a da, too?"

"You have a da." Kiyra looked at Geoff to see how he was taking her joke.

Geoff plopped down on the bed next to his 'son.' "Demi, do you want to learn to throw knives?"

Kiyra gasped and put her hands on her hips. "He's only three! Can't you wait a year or two?"

"I'm big." Demi said proudly. "I'll learn."

"You always worry to much." Geoff teased Kiyra.

"I do not! Fine, teach him. I hope he throws the knife into your head."

Next chapter will include the entrance of Kiyra's family and clear the air there. Can't anyone guess who the mage-man is?