Alright, this was a hard chapter to write.
Sorry it took so long, traveling and the fact that I'm trying to keep my writing a secret is why I didn't update in such a long time
I made this one ultra long to make up for the lack of updates
Please review!
The ride had started early, just as it did every day.
Everyone was used to the routine by now, and Gilan learned that traveling with people really helps you learn about them.
With only a few days of travel left, Cassandra could feel the nerves settling in.
She had never conducted a ceremony, let alone by herself.
When they stopped for the day, as they did every day, Horace found her still on her horse, a frown etched on her face, deep in thought.
"You know, you're face will get stuck like that, if you keep it up," Horace joked trying to get her attention.
"Huh? Oh sorry Horace, just thinking." Cassandra said, before she continued her thinking.
"Thinking, or worrying?" Horace asked simply, with a small smile on his face.
Cassandra got down from her horse and whispered, "Worrying." She stated simply, a worried look on her face.
She continued, "If I do anything wrong, it won't only look bad on my part, but my father will look bad too. And that's the worst thing I could ever do, disappoint him" She said in a very low voice.
"Cassie, I can't believe you of all people would worry about that." Horace said smiling, "Honestly, if your father, or Halt, or Crowley didn't think you could handle it, they wouldn't have sent you."
Cassandra's mouth curled into a sweet smile without her noticing.
Without thinking she hugged Horace tenderly, grateful that she had such a great friend.
Horace, taken by surprise in the first few seconds, then bent down and kissed her forehead.
Clera and Gilan could not help but smile each other at the scene they had seen through the corner of their eyes.
Clera unconsciously took Horace's bowl, scooping more of the delicious stew she had made in it.
Horace smiled lazily, "Can you read people's mind?" he asked.
"Of course not darling," Clera began, handing the bowl back to Horace, "There's no such thing as a mind reader."
"I beg to differ," Gilan began, "As a child, she always knew what the horses were thinking, and she always knew what Mac Niel wanted."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Clera said smiling, her cheeks flushing, "It's all just observations."
"Really good observations," Gilan threw in.
"No, it's," Clera began, only to be interrupted by Gilan again.
"Then why don't you show us your wonderful observations?" Gilan challenged.
"No." Clera answered simply, wanting to change the subject.
"But why not?" Will asked, crestfallen.
"Because I have nothing to prove to you all." Clera replied.
"Of course you do, I've just met you," Horace began, "I want to know, please" he added sweetly.
"Plus you could prove to us that they are observations, not telepathy." Cassandra added hopefully.
Clera could not resist the sweet looks in their eyes, "Fine" She finally said quietly.
"Tell us something about Gilan" Cassandra stated excitedly.
"No" Horace frowned, "She's known him too well. We need someone more mysterious."
Everyone smiled, Horace was truly clever.
A grin crept on everyone's face as they all gazed to Halt.
"Absolutely not" Halt said.
"Oh come on Halt!" Will began.
"What's the harm anyway, eh Halt? Is there something about you past you don't want us to know?" Gilan challenged, a grin on his face.
Wow, he's good Clera thought to herself.
Halt coughed, "Of course not." He said simply.
"Do your stuff." Gilan said to Clera, turning her towards Halt.
A wide, and beautiful grin spread across Clera's face, after staring at him in thought for a while.
"Are you sure you want me to tell them?" Clera asked, a huge grin across her face.
"What? Of course, go ahead, what do I have to hide?" Halt said, his voice faltering.
She drives everyone nuts Gilan thought, grinning to himself.
"Does the Devil in Disguise sound familiar?" Clera asked, still grinning.
Halt felt his jaw tighten, his eyes widen.
He coughed and the said, "I don't know what you're talking about." He said.
"Who is the Devil in Disguise?" Horace asked, curiosity blooming.
"It's him, Halt, you're no devil in disguise, and you're as straight minded as a man could be!" Cassandra said, astonished.
"Then I probably shouldn't tell you all about Katherine, then, should I?" Clera said her grin widening.
"Who's Katherine?" Will interrogated, a smile blooming on his face.
Halt stayed silent, glaring at Gilan, and then looking back at Clera.
"No," Clera shook her head, "I would never do that to Halt." She said, smiling sweetly at him.
"Please," The three of them implored.
"Halt will tell you if he wants to" she told them tenderly, putting her hand on each of their cheeks.
Gilan grinned at her attitude; she had always been a great friend.
Halt nodded to her gratefully before getting up to make preparations to sleep.
Everyone followed him, making their own preparations.
"And you men better bathe," Clera began jokingly, "You smell like awful stew."
They all smiled.
Clera woke by the sound of Halt reaching to his longbow.
She looked over without moving to see that he had been on watch, and had spotted danger.
She got up swiftly and reached over to Horace's sword which she unsheathed skillfully.
"How many are there?" Clera asked quietly and solemnly, besides Halt.
"I counted six; there may be less, though. They just look like a bunch of highway robbers." Halt continued, "We should be able to take them without the other waking up."
Clera nodded in agreement right before Halt began to speak, "Show yourselves," he began.
"Oh, some courage we have here doesn't us?" A filthy voice spoke from behind the bushes and trees.
They then began to come out of the shadows, six by six.
First there were six, then twelve, then eighteen.
Where did they all come from? Clera asked herself how did Halt miscalculate them by this much?
She looked over to see Halt unfazed by his miscalculations, but that was how he always was.
She realized that the two of them would need more help.
She met Halt's gaze and he nodded, he had been thinking the same thing.
She slowly made her way over to Gilan, trying to walk unnoticed.
She kicked his shoulder lightly, trying to wake him.
She kicked harder, and faster, more in panic as she saw one of the men making their way over to her.
Halt tried to fake a coughing fit, to draw attention to him.
They did not buy it, because the man was near enough to Clera to see what she was trying to do.
"Mmm… Halt I think it's a little early," Gilan began sleepily, not moving.
Clera saw white as she received a blow to her head, falling to the ground.
That had woke Gilan up, who rose to his feet instantly.
A voice came from the other side of the fire, "Does this one look important?" a weak voice asked, his grubby hands pulling Cassandra's hair up, waking her.
Her face was etched is a frown, after she woke up with a shriek.
The largest man, who took out Clera, who seemed to be their leader, made his way over to her.
His large, ugly, dirty face got to close to Cassandra's face for Gilan to bear.
He nodded to Halt, before counting to three silently.
Simultaneously, Halt ran to Cassandra's aid, as Gilan watched defended his blind side.
Gilan and Halt worked great as a team, soon joined by drowsy Will and Horace, who had waken from the sounds.
The leader, noticing all the casualties, decided cowards' way out.
He noticed the man who had been sleeping, trying to be woke up by the beautiful girl, was stabbed, and he was lying in his own blood by the girl.
"Come on men, they're not worth it," he announced, fleeing.
"What about the girl?" one of them asking, his filthy grip on her wrist.
"Take her." Were the simple words the evil man said before leaving.
Aww… I feel so mean leaving you all a cliffy like this one!
No, I don't hate Cassandra, I actually much prefer her over Alyss
And no, I don't hate Gilan, he's actually is my favorite.
Don't be mad, next chapter will answer plenty of questions!
Don't forget to give me the wonderful Christmas gift of… yes you know it… REVIEWING
Please? Thanks!