Time to see Romeli kick some bad guy butt.

Song for this Chapter: Get Ur Freak On -- Missy Elliott

Chapter 21: Or So She Thought Part Two

In the last chapter...

Okay so James is in his tent and he can't sleep so he goes to see Romeli. Romeli has a scary nightmare and goes to the wall to control her thoughts. James finds her at the wall and they talk for like half of the chapter, and then go to bed. The next day Romeli helps fix the wall with her dad. That night James and Romeli see this light in the distance and they're all like, "Holy shrimp what the crap is that?" And then Romeli finds out it's a bunch of evil Scanran raider guys out to kill them.

James's bright eyes widened. "Gods are you sure? Maybe it's just an illusion." There was fear showing in his voice.

"I know what I saw," Romeli snapped, her mind buzzing. They had to do something, and quick.

"James," she started, trying to control her rocking heart and uneven breath. "Go and get help."

James looked at her shocked. "Romeli, I'm not leaving you. Daine or Numair have probably sensed it by now."

Romeli looked closely at the quickly advancing Scanrans. Something was different about them. Even she didn't sense them with her Gift or wild magic. She only noticed them by sight, and apparently James didn't sense it either.

"I don't think so," she told him. "Just go James. Better now than later when we're all dead."

James, deciding not to retort, bit his lip and ran away towards Roaul's quarters.

Romeli stared at the upcoming lights as she gripped the wall with shaking hands. The faint wind made her green hair brush against her cheeks. She was afraid. What if something happened and she couldn't somehow defend the fort? What if there was a storm?

Despite the ongoing attackers, she couldn't help but look up into the sky to see the state of weather. She sighed with relief to find that the night sky was clear and cloudless.

As if a weather check was enough to give her confidence, she raised her trembling hands and closed her eyes.

Okay focus, she said to herself, trying to calm her galloping heart. She slowly brought out as much Gift as she could. The blackness of her closed eyelids turned emerald, the Gift illuminating the night brightly. Pools of emerald light skipped around her in a large circle. She grinned, feeling the power and control. She could do anything with so much power…

No. I won't listen to that, she told herself sternly as she stared at the advancing Scanrans. There were more important things at hand.

She just had to wait for the right moment. Then she would be able to hold it long enough for the Northwatch soldiers to get fully prepared.

Any time now.

James should be warning Roaul about now, Romeli thought as she stared at the Scanrans with fear. The warning bell should come soon, but not soon enough.

Then something hit her. Where were the guards? Wasn't it their job to warn others? Were they lazing on the job again? Or even worse? This seemed to be no ordinary battle, indeed.

Time had run out to think. Her mind tugged back to the Sanrans. She closed her eyes and brought out her Gift deeper, shielding the fort with a great emerald bubble.

There were loud cries of rage from below her as the Scanrans stared at the barrier outraged and confused. She peeked over the wall, still holding her concentration, to look at their reactions. They stopped in front of the fort and stared at the shield.

Minutes later, the warning bell chimed as expected. Yells and commands came from the inside of the fort, and she could sense candles light up the rooms of soldiers from below. The battle had begun.

Romeli began to lose her fear, knowing that help was on the way. She felt vulnerable and alone knowing that no one knew about the attackers but her and James. Protecting Northwatch with her shield became much easier.

Footsteps came up behind her and she quickly turned around to face Roaul with a flustered face. Romeli smiled in greeting and turned back around to resume her concentration on the shield.

Roaul come up behind her and stood next to her with his cool hand on her shoulder.

"You're quite the little mage, Romeli," Roaul pointed out as he stared at the shield. Apparently, from his calm voice, everything was under control. "You brought your father back from the dead, you're pitless, it's just so—amazing."

Romeli smiled weakly at him, sweat dripping down her face from concentrating on the shield and talking at the same time. "I'm not sure amazing is the word for it sir," she said, her voice was clipped in concentration.

Roaul flinched. "Please, call me Roaul. I'm old enough as it is." He stroked his gray streaked hair. "Well down to business," he said clasping his hands. Leaning on the wall, he studied the threat below him, slight panic showing through his eyes. But Roaul was experienced. He had been in much worse predicaments before.

"Sir—er—Roaul," Romeli said also looked at the confused Scanrans below them, their voices and Northwatch's filling her ears. "Something isn't right about this. I don't know what but, it feels wrong. Where were the night guards keeping watch? Why didn't I sense the danger with my Gift or Wild Magic before I saw it?" She looked at Roaul for an answer.

The commander screwed up his face in thought. "That's quite the question. But now is not a good time to answer. I myself don't know. Right now our biggest concern is the threat at hand." He motioned his hands towards the soldiers trying to get to Northwatch with no avail. Romeli nodded.

More footsteps came bustling up the stairs. Roaul and Romeli turned around to face Daine, Numair, and Dom walking towards them.

"Ah, so that's where the green bubble came from," Dom said, his curiosity obviously taken care of. "I should have guessed."

Romeli smiled. "Hello to you too."

Dom grinned, but then turned serious as he looked at Roaul. "The soldiers are mounting this very moment. Faleron was kind enough to command them to battle, but we're going to be out numbered. I assume you don't want the pages out there?"

"Gods no. We want them to survive before knighthood don't we?" Roaul joked. "I'm guessing there are about two hundred Scanrans out there. Against out one hundred soldiers, it's not nearly enough."

"We do have Laloria's group," Dom pointed out. "I put them out on archery and should be here any minute. That's not a problem with you is it?" Dom asked.

"Of course it isn't." Roaul said, obviously not concerned about Dom's decision. "We shouldn't be worried. We have our secret weapon."

Romeli froze, her concentration faltering slightly. Why did every conversation have to turn to her and her 'amazing abilities'?

Numair walked over towards Romeli protectively. "What are you planning on doing?"

"Well with her plant magic, she could always trip the soldiers. And her endless Gift could destroy them in no time," Dom suggested as he looked at Numair. His eyes were steady.

Daine looked up sharply from where she stood surprised. She didn't say anything however. It was time for Romeli to fight her own battles.

And that's exactly what Romeli did. She looked up at Dom amazed. "Is that what you think I am? A weapon of destruction!? Just because I have and endless Gift, doesn't mean I can destroy two hundred men. And even if I could, it doesn't mean I should," she said hardly. "Just for once can my abilities be forgotten? Can you just look at me like I'm just like everyone else? I may only be fourteen but I know foolishness and stupidity when I see it."

"She's right you know," Numair said. "Sometimes it's nice to have war mages to help you, but not to do all the work by themselves. Mages are used as a last resource when it comes to battle.

Something, a weird feeling rushed through Romeli randomly. It was a wave of—energy. It was pulling her, urging her that something—danger—was coming. She shivered and quickly turned around just in time to blow up a boulder flying towards them. Somehow it had gotten through her defense

Her shield shattered as she lost her concentration.

The fighting had commenced.

Their previous discussion was forgotten as Roaul turned around to face the Scanran enemy. "Sergeant Domitan. I want archers up here, and I want them now!" he ordered.

Dom nodded and ran down the steps to get the riders.

Roaul heard the gate of Northwatch open and the sound of horses galloping towards the raiders filled their ears. The raiders, who had started to run towards the fort, stopped in fear of the soldiers. Seconds later, the two enemies collided in battle, soaking the winter ground with blood and bodies.

Romeli sat against the wall, her back against the battle, feeling a little lightheaded. Numair sat down with her, and put his arm around her. Daine seemed to be preoccupied with her bow, her aim deadly to anyone in range.

"Why did that boulder go through my shield?" Romeli asked her father confused. The sound of clashing swords abused her ears.

Numair smiled. "It's nothing out of the ordinary. The boulder was coated with Griffin Balm. It's an expensive balm that can make anything coated with it go through shields. They can only be applied by mages however."

"So there's a mage here."

"Precisely," Numair said. "If we destroy the mage, then we will raise the percentage of winning."

Romeli looked at him. "You mean if you destroy the mage," Romeli retorted. There was no way her father would give her such a dangerous thing to do.

"Romeli, it's going to be tough—."

Romeli shook her head. "No Dad. Just go. I'll be fine all by my lonesome," she said dramatically. "Leave me. I'll take care of Giant Killer over there." Romeli saw Roaul's mouth twitch. She turned on him. "OI! STOP LISTENING YOU BABBOON! We're having a PRIVATE conversation here!" Roaul threw up his hands and walked away to a quieter place. "Go Dad. Leave me!"

Numair shrugged and walked away.

Romeli glared. As she watched Numair's lean body retreat down the stairs, she thought of what to do. She would have loved to use her Gift, but it was obvious that she was too high up to attack enemies without risking soldiers' lives. Her plant magic also had the same fault. Archery was taken care of, and there was no time to fetch her bladed staff. That left only one thing, Wild Magic.

What would a good animal be? Hawks had sharp claws and beaks, plus they were fast...but would that really make a difference?

She sighed. Once again it comes to this. Do I dare turn into a dragon? Could I be good enough to actually somehow use their powerful magic? She bit her lip until she felt it become raw and puffy. Quickly she jogged down the stairs.

She needed advice from a certain somebody.

Sitting behind the nearest building so no one could see her, she called her Guardians.

Sclythe? Old White? She pleaded. The voice in her mind desperate. I need your help, please?

There was a large whisp of smoke, and for a minor second, Romeli was worried that someone might see. Old White stood before her gallantly, his eyes seemed tired.

Yes? Old White asked. His voice carried a yawn. You have disrupted my slumber.

I apologize, Romeli said. I have a question. Old White stared at her, silently ushering her to continue. We're under attack. And I'm scared—I guess—excited also. But I want to help; I feel like I need to help or…well that isn't important. I just want to know if…

If you have the experience to fight as a dragon, Old White finished.

Romeli nodded. You know me too well.

Old White showed his teeth in a wolf grin, mischievous and wise eyes staring into her own. Do you think you're ready?

Romeli thought for a rushed moment, hearing the war cries and sword clashing through the fort's walls. No, I don't think I am. I mean, I've only been a full dragon once. It was hard enough without the magic.

Old White nodded, obviously not disturbed or flustered from the battle going on as Romeli was. Understood. And if that's the case, I would not risk it. You could destroy yourself, and others. Use your weapon. You sure haven't touched it in a while.

But is there time to—

Not if you keep talking there won't be. Now go. Romeli nodded. Old White quickly vanished in his silvery smoke.

As quickly as she could, she ran back to the stables. Hey at least she could help a little bit. The last thing she wanted to do was watch people die while she lazed about safely inside of the fort's rocky walls.

While she was running, she lacked to see surprised emerald eyes staring at her meeting place that she was at only moments ago.

Entering the warm stables was like stepping into a sauna. Her numbing hands began to fell prickly and warm as hot blood beat throughout her shivering body. No time to savior the heat now, she thought, though the temptation to stay by the horses and fur was hard to break. She quickly entered her own little stall and snatched her bladed staff from where it leaned on the wall.

Hey Shadow, Romeli welcomed as she entered her horse's stall. She picked up the saddle and began to strap it onto a curious Shadowdancer.

Um…where are we going? Shadowdancer asked look at her from one eye as she bent her slender neck to look behind. And why do you have your staff?

Romeli fumbled with the saddle straps, something was wrong with the buckle. "Ah screw it," Romeli said putting the saddle back on the ground. She preferred bareback anyway. We're going to go and fight the enemy outside, and to do that...I need both you and my weapon. She quickly mounted Shadowdancer. Let's go, Shadow!

OOO

When she went past the protection of Northwatch's fort, the cries in agony and clashing swords became louder. She held her bladed staff at the ready as she galloped towards the battle.

I'll have to be extra careful, she thought. I'm guessing people usually don't see green haired girls on the battlefield.

Her nearest opponent was a tall man, dressed in the Scanran colors like all the raiders were. He gripped an uncared for sword tightly

Romeli could easily tell that the raider was distracted by her appearance. Using that to her advantage, she brought up her staff and attempted to slice his throat.

The fast move jerked the raider out of his trance. As quickly as he could, he brought up his jagged sword to block the fatal attack.

Instead of the slice killing him, her blade made but a shallow cut along his throat.

Romeli brought up her blade again. The raider, thinking that the strange girl was once again trying to get to his throat, brought his sword to his neck again. Instead, Romeli tricked him and quickly brought the blade of her staff back down to cut him deeply in the stomach.

The raider fell to the ground and did not rise.

Romeli did not waste time to check if he was actually dead or not. She quickly maneuvered her horse around to the next opponent.

She spun her staff quickly and chopped it down on the nearest raider. The blade cut through his head like butter.

There was a sound flying past her. She quickly looked up. Flying over the battle was another fiery boulder about to land on Northwatch. Before she could think otherwise, she threw her free hand up and exploded the threat with her Gift. The remains of the boulder rained down on the people below. A rather large chunk fell on a Scanran's head and he crumpled to the ground.

She looked over to the place where the boulder came from as Shadowdancer fidgeted impatiently. How about we get rid of those catapults, shall we Shadow? Shadowdancer whinnied in approval.

Romeli nodded and maneuvered Shadowdancer through the waves of fighting people. Romeli chopped down at any threatening Scanran as Shadowdancer wove over to their destination.

At last they arrived in sight of the catapult. They were now in a dangerous place, full of raiders as they operated the catapults. Five operated each of the two.

Okay Shadow, Romeli said through her mind. She patted her horse's mane for her worm comfort. Charge.

Romeli felt Shadowdancer's muscles flex beneath her and they bolted off towards the Scanrans.

OOO

The raiders were just about to load another magicked boulder into a catapult when they heard the sound of pounding hooves coming near them.

A Scanran raider with blonde hair wiped his sweaty and dirty face with a stained rag from. He looked up at the sound of the hooves pounding against the packed dirt, eyes widening at the sight before him.

It looked to be a goddess, or a demon, he couldn't tell. The light of her radiance and power was blinding his ability to See clearly. She rode on a powerful ebony chariot of a horse that seemed to ride freely and smoothly, like a canoe on glossy water. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her, and neither could the other soldiers.

When he saw the glistening of her weapon held tightly in her hand and the fire in her chaotic eyes, he knew that this thing coming towards him was no goddess. A God would not kill a human without good reason. He held up his sword with shaking hands. No demon deserved to live, not matter how good-looking they were.

But it was already too late. The demon had already chopped down on his body before his reflexes could even react.

OOO

Romeli pulled her blade out of the Scanran's head with clenched teeth. She gagged at the feeling of metal slicing against dry bone. Quickly she pivoted Shadow around on her hind legs to behead two other raiders.

She cried out when there was a shock of white, hot pain jumping up her leg from an attack.

The attacker was not a friendly one. He was tall and built tough. Every muscle seemed to bulge out of his body. He held a large two-handed axe with thick hands. Romeli saw her own blood dripping down the blade of the axe.

Despite her quickness and skill, Romeli could not help it. She gulped.

The man was the first to attack as he attempted to slice down on her body, but Romeli blocked the blow with the middle of her staff. Quickly, she jumped off of Shadowdancer.

Shadow, I need to do this alone, she told the horse through her mind. I think nimbleness is the key to this fight. She blocked another attempt on her life.

Shadowdancer nodded and loped off to do her damage to the catapult.

The man looked at her in disgust as if seeing a pile of moldy…cheese. "No demon has the right to fight me." He attacked down towards her side.

Romeli did not say anything as she blocked his axe with sore, shaking hands. There was nothing that she could say. I can't just stay on defense like this, she told herself. She felt blood drip down her leg from the wound.

She stepped back a couple of feet and then quickly began to run towards him. The man brought up his axe; ready for whatever drastic thing this 'demon girl' was going to do next.

What she did do however, was nothing that he expected.

When she was only a foot away from his massive body, she bent her knees and quickly jumped with all her might. She dug her heel into his shoulder, using that leverage to hoist herself on him. She then dug a blade of her staff into his shoulder before falling gracefully to the ground in the extended leg crouch position.

The man cried in agony from the stab and dropped his axe as he clutched at his bleeding shoulder. This was exactly what Romeli had hoped for. As the man clutched at his shoulder, blinded by pain, Romeli swept him off of his feet with her extended leg as she turned in her crouch. The man fell to the ground, the wind knocked out of him.

Romeli quickly stood up and gutted her opponent before turning to Shadowdancer. She grinned to find that her horse had single handedly dismounted a catapult and trampled a couple other Scanran raiders.

"Good job Shadow," Romeli said trying to get her breath back as she walked towards the mare. Shadow whinnied impatiently.

Romeli winced when she was only a couple feet away from her horse, and staggered a little. Quickly she held onto her horse so she could catch her balance. Dizziness swept over her and her vision began to cloud. She looked down to find her right leg drenched in blood. The long wound was beginning to clot.

Romeli swore and carefully sat down by Shadowdancer who looked at her in concern. Positioning her stinging leg so she could fix it better, she tore off her pant leg from the knee down.

The cut was once to brag about, that was for sure. It was on the side of her leg and went from a couple inches below her knee to a little above her ankle. Her stomach began to churn from seeing so much blood leave her body.

Picking up the ripped away part of her pants, she wrapped it tightly around her leg and wiped off the already slowing blood. Summoning her Gift, she began to heal it as quickly as she could.

When she was at last done, she had a long scar on her calf, and it was quite stiff and sore. Standing up and stretching it out quickly, yet carefully, she mounted Shadowdancer, bladed staff at hand. Time to destroy the second—and last—catapult.

The catapult was exactly like the last one, with the same amount of people and the same system to load it. There was however one problem, they were expecting her arrival.

The five raiders handling the catapult quickly abandoned the machine and mounted their horses standing by them. They came at her at a charge.

Shadowdancer did not falter as the raiders came at them; the fire and determination in Romeli's eyes did not lessen. She held up her bladed staff with two hands and maneuvered Shadowdancer with her hips.

When the raider's hit her, they hit her hard. Shadowdancer went on her hind legs threateningly, but the five raiders still bit and pinched at their flesh. She finally hit a raider with the flat of her blade and he crumpled to the ground.

While she hit the raider, a raider got lucky and sliced her hand that held her bladed staff. Her hand jolted as the sword cut through an important vein. The bladed staff slid out of her hand and skipped across the dirt ground.

As if this whole duel was somehow predicted, the four remaining raiders brought up the tip of their swords to her neck. Slowly, with wide eyes, she backed up.

She almost screamed when she felt the feeling of a tree behind her. Her blood went cold. Her mind wouldn't work.

They had her surrounded.

OOO

James walked out of the soldier's rooms with wide eyes and a sunken feeling. He had been ordered to fetch a map from the soldier's rooms. An innocent little task. But then, unexpectedly, he saw Romeli talking to something that had come out of smoke. More secrets.

But it wasn't the fact that once again Romeli was more than meets the eye, but that something about that wolf seemed familiar. What drove him crazy was that he forgot where he saw it.

James looked towards the wall that protected the fort from the raiders. The battle cries and sounds of weapons flooded his ear. There was no place he would rather be right now then out there fighting too.

He looked away from the wall with a sigh and continued his walk towards the pages' camp (a litter of tents in the square of the fort). He held the maps he had been ordered to get in his cold hands.

"Ah, good Jameson," Ryland called as he walked over towards the page. He took the maps from James' hands and slid them into his coat pocket. The two of them walked back to the center of the tent cluster

"Ry—uh—Sir," James corrected at Ryland's glare. "Why can't we fight?"

"You should be thankful you're not fighting ignorant fool," Ryland told him with his hard and forceful voice. "They will be fine without the help of clueless pages."

James looked up at him, his green eyes pleading. "I know I don't have to help, but I want to help. This is my country too, and even if I'm not out there fighting, I can still make a difference by doing something, right?"

Ryland looked down at him and he sighed wearily. "Fine. I guess you can help the healers in the infirmary. But I don't want to hear one complaint, understood?"

James nodded. "Thank you." The words were hard to say, but at least he could get away from the strict man for a little while in the infirmary. He walked off to the healers. Suddenly he stopped short remembering where he had seen that wolf.

It seemed that he was going to have to have a little talk with Romeli.

OOO

The soldiers began to advance on her. She felt the cold sharp points of their swords tease her throat. Fear rushed through her body. It was like being cornered by a hunter all over again.

She felt Shadowdancer shake in fear beneath her. The helplessness of her horse shook her out of her own fear. She pat Shadow's mane comfortingly.

She breathed in slowly. She had to do something soon or both of them would die.

"Surrender She-demon, and maybe we will let you live," said one soldier with a thick Scanran accent. She could barely understand what he said.

She grinned inwardly. Perfect. Slowly she raised her hands with her head down in surrender.

She sensed the soldier who spoke before smile. "Good. I'm sure our king will enjoy—."

But before the man could say another word, he, along with the other soldiers, exploded in green flames. The only thing left for her enemy was a scorched ground from where they stood, and faint green smoke crawling and dancing to the clear night sky.

Romeli collapsed off of Shadowdancer and sat against the tree, unable to stand. In her desperation to destroy the raiders, she had used too much of her power.

Blackness began to taunt the edges of her vision and her mind twisted and turned. She felt distant from her body as the blackness, chaos, and confusion took over her.

And then it stopped, her body hulked over a root unconscious.

OOO

James's eyes widened when he saw two of his other page friends carry in a stretcher with a body on it. The two pages were staring at the person in wonder. James's heart sped when he saw a lock of green hair dangling over the side of the carrier. Romeli.

When he saw two healers lift the bloodied body off of the stretcher and onto an infirmary bed, his thoughts were confirmed.

He raced to the side of the bed and leaned over to look at her. "Romeli you are such an idiot," he whispered. He looked at her wounds and cringed. She had a small cut long her cheekbone and a gash up her arm. The worst wounds were a slice across the top of her hand and a brutal gouge on her leg. The leg wound seemed to be healed, but was starting to reopen.

"Do you know her?" a woman healer asked as she wet some towels in a basin of water.

James nodded. "We're best friends. Her name is Romeli."

The healer clicked her tongue, as she looked her over. Gently she cleaned her arm wound. After a moment of washing she looked back at James. "Well are you going to help or what?"

James rushed to wash away the slice on her hand. Why was she so stupid? he asked himself as he looked at her pale, unconscious face. They could beat the raiders even if they were outnumbered. But, knowing Romeli and the stubborn fire inside of her, she would want to fight anyway. The last thing she would probably want to do is watch people die in front of her. Funny, he felt the same way. But there was one difference; he had the brains to know that he could help without risking his life.

After about ten minutes they were finished with her healing. Her wounds were stitched and bound. James sat next to her bed with a heavy sigh. He took her hand and looked at her, thinking about a certain tattoo on a certain body.

OOO

Romeli felt a jolting rush through her body and she opened her eyes. She smelled clean, sanitized air and felt new cotton wrapped around her body. Though the ground seemed to spin around her, the blurred vision of a white ceiling told her she was in the infirmary.

She moaned and wiped her eyes Her body was aching all over. One of her arms refused to move.

She turned her head to the side and saw her parents and James staring at her. "Wha—." Her voice came out as a croak. Numair handed her a glass of water and helped her sit up. "What happened?" she asked, the dust in her throat washed away.

Daine grinned. The relief in her eyes was overwhelming. "You managed to disengage the catapults and freak out Jameson here half to death."

Romeli looked at James. "James, I wasn't—I—sorry." She gave him a sheepish look.

"I wasn't freaked. I was—uh—mildly concerned," he replied. There were other things he was more freaked out about.

"So we won right?" she asked.

"What do you think darling? We're still live aren't we?" Numair joked.

"Not funny Da," Romeli pointed out. "Bad memories." She tried to take a sip of her water, but couldn't because of her arm. She glared at the uncooperative appendage and took out her Gift.

Numair clasped his hand over her emerald glowing ones. "Are you sure you want to do that? You drained a lot of your Gift when they found you. I'm sure James could—."

Romeli slowly took his hand off of hers. "I'm fine, really." She began to heal her arm. "So did you find the mage?" she asked her father.

Numair sighed and sat down on a nearby chair. "Yes I did. His name was Alec Trissingo. An old University enemy actually. It was an easy win."

Romeli nodded still healing her wounds. "And what about the night guards on the wall? Did they ever find them?"

Numair was silent in thought. "Well no. There were supposed to be twenty guards that night. We found three of them dead in the forest. We're suspecting that the other seventeen murdered them, and are actually traitors working for King Maggot. Once we get confirmation of that, we'll report it to the king, and hopefully we'll be able to catch the traitors."

"That's good to know, I suppose," she murmured, done with her healing. She took off all of the bandages to reveal only faint scars. Her body was still sore, but it wasn't nearly as stiff as before. She sighed, content.

"Ma? I'm all better, can I leave? This place is boring, and I want to see Shadowdancer and Sharpfang."

Daine rolled her eyes. That girl's sense of adventure never ended. "Fine. But don't do anything drastic."

"I'm not an idiot Ma."

"Only sometimes," James drawled with a smile. "Don't worry Mr. and Mrs. Salmalin. I will escort Ms Trouble to her chambers."

Romeli glared. "I don't always need an escort," she retorted.

"Key word: always. Now let's go," he said as he stood up and helped her out of her bed. Daine and Numair laughed as they left.

When the two of them got to the stables, James sat Romeli down on her bed and he settled himself down on her trunk. The minute Romeli sat down, Sharpfang intelligently slithered out of his case and onto her lap.

James didn't look at her. All sarcasm and jokingness from the last conversation had gone. "Can you answer something for me? Truthfully?" he asked.

Romeli looked up from stroking Sharpfang. She sensed the pain in his voice, but only said, "Sure. What?"

James still didn't meet her eyes. "Why—why do you have that wolf tattoo." He looked up at hernow ; his eyes were confused and slightly pained—like a kicked puppy.

Romeli's eyes widened, and her face turned white. "It's just an—um—tattoo my mother gave me—."

James gave her a sharp glare, though it was more sad then angry. "Tell the truth," he whispered. His voice was hard as he stared deep into her changing eyes.

Gods Sharpfang, what do I do? She pleaded to her snake. Sharpfang refused to answer. When she looked back at him, his look was sad, confused. Unable to meet his gaze any longer, she averted her eyes to the side and then back down.

"I saw you last night," James confessed. "You were talking to a wolf. I want to know what's going on, Romeli. Why do you have all of these secrets?"

"James, you just don't understand," Romeli insisted desperately. When she looked up at him again, her eyes were protective. "I want to say, but—it's just so frustrating, James! I don't want them hurt, I don't want anyone to know. They'll think I'm a monster." A tear slid down her cheek. "More of a monster then I already am, that is."

"Then how do I know if I can trust you Romeli?" James countered. "Trust. It's a thing that friends share. Something tells me that we're going to be together for a long time. And if that's so, then we'll have to tell each other things."

Romeli clenched her jaw. "This isn't going to be one of those conversations where something dramatic happens, we go separate ways, and talk to each other the next day like nothing ever happened, is it."

"What was your fist clue," James snapped.

"If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell a soul. If you do, I swear I will torture you in the most painful ways imaginable. If anyone found out, it the king found out..." Her voice trailed off, uneven and nervous.

"Promise."

Romeli sighed and stood up with Sharpfang in her hand. She checked to see if the stable and stall doors were shut before sitting down. Then, summoning her Gift, she put a spell around her stall to make sure that no one could hear their conversation.

"That wolf that you saw last night was no ordinary animal, James. His name is Old White, and he's a God—or in my case, he's my Guardian"

"Like Daine and the Badger?" inquired James.

"Sort of. That tattoo that I have of a wolf on my hip is so that we are linked together. Like how my mother's claw helps the badger find her." She then leaned over and lifted the leg of her pants so that he could see her snake tattoo. James's eyes widened.

"I have two. My other is Cobra God Sclythe," Romeli told him, looking at the intricate tattoo herself. "They may be strict and tough, but they help me. Without them, I would have never gotten out of my slump back at the palace. They give me warnings about when something bad is going to happen—though half the time it hardly makes sense. They like to talk in riddles." She looked back at her latest Guardian meeting with confusion, wondering what the object that could stop the war was, and more importantly, what it had to do with her. "They're like my guides, I suppose."

James nodded. "They were the ones who helped you out of madness."

Romeli smiled weakly. "I couldn't of done it without you either."

"Glad to help," he murmured, looking at her. She was wringing her hands. Her eyes and thoughts seemed to be preoccupied with something else.

"You're keeping something from me," he accused.

Romeli sighed. "We're going to be talking for a while. Right now I'm keeping a lot of things from you. I also have a third Guardian. Not yet… I'm supposed to earn it somehow. My Guardians say that once I earn all three of them, I go on this mission thing to find out who I am." She trailed a finger through her green hair and sighed. "It's probably going to be a while before that happens though."

James only smiled weakly. It was shocking to find that Romeli had been talking to Gods, but considering it was her, that was nothing out of the ordinary. The true mission thing however, was weird to comprehend. It was like the Gods had already planned her future—almost like they knew her past.

"You know the war right?" Romeli asked. Her face grave and even slightly stressed.

"Yes actually. I heard we had an attack by the people we're waged against just yesterday."

Romeli half-smiled. "Well my Guardians speak that time is running out for me. Something about me finding this object to stop the war before it is too late. But I don't know where to start or what I'm even supposed to be looking for. I ask them what they mean just about every time I see them, but they just shut me out. It's just so frustrating. Every day I don't find this object, more people die—both Scanran and Tortallan."

James looked at her and nodded. "That's weird. This war is surely more then meets the eye. Like the Immortals War."

Romeli nodded. "I know what you mean. I've been sensing something different about this war. It's like—oh I don't know—it's hard to explain."

"It's probably because you've never been in a real war before," he said with a shrug. "An excitement rushing through your blood. I feel the same way. So do a lot of people probably."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Romeli muttered, feeling less like an outcast. But then she looked at him uncertainly. Should she really tell him that last thing? The thing that no one, not even her parents knew about? Would he ever trust her again?

James recognized the shadowed look on her face, though he had only seen it a couple times. She was hiding more. But should he really press her to tell him? She had already confessed much over the minutes they had been talking. It must have been terribly hard for her. It was shocking to him. And as he looked at her distant face, he knew that what she was keeping was the most secret and hardest to say of all.

Romeli looked up sensing his eyes and gave him a smile. "Just thinking," she told him, as if her thoughts were just those: thoughts.

"A lot has happened over the past month. I wouldn't be surprised if you actually thought for once."

Romeli glared, the tension in the room lifting. "Why don't you listen to your own wisdom, Meathead Jr.?"

"Hey! How did you know about my nickname!"

Romeli snorted. "Now I do!" she snickered. James smacked his head in stupidity. "I just knew of Neal's nickname and thought it was funny." She got rid of the green shield around them, enabling passerbys to hear their chatting.

James sighed and scratched his arm. "Don't you just love war?"

"No, not really."

"I was being sarcastic."

"Oh. Well then—."

"Lady Romeli. We need you in the infirmary," said a healer with a rich Gallan accent. His white healer's tunic and breeches were blood stained. His forehead was sweaty. "It's urgent."

Romeli looked at James confused. He only shrugged and stood up. Romeli got to her feet as wel and followed the healer out the door.

"I better go," James said in Romeli's ear. "I'm supposed to be with the other pages right now."

Romeli glared. "Ditcher," she accused.

James gave her a look of mock hurt and pointed to himself. "Me? My Lady, you insult my reputation. A knight in training never does this, so-called ditching, nonsense."

Romeli rolled her eyes and shooed him off. She then walked briskly towards the infirmary, the other healer quickly leading the way.

"What's the problem?" Romeli asked when they entered the infirmary. There was a group of people around a bed. They had pale faces.

"You'll see when you get there," was all the healer said. He led her towards the group of people.

"Romeli there you are," said Dom. His voice was chopped, his face ashen. "We need your help."

"With what?" She walked to the center of the group towards the bed. Something wasn't right. She looked at the person on the bed with a confused face.

A hand clasped her shoulder. She looked up to Roaul's face. He had been crying, she could tell by the wetness of his eyes.

"It's Burri," he said. There was no usual cheeriness in his voice. "My—wife." Saying those two words seemed to be hard to speak through his throat. "She's—gone."

A lump grew in her throat in sympathy for Roaul. She didn't know Burri very well, but over the couple of times that she had talked to her, she seemed to be so kind, free—like being by her was somehow a sanctuary from the stressful times of war. At the least, Romeli knew she was a very important person to Tortall, and now she was gone.

"Romeli," Roaul whispered. "You have to bring her back."

Romeli's eyes widened. Her face lost all traces of blood in the matter of half a second. Bring her back? Roaul must have gone delirious in grief! There was no way that she could do the Phoenix Spell again. Her Guardians would never let her live it down if she broke her promise to keep the dead...well...dead. Looking at the body, she guessed that she had passed about half an hour ago—way to long to shock her heart into starting again. There was nothing that she could do.

"Sir. I can't—."

"We came as soon as we heard," said Numair coming up behind Romeli. Laloria and Daine were also there. Laloria, you could tell, had been crying. Looking behind, Romeli could see her sister's rider group arriving also. All of them had shattered faces.

"What were you saying before Romeli?" Roaul asked. There was a spark of hope in his beady eyes.

Romeli looked down hopelessly. "I can't do what you wish me to, Sir. You have to understand, there's no way—."

"What do you mean there's no way!" Roaul asked broken. He became suddenly emotionally frustrated. "You've done it before!"

"Wait, darling. What are you talking about?" Daine asked. She refused to look at the dead body of her friend on the bed.

"She refuses to do the Phoenix Spell on my wife. Just because she doesn't know her."

Well that was a little addition to what I said, thought Romeli astonished. She never thought the commander as a liar.

"Romeli, why can't you? You saved Numair with the spell before," Daine told her surprised.

Romeli looked up at her mother shocked. Her own mother had taken sides with Roaul. She had to explain to them that she was the right one. "Ma? Da? Can I talk to you alone?"

Daine and Numair exchanged glances before the three of them walked off to a vacant corner away from any listeners. Laloria decided not to come, but wept with her rider group instead.

"You have to understand, I can't do the spell," she told them, forcing the thought through their minds. "The Guardians told me I can't do it because the Gods will get upset. They let it slide the first time, but if it happens again, they won't be so nice." She turned to Numair. "Can't we just pretend that you were never gone, that none of this ever happened? If I raise Burri, everyone will find out. Rumors will spread, and soon enough I'll be asked to raise more people...."

Daine sighed. "Well if that's the case—Gods I'm going to miss her. She was one of my first friends when I came to Tortall. But...it's for the best."

Romeli looked down guiltily. "Sorry, Ma."

Daine looked sharply at her though there were tears in her eyes. She raised Romeli's chin. "Don't be sorry. Burri died for this fort, for our country. She died so that the people of Tortall could live in peace. It's just the way she would have liked to leave."

Romeli nodded. She looked back towards the bed sadly. Roaul was crouched down, holding Burri's hand as if she were only in a deep sleep.

The three of them walked back tot he bed. Numair looked Roaul deeply in the eye. "Roaul. I'm sorry, but there is no way."

Roaul looked up from the bed shocked. "What are you talking about? I've seen her raise you from the dead with my very own eyes!"

Daine cut in. "Roaul think about it. The Gods will get angry. Mortals are not meant to cross between the Mortal and Black Realm."

"How come they weren't mad when she raised Numair? Tell me that." His voice was hard and quiet. There was rage in his ice-cold eyes.

Daine clenched her teeth and looked at Romeli for help. Romeli paled. The question was not one that she was expecting. Then again…

"How do you know that they're not mad at me?" she told him.

Roaul froze and looked at her with a cold glare. Obviously he had nothing to counter her remark. Romeli looked back at him steadily. She had nothing to lose.

Daine put her hand on his shoulder. "Roaul, she died fighting for this war," she whispered. "Just how she dreamed. She left after doing something meaningful. Let her go Roaul. Let her rest in peace."

Roaul shrugged off her shoulder hardly. He glared daggers at Romeli. "No. I will never let her go. Not while she still has a chance." He walked away from them and out the infirmary, refusing to look back.

Don't forget to review. I love reviews! And you get a nice juicy reply if you do! And a free moose!

Replies:

George Bassy: ah yes…bass. I play trombone! That's a bass instrument. And I play bass guitar! Does that count! Yay! Kay so…do you think my story is dumb, or do you just not get it? If you don't get it, then I would be happy to help. And if you think my story is dumb then…well I can't really help ya there can I? Lol. anyway…I love bass. Bass clef rules. –Does a bass clef dance—

QueenThayet12990: Ah yes…bed. The comfy rectangle that holds all your thoughts and dreams…um… ya. Ahh testing! The root of all evil! Dude testing sux hard core! Sorry bout the slow update. I didn't forget about you tho! -gives you a hug- forgive me?

HyperLittleCat- Yea I hate signing in. You have to like type in ur email and mine is long…! grr. I hate when parents take away cat powers. That happened to me last week. Don't worry, I got it back tho. Wow…ur having bad luck with the FBI. That sux.

Salma-sol: -begs for forgiveness and for u not to kill me- sorry! I didn't forget about the story or anything. It just took a very long time to write. That's a good question with the light thing. Maybe the Scanrans have a genetic problem and are blind when it's dark so they have light. Lol…u have an awesome imagination with the nightmare and the killing James and stuff. Sickness. U ask a lot of questions. Kay…Romeli isn't getting depressed I think…I'll have to give her a depression test later. She has a rock moving disability and doesn't like moving rocks very much. Ya it's night when they see the Scanrans. Your new name is awesome. Cause it's like Salma and the Sol. Whee. Romeli is pronounced Row-Mel-ee. Lol.

DomisMINE: Dish and spoon…ya actually we went running for a while, but then I got tired. Sorry about the slow update. Don't quite on me! It's okay, I've already gone crazy. –eats a bucket of raw…soap-