ElizabethTurner93:

17-Yes, yes you are EVIL!! But since it seems this is your first time reading, it is forgivable, I almost never review a new story until the last chapter. I know, bad Scarlet.

18- Yay! I love reviews!

20- Yes, the poor girl was a very well-loved character, I myself was sad to see her go, but sometimes the story seems to write itself.

21- yeah, each time I dye my hair it tends to go a shade more red… my favorite color!

22- yes, sleep is good, I tried an all nighter once. Suffice to say, you did not want to be around me that day

23- yes, that it is, but a little dry since they don't use eggs.

24- lucky for you it is already written and ready to read!

25- hey, cliffies are fun, they leave a good launching off point for the next chapter, so repeat after me "cliffies are good… cliffies are good…"

26- thanks, I like to think that my writing (and typing) skills get better as the story goes on, though I do get the occasional writers' block and then the chapters don't really turn out all that well.

27- so, were you wrong?

28- yes, I do adore her character

29- that they do.

30- well, I sortta modeled her after my niece, who is protégé smart. Besides Sera is Super Kid!!

31- yes, cuteness insues

32- you know, I got that comment a few times, so I checked back and they are, when I get the time I will go back and fix that.

33- thanks

34- I think I actually got it from a profile and it made me laugh, so I thought I would share it.

35- yes, well, we all have our vices, mine tends to be in the sugar department

36-… I don't know what to say to that

40- I really only do the normal type of dance, you know, move to the beat and hope to all that is holy that you don't look like a total idiot. Though my parents have taken classes and my dad is trying to teach me the waltz, while my mom is trying to teach me the rumba… I can't get past the basics…

57- I always wanted to say that, but when the situation comes up, I never remember. Oh, and physco friends are good, I know I would be even more insane than I already am if I didn't have my physco friends.

RushingRiver: I'm so happy that you reviewed again. I do try to keep the updates coming, but I do have the semblance of a life that I like to participate in,

Starsplash: I'm glad you liked it, I liked writing it!

AKAfredandgeorge: her you are deary, a nice update… and now the waiting game begins anew… oh, and thanks for the input, once again you are a great sounding board, lots of love! Now, go study ;)

DragonDancer219: I usually listen to a mix of music, I just put my player on shuffle and let the songs (which includes; classical, oldies, country, rock, pop, R&B and show tunes among others) play while I work, but then I do that any time I'm on my computer to begin with. If I really need to concentrate, I turn to my more classical music; the less words the better.

AKAFredandGeorge: I'm glad that you liked it, hun.

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Edmund was the first one to react. "Countess?" his tone was completely dumfounded. "This little wench?" he then scoffed. "I'll treat my future wife any way I please." He announced arrogantly.

The look on Kipp's face was nearly lethal as he slowly unsheathed his sword, the soft grate of leather against steel ominously loud in the silence. He pointed the tip straight at Edmund.

The captain of the Ojos Verde, seeing his employer and, more importantly, payment in danger, reached for his own sword.

"Don't try it, captain." Kipp's voice rang with command and was as steely as the cold blade he held in his hand. "I have no quarrel with you, but if you and your men get involved I will have no choice but to kill every last one of you."

The captain hesitated, his hand resting on the hilt of his still sheathed sword. "Captain!" Kipp barked. "Unless you wish to share the charges with your poorly chosen employer, I suggest you stand down."

"Charges." Edmund sneered. "Empty threats from a rejected lover." The barb was purposely thrown at Kipp.

"Three accounts of kidnapping, one of a governor's beloved niece, three accounts of murder, four attempted murders, forcing false testimony, to name a few. But in your case, captain, we could add pillaging and plundering ships both of those serving His Majesty and his enemy's without a letter of marque, making you a pirate. I just happen to personally know a few people who, I'm sure, would be all too happy to make your their top priority." Kipp listed off the accusations with a grim sort of satisfaction.

The captain studied Kipp for an immeasurable amount of time, his jaw working slightly, before slowly releasing his sword and moving his hand away from it with careful movements. He gave a nod to Kipp. "This is your fight, neither me nor my men will interfere."

"Good man." Kipp spared a small grin for the man. "Kitten, come here." He sheathed his sword and held out his hand. Katrina struggled slightly to stand with her bound wrists and moved toward Kipp, her face glowing, but Edmund grabbed her around the waist as she passed him.

"You don't want to go with him, do you, dear?" he asked, pressing a blade against her throat.

A strange choked yell issued from Kipp's throat and he took a small step forward, his hand reaching for his sword.

"Halt!" Edmund barked at Kipp. "You draw your weapon and I slit her throat. Either way, I will still be the child's guardian."

Kipp held still, studying the man in front of him.

"Captain!" Edmund warned pressing the knife a bit closer, not liking the way Kipp glowered at him.

A small trickle of blood slid down Katrina's throat, and Kipp automatically released his sword, turning a bit pale as he did so. He locked eyes with Katrina, hers were wide and pleading, tears slipping silently down her face, though she knew that there wasn't much that could be done. To have come so close to freedom only to lose it again in the space of a minute was nearly intolerable.

"You can't be Pixie's guardian if you are dead." An almost leisurely, yet deadly calm voice said from behind Edmund, who felt the cold metal of a gun press to the back if his head. "You cause any harm to Kitty and I will make sure you will have to be buried in a closed casket. I'm sure that if anyone actually came to mourn a scumbag like you, they wouldn't want to see you with your face blown off. Though I personally think it would be an improvement."

"L-Link?" Katrina asked uncertainly.

"I couldn't save my sister, I couldn't protect Rachel, but I won't fail again, Kitty. Now," he prodded the back of Edmund's skull with the nozzle of the gun. "drop the knife and let her go."

With a soft whine, Edmund did as commanded, and Katrina rushed to Kipp who caught her in a tight embrace before holding her a short distance from him. "Are you alright?" he asked her. As he cut the bonds on her wrists with a dagger from his waist.

"I am now." she smiled. Kipp gently caressed her cheek, She winced and even though she quickly covered it, he still caught it. Gently he turned her face so that the firelight hit it. Her cheek was an angry red and a faint bruise was starting to form.

"He do this to you?" It was worded like a question but came out more as a statement. Kipp cast a murderous glare at Edmund.

"It doesn't matter now." she said softly.

"I'll kill you." Kipp growled at Edmund, eyes a stony gray.

"Kipp." Katrina touched his face, drawing his attention. "It doesn't matter." At her touch, Kipp lost some of his rigidity, face relaxing and eyes shading more blue from their dangerous gray.

Link, still weak from blood loss had been swaying on his feet and now collapsed to the sand with a soft thud. Edmund, angry at the new development in his plans took the unexpected opportunity to grab the gun lying next to Link's hand as well as the sword from his belt. The swift movement caught Kipp's eye and as the hammer of the gun gave an ominous click as it was cocked back, he grabbed Katrina and dived to the ground. His quick action causing the whining bullet to miss its mark, only singeing Kipp's arm as he twisted to take most of the impact of the fall.

The sound of blades being drawn could be heard and Kipp looked up to see Taidhgan and a few more of his men with their swords in their hands. "No." Kipp commanded them. "He's mine." He stood and pulled Katrina to her feet, pushing her behind him and drawing his own sword when he saw Edmund holding a blade.

And suddenly Edmund lunged at Kipp, who, surprised by the attack, barely managed to deflect the blade. Edmund scowled, now that the element of surprise was gone, so was his best chance at a quick win. Another of his lunges was blocked with a bit more ease than the first when a thought flashed through Edmund's twisted mind. He feigned to the right and when Kipp went to block him, sidestepped and made to strike Katrina. His blade stopped with a resounding ring as Taidhgan, who kept his sword out, deflected it and pulled Katrina out of harm's way and stepped in front of her. If his captain was to fight, then let him focus on the fight, not on protecting both himself and his woman.

Kipp waited for Edmund to face him again. The man may be a worthless worm, but Kipp would not stab a man in the back. With a cry of rage, Edmund spun around with a slashing move. Kipp parried with a counter move, managing a small cut on Edmund's cheek before his blade was deflected. The man reached up and looked at his hand as it came away with blood. He paled slightly as he realized how close he had come to death. He feigned again and reached around, slapping the place where Kipp had been grazed with the flat of his sword. Kipp cried out, the pain welled up, yet he managed to not grab at the cut and give Edmund the opportunity that he was obviously hoping for. Kipp also retreated a step realizing his opponent was more skilled than he originally believed.

The two men circled each other warily. Kipp lunged forward and was deflected, then the fight seemed to really start. Katrina had never seen such fighting. She knew that Kipp was skilled with his sword, she had overheard some of his men talking about it before. But Edmund, she never thought that he had touched a sword in his life before the army. He apparently learned much from his time in the service, she realized as the blades rang together in a succession of blows, parted and resumed their deadly dance. At times moving too fast for the eye to follow.

As for the combatants, they were nearly evenly matched. Both were studying his opponent while fighting to gain the upper hand in the situation, which neither seemed to be achieving. Katrina gasped as Edmund's blade slipped past Kipp's defenses and a small bloom of blood formed on his chest. Kipp felt the pain, but that last move had revealed the one main flaw in Edmund's fighting. He overextended. At Edmund's next slash, Kipp ducked under it and cut a gash into Edmund's arm just below the elbow. The injured man cried out in pain and took a moment to grasp his arm against the pain before once again attacking Kipp. Kipp deflected the blade and cut at Edmund's arm again. The young master of Bridgewood's vision clouded with a haze of red and he recklessly attacked the young captain, his slashes and stabs becoming wild and erratic Kipp was hard-pressed to deflect all the wild attacks, and received many small cuts when he wasn't quite quick enough. The young captain was starting to tire, he was sure his opponent was as well, though the other young man was running on battle lust and adrenaline and wouldn't tire before the sleep deprived and worry-worn captain. At Edmund's next lung, Kipp deflected and stepped inside the thrust, dropped his sword, grabbing Edmund's wrist in a crushing hold and landing a solid punch on Edmund's chin with his other hand, stunning the man.

The two stared at each other and Kipp grabbed Edmund's throat and tightened his hold, forcing Edmund to drop his sword. Suddenly, Edmund whipped out a dagger with his other hand and lashed out at Kipp who jumped back but still got a slash across his chest. Kipp's boot got caught on a rock and he stumbled back. Edmund, seeing his chance grabbed up his sword and held it to Kipp's chest. He heard Katrina cry out and looked at her with a cruel smirk. "So much for your hero." He pulled back the sword to plunge it into Kipp's chest, only to find a blade sticking out of his own chest; Kipp's dagger, the one that he always carried in his boot.

Edmund stared at the pommel of the blade and dropped his sword in shock. His fingers came up to almost gently caress the hold of the dagger before he gripped it and pulled it out of his chest, he stared at it for a moment in morbid fascination before falling over in the sand, lifeless.

Kipp stared for a moment at the empty eyes of the man before letting out a breath he had not been aware that he had been holding. And then Katrina was kneeling before him, crying and holding on to him.

"It's all over now." he found himself saying and turned her face up, giving her a gentle kiss. 'I'm ok." He grinned at her for a moment with his little crooked grin that she loved so much. "What shall we do now?" his grin grew a little and his eyes danced with mischief.

Katrina smiled up at him. "There are a few things that need to be taken care of. Then we can go home."

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Alright, so I know that took unforgivably long to post, but I have had a few hectic weeks including a new job than at the end of the day all I want is a shower and bed. But I will try to be more prompt with the next update. Much love to all those who review.

Claire, why are you reading this and not studying?