A/N: Enjoy!

Chapter Nine: Misunderstandings

Beka glared at the door, never having felt so angry with Rosto before in the entire time she'd known him. Not only had he misjudged Dale terribly, but he also obviously thought her too weak-minded to be able to recognize and resist a charming man's advances. She never lost her head around men, she simply wouldn't allow it! If anything, her thoughts became more shrewd and clear as she worked through all the possible consequences that could result in her taking up with a man. Mayhap that was also why she had had so few sweethearts, but her thoroughness was also what kept her from taking up the foolish relationships that so many other mots wasted their time on.

Like if she was to take up with Rosto the Piper for instance.

Just the fact that he was the Rogue and she a Dog was enough to render the notion ridiculous. And him accusing Dale of such low character! Why, Rosto was the one carousing with doxies while she was away!

But he hadn't done so until certain news of your own behavior had reached his ears, Pounce reminded her as he licked his paws as if he hand not a care in the world.

Beka was about to retort when Dale groaned beside her. Suddenly remembering the man, she quickly helped him sit up. His jaw was already swelling.

"Wow," the young man joked, "remind me never to get in a fight with him."

"Are you okay?" Beka asked him.

Dale nodded. "Old sweetheart of yours?" he asked, touching his swollen jaw. He winced.

Frowning, Beka looked at his jaw. "The cursed man, he had no right to hit you!" Getting up to pour him some cider, she said, "And no, he's not an old sweetheart of mine. He's just a crackbrained fool that thinks I can't take care of myself!"

He raised his eyebrows as she thrust the cup at him. After taking a careful sip, Dale said, "Surely he doesn't think that."

"Oh, but he does!" she replied hotly. "Apparently he thinks I'm in need of protection from a honey-tongued man's advances, as if I'm too weak!"

Dale hid a smiled behind his hand. The thought was ridiculous.

"And then he thinks that we spent the night together, when he already knows we're not together! What does he think I am, one of his doxies? After seeing my unmade bed, you, and me dressed as I am, the looby-headed fool jumped to conclusions, not even caring to ask for an explanation! If he only would have listened, than there'd be no reason for you to have a swollen jaw right now. But oh, no, he couldn't be sensible could he?"

"To give the man credit, if I had been in his shoes and saw what he saw here, I'd have probably jumped to the same conclusions," Dale told her. He grinned at her. "You do look like you just rolled out of bed."

"That's because I did!" she cried. "I was still asleep when you came to my door! I didn't have time to dress properly."

"Then think of how it must have looked to him when he walked in. No wonder he punched me."

"He would have punched you if you were a Mithran priest, once you told him your name," she told him.

Dale raised his eyebrows. "And you say he isn't an old sweetheart of yours?"

"Of course not. He's just a crackbrained cove that puts his nose where it isn't wanted!"

Seeing her anger rise again, Dale had a hard time believing that he was just some meddlesome cove. There was definitely more there than Beka was letting on.

"…and then he accuses you of stringing me along with the rest of your mots, saying that you had grown tired of the others and had come back to lure me back in to your arms for a night! Then he acts as if he's doing me a favor by punching you!"

"That's not why I was here, Beka," Dale told her.

"I know that, but he was certain you were!"

Dale thought for a moment. Then he said, "Mayhap it's because he cares for you and didn't want to see you hurt."

Beka scoffed. "He just couldn't stand me being in the arms of another man!"

Again, Dale tucked back a grin. His assumptions had been correct; there was definitely more to her meddlesome cove. "And, again, mayhap he wanted to protect you from such a honey-tongued, mot-lovin' man."

"But you're not like that!" Beka protested. "If he would have only waited, he could have found out for himself that he misjudged you completely!"

"He misjudged me, certainly, but I can't blame the man. When a man cares for a mot, he looks on the rest of the mot's male friends as if they were no better than the scummer in the streets. And another lover…well, I'm surprised I'm not dead."

As Beka started to protest, Dale put a hand over her mouth. "This cove of yours obviously cares for you more than you give him credit for. I could see that in the short amount of time since he appeared at your doorstep." He grinned. "At least I don't feel bad in giving you up to such a man. If he was anything less, I would throw him out of Corus and send him on my way myself."

"No, instead he's ordering you out on the next boat to Port Caynn," Beka muttered.

Dale laughed. "I figured as much. He seems like a tough cove." Seeing the now thoughtful look in her eyes, Dale asked her quietly, "Do you care for him as he cares for you, my Beka?"

She suddenly gave him a sharp look. "Are you cracked now, too?" she asked, her voice rising once more. "And you're right, Dale, he is a tough cove. Did I mention he's a rusher?"

"I could assume as much," Dale said with a shrug. "He hits too hard and fast for a cityman, and he's no Dog or soldier."

"And he's not just a rusher, either. He's the king of them," she told him.

Dale raised his eyebrows. "He's Corus' rogue? Rosto the Piper?" When she nodded, Dale whistled. "You like getting yourself tangled with Rogues don't you, pretty Beka?"

She scowled at him, "Not of my own free will."

He laughed again and rubbed his swollen jaw gently. "And here I'd heard that Rosto the Piper was a fair, reasonable Rogue." Then he grinned at Beka. "But apparently those attributes are thrown to the wolves when you come in between him and what he wants."

Beka glared. "Then Rosto the Piper had better get used to waiting, because I'll never go with a rusher- and the king of thieves at that!"

Dale didn't try to hide his grin this time. He wondered if she had ever thought that way about gamblers, too. Then taking her face gently in his hands, he told her softly, "Don't fight it, Beka. Take my word for it, he cares for you more than I ever could." He smiled ruefully. "I'm the looby who left you. But Rosto the Piper is here to stay. I'd bet my whole year's wages on it."

A knock sounded at the door.

"Should I act like I'm still unconscious?" Dale teased.

Beka ignored him and opened the door to reveal Kora standing there. "What happened, Beka? I saw Rosto storm out of-" Kora stopped when she saw the man sitting on the ground, his jaw swollen. Beka saw the question in her dark eyes.

"Kora, this is my friend, Dale Rowan." Understanding immediately dawned in Kora's eyes as she stared at the man. "Dale, this is my friend, Kora."

"Another friend, huh? Let's hope you don't hit as hard as the last one," he joked, getting to his feet.

Kora continued to stare.

Not getting the laugh he had hoped for, Dale turned away from the staring mot and told Beka, "I'd better be going. As always, it's been eventful. I'd better buy myself passage down at the river docks before I'm no longer able to talk."

"Dale, you don't have to leave now," Beka protested. "You already have passage on a later boat."

"Yes, but I doubt that'll come soon enough for someone's liking," Dale grinned. He leaned in to kiss her on the cheek but then thought the better of it. "I'd bet he'd not like that either," he explained, his eyes dancing.

Beka stuck her chin out. "I'm my own mot, Dale Rowan. I'm not afraid of Rosto the Piper."

"Mayhap you aren't," he joked, fingering his jaw, "but I don't wish to take any chances."

As he walked to the door after bidding Beka and her gaping friend farewell, Dale saw the gillyflowers lying on the floor. The Rogue had been holding them when he had come to Beka's door. Picking them up, he told Beka, "Remember what I said earlier about your friend, Beka." He lifted the flowers so she could see them before setting them on her table. Knowing that he had already made a big mess of things, Dale knew one thing he must do to make it right…

Then, with one last farewell, he was gone.

Finally released from her stunned trance, Kora turned to Beka. "Good-looking and smart," she approved.

But Beka barely heard her. She was too busy gazing at the red gillyflowers that were now sitting on her table.

Kora had not been the only one to see Rosto storm out of Mistress Trout's lodgings that morning. Hidden well out of sight, a sturdy-looking cove had watched Corus' Rogue enter into the building with a basket and flowers. He was also there when Rosto charged out, his earlier good mood replaced by a fierce temper.

The watching cove took this all in while rubbing the scar on his jaw absentmindedly. It seemed as if this Cooper mot meant a lot to the current Rogue…

Rosto finally stormed into the Dancing Dove around dusk that evening. No one knew where the Rogue had disappeared to for so many hours, and seeing the look on his face, not even the stupidest of loobies would dare ask. Those gathered in the common room of the Dancing Dove all pondered why the Rogue was suddenly in such a horrible mood this time. Only that morning he had been smiling as if walking on air! Now his face was as dark as the sky with a coming storm.

He brusquely asked a serving wench for their strongest ale as he took his seat on the dais. When the mot brought his cup, he drank it down in one gulp and asked for another. Rosto didn't notice that the din in the room had lessened since his arrival. He felt so many emotions inside him- anger, hurt, defeat, regret- that he could hardly think. He had never in his life felt so tossed around by emotion before, and never by a mot, but things had changed ever since he had arrived in Tortall. On his first night in the strange city, he had found himself intrigued and interested in the shy pretty mot that insisted on not having ale with her meal. He knew right off that she was different than other mots, and that immediately got his attention. Though shy, he saw a determined set to her features, and the steadiness with which she regarded others and the stubborn set of her chin told him she had fight in her as well. He always liked that. But if he had known furthering his acquaintance with her meant this, he might have gone back to Scanra, because how he felt about Beka Cooper now was as unfamiliar to him as it would be to dress in the king's clothes.

With Dale Rowan, on the other hand, he knew exactly where his feelings stood!

He was about to ask for another cup of ale when Kora appeared in front of him. "You have a visitor waiting in your rooms," she told him.

Rosto eyed her. "Who?" he asked gruffly.

"Someone who wishes to speak with you privately," she replied.

For one crazy moment, he thought it might be Beka. Quickly he pushed that from his mind. What would she have to say to him that she hadn't already? Besides, she was already beginning her watch.

Knowing Kora would not let anyone in there that might want to harm him, Rosto rose from his chair and silently headed toward the stairs. As he climbed he wondered who his visitor could be. Reaching his door, he thrust it open.

Who he saw there was the last person he would ever think to see in his rooms…and the only person he did not want to ever see again!

A/N: I have a feeling we all know who's waiting for him :D

Okay, I'm going away for the weekend and won't be back until Tuesday and I'm not sure whether I'll have access to any computer/internet while I'm gone. If you would like I can post chapter ten on Friday before I leave, but I want to warn you that if I do, it'll end with a cliffhanger…one much worse than this chapter's. Let me know, but just remember it'll be five days after I post chapter 10 (if you want me to that is) until I can probably post the next one. Let me know what you want me to do!

But anyway, I hope you liked the chapter!