Here's the next chapter, YAY! See, I got this one up faster than the last, didn't I? For those that don't know, when Birle first met Orien she had to fish for them with one of her father's fishing spears, and then continued to do this for much of the book. Whenever I think there's something from the book you should know that you can't get from this story, I promise I'll mention since I know some people are reading this that haven't read the original. On with the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own On Fortune's Wheel, and probably never will.

Birle, who had been in the middle of a lovely dream where she and Lyss were still safe and sound back in her grandparent's cottage, came abruptly back to earth as a soldier shook her roughly awake. "Hm.. wha...?" she muttered, still mostly asleep. Forcing herself to open her eyes, very much against her will, she was sad to see that she and Lyss were very definitely not safe and sound back home. Upon seeing that she was awake, the soldier told her briskly that they would begin moving in twenty minutes, and quickly shoved the heel of a loaf of bread into her hands before moving on to the next prisoner. Turning around, Birle saw that Griffin was by now up as well. He gave her a quick smile, and began to eat his own piece of bread. Turning back, Birle once again began to worry about what might happen in the future, though she had already resigned herself to the fact that it was indeed going to happen.

"Um... excuse me? May I ask something?" said Birle tentatively to one of the men passing by. He looked her over hastily, obviously in rush. Then he answered her,

"Make it quick."

"Yes, of course... I was just wondering, when do you think we will arrive at the capital?"

"Three days, including today." He turned to leave.

"Wait!" cried Birle, not quite having finished yet.

"What?"

"That question has a second part."

"Out with it then, before I move on without answering." The man didn't look as though he was in an especially good mood. Actually, he didn't really look as though he was ever in an especially good mood.

"When we do arrive at the capital, how long will it be before we are brought before the Earl?"

"You will be brought before the Earl whenever he decides to bring you before him." Once again, he turned to leave.

"But that doesn't answer my question!"

"Yes, it does. Prisoners are brought to the Earl when he wishes to see them."

"And how long does that usually take?" asked Birle exasperatedly.

"Depends."

"On what?"

"The Earl! Haven't you been listening to me?" Now very annoyed, Birle was opening her mouth to retort when suddenly she noticed a peculiar glint in the soldier's eye. Then it hit her. Why, that... he wasn't in a bad mood, he was teasing her! A glance over her shoulder showed Griffin, practically choking on his meager bread from holding in his laughter. For a brief moment, Birle was furious. How dare he?

However, when she opened her mouth to tell this soldier exactly what she thought of him and his little game, nothing came out. For several seconds, she simply sat there as if paralyzed, her mouth hanging stupidly open without saying anything. Then, she burst out laughing.

She couldn't help it. She didn't mean to, but then, only very lucky people always do as they mean.

After she, and Griffin too for that matter, finally managed to stop laughing she looked up to see the soldier smiling good-naturedly at her.

"To give you an answer you might actually care about, the Earl will probably see you sometime between the hour you arrive and, at the latest, three days after."

Birle smiled at him. "Thank you. So few people give useful answers nowadays," she answered, now almost teasing herself. He tipped his hat at her.

"If you have any other questions I might seek to avoid, just ask for Cinano." he told her, and then really walked away while Birle stared wonderingly after him. Well, she had never expected to find anyone she might actually like among her captors. Griffin, of course, noticed her staring.

"Well, I see you have no trouble with, er... getting along with people." Griffin told her, sounding highly amused. He wouldn't have expected this from Lyss's mother. But then, he supposed, he'd never really gotten to know her too well before now.

Birle frowned. That statement was innocent enough, but... the way he'd said it... It hit her. Immediately, and perhaps a little late, she began protesting even as she felt herself going very red. "I didn't... I don't... I would never! He's..."

Abruptly she stopped and took a deep breath as she realized she was babbling. Griffin was laughing at her now; despite everything, he really was the same as ever even if it didn't show as much. Now no longer as flustered, she opened her mouth and told him, calmly and coolly;

"Griffin; I do not nor would I ever like any of these men. There is only one man I have ever felt anything for, and that was strong enough that I doubt I could ever feel anything for another. The end." She finished, with a light note of finality. Griffin nodded, though he appeared to still be trying to keep a straight face. Then he frowned slightly.

As far as he had known, Birle had never felt anything for any man. She had been the innkeeper's daughter, and rather pretty to boot. If ever she had wished it, she likely could have had her pick for a husband. But she had never married.

So who then was this mystery man she had just mentioned? Griffin assumed it was someone from the village. It had to be, from his point of view. Though he didn't realize it, Griffin didn't really think people from outside the village 'counted.' Yes, they were people and they did exist, but in no way did they really affect their daily lives at all. They were just outsiders, and as far as he knew nobody from the village was acquainted with any. But Birle wasn't really close with any men from the village either, beyond family members and his own father, who seemed a ridiculous option.

His curiosity got the better of him, and Griffin found himself asking, "And who is this 'one man?'" Birle quickly shot him a look that Griffin didn't quite notice.

She hadn't actually meant to mention Orien in her little 'speech,' but it had come out and apparently caught Griffin's interest. Sighing softly, she told him only that "He isn't a man who I have seen in many years. I did love him very much, but had to leave for my own reasons. He was Lyss's father." Something in her voice kept Griffin from asking any more, though he continued to wonder. He'd never thought of Lyss as having a father before, though now that he did he supposed she must have one.

"Guess he's not someone we'll be seeing anytime soon, huh?" He said, trying to cheer her up again. Surprised, Birle looked up at him again, and then looked away with a small smile. However, that smile was not for the reason Griffin believed. If you only knew...

"Are you ready to go?" Lyss smiled up at the Ea- no, Orien- as he addressed her.

"Well, I don't have much to get ready, do I?"

"Very true." Suddenly he stopped and looked quickly over his shoulder at something, a slight frown on his face as though a problem had just occurred to him. "Hey, Mann!" he called to one of the men carrying a bridal towards the horses. He looked over at them.

"Yes, my Lord?"

"How many horses have we got, not including those for supplies?" Mann appeared to think for a moment, then said:

"I believe we have eight, my Lord, one for each of us not including servants." Lyss then realized what Orien (ha!) thought the problem was.

"Oh, uh- Orien- it's okay, I don't need a horse. I'm used to walking, and I don't really know how to ride anyway." She felt rather embarrassed that he cared enough to worry about something like that.

"Oh, nonsense! We can't have you walking!" He told her cheerfully. "Since we apparently don't have any extras, you'll just have to ride with me for the day!"

"Oh-" said Lyss, not really sure what to say to this. She really liked this lord, and didn't at all mind the idea of riding with him for some reason. She only wondered what others might say if she did.

"Don't worry—it'll be fine, I promise. And no one here really cares."

Somehow, this reassured her. She smiled at him and said that would be fine.

As they rode that day, they spoke lightly of little things to pass the time. At her request, Orien told her all about court life, right up to the sort of clothes that the Ladies wore. She seemed to enjoy that last topic quite a bit, so much so that Orien eventually promised he would get her one of the beautiful dresses when they arrived at the capital. Much to his amusement, Lyss turned bright red at this.

"Oh, no... you don't have to... I didn't mean... what would I do with a dress like that, anyway?"

"Probably sit and stare at it, judging by our conversation." said Orien teasingly.

"I would not! Well... maybe a little, just at first..."

"It's settled then! As soon as we get back, you'll have one." And nothing Lyss said could dissuade him.

----

That evening, the lords discovered to their disappointment that weevils had somehow gotten into much of the food. The servants in particular seemed devastated at this disgusting development, but Orien told them not to worry to worry about it. Annoyed at the reactions, he told them all, "Come on, guys, we all came out here because we wanted to 'rough it,' didn't we? We still have a little food left, and this isn't a serious problem because we can buy more food to tide us over tomorrow in that little village. So stop complaining, and enjoy what food we do have!" With that, he headed over to the packs, apparently to follow his own advice.

Lyss, however, couldn't help but notice that there really wasn't enough food for all the men there and herself, even if they lessened the portions. She'd also noticed a very nice fishing spot close by.

"Um, Orien?" she said, walking up to him before he began taking out what little they had.

"Excuse me. Ladies first, of course." He offered her the bag.

Lyss laughed. "No, it's just that I think I know how we can get more food. Quickly." She told him her idea. "I know how to fish, and those hunting spears you have will probably work." Orien's face had lit up at her suggestion.

"You'd fish for us?"

"Well, me too, but yes." Several of the men who had overheard her offer began to cheer. Orien laughed and said,

"Well then, off to your fishing spot!"

----

When Lyss and Orien arrived at the bank, Orien handed her the spear saying that he knew for a fact that he was no good at fishing. Lyss didn't think to ask how he knew this.

"It's not very difficult, really," she told him as she lifted up her skirts and stepped carefully into the water, signaling for him to be quiet.

Half an hour later they had a nice pile of fish, ready for roasting over the fire that the men back at camp had assumably started. Orien seemed oddly quiet for some reason as they began the walk back to camp.

"Is something wrong?" asked Lyss, by now knowing him well enough to realize this wasn't normal. He seemed to snap out of whatever it was, and said with a small smile,

"Oh, it's nothing. It's just... the way you were fishing, just now. It reminded of someone." Lyss nodded and dropped the subject.

----

As they ate the fish amid many compliments to Lyss back at the camp, Orien found himself confessing his feelings to his brother.

"Gladaegal, the way... the way she moved as she fished, it was exactly as Birle does. She fished in just the same way. I don't know why that should mean anything, but I can't stop thinking about it. It's probably the only way there is to fish." He sighed. "Just bringing back memories, I suppose." He looked up at the stars for a moment, and then told his brother that he was going to bed.

"Hey... don't worry about it, okay? Wherever Birle is, I'm sure she's safe and happy. It was nothing to do with you that she left." Orien gave a half-hearted smile.

"I know."

Lyss looked curiously over towards Orien and his brother. For a moment, she'd thought she'd heard her mother's name. But that wasn't possible... Dismissing it, she went back to her fish.

A few minutes later, Gladaegal came and sat beside her. "This really is excellent fish, you know." She smiled softly at him.

"I only caught them. A child could have done the same."

"Nevertheless," For a moment, there was a comfortable silence. Then, "If you don't mind my asking, where did you learn to fish?"

"Oh... my mother taught me, several years ago."

"That's nice." Gladaegal's heart plummeted.

Hmm, seems like Gladaegal's getting closer, doesn't it? The thing with the reviews still applies. If you're reading this, I'd just like something to let me know! It can be onlyone or two words, I don't mind!