Part 3

Kippernia - it had changed. More order ran through the city - something that resembled fear. More people kept their children inside. The entire city had been damaged - windows and doors broken, buildings were in need of new paint and some establishments were closed.

"Smithy?" I first met the blacksmith. He lifted his blonde head and started. He blinked, as if to make sure what he saw was real.

"Jester?" He was surprised, to say the least. "Is that really you?"

I nodded, my hair falling over my eyes. I quickly wiped it away.

"Yes, it's been... it's been a while." I admitted. A crooked smile formed on his lips.

"It's good to see you. The new jester isn't nearly as funny as you are." Smithy shook my hand warmly, "And, of course, Pepper misses you as her guinea pig. Rake also has to find his own exotic spices now."

He tried to be nonchalant about it, but he was avoiding the other two in our friendgroup.

"And... and Jane and Gunther?" I asked, adding the last one's name as an afterthought.

Smithy's face fell. "Oh, my friend... I..." He turned away from me. "They were knighted a while after you left. Sent to war."

"Smithy, what happened?" It came out slightly harsher than I intended. He paid it no notice.

"Kippernia was at war, old friend. And the king sent his two best knights forward."

Dread. Was Jane okay? Was Gunther? Where was Dragon?

"They found Gunther's body." He said softly. "And Jane... she was caught and tortured..."

"What?" The sound was uncommonly shrill, even in my own ears. Had I just left Jane on the verge of war? Is that why she had been so busy?

"She... she's alive, at least. But..." He took a breath and faced me again. "She's in her tower."

"What happened, Smithy?" I demanded.

"She lost her leg. And a bit of her sanity. Dragon's been babysitting, he refuses to leave her side. We can't go near her, or she goes ballistic. Dragon takes her meals to her."

"Wh... what?" The sound escaping my mouth was hollow. Had I left her just as war announced itself?

How had I remained ignorant of this war in my travels?

"Short life." A voice I recognised. I turned around. Dragon was lacking his usual smile, his face hard. "Come with me."

I nodded, bade farewell to Smithy (vaguely wondering where Pig was) and made my way to Jane's tower. Dragon was there before me (he had wings, don't judge me), and he lifted a single scaly finger to knock.

The door opened, and shut again instantly as the inhabitant caught sight of me.

"Come on, Jane." Dragon said gently. There was a sigh from inside, but the door opened again.

Jane had changed. Her hair was tied back in a braid, a scar ran from her left ear to her eye. She was dressed in a dress, and held a stick in her right hand to support her.

"Jester," She nodded to me. I wanted to throw my arms around her and pull her close to me.

"Lady Jane," I forced a smile.

. . .

A/N: Review?