:
: : Kryschenn had felt uncomfortably like a
: shepherd making sure there were no strays
: from the flock as they approached the
: castle. That wasn't to say she thought of
: her friends as sheep. She just wanted to
: make extra sure they didn't get separated
: so the wolves could descend on them again.
: Heck with it. She didn't care how the guards
: or the townspeople or the Things That Were
: Watching Them felt. She drew her sword
: and carried it openly until they reached
: the castle, finally sheathing it only when
: they were within the outer walls.
: As they were waiting for the guard to let
: them pass into the palace, she heard
: Kimmy's excitement about the castle and
: the comparison to Sleeping Beauty, with
: the dragon under the castle. Kimmy just
: may be right about that, she said, sharing
: glances with Presto and Faira. Did she
: overhear what had been said earelier, or
: was it just coincidence? Even Presto
: didn't really know for sure if there was
: something in the catacombs.
: Excitement burst out when some of them had
: spotted the Storyteller again. Krys gave a
: quick shake of her head towards Iris, who
: also seemed to have been upset by her
: inability to reach Zeo in time to be of
: any help. No, she signaled. Let's not
: get distracted again.
: Eventually they were escorted in and
: introduced to the old Councillor. He
: acknowledged them as a group but didn't
: really seem to take in their individual
: introductions. Nor did he let them
: explain the reason for their presence.
: They were obviously the companions of
: their honored guests, that was enough for
: him.
: "I apologize that the Princess cannot
: receive you herself at the moment,"
: he said smoothly, interrupting their
: efforts to tell why they were here.
: "Indeed she was not expecting guests.
: But come. I shall see to your comfort
: and you shall be presented to Her Majesty
: at dinner."
: Kryschenn thought about the rules of
: hospitality which required her to disarm
: almost completely while a guest in
: someone's house...technically her sgian
: dubh was the only weapon permissible to
: carry under someone else's roof.
: Screw it. This baby wasn't leaving her side.
: Patting her sword hilt lovingly, she
: turned to take a quick head count. Aye,
: all present.
: Now what? She looked at the Young Ones, who
: seemed relaxed enough in the councillor's
: presence. The group began to follow him,
: somewhat unsure of where they were being
: led.
: They had not gotten ten steps when a familiar
: voice called out from the top of a
: staircase. "Is that you? What was
: out there?"
: They all turned, as Bobby called out,
: "More people from back home, Sis.
: How's Terri?"
: Wow. Sheila had certainly turned out lovely.
: And graceful, as she descended the stairs
: without making a sound. "She's still
: the same. I'm sorry, Bobby. I know how
: hard this must be, with the way you feel
: about her." That last comment was
: said with a surreptitious and longing
: glance toward Hank, who either did not
: notice or, more than likely, pretended not
: to.
: "These guys from Earth," Bobby
: said, "they think that this mental
: guy here can maybe reach her mind while
: she's asleep." He gestured at Cole
: hopefully.
: Some turned their eyes to look at Cole
: expectantly. Other (mostly female)
: glances went back and forth between Sheila
: and Hank, and romantic plots began to
: form.
:
....And not only in Krys's mind, but in all the minds of anyone who caught that look. I glanced at Kimmy, and she'd seen it to. I was torn between wanting to rush up to the two of them and focibly bang their heads together, and maybe, just maybe asking Faira if she had a love spell that might work...
My thoughts were drawn away from matchmaking when Isaw the worried expression on Bobby's face. It was quite a jolt, seeing him, albeit in person for the first time but also five years older. He was maturing very well, and I knew that, give him a few years, he'd be a very good looking man. It was almost like seeing my own brother, who was permanently six years old in my eyes, even though he'd turned seventeen last month. I just knew we had to try something to help Terri.
