Challenging Directions - Book 1 (Completed)

Chapter 12 - The List

After leaving their captains, the undercover team head back to the tavern. Riac was still fuming and walking beside him was Rai still trying to keep him calm, George and Corin were teasing Arrio about protecting Mia.

"Will you guys stop." Arrio growls, after twenty minutes of putting up with it. "I couldn't care less about the girl, but that man she hangs out with is very protective of her. If something bad happens he will be after us."

"Denial!" They both sang in unison, giggling, while Arrio ran ahead hiding a blush. Rai hit them both over the head.

"I have enough to worry about without you two idiots making the kid embarrassed." He said trying to keep his calm. "Go after him, make sure he doesn't make a mistake, or it is you who will pay." They both ran after Arrio.

"Don't you think that was a little harsh?" Riac said behind Rai.

"What? And you going off on the ladies wasn't?" Rai said raising his left eyebrow.

"That was different." Riac said looking down. "We can't trust her.. We-"

They were cut off by Corin who was running to them, crazily fast.

"Hey!" He said a lil worried. "Sir Atticus and the rest of them are on there way here."

"What?" Riac shouts. "Why, what is going on?" He says after regaining some self control.

"They got up and saw our notes." Corin replied. "They figured that they would meet up with us, then we can start the search."

"Right, where are Kalila and Mia suppose to be?" Rai asks hurriedly.

"At the shop to pick up supplies, we were all checking local inns for the Exalter Advance." Corin says, Rai nodded and walked behind a stall. He sent a message to Enya, and made it back in time to greet the other team approaching.

"Hey you guys!" Kai waves. "Did you find anything?"

"Nope, like Arrio thought, they are not in town." Riac sighs. "What a waste of a morning."

"Ah, I wouldn't say that." Moss pats him on the shoulder. "At least we now know they are not here."

"Hey it is nice to see some enthusiasm." Sir Atticus said. "Glad you aren't all moody anymore." He smiles at Moss. "Anyway, when do you think the girls will be done with the shopping?"

"We aren't sure." Ria chuckles. "Kalila loves to shop, and Mia looked ecstatic."

"He he, women, am I right?" Ercan butts in, but gets pushed right back out, by Mia.

"Hey, what was that suppose to mean?" Mia say her face red - because of the tattoo having to be hurried, but they all think she is really mad. She was carrying a bunch of bags, behind her was Kalila who was also carrying a bunch of bags. Louis took them out of Mia's hands, even though she protested. "I can do it!"

"No, your face is all red you need a break." He says not paying attention to her glaring eyes.

"Here let me help!" Kai said running to Kalila's side.

"Thank you" She smiles at him and places a hand on his. "You are my hero, I thought we were going to have to carry them all the way back."

"M-my pleasure." Kai responds blushing at Kalila who was giggling.

"So Ercan, what were you saying about women?" Kalila turns around and stares at him smiling sweetly, but with a hint of anger. Mia also turned on him.

"Ah, nothing. It was a joke." He says backing up.

"A joke at one's expense is not a good one." Ashe says wisely. "Especially when the person, or people the joke is about can kill you." He smiles at the girls who looked very proud.

"Sorry." Ercan says bowing his head.

"Anyway, if you guys are done playing, let's go back to the tavern and drop off the supplies." Sir Atticus says." On the way we shall tell you the plan for locating the Exalter Advance"

"Oh, about that sir." Mia says abruptly. "We bought devices for long distance communication. This way if we split up we will be able to get a hold of each other." She pulls them out of the bags Louis took from her.

"Good, that actually works perfectly." Sir Atticus says smiling. "We are going to split up into two groups, we each take the towns beside this one and search for them. Hopefully they haven't gotten to much of a head start." He sighs, while leading the group back to the tavern.

"Who will be in which groups?" George asks curiously.

"Well Mia, Louis, Riac, myself, Rai & Moss in one, then Kalila, Kai, Arrio, Ercan, Corin, George with Ashe." Sir Atticus replies after some thought. They soon arrived at the tavern and split up into their groups.

Sir Atticus and his group searched Enez, while Kai and his group took Lom.

"Geez, this town is huge, Ercan complained.

"Let's split up." Kalila said. "I will go with Kai, Arrio you go with Ercan and Corin, Ashe can you please go with George?"

"Yes." Ashe nodded, and they all split up. After a while he stopped George and whispered in his ear, "I know who you guys are." George's face looked shocked.

"I don't know what you are talking about." he responds.

"Of course you don't, but before you try to kill me. I want to say one thing." Ashe looks him right in the eyes. "I am on your side, even if you don't believe me." George couldn't say anything, because he was still in shock, so Ashe walked ahead, smirking.

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Back with Sir Atticus and his team.

"This is taking forever." Louis said. "We should split up."

"Right." Sir Atticus nodded. "You go with Mia. I will go with Riac and Moss you go with Rai." They agreed and walked in different directions.

Mia stopped confronted Louis. "Why are you always so grumpy?" She asks looking him in the eyes.

"I am no different than usual." He replied looking back into her eyes.

"No, I mean with the other team." Mia said rolling her eyes. "They are good people who want to help."

"I am sorry Mia, but you can't truly see into a person's heart." Louis said walking ahead, while she hurried to keep. He looked down at her and saw his answer wasn't good enough. "I get a really bad feeling from them. That is all."

"Okay, but if you know something please tell me." She pouted. "Don't leave me in the dark."

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Back at the tavern, Enya and Lani broke into the boy's room while Fia and Nandin took watch from the front and back exits.

"What are we looking for exactly?" Lani asks.

"Anything that might help us find out the Kingdoms' next move." Enya replied, and moved from one bag to the next.

A couple of bags later and Lani stoop up.

"Enya!" She shouted. "I found a letter. It is addressed from three of the Kingdoms." Lani handed the letter to her sister.

"Oh my," Enya read the letter and sat down smiling.

"What? What is it?" Lani asks anxiously. "Oh give me that back, I will read it for myself." She snatched it back. "It is the list! We know the successors!" She cheered.

"You do see who is taking Dellmon right?" Enya asked.

"Oh, I see." Lani said after re-reading it.

"Yup." Enya sighed. " Nandin! Fia!" she yelled for them. "Go contact the rest, we need to do another ambush, and this time on purpose." She commanded each nodding and taking their leave. "Sorry Lani, but your hottie has to be questioned."

"I know, I am not upset." Lani says. "He was our enemy from the start, why should I be hurt." Even though she knew this to be true, she couldn't help but feel horrible. Poor Sir Atticus, she thought.