"What the hell?!" Shouted Rami. "I thought you were injured!"

"I am." Retorted Jurie. "But unlike some wuss with pretty green eyes, I strive to do better despite injuries."

Rami smirked. Did she really say his eyes were pretty? He saw her blush a strawberry red colour.

"Well unlike a certain b*tch with alluring amber eyes I like to play it safe. I'd rather spend a whole week recovering then getting back in top shape rather than no rest and carry the injury forever."

"Words of a weak man and a fool." She muttered.

Rami shook his head bemused "No they are the words of a wise man."

"Then why didn't you follow your own advice back in England?"

"The situation was dire. I was in the home of the enemy, the daughter of my enemy watching me. Tell me Jurie...how old are you?"

"Sixteen!" She spat out viciously.

"No wonder you can be so brash, brasher than I am at times."

"It's not like you're any older!" She huffed.

"Angel I am three whole years older than you are."

"You're still the Princess of Fools!"

"That I may be but none the less I have had more experience more injuries. I know what it is like."

"He is right" said Montero "I am a fool too, in consenting this activity, you must rest. I don't want anything to happen to you."

Annoyance flashed across Rami's face at Montero's honeyed words. Despite their newfound kinship, he still harboured a slight malice for his liking to Jurie.

Jurie merely rolled her eyes.

"Bastards!" She muttered under breath as she threw her sword upon the ground. It landed with a thud and sand billowed like a cloud of gold around it.

Rami then directed his attention to Montero "I have received news from my parents. Jurie this applies to you as well. Word has reached monarchs of France of our successful escapade. Not only have we saved the citizens of Argentina but we have also delivered a mighty blow upon the Unspeakable. For that King Louis and his lovely Queen has invited both families and the Argentinian commanding officers to Paris for a large feast. For that reason I suspect I shall be allowed to stay here to heal. Jurie I wish you request the same from your father, if that is possible." He said the last words with caution but Jurie's features remained emotionless.

There was silence. Then Montero spoke up "Word spreads quickly."

"That it does." Replied Jurie. Then she smiled "I hope this feast will remain peaceful, we don't want a third civil brawl do we? It has been a long time since the whole of our families have met."

"I hope so too. But knowing how deep the feud has been embedded in our blood, I think a brawl is inevitable."

Jurie laughed "Are we the only exceptions?"

"It seems so. That or I'm adopted."

Laughter rang the arena and Rami mused at how quickly the air could change from hot annoyance to sweet humour.

After the last notes of laughter hung hallowed in the air, the handsome face of Derek entered room. Holding an English copy of Romeo and Juliet he called out too Rami.

"I got your book and also there are four men in town looking for you both. Two men look Japanese and the other two look Arab."

With excitement in her voice Jurie asked "Do you by any chance know their names?"

"I don't remember very well but I think it was something like Takasi and Kenzi. As for the Arabs Marek and Bavor? I'm not sure forgive me if I get it wrong."

Smiles planted themselves on the two assassins faces.

~~~

Squealing Jurie made her way out of the arena, hanging the sword up on the way. Rami followed suit with equal enthusiasm, even if he was hobbling along with crutches. 

They both knew that assassins were not supposed to show much emotion. They were supposed to be stoic and emotionless. But Rami and Jurie found themselves too happy for their own good when they saw Takashi, Babbar, Kenji and Malek's silhouettes making their way towards them. 

Takashi's eyes zoomed in on Jurie and he immediately knew something was wrong. As the young Shadow Princess launched herself at him, he held her at arms distance, scanning her body before his eyes fell on her torso. The material underneath was much too lumpy to be his cousins smooth skin that he had seen so many times. By this time Kenji had also stopped next to them, also realising that something was not right. 

Lifting up his cousins shirt, Takashi swore colourfully while Kenji merely inspected the wound with masked horror. The white bandage that was wrapped around Jurie's torso was now streaked with blood. 

Jurie grimaced, she may have exerted herself too much. Lifting the sword might have re-opened her wounds. 

Rami met with Babbar and Malek, pulling them in for a one-armed hug. He turned his face when he heard Takashi's swearing and felt waves of worry wash over him as he too took in Jurie's re-opened wound from afar. 

Kenji swept Jurie off her feet, holding her bridle style, asking her to direct him to her tent. Everyone followed, faces creased with worry. After he lay Jurie onto her bed, Kenji placed the bag he had bought onto a nearby table and began unloading a number of Japanese medical herbs, lotions and medication. He took out a roll of fresh bandage and began to unravel the one wrapped around Jurie. Jurie hissed as the cold bit at her exposed wound. Takashi gasped, his eyes watering as he saw the extent of the injury. 

A long cut spanned along the width of Jurie's toned abdomen, and from where he could see, it was about one centimetre or more deep. The stitches that had once held it together were ripped in a haphazard pattern. 

Kenji furrowed his eyebrows in concentration as he cut them off and looped new stitching into a heated needle. He then pushed a vial of white-ish murky liquid into Jurie's hands. 

"Nonde." (Drink it.) He said. 

The Shadow Princess did as she was told, throwing the liquid back, and down her throat. And then Kenji began stitching the cut back together. Kenji's eyes were narrowed as he slowly made his last stitch and tied it together. Through the whole process Jurie had not made a sound, and if she had been in pain her face had not shown it. 

Kenji then re-wrapped up Jurie's wound and helped her put her shirt back on. 

"Yasunde. Mo yasunde iiyo." (Rest. You can rest now.) He whispered to her gently. 

With that Jurie scanned the room and its occupiers one more time before closing her eyes.

~~~~

Hello! Jello! Yellow! YES ANOTHER UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes our beloved Malek, Takashi, Kenji and Babbar are back. What do you think is going to happen? Please vote and comment!

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