NEW BEGINNINGS.
Twelve years ago, Kel was taken prisoner by Scanrans. Now she returns, escaping her prison with her eleven year old Son Wyl, who happens to be the Prince of Scanra and King Maggur's son.
PROLOGUE.
Scanra.
She waited until the dead of night, waited until the shift changed at the guard house; she would have fifteen minutes until the new guards arrived, by then she had to be gone.
Her serious expression softened as she looked at her sleeping son, Wyl was her only joy these past years; for twelve years she had been prisoner to King Maggur, Wyl was almost eleven years old. He was her pride and joy, he had all of her looks and temperament and nothing of his father.
Shaking his shoulder gently she smiled, "It's time Wyl."
He woke instantly, his head lifting from the pillow. "We're really leaving?"
"Yes," Kel ruffled his hair, "come on, we have to go now."
Wyl nodded solemnly, sliding silently out of the bed he licked his lips. "Let go Mama."
Kel smiled, walking to the cupboard she pulled the coiled rope from behind a pile of clothes. opening the window she tossed the rope out and tied the end to the latch on the window then she motioned for her son. "You go first Wyl, I'll be right behind you."
He nodded and gripped the rope, "you're coming right after me?"
"As soon as you're half way down," that way she could keep an eye out for guards. She smiled encouragingly at Wyl, "it'll be fine. Just don't look down," like her at his age, Wyl was afraid of heights.
He nodded and let her help him climb out over the window sill, swallowing nervously he began climbing cautiously down the rope. Kel watched closely, her eyes scanning for any signs of danger.
She waited until Wyl was about halfway down the rope, swinging her legs out the window she began to climb.
he was waiting for her when she reached the bottom, hiding in the shadows he smiled tightly. "So far so good," he whispered his voice shaking slightly from the cold.
Kel nodded, "Now comes the hard part." They had to dash across to the gate, open it just enough to get out and be out of sight before the guards arrived.
Smiling at Wyl she nodded, "lets get going."
Taking her son's hand, she ran; this was the crucial stage, if anyone spotted them now they were done for. The gate seemed farther away then it should have been, and if seemed to take longer to reach it then it should have.
But when she looked around, there was still no sign of the guards. Panting for breath she pushed Wyl into the shadows of the gate, "I'll run up and open it. Stay here," at his nod Kel ran.
She had to open it just enough to let them out, with out opening it too much that it would be noticed when the guards returned; closing the gate wasn't possible.
She reached the gate turned the winch that opened and closed the gate, now it was up to Wyl to tell her when to stop. A moment later he darted into sight and waved his arms. letting go of the winch, Kel bolted back down to join her son.
"Come on," grasping his arm, Kel took a deep breath and ran through the small opening.
xxx
Crous, Tortall.
Neal closed his eyes and sighed, in the last twelve years so much had changed; and yet so much remained the same. He had taken over for his father as the Palace healer almost four years ago, it was now his job to deal with the injuries of the pages.
The patient in front of him squirmed, her face screwing up with discomfort. Neal looked at her and sighed, "keep still."
"It itches," Kelanna complained irritably.
Shaking his head at his daughter he sighed, "you're the one who wanted to be a knight, remember? I did warn you, I told you what it would be like."
Kelanna rolled her eyes, "yes, it's such a horror to have your only child want to grow up in your footsteps."
"Then why not become a healer?"
His daughter snorted and gave him an exasperated look, "because it's boring. I want to do something exciting, I want to have grand adventures like you did."
Neal choked and shook his head, "grand adventures? exactly who's life are we talking about?" Where did she get the idea his life, and his 'adventures' were grand? Exciting perhaps, certainly not boring, but grand?
"From your stories," Kelanna smiled, "I want to do great things, like when you helped Keladry kill Blayce and save all the refugees."
Neal groaned, "that wasn't grand Kelanna. It was a horror, all of it." He sighed and looked at her seriously, "it's not a life I want for you."
"Well it's the life I want," Kelanna told him in a slightly annoyed tone, "Am I right to go?"
Neal sighed and nodded, "yes, you're all fixed." As she turned to leave, Neal caught his daughter's hand. "You know I love you..."
"I know," Kelanna smiled and shook her head. "I love you too Papa," she gently pulled her hand from his grasp and jogged out of the healers quarters. Watching her go, Neal closed his eyes and groaned; why couldn't his life ever be easy?
Sitting on the end of one of the beds he found himself thinking of Kel, his dearest friend; she had been taken prisoner just over twelve years ago, even now no one could find her or tell if she was even alive.
xxx
Scanra.
Kel and Wyl ran, they weren't in any danger; not yet, but they needed to get to the border as soon as possible. They had taken to walking for a few hours, and the running for as long as they could.
It had been two days since their escape, two days of hiding out during the day and traveling as far as they could at night; that was the safest way to travel, at night there was less chance of being spotted by scanran soldiers, less chance of being caught again.
Wyl slowed to a walk, panting for breath. Looking at his mother he shook sweat out of his eyes, "I can't run anymore."
Kel shook her head at his ashamed tone, putting her arm around him she kissed his cheek. "I am so proud of you," she smiled and ruffled his hair. "Come on, we'll just walk a bit."
"How far have we come?" Wyl's voice was tired, neither one of them had had much sleep in the last couple of days.
Frowning Kel shook her head, "I'm not entirely sure."
"Do you think we're close?"
Again Kel shook her head, "I really don't know Wyl, but we'll get there, I promise." They had to, if Maggur caught them, she would never see her son again.
A soft whiny had her reaching for her glaive, she'd had one of the servants smuggle the weapon into her room almost a week ago. Now she could hear soft hoof beats on the rough ground, beside her Wyl stiffened; his thin body shaking with fear.
The horse appeared a moment later, he was an older looking roan gelding, for a moment Kel just stared, then her face split into a grin. Peachblossom stopped before her, his head lifted proudly; he'd runaway when she'd been captured, she hadn't seen or heard of him since.
"What are you doing here?"
He snorted and shifted uneasily, and Kel realised he'd been wild for twelve years; reaching out her hand she smiled gently, "come on old boy, it's me." Slowly Peachblossom's head stretched out to sniff her hand, after a moment he stepped forward and nuzzled her chest. 'Good boy."
"Mama, who is this horse?" Wyl was watching in confusion, his arms crossed over his chest.
Grinning Kel stroked the big horse's face, "this, is Peachblossom."
Wyl's eyes went wide, "he's waited for you all this time?"
Kel couldn't believe it either, he should have been dead by now; instead, he only looked only a few years older than the last time she'd seen him. "I guess so," she'd known he was loyal to her, but this was incredible. Gripping his mane, Kel led him to a rock; looking at Wyl she shrugged, "I'm going to see if he'll let me ride him."
Stepping onto the rock, she placed a hand on Peachblossom's back. The gelding snorted and flicked his ears, after a moment's pause, she vaulted onto his back. He snorted and flattened his ears, dancing wildly under her. Stroking his neck, Kel whispered soothingly. "It's ok, it's just me." After several long seconds he calmed down, his ears flicked forward and he stood still.
"Come on," offering her hand to Wyl she grinned. "We'll be back in no time."
her son didn't hesitate, grabbing her hand, he let her pull him up in front of her. They both froze as Peachblossom tensed beneath them, he pawed the ground with a hoof and then his head turned to face Kel; he nickered softly, his eyes calm and determined.
Kel grinned, "good boy." rubbing his neck she urged him into a fast trot, "don't spill us ok?"
A soft snort was her answer as he broke into a canter, Kel smiled and closed her eyes; she was going home.