Tamora Pierce owns all the characters except the ones you don't recognize. Oh, and the plots mine too.

A Chance at Revenge

Chapter One

The forest stood around me, green and a bit wet. I walked slowly by myself; my bare feet brushed over the moss that covered the forest floor. A pack hung from my back, a pair of curve-back knives in my hand. It was time to move on, once again. I had been noticed.

I came upon a lake in the middle of the forest. The clear blue water showed my reflection as I looked into it. A girl with bright blue eyes stared back at me. Short silver hair that was normally hidden beneath a hood shone brightly in the sunlight. Her dark brown cloak lay over her dirtied shirt and breeches. Her face would have been considered pretty, except for the three scars that ran down her face. One was from her right temple to the right corner of her mouth; the other two ran parallel on the left side of her chin. Her frame was thin, her body lean from the running that consumed her life.

Ripples overtook the picture, and sound of hoof beats reached my ears. I turned, only to see a group of armored knights galloping towards me. Oh, just great.

I took off running, my legs carrying me towards the nearest tree. I jumped, catching the first branch, and climbed as fast as I could.

After gaining a far amount of tree in between the ground and myself, I looked down. The riding party was below me, helmets off, and looking up.

"Come down." One of the riders called in a loud, bellowing voice.

"Hmmmmmmm…" I turned my head on its side, appearing to consider it. "No." The word was short and loud.

"We need to speak with you."

"You're speaking with me now."

He made an agitated noise, while a red head knight snickered. "Would you please just come down?"

I raised an eyebrow. "I already told you 'no'."

I think I heard him growl. "Come down in the name of the King!"

I made a disbelieving noise and laughed loudly. "I think I'm going to answer to a king that's done nothing but make my life a living rat's hole?" I gave a thoughtful look. "Wow. You really are stupid."

"WHY YOU!" He was cut off as a female voice rose above his.

"Vayga." My body went rigid. I hadn't heard that word is ten years. "We real-"

"How do you know my name?" My voice was soft but tense; my hands shook.

"Vay-"

"HOW DO YOU KNOW MY NAME?" It was a cracked bellow.

The blonde knight sighed. "The King told me everything about you." She looked earnestly back at me. "He'd very much like to speak with you."

"Your king can rot for all I care! So just leave! I won't do it!" I turned my back on them, deciding if I could jump into the next tree. The group grew oddly silent, but there was no sound of moving horses.

Suspicious, I turned. I yelled as a huge orange cloud enveloped me. And then it was black.

V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&V&

"She's coming to, Your Highness." The world was a huge fuzz ball, blurry and black. Your Highness…Your Highness…THE KING!

I jerked hands to my belt, reaching for the curve-back knives, only to find them gone. My head shot up, the monarch of Tortall standing before me.

Rage filled my veins and I lunged at him, but was pulled back by a pair of hands. A snarl was on my lips, and I fought the hands, wanting no more than to gut King Jonathon.

But the hands won. I pressed into the chair, and couldn't move.

The king blinked, but smiled. "She's the fiery type, isn't she?"

I merely growled, "Let me out of this chair, and I'll show you how fiery I am when I strangle you."

His eyes widened. "Now why would you want to do that?"

"You killed my family. You let them die, you scum bag." I could feel myself shake uncontrollably. "You will meet their fate."

"I did not kill your fam-" He started.

"YOU LET THEM DIE! THAT IS MURDER!" I screamed, totally losing any control I might have had.

"Keladry! Stick her in a room where she can't get out! She's not going to listen right now!" He yelled over top of my ranting.

And that same pair of hands that held me back, drug me away from my chance at revenge.