I am Apologizing in advanced for this but well I couldn't help myself, since I am now out of plaster I have decided to rewrite my first 2 chapters plus the third chapter will be loaded up as well. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

The Child

Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's peak rode at the head of his kings own, running border patrol through the Tortallian-Scanran Mountains. With the sweeps out they moved slowly looking out for war parties and killing machines. The path thinned down to little more than a goat track, forcing the group to form one column.

"You know if the king knew we let you ride lead, with emanate danger around we would be in trouble." Dom called from behind Raoul.

"Yeah, well no one is going to tell the king, now are they?" Raoul replied.

"I don't know, I might." A light, sweet voice of a woman echoed over them. They pulled their horses to a stop immediately. Raoul let out a series of whistles checking that all his sweepers were still there, they all returned, still in their positions with no signs of the enemy. "Oh have I scared you now?"

"Whose there, come out" Raoul called.

"Look up, I am not hiding." Sitting, with a small smile on her face, on a thick branch of an oak tree was a blonde haired blue eyed girl. "Hello"

"Hello there, why don't you come down here." Raoul said with a quiet smile in his voice, the right side of her smile twitched and she raised gracefully on the branch her black cape enveloping her body. Without so much as a change of posture she leapt twisted in the air and landed on her feet right in front of the leader of the own. Standing at her full height of 5 feet 9 inches with a coy smile on her face the girl looked strangely familiar. "I hope you know this is a war zone, whom do you support?"

"No one, I am seeking the Tortallian capital and Sir Myles of Olau." Her voice wasn't loud or abrupt, if anything Raoul thought that she may be shy.

"Why do you want Olau?"

"That isn't any concern of yours Raoul of Goldenlake," she retorted,

"How do you know who I am," there was the sound of a branch cracking the girl spun just as a sweeper hit; glancing off he smacked her across the face.

"She looks like a Scanran, but talks like something different my lord." Lerant of Eldorne said, his stand bearer and the sweeper how knocked her out. Raoul dismounted, most of his patrol followed suit.

"Well let's get a better look at her," Raoul pulled black her cloak revealed, a rake thin underweight girl no more than 16 at the oldest, he blonde hair was carefully coiled and pinned on top of her head to keep it out of her way. "She's young,"

"Pretty though," Dom replied, Raoul looked down at the girl for a few moments.

"Pack her up, get her tied to a horse and we'll take her back to Mastiff," he called, two men stepped forwards and in a few moments they were off again. Leaving half the squad behind to finish the patrol, Raoul headed back to mastiff with the girl. They stormed through the gates and up to the main keep.

"My Lord, you're back early." Called the sergeant at arms,

"Got us a pretty little prisoner here," Raoul called back. "Get some men take her to the stocks, and get the Whisper Man out here to chat with her." Several men headed towards the horse, one reached out and grabbed the back of the girl's cloak. The next thing that Raoul knew the man was on the ground dazed blood gushing from his nose, the girl stood there her hands still bond in front of her, blonde hair blowing in the wind. Three more men moved in, looking at one she seemed to run up his chest before kicking him in the side of the head, back flipping she took out another man her feet slamming into his chest, she landed on one knee and the ball of her other foot.

"Whoa there," four more men moved in with the remaining man, "fiery young filly you got here my Lord."

"Young Filly?" the girl asked the man smirked and fell as she smashed her bond hands into the side of his head. "Come on boys, is that all you got. I though the Tortallian knew how to fight." That made 2 of the men angry and they rushed her. Raoul was enjoying watching her; she seemed to fly in the air as both the men hit the ground,

"Alright then that's enough, behave!" Raoul called.

"I want to see Myles of Olau immediately!" the girl yelled, her arms wrapped around the head of Lerant of Eldorne,

"And why is that exactly?"

"I am his Niece," the world seemed to stop for a moment as Raoul looked at this young stranger so Scanran, yet maybe not...