Chapter One

"What do you mean traitors," I questioned Shota.

"Those men, your Father's so called trustworthy knights are traitors of this kingdom and the two territories, I have foreseen that as soon as the crown is placed on your head, the knights will stick a sword through your father and take you and your mother captive before you could even try to confess them, then they plan to take you through the boundary and force Kahlan and Richard to forfeit the throne to their new master, in exchange for your lives," Shota told me, speaking quickly, knowing we had to act soon.

"One of those knights is my uncle, he would never betray his own blood," I said, defending my uncle.

"I'm sorry Elija, but he is the leader of the campaign, and he has been promised the throne of this territory, do you not remember who your father was before he was confessed?"

"Your betrothed arrives in two days time, you must gather those you know you can trust and come up with a plan, and if you're betrothed does not cooperate with us you will-," she paused, not wanting to say it.

"Have to confess her," I said finishing the sentence.

"Correct," was all she said.

"We have to warn my parents," I said. I rushed from my chambers and sped down the stairs, Shota close behind. I was stopped in the middle of the hall were my parents chambers were, "Halt, no one is allowed inside," a tall, black bearded soldier told me. Insulted, I held up the bottom corner of my robes and asked, "What is this."

"A robe your highness,"

"And what color is it."

"White sir."

"And do you know what that means."

"It means you are of the royal bloodline, sir."

"Exactly, which means I out rank you, so I suggest you move aside or I will personally escort you to the dungeon."

The soldier smiled at the this, "I'm afraid you are a bit out numbered, My Lord," he turned and nodded at the two men standing guard at his parents door. Shota concealed behind me stepped out (startling the man) and outstretched her arm.

She lowered it and said "I do believe you are the one who is out numbered," she smirked. He spun around only to find both men on the floor, dead. When he turned around again, my icy grip was already around his neck and he had an odd sensation. My eyes turned black, as did the soldier's. I drew back my hand and the man dropped to his knees and said, "Command me confessor."

"Guard the door and knock four times if someone is coming," I commanded.

"Yes confessor," the guard replied.

Shota, the soldier, and I covered the remaining space between us and the door to the royal chambers. I opened the door full draw and Shota and I dragged the two dead men through it.

"Eli! What is going on here," Queen Denee said with a look of horror on her face.

"We need to talk," I told her, "now."

I told my parents what Shota had told me, and also what had happened in the hallway.

"I know you don't want to believe your brother-in-law is a traitor Denee, but my visions never lie," Shota said.

"I knew I should have confessed him when he first showed up here trying to claim he was always faithful to the resistance," Denee scolded herself.

"It's okay mother, we all wanted to trust him, therefore we didn't even try to see if he was lying," I comforted her.

'"Well we need a plan," Shota said, "is there anyone you know you can trust with your life."

"The Children of Truth," I answered her. I was the leader of the Children of Truth, they were a group of women (Eli felt women were more trustworthy than men) with elite fighting ability. Eli had trained them to fight with the double daggers that the confessors fight with, but each also carried a sapphire rod. It is more a less an agiel that are the color of a sapphire, and are a bit thinner. They were created after the battle of Valaria when Denee and Finn fought off at least a dozen mordsith, Denee and Finn took all of the mordsith's agiels and brought them back with them to the mainland. When Shota joined them she disguised them as the Sapphire rods and also made it possible for the wielder to feel no pain as long as they held it at the handle.

"Then they will have to assist in your escape plan," Shota said. "Escape plan," I asked, "What do you mean, do you simply want me abandon our people to the traitors."

"You have to get out alive. Your parents can handle things here. My thinking is that if we could get the wedding and the coronation to be at the same time, you will be the true King of Hartland (the decided upon name of this territory) thus leaving the King alive, for they are planning to kill the King," she gestured toward Finn, "and if the King is still alive the people will not bow down to a new master, and whoever takes over will never be the true king. Then you can escape through the boundary and alert Kahlan and Richard of the danger."

"When does Princess Isabella arrive," Denee asked.

"In two days time," Shota answered.

"But what if she doesn't cooperate," Finn ventured to ask.

I glanced at Shota. "We may have to confess her," Shota answered.

"We will do what we must do," Denee said.

"Now, Eli, organize a meeting with the Children of Truth at seven o'clock sharp at the top of the east tower on the day Princess Isabella arrives, she to will have to be in attendance," Shota said.

"Right," I replied.

A/N hope you enjoyed it! There is more to come, and if anyone would like to Beta this just let me know.