Disclaimer: All names belong to Tamora Pierce (except Fala, Fala's mine hehe my own my precious). I say names because i used names of people and the characters are different so...yea. Everything place is Pierce's and most of the people.

well here you are enjoy

Keladry of Mindelan, Protector of the Small walked briskly through the palace hallways toward her former knight-master and current task-master, Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak's quarters to receive a new assignment. Lately she had been assigned to patrol duties on the border. The war with Scanra had been over for nearly two years and life had settled back down into it's normal peacetime grooves. Kel liked life at the palace, but being without a mission for nearly six months was just ridiculous. They could at least try to find her something to do, now it seemed they had and Kel could have jumped for joy.

"Hello, Mindelan. Where are you off to," Nealan of Queenscove fell into step beside her. His green eyes sparkled with humor and his brown hair was swept back from a widow's peak as always.

"I'm going to Raoul to be briefed on my new mission," Kel answered.

"Peachy, so am I. I suppose that the Lioness will be there, too. She told me to meet her in Lord Raoul's quarters." The pair entered Raoul's room and found not only Alanna the Lioness but her husband Baron George Cooper. Raoul welcomed them his normally cheerful, twinkling black eyes grave.

"Glad you two are here," said Alanna. "Now to business. We need you to go to the Cooper Isles."

"Why," asked Neal impertinently, "Despite the new dynasty, the government is holding up well and the place is prospering. Not to mention everyone even luarin nobles love the new Queen Dovasary." Alanna pursed her lips and turned to her husband.

"There's a problem it seems that a few luarins have been trying to start a rebellion. King Jonathan believes that if we send a few Tortallan knights to show support of the new monarch it will scare off the rebels, and if necessary they can help the raka if an uprising does occur," explained George.

"Sounds interesting," said Neal, then unexpectedly turning to Kel he asked, "what'd you think?"

Kel hesitated, "With all due respect, this mission sounds more political than anything else." Kel hated politics it was filled with people who tried to get into to power and lied and cheated and in some cases killed to get it. She hated that continual struggle that people felt necessary.

"It is, Kel, we're not saying that this mission will be very interesting to you, but we need some who is courteous and practical to balance out Neal's sarcastic personality," said Raoul giving the outraged Neal an apologetic smile.

Neal sigh and muttered, "I am doomed to be misunderstood." This statement caused everyone in the room to stifle a snort of laughter.
"So will you do it," Alanna asked." Kel nodded and Neal whooped. He grinned sheepishly. He wouldn't have been any fun without you he explained later. "Owen of Jesslaw, my son Alan of Pirate's Swoop, Merric of Hollyrose, and Faleron of King's Reach will join you." Kel smiled slightly thinking well if this trip isn't going to be interesting the guys will make sure it is.

"Alanna I think you forgot one small detail, the Prince Roald and Princess Shinkokami, will be there as well and it will be your jobs to make sure nothing happens to them," laughed Raoul.

"Yes there's that," Alanna agreed, laughing too.

Alianne of Pirate's Swoop stood in the streets of Rajmuat waiting for the Tortallan ship the Jasson to dock. Her Majesty Queen Dovasary was waiting to receive the Jasson's occupants with a royal welcome. Aly was standing a little was off from the Royal welcoming committee dressed as an old merchant woman selling apples. Her reddish gold hair was covered by a brown hood, her face was heavily made up to look like an aged wrinkled women's, but her unmistakable green eyes shone wickedly from the old face. As the Jasson docked and the passengers filed off Aly's sharp eyes watched for anything suspicious. The tall woman leading the pack must be the Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan. Aly had only seen her once in a vision sent to her by Kyprioth the Islands' patron god. Keladry had not changed much since then, her fawn brown hair was still cut to earlobe length and her dreamy hazel eyes still contradicted her nonsense expression and stubborn mouth and chin. Nealan of Queenscove followed the Lady Knight, then came Owen of Jesslaw, then Merric of Hollyrose, the Royal couple Roald and Shinkokami, Faleron of King's Reach, and Aly's twin brother Alan. They were warmly received by Dove and her step-mother Winnamine. The group started toward the palace and Aly trailed after keeping an eye everywhere.
Kel stepped off the ship and saw the girl queen of the Copper Isles standing before her. Dovasary was dressed relatively plainly as monarchs go. She wore a simple, but elegant amber gown that complimented her glowing brown skin and a gold circlet on her forehead symbolizing her status and a sheer veil covered her face. Her smile was warm and open, it gained Kel's trust almost instantly. The procession to the palace was slow because Dove, as she had insisted that Kel and the others call her, stopped to say hello to everyone from fisherman to merchants to wealthy land owners. When they finally arrived Kel and the other were shown to their rooms then told that they would have to clean themselves up for dinner with Dove. Funny thought Kel everyone in the palace calls her Dove not Dovasary it just seems to depend on whether or not they add in Lady or Queen.

Neal came sauntering in combing his hair and drawled, "Queen Dove is certainly amazing. I wouldn't think someone her age would be so tactful and aware of things that could happen politically if this didn't go well." Kel nodded she had noticed that about Dove, too. The queen was surprisingly serious for one so young. Kel supposed it was from being surrounded by advisors and older nobles that did it. Merric, Owen, Faleron broke her thoughts when they came into her room joking loudly.

"So, Kel, what do you think of this palace," asked Faleron, "It's beautiful isn't it. I never thought that the raka could construct something like this."

"Yes," agreed Owen, "I'd always heard that they were a bit savage."

"You have to remember, dear Owen," Neal said sweetly, " the version of the story we hear is from the conquerors point of view not the natives. I'm sure that the raka would see the luarin as savage."

"Most likely," answered Owen lightly making an effort to pretend to ignore Neal. There was a knock on the door and Alan came in. He had been the group's quietest member this was due to the fact that he was the youngest and Kel and the others were complete strangers to him. He resembled the Lioness more than his father Kel noticed, but his green eyes were definitely his father's. Kel didn't know where he got his strawberry blonde hair. Kel suddenly realized she knew very little about him she knew he was a new knight and had a twin but that was as far as her knowledge of him went. She made a mental note to try to get to know him better during her time here.

"Excuse me, but the Lady Dove wants to remind you that dinner will be served in five minutes," interrupted a servant.

Kel was examining her food when Alan settled down in the seat across from hers.

"I'm guessing you don't like the look of it," he said grinning and giving his own platter and experimental poke with his fork.

"Not especially," Kel answered, "it's a bit too…" she let her thought trail as she looked down at the spicy goop in front of her.

Alan laughingly replied, "I know what you" he broke off when a girl about his age height with the same eyes and hair came out of now where and hugged him fiercely. "Aly," he mumbled as she let go of him. Kel studied the new arrival with interest the girl obviously knew Alan well to show such an open display of affection, but who was she. Then it all clicked into Kel's mind and she later she wondered she hadn't seen it right away. The girl had to Alianne Alan's twin sister, Kel had heard she had been missing during the Scaran war and been found, but not where. AApparently she now resided in the Copper Isles. After Aly's boisterous greeting to her brother she turned to Kel.

"It's nice to meet you finally Keladry, Mother always speaks highly of you," she said rather breathily. "Now if you don't too much I have to go and see Dove. Maybe next time we can talk a bit more." She said all this very quickly so Kel had trouble digesting it all at once and by the time she did Aly was gone. Kel couldn't believe this was the Lioness's daughter she had expected someone more like the Lioness herself instead she found someone rather distracted and ditzy. Suddenly she became aware of Alan watching her intently.

"What do you think of my sister," he asked. Kel fumbled for an answer that wouldn't offend him or insult Aly.

"Ahh… well.. She's….. energetic," Kel managed to say weakly. Alan burst out laughing.

"Of all the things that Aly's been called by people over the years I think that's the first time I've heard energetic. Well I suppose it's true, but don't let her ditzy act fool you she really a lot like Mother though she'd die before she'd like to admit it." Kel smiled weakly and went back to her food.

Later that night Aly was walking in the palace gardens mulling the nights events over in her mind. Her meeting with Keladry though brief had been illuminating. Kel was obviously intelligent, but it seemed she liked to take things at face value. She hadn't even seen through Aly's act, then again she though I am a born Player. Dad always said so. She's typical warrior type. Aly's thoughts once again returning to Kel. Bright, practical…… and interesting no doubt about it. Well she is Tortall's second Lady Knight. It's hard to believe that Nealan is a knight he doesn't act like it a bit. He'd rather be reading than swinging a sword. The complete opposite of Owen. All and all I think I agree with Uncle Jonathan's decision to send this particular group here. Some how they give you a peek into Tortall and they give the impression, despite their goofiness, that they know what they're doing.

When Aly was safely locked up in her own home she thought about contacting Nawat who was in one of the Northern Islands with their daughter, Fala. every summer Nawat took her to visit her crow cousins and left Aly behind for a few weeks. Aly didn't mind…much. She thought I was good that Fala got to know the crows but that didn't stop her from missing both her and Nawat horribly. Aly sighed and decided that maybe tonight wasn't the best night for her to magically contact Nawat. After all it was late and Fala would be in bed in now any way. With that decided Aly settled down into her bed and fell deeply asleep.

In her dreams she was visited by Kyprioth. It was one of those totally random and occasional visits that he still sometimes paid her when he remembered that he owed her for getting the Isles back from his brother and sister gods, Mithros and the Mother Goddess. Aly liked his visits no one could be as charming and entertaining as Kyprioth when he put his mind to it and in this dream he was in a good mood and therefore her entertainment was his game.

Meanwhile Kel slept fitfully dreaming about something she hadn't dreamt about in nearly two years the Nothing Man and his Death machines.

Blayce shifted from one foot to the other contemplating how his father Blayce the Gallan made the killing machines. He was the image of his father short, long-nosed, narrow-mouthed, with dull, brown hair, and small, nervous eyes that darted around the room.. Both men resembled rats, but Blayce the second looked like a water-logged one. His hair was slicked back from his high forehead in an attempt to cover the growing bald spot at the back of his head; it was the comb over from hell. He'd also inherited his father's annoying habit of twitching at the slightest sound.

Blayce had been experimenting with death magic from some journals of his father's he was able to salvage from Galla. So far he wasn't having the best of luck. Curse Father and his awful handwriting thought the mage vehemently as he tossed aside the worn leather volume only pick up another and begin again. He would have gone on in this fashion if there hadn't been a knock on the door.

"Come in," Blayce yelled. Sulion of Lelin entered.

"Have you finished, mage," asked the young man contemptuously.

"No."

"Hurry up, mage, I want my revenge on the Temaida family as soon as possible!" Blayce rolled his eyes in disgust and waited for the flow of the man's words to cease. "They overthrew the proper, noble luarin rulers and placed some puffed up half breed chit in their place. It's insufferable how those raka are acting now they've got their queen," he sneered and went on. "My death machines I will throw out those raka savages and the luarin we take their rightful place," he paused, " above the raka."

"Yes, I'm sure you will," murmured Blayce.

"That's right, mage. But you seemed to have over looked the small detail that I need your death machines. Which by the way were promised completed over a month ago. I want them now or I will find other means to exact my revenge and with out me where would you be?" Blayce was sullenly silent. "That's right! NO WHERE! You'd be on some street corner half drunk and begging for money like I found you. Now finish those machines, mage." Blayce flinched as the lord banged his fist on the table and turned out of the room. Blayce went back to work his mind full of the tortures; equal to those in Dante's seventh circle of hell, he would inflict on the world and especially Sulion with his death machines.

Two year old Fala was contentedly playing with a collection of odd shiny orbs that her crow cousins at given her when Aly contacted Nawat's magic mirror. Nawat was in the other room fixing something for them to eat at the moment so Fala was the one to answer her mother.

"Mama," said the child delightedly. Aly studied her daughter, her olive-brown complexion was a mix of Nawat's skin tone and Aly's, her short, crow black, corkscrew curls were clustered around her chubby face, and a wide smile graced her features. Her green eyes looked admiringly up at her mother. Aly satisfied that with Fala's appearance smiled.

"Fala. Go get Daddy please," Fala nodded and went. When she reentered the room she was dragging her father in by his pinky. He ruffled her hair affectionately and turned to Aly.

"How are things," he asked.

"Boring," Aly smiled.

"Meaning there's no trouble."

"Yep," she sighed dramatically and went on, "What happened to the good old days when people kept secrets and tried to overthrow the current monarchy?"

"I haven't the slightest." answered Nawat airily. "Maybe you should ask the Trickster to stir up trouble among the mortals for your entertainment," he suggested mischievously.

"I tried," Aly said mournfully. "He absolutely refuses. I do believe he's losing he edge. Getting too used to peace and harmony and the like."

"Well it's not all peace and harmony," replied Nawat suddenly serious. "There's been rumors flying around about a mad mage making metal monsters live with death."

"You're sure it's not just a rumor?"

"Yes, some of the nestlings have been lost near where the mage is supposed to be."

"Interesting, I wonder what it could mean," Aly mused. "Tell your cousins to keep an eye on the place the last thing we want is a mage appearing out of no where with an army of monsters."

"Yes, duani," laughed Nawat and ended the communication. He turned to Fala and said, "I'd say that your mother worries to much, but she has an awful habit of being right."

"Mama worried," asked the two year old confusedly.