A/N: Hello everyone! This is the sixth and final story of my series. It is HIGHLY recommended you read them in order so that you are not completely lost (Lost, Found, Search, Guide, Wander, and finally Purpose).

RedRebel: Thank you so much for the compliments! They made my day! Do you have an account on here I can PM?

Aubrey: William still needs to consult with Anamaria, so you'll see :)

TheRanger'sDaughter: Congratulations on getting caught up! Hm...a Thor/Loki set up...will have to wait and see ;-)

Disclaimer: I am not John Flanagan.

Scout dismounted at the Claymound Jail. Constable Calvin and his deputies stood outside. In the window, three women crowded together. Judging by the flour on their aprons they were the cooks.

"I've come to thank you for your assistance in capturing Victor Eula," Scout announced though everyone already knew that. They'd been approached by children when they first entered town and Warden told them to let everyone know the town jail was getting special recognition. Scout walked to the women in the window. Two were quite old while the third seemed to be just a little older than Kineta. "Who are you three?"

"We're the cooks, Princess." the oldest of them answered. "You're a pretty thing. Will you and your friends have a meal with us?"

Scout shuddered at the thought of eating inside the jail. "I'm afraid we're pressed for time," she lied diplomatically. She opened her leather bag and took out three of the cloth purses. The gold inside clanked loudly as Scout handed one to each of them. "Thank you for your help."

Scout then went to the men. The deputies' eyes went from her crown to the cloth purses never once meeting her eyes. "Thank you Princess," they each muttered as they opened the purses to see the coins inside. Scout came to Calvin. He didn't seem impressed by her crown or the gold she pressed into his hand.

She pulled out the letter and held it out for him. "This comes from my cousins, King Sean and Queen Kineta O'Carrick. They invite you to return with us to Roscrea for a special training program as thanks for your assistance in capturing Victor Eula."

"What happened to Eula?" Calvin asked.

"Execution," Scout answered without missing a beat. Calvin opened the letter and read it to himself. He stared into Scout eyes when he was finished. She didn't blink as she stared back. "They've arranged to hold a private dinner in your honor should you choose to accept."

Calvin crossed his arms, still staring at her. "Is my wife welcome?"

"Yes, of course."

She hadn't technically been cleared to invite his wife, but she knew accommodating one extra person was nothing next to living in fear of this man coming to snatch Elizabet.

"Then how could we ever refuse. I'd be honored to accompany you, Princess."

Scout nodded. "We leave in two hours."

Scout led her group to the inn where they'd stayed. Because it was important the town view her as generous, she opened one of the purses and paid for everyone's lunch in the restaurant two streets down while Calvin and his wife went to pack. The gathered spectators flooded the restaurant and, perhaps for the first time outside of festivals, the place was packed. Two serving girls flitted around as quickly as they could manage to keep up. Scout sat at a table in the corner with Warden and Kelly, the only two in her party she considered friends. The three of them ate their meal quietly and, after Scout bought a round of pastries for the children who hovered outside fighting to get a glimpse of the princess, went back to the jail to meet Calvin. His wife turned out to be the youngest of the three cooks. Her dress was still slightly damp from where she'd tried to clean off remnants of her work. Calvin carried a bag slung across his back with their belongings.

"We don't have horses," Calvin told her. "The one I ride is shared."

Warden took the cue before Scout could give it. "We have an extra. Would you two mind sharing?"

Calvin nodded. A pack horse, originally burdened with gold and camping supplies that were easily redistributed, was saddled and brought forward. Calvin helped Tammy up first and then mounted in front of her. Scout mounted Swift. She patted her old friend's neck. "We'll get as far as we can before the sun sets and camp for the night," she told them. "I hope that isn't too much of a strain."

"We'll be fine," Calvin answered curtly. Scout sighed and nudged Swift. The townspeople cheered and children chased after them as they rode away. Calvin fell in the middle of their group with the guards. Scout kept up the lead with Kelly to her left and Warden to her right.

"Well, he seems nice," Kelly muttered sarcastically. "You'd think he'd be a little more appreciative of such a reward."

Scout glanced back. Calvin wasn't even showing common courtesy to the guards. "You'd think so."

On the way up their group had merrily chatted amongst each other, the soldiers passing around treats their mothers and wives sent with them and swapping battle stories. Scout took the opportunity to better integrate into what would one day be her subjects. As the men became more and more at ease, Scout told them about growing up in Araluen before coming to Hibernia to be their princess. They were all especially interested in her shenanigans with Prince William and Ranger Daniel. Scout conveniently left Kane out. Too many had warned her that he, as Halt's son, could be pressured into coming to lead a rebellion. Scout knew he wouldn't, but growing up so close to action she knew someone may try to take Gabby or Russ to use against him. She didn't want to put them in danger.

Now, on the way back, there was only silence. Calvin's sour mood affected each and every one of them. The soldiers hurried to put up tents and start fires and whatever other chores they could think of to be distanced from Calvin. Scout studied the ridiculously decorative tent for her and Kelly. In order to impress Calvin she'd have to pretend she'd spent many nights sleeping in such a fine place when in fact Scout typically slept underneath the stars when camping. The tent could have held Scout's entire family growing up, perhaps the Treatys too. One of the guards took it upon himself to cook for everyone and in no time he had fowl frying and a salad mixed up. Calvin sat apart from them, whispering with his wife. She seemed put off by the whole trip, but not in the same way as Calvin. Not once had she given an underhanded cut against Scout or her family. In fact, Scout had yet to hear her voice at all. She reminded Scout of Elizabet when she first joined them, frightened of everything and silent. Scout walked towards them.

"I didn't catch your name," Scout said to Calvin's wife. The woman stared at her with wide eyes. She glanced to Calvin, as though confused as to why she was being spoken to.

"I'm Tammy," the woman replied in a shaky voice several moments later.

Scout nodded to her. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I understand you're a cook? If you like, the next couple of weeks while your husband is in his training you are welcome to tour the kitchens in the castle. Our chef is infamous for his ability to make a little go a long way. Perhaps the two of you could trade secrets."

Growing up around Jenny had taught Scout to always appreciate a good cook. Tammy smiled and nodded. "I'd like that. Thank you, Princess."

Scout carried a conversation with Tammy until the food was ready. Her attempts to bring Calvin in were immediately shut down. She looked to Warden, who always hovered nearby, for help but he just shrugged. This would be a tense trip back to Roscrea.


Caitlyn stood next to Ethan as the former apprentices of Lady Laura came in behind Lady Georgia. Lady Georgia had served on the Council of the Battalion next to Lina. She'd been dubbed to head up the investigation. She had always been the grimmest of all the Council ladies, and specialized in digging up dirt if there was any to dig.

"Recognize any of them?" Ethan asked. Caitlyn studied each face. Most were familiar, as she'd spent a great deal of her childhood following her mother around. She paused on one. The longer she stared at her the more confused she became.

"That's…that's Melody," she whispered. Melody had been posing as Caitlyn's maid on the trip. She claimed she was a Courier apprentice, not Battalion.

"That's what I thought," Ethan replied. "We're supposed to tell only Halt about what we learn from these observations."

Caitlyn nodded. "I can live with that. Let's go tell him."

The two raced to the Ranger offices and burst into the one assigned to Halt. His retirement involved so little resting, especially since Lina's death, Gilan assigned him a desk.

"Slow down," Halt commanded. The two stopped short of the desk on which papers and Halt's boots rested. "What's going on?"

"Sir, I asked Caitlyn to come have a look at the former apprentices of Lady Laura with me," Ethan answered without pausing.

"Did he just call me 'sir'?" Halt asked Caitlyn. She grinned. Ethan faltered on his words and fell silent as though afraid to say something wrong again.

"Daideo, one of the apprentices is Melody. She told us she was a Courier apprentice. Gilan thought she was too. She lied. I…"

"Follow me."

Halt led the two of them to the Courier offices. He kissed Pauline's cheek as they passed her and he led them to the last room in the farthest hallway. He opened the door. Inside sat a young girl with her back turned to them. She wore a Courier uniform and read a book lying in front of her. She turned as they came in. Caitlyn felt confused.

"Melody?" she asked, looking back at her grandfather.

"Have we met?" Melody asked.

"Melody, the last time you saw this girl she was wearing a wig and going by Lady Anne. Her real name is Caitlyn."

Understanding swept over Melody's face. Pauline joined them in the cramped room. She stood behind Melody at the desk and rested a hand on the younger girl's bare shoulder.

"Melody was ambushed just before you were captured," she explained. "She was betrayed by the girl you saw arrive and was held captive herself. Luckily, in the confusion she was able to get away. She's been hiding here ever since while we tried to track the other girl down."

"Who is the other girl?" Ethan asked.

"My sister," Melody answered with a hint of grief in her voice. "Joy. We're twins. I chose a Courier apprenticeship and she wanted to join the Battalion. She was rejected and we didn't really hear from her again. She said she had been chosen to be in a more secret section of the Battalion under one of the ladies. She always said she couldn't talk about it when I saw her. I…she asked a lot about my Courier training but I never thought anything of it. I…I…"

"You were misled by your sister," Pauline told her gently. "It's a lesson you have learned and that's that."

"Where's Jamie?" Caitlyn asked. Melody bit her lip and her face turned read. She looked away.

"Joy killed Jamie when she realized 'Melody' wasn't herself," Pauline explained.

"What?" Caitlyn gasped. "That's…that's…"

"She'll answer for it in time," Halt assured everyone. "For now, Melody you need to stay put. Ethan and Caitlyn, you two are to stay away from Joy. I don't want to risk her figuring out you know the truth."

"As of now we know Laura and Joy have turned," Pauline explained. "Joy was rejected from the Battalion by the Council, but Laura trained her and stole the uniform and supplies so it seemed as though she fit in. Lina was the one who kept a close eye on all that. All this has shown us no one picked up the slack after she passed. Horace and Cassandra will have to find a way to deal with that, but for now we rely on Joy's cockiness to exploit any others."

"She's still my sister," Melody muttered. Pauline patted her back, at a loss for comforting words.

"You aren't the only one with an evil twin," Halt assured her. His tone remained as grim as ever, but years as a grandfather wore off some of its edge. "At least yours has a brain in her head."

Melody smiled a bit. Pauline rolled her eyes. "We still haven't confirmed you're the good one, my dear Halt. Now let's all get back to work."

"Well now we know how they figured out you weren't Lady Anne," Ethan told Caitlyn as they walked.

Caitlyn nodded. "Yes…Ethan what happened to Messer?"

"He's fine. He was sent back to his mentor with a sealed mission. I think they've got a known thief in their fief. He's probably half-mad from the stakeouts by now."

Caitlyn smiled. "Almost a Ranger then."

Ethan laughed. "Yes, almost."