Chapter 5: The Fight Begins

Disclaimer: I do not own any of TP's characters or Tortall

They had been riding hard (very hard) for the past two days, only occasionally stopping for rest. The farther into Scanra they got the less scared they were of enemy attacks, but fear of getting impaled by the Lioness only grew stronger.

The company was finally nearing Hamrkeng when Alanna stopped. "Rest here for now, because when we get into the city one little mistake will cost us out lives. We will move out at sundown."

"You are dismissed." Maggur announced to the occupants of the room.

Christina got up and started to walk out of the room, when Maggur's magic blocked the door.

"I expect to see you in the Entrance Hall when I come after the evening meal. I would be on time if I were you, you've been pushing your luck lately."

On her way down to the mess, Christina went by her chambers to retrieve her keys and sword. She had a bad feeling about tonight. And if this was the same as all of her other bad feelings, then she better be ready.

Alanna got up and walked away from the fire, it seemed what they needed wouldn't be too much out of the way after all. "Fulcrim's unit, come with me. We will be freeing those in the dungeons of the capital. William's unit, pack up camp, move into the woods, and wait for our return. Healers be ready, I don't think our knights would have gone without a fight."

As Alanna and Fulcrim's unit crept through the seemingly deserted city, they were on constant alert. None of the townspeople were about, because Maggur had squads patrolling the streets.

Alanna and the soldiers had to be careful and not run into any guards.

The going was slow, but they soon arrived on the castle grounds. They left their horses in an abandoned stable, along with two guards to keep watch. All of them changed into the uniform of the palace servants. (I have no clue where they happened to get them…….) Soon after the soldiers had scouted around, they reported that the way was clear, if they were supposed to go in the front doors.

Alanna sighed in frustration, " I guess we'll just have to go in the front. It's almost midnight, so there shouldn't be too many guards about the palace. Let's go."

Regardless of the shortage of palace guards, the unit still kept to the shadows. Even dressed as they were, their number was still conspicuous.

As Fulcrim opened the door hesitantly, everyone's heart began to race. It wasn't everyday that your life hung in the balance just because of a wooden door. As soon as Alanna crossed the threshold, everyone heard a clank of metal on stone.

She had been in the Entrance Hall for at least three hours waiting for Maggur, and he still hadn't come. Christina hadn't even eaten dinner so she could be on time. (She did go to the mess she just didn't eat.) "Where the hell is Maggur anyways? Dinner ended a long time ago. I wonder what's he's doing that is so much more important." While Christina was whispering to herself, she hadn't noticed the door at the front of the hall opening. But the second she saw the Lioness she bolted, not even noticing that she dropped the dagger she held in her hand.

Alanna ran up the stairs to where the dagger lay. She picked it up to examine it, when a sight clouded her vision.

Fog was creeping up from the floor.

Numair walked up to her and Jon, "Do you know who's conjuring the fog? Because it wasn't part of the plans."

'But this was at the ball. It's the past, how can I be seeing it again?' Alanna questioned herself.

She could see the same blurry shapes in the fog. But now she knew they weren't those of the partygoers

The ladies in the room screamed when they saw who was in the fog.

Alanna started to whisper, "Jon, right behind you."

Jon tried to turn around, but he was restrained. Then there it was at his throat, the dagger.

The vision immediately ceased. The dagger she picked up, the one she held in her hand right now, was the dagger of the assassin who threatened her king at the ball.

'Once I find them,' Alanna thought. 'I will kill them, even if I die in the attempt.'

Oooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh………………. Did you like it? Hhmmmmmmmm? I already had this chapter written for a couple of days, I just haven't had the time to type it. Please review.

Kirjava Deamon: I had not earthly clue that my story was so …….grammatically incorrect. I tried to fix everything I found, so if you see anything please tell. I hope you liked this chapter.