Thank you so much to my reviewers. The responses to my last chapter came thick and very fast! I was most excited when I opened my inbox.

KEL

When Kel awoke her situation had not improved. Her bottom lip was split and her left eye was almost closed. She could feel a sharp pain in her side every time she drew a breath. Cracked or broken ribs she thought. Her hands were a mass of pins and needles. Grimacing she tried to flex her fingers. Focusing her eyes she was horrified to see Vinson sitting on the steps. He was watching her.

In the torchlight his features were distorted by shadows. To Kel his face no longer looked human. He had become a parody of a man, eyes too bright, and mouth too wide. Standing slowly he stretched. It seemed he had been sitting, not moving for some time. Walking towards her a smile crept from the corners of his mouth. As he came closer Kel could see that his eyes were cold despite the grin upon his lips.

He looked her up and down, a hunter critiquing his quarry.

In his hand he held a wine skin. Kel could smell the sweet tang of merlot. She could see his lips and teeth were stained crimson. He had been drinking.

Tilting his head he raised the skin to his mouth, his eyes never left hers. Before he drank he hesitated. "Oh what a poor host I am." His tone was apologetic. "I daresay you would like a refreshment." He held the skin to Kel lips.

Kel drank; there was little else she could do. The sweet liquor took away the dryness in her mouth and cleared the blood from her pallet. Small rivers of wine travelled down her chin.

When she had drunk her fill he took the skin and drank deeply. Soon it was empty. Balling it in his fist he threw it into the far corner. He wiped a hand across his mouth and stood, arms folded across his chest.

"It has been such a long time since my Ordeal. I imagine you have not though of me much since then. Joren's," he paused searching for the right word, "demise somewhat overshadowed what happened to me." He stared at Kel waiting for her to comment.

She remained silent, unsure of what to say.

When she did not speak he continued. "It took me a long time to come to terms with what happened. My family housed me for a time, but my father could not bear to look at me. He never said so, but I knew what he was thinking. I had brought shame on my family. I was the first in a long line to not receive my Shield. My mother too was disappointed. She took to blaming the progressives. She convinced herself that it was their fault. Only I knew the truth. It was you." He was no longer looking at Kel.

"As soon as the Chamber released me, I left Tortall. My father's advisor bought me a passage to Carthak. Interesting place Carthak, I found it suited my tastes exactly. I acquired work there easily. There is much money to be made from slaves, especially young female slaves."

Kel closed her eyes. Unpleasant images sprang to her mind as she pictured Vinson's dealings with he had been witness to his treatment of pages and female servants years before.

"You know it takes quite a lot to break in some slaves. I must admit I did relish that part of the work. It took me a long time to perfect my technique. But it was worth it. Buyers told me my slaves were much more cooperative than others they had bought."

His words caused Kel to shudder.

He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the spilt wine from Kel's chin. The action was so gentle it took her by surprise.

"I was almost happy there until the arrival of the new Empress. She began to build schools for the whelps of slaves. My buyers began to dry up. There was talk of outlawing slavery. I only saw her once. She and the Emperor rode through the town I was living in. Sitting on her horse she reminded me of you. So self-righteous, judging me. Turing her pretty little nose up at the likes of me. It was then I decided I would have to come back. Your shadow seemed to be following me."

He began to run his finger through his hair. Smoothing over imagined lumps and knots.

"You know good spies are plentiful, though never cheap. All it took was a few gold coins and I learned all about you. First came the stories of your heroic deeds. Very entertaining but not what I really wanted to know. I wanted to know about you. Your friends and your servants. Those who admired you and those who despised you. I found out about them all. Every detail of your life was reported to me. I looked forward to my weekly reports. I used to sit reading them at night. I would make a ritual of it. My information was so accurate I even knew the colour of the dress you would be wearing for Wyldon's daughter's wedding."

He stood centimetres from her, his eyes revealing nothing.

Slowly he reached up to her hands and separated her left pointer finger from the others. He rubbed his thumb along its calloused length. Without warning he snapped the digit back causing it to break with an audible snap.

Kel yelped in pain. Sweat broke out on her brow.

Vinson stepped back, a low chuckle escaping his lips. "I was worried that the Chamber may still hold me. Last night was such fun. I had hoped that it was not to be a one off. It seems my curse has most certainty been lifted"

What Kel saw next caused bile rise to the back of her throat.

Vinson unlaced his breeches and stepped toward her.

Kel kicked out, but he was ready for her. Using his hips he pinned her to the wall. His fingers fumbled with her skirt. Kel heard the delicate material rip. Foul breath rose in waves around her making her choke and gasp. As his hands reached for her breasts, Kel began to push her body away from the wall, seeking any advantage.

Reaching back Vinson slapped her across the face. The sound echoing in the small room made him hesitate. Breathing heavily he stepped back. He began to laugh. It was the worst sound Kel had ever heard. On and on it went. He laughed so long and hard it seemed to wind him. Bending he placed his hands on his knees, breathing deeply.

Leaning against the wall beside her he murmured softly, "I had not meant to get so carried away so quickly. After all we have all the time in the world."

Without looking back he climbed the steps. The doors at the top of the stairs slammed shut leaving Kel on her own once more.

It was then Kel allowed herself the luxury of tears.

DOM

Waiting and sitting were not Dom's strong suits. His shoulders were tense with worry and a small vein pulsed above his left eye. He still wore the stained tunic from the night before. His injured leg was stretched out before him. Every now and then he absently ran his hand over the wound. His eyes held none of their usual good humour.

Refusing breakfast he had sat on the infirmaries steps. Neal and Yuki had joined him as the sky changed from grey to pink.

Trackers had been sent out at first light, but the rain had removed any evidence of Kel's kidnapping. They had returned despondent.

All around workers cleared away the sodden remains of the feast from the night before. The bodies of the dead intruders had been carted away. They were to be buried in unmarked graves.

In frustration Dom tried to stand. His injured leg shuddered under his weight. Leaning on the wooden rail for support he breathed deeply.

Neal and Yuki stood with him.

"I can't just sit here and wait," his voice cracked. "There must be something we can do!"

Without waiting for an answer he hobbled towards the stables.

Workers and soldiers parted the way before him. Everyone who resided in the Fort knew of his relationship with the Lady Knight. No one tried to stop him. The grief on his face was to raw to try to soften with words or condolences.

The stables were quiet. Only the soft snorts and shuffles of the horses broke the silence. Finding an empty stall he collapsed on the sweet smelling hay. Grief overwhelmed him.

He did not know how long he had been sitting when the sound of tack been removed from the far wall roused him. A soft voice too quiet to discern spoke to each of the horses. Cautiously Dom moved to the door of the stall. He gently opened the door and looked out.

In a way the sight of Tobe entering Peachblossom's stall was no surprise. Tobe loved Kel not only as a friend but as the mother he never had. She had taken him from a cruel master and given him a chance at a new life. She worried about him, scolded him, and insured he washed at least once a week. Her disappearance would have affected him deeply.

Dom could now hear him discussing the situation with the cantankerous gelding. "They took her. Right from under our noses, she was snatched. Them tracker dogs don't know nothing. I bet you can find her." He spoke to the horse as if he were speaking to a peer. Peachblossom who generally bit anyone who entered his stall just seemed to be listening. His only movement was a flick of his ears. Kel had told Dom that Tobe had horse magic and Dom assumed that his was part of his gift.

Still talking to the enormous horse Tobe fitted on his saddle. So intent on his task he did not notice when Dom stepped out from his stall.

Peachbloosm, used to his mistress' mate only blinked.

"Now lad, where do you think you are going?" Dom spoke softly as not to startle the boy.

Tobe to his credit did not even flinch. "Smudge told me you was here," he said gesturing to the specked pony in the first stall. "Where I am going, well that's up to Peachblossom."

He spoke with such conviction Dom felt the tiniest flicker of hope in his chest. Tobe and Peachblossom had proved themselves before. In their ability he had no doubt. Without thinking he began to saddle his own horse.

As they left through the bolthole Diane the Wildmage had insisted be made, he sent a prayer to any listening gods. Let me find her. I will never ask for another thing. Just let me fine my Kel.