So this chapter is pretty short so I decided to put in chapter summaries to remind us what's already happened becuase even I am starting to forget a little. So yeah, these sould help with that problem. Uh, well, enjoy chapter 8! And make sure you review!

Chapter 1: Claude is arrested during a raid on Tortallan fort near the Scanran border and is brought to Corus as he is an important leader of the Liberté, a rebel group that hopes to free Scanra of its tyrant king. There he meets Numair and the Tortallan King under the false name of Alexandre Corin. Claude tells the king that he led the raid on the fort because they had extra food and the Scanran people are starving. The king responds that the fort was supposed to distribute the food to the Scanran people. This being the case, Claude is freed with the understanding that the Liberté will communicate with Tortall in the future. Kel is a page at this point and was in the room for the entire conversation.

Chapter 2: Pieter, the leader of the Liberté and Claude's older brother, writes to Kel to ask that she keep the conversation that she witnessed to herself. This letter led to a friendship between Pieter and Kel, who communicated only through letters. This friendship continues through her knighting even though Kel is still romantically involved with Cleon, who is jealous of the letters. Soon after her knighting, she has a dream about a person that she assumes to be Pieter in trouble. She gets an assignment to go north to Scanra and can't wait to go.

Chapter 3: Claude is injured doing some work for the Liberté, but due to a protective spell gone awry, he is unable to be healed by healers. His injuries keep him from going on any more dangerous missions for the Liberté so he is assigned to lead a group of Scanran refugees to Haven for protection. He is upset about the assignment because he thinks it will be boring, a feeling he confides to Lisette, a childhood friend turned working girl. She wants to go with him to Haven. They arrive at Haven and are greeted by Kel, who also gets a surprise visit from Cleon at the same time.

Chapter 4: There is a flashback that tells of Claude's forced entry into the Scanran military when he is very young. During the flashback, Lisette and Pieter are a couple. In the present, Cleon tries to recruit Claude's help to keep Pieter away from Kel. This fails miserably, but Lisette overhears and offers her services. Lisette tells Kel that she is involved with Pieter and shows he letters that he wrote to her, Kel is upset but hides her feelings when Claude tries to talk to her.

Chapter 5: Claude and Kel seem to be getting along nicely. However, Claude is still making decisions for the Liberté so he meets secretly with Alphonse, another Liberté member. They are overheard by Tobe and they decide to kidnap him to keep their identities as Liberté members a secret. When Kel discovers Tobe missing, she searches Haven and wants to look outside farther, but no one will accompany her. She asks Claude for his help and he agrees. They go north, closer to the Scanran border, where they are shot at and Kel falls into the river after being stepped on by a horse. Claude jumps into the water to save her, even though he had been shot.

Chapter 6: Flashback to when Claude is fourteen and pays a visit to Pieter and Lisette. Pieter is sick, he appeals to Claude to take over leadership of the Liberté, but Claude is moving up in ranks of the Scanran military and refuses his brother's request. In the present, Claude fishes Kel out of the river. However, they aren't safe yet. The Scanrans who shot at them easily crossed the river and wanted to take them back to Scanra. Claude shows them a tattoo on his chest that only Scanran officers have but are spelled so they can't be reproduces, this assures the Scanrans that Claude is an officer and they give him and Kel a horse to get back to Haven. Back at Haven, Kel tells others about Claude's tattoo. He still has the bad spell on him so he can't be healed yet, but they try to set his wounds before they plan on sending him to Corus for questioning. Dom and Kel have a conversation, in which Dom tells Kel not to marry Cleon and Kel admits to having feelings for Dom. She runs away before they can talk about it any further though.

Chapter 7: Flashback to a few months after the last flashback where Claude is still fourteen and returns to see his brother. Pieter is even sicker, and Claude tell him how he changed his ways and became a better officer. However, the king didn't like this transformation and was going to have him executed. While he was in prison, he met Alphonse, who was a guard at the prison, and who released Claude. They both decided to join the Liberté. Back in the present, Numair comes to Haven to see Claude, but finds that soldiers at Haven have been torturing Claude to find out information about the Scanran military because they believe that he is still an officer due to his tattoo. Numair rescues him and removes the spell that kept him from being healed and heals him. Then Lisette comes into the infirmary to see Claude and convinces him (by threatening to kill Tobe) to take a potion that will erase his memory so he will not be able to sell out the Liberté.

Chapter Eight : Numair Salmalin

Lisette sniffled, pressing her head into Claude's chest. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders as she shuddered; he stared in front of him flatly. His eyes were resting on the two large white stones that rested in front of them. The grounder under one was freshly dug up and the ground in front of the ground by the other had plants growing on it slowly, it was apparent that it had been dug up less than a year before.

"At least he's resting beside his father," Lisette croaked.

Claude nodded stiffly.

"He can rest in peace now. Pieter was horribly sick, he was nothing but skin and bones there at the end," she said. "Oh, Claude, I don't know what I will do without him."

"Me neither," Claude said softly, his green eyes wet.

"He was happy that you came back and wanted to join the Liberte, even if you did take your time about it."

"It doesn't matter. I was too late."

Lisette shook her head, "He left it all to you."

"He left me a list of names and plans and strategies," Claude said, "I can't do anything with that."

"Why not? He so wanted you to."

"I was an officer in the Scanran army, no one will accept my leadership. I'm damaged goods," Claude replied, rubbing his hand along the side of his face.

Lisette shook her head, "Claude, you can't just give up on the Liberte. He gave all the information to you to use."

"You should take over command of the Liberte," Claude said, "They will follow you."

Lisette shuddered, "Oh Claude, I can't. It's too soon."

"We can't leave the Liberte without a leader."

"I can't lead it!" Lisette snapped, pulling away from him.

"I would if I could, but the Liberte will never accept me because of my military history." Claude paused thoughtfully. He thought while Lisette knelt beside the white stones that marked Pieter and his father. The forest was silent, even the wind was still.

Lisette leaned her cheek against the white of the stone.

"I will take on the leadership of the Liberte," he said slowly. "No one else knows that Pieter passed away, do they?"

"Not yet," Lisette muttered, not really noticing his words.

Claude's messy blond hair fell into his face as he looked down at Lisette, who was still holding close to the white grave marker.

"Then I will take his name. They will never know that he's dead and I'm taking control of the Liberte," Claude said.

"Uh huh," Lisette replied blankly.

----------------------------------------------------

Kel brushed her short hair out of her face as she walked. She passed the training yard and paused to watch the soldiers training.

"Kel!" a voice called from the group that was gathered around the training yard. She turned to see who was calling her name, but when she Dom standing before her, she stopped. Her smile froze and melted off her face.

"Hey, Kel, I wanted to talk you," he said.

"Uh, I can't," Kel said, "Right now. I've got-" she paused to think, "things to do."

"Things?" Dom chuckled, "C'mon, you can't avoid me forever."

"I'm not avoiding you," Kel replied, unable to make eye contact. "I've just been really busy."

"Doing things, right?"

Kel smiled faintly, "Yeah. Things."

"We have to talk," Dom said.

"Yeah." She rubbed her forehead and shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.

Dom tipped his head in a direction away from the practice yards. "Want to talk over there?"

Kel nodded and they walked in silence for a while.

"Listen, I know you don't want to talk about this," Dom said. "It's awkward, I get that, but we're friends. We can talk about anything."

Kel didn't reply, but looked at him for the first time in the eyes.

"And that's one of the reasons that I think that it would be a better idea to stay as friends," Dom continued.

Kel let out a small laugh. "Never thought that I would be getting a brush off like this."

"It's not a brush off, Kel," Dom said, "Who do you think I am?"

She raised her shoulders and let them drop.

"We would never work out, and it would ruin a perfectly good friendship. I can't do that." Dom reached out to grip her on her shoulders, "You've got to believe me."

"So this is all I get for confessing feelings for you? At least buy me a drink or something," she said.

Dom grinned. "I can do a drink, maybe two, but I'm not holding your hair back if you get sick."

"Ha ha," Kel replied dryly. "If one of us is staggering home, it will not be me. Someone has to be responsible."

"Who said that I'm not responsible? And what about those feelings that you felt for me?"

"Keep this up and you will be feeling nothing but pain," Kel punched him playfully on the arm.

----------------------------------------------------

"Up, up," Numair said, tugging at Claude's sheets, "I have to take you to Corus today."

Claude rolled over, his blue eyes blinking as he looked up at the tall man standing over him. He shot up and pushed himself sideways, off the side of his bed. His eyes were wide and bewildered as he backed up until he hit the bed beside his and started to back up over it.

"Claude?" Numair asked.

The door of the infirmary opened, allowing a healer to enter the room. She walked down the aisle between the beds, carrying a tray of food.

Claude caught sight of her and backed against the wall of the infirmary, he looked wildly around the room for something even remotely familiar.

"Is he alright?" the healer asked.

Numair stepped forward, holding his hands up, "Claude, can you understand me?"

Claude blinked rapidly. "Qui êtes-vous? Où suis-je? Je ne peux pas me rappeler.."

"Claude, you're going to have to speak Common for me," Numair said.

"I cannot remember-" he said slowly. "I can't remember!"

Numair stepped closer to him, but he didn't seem to notice. He was staring intently at his own hands, frowning in concentration. Numair reached out to him, he gripped him by the arms and led him back to his bed. He could feel Claude's muscles trembling under his hands.

"Now, you're going to have to tell me what's wrong," Numair said soothingly.

"I don't- I can't," Claude stopped to blink furiously. "I can't remember."

"What can't you remember?" Numair asked.

"Anything. Everything," he replied. "Pourquoi est-ce que je ne peux pas se rappeler?"

"Common, Claude. Please." Numair gently pushed him on to the bed and picked up his legs and put them on the bed as well. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on."

"I already told you, I can't remember. Well, I can remember waking up but I can't remember anything before-" Claude stopped and his brow furrowed, he looked at Numair as if noticing him for the first time. "Who are you?"

"Not funny," Numair said, his tone strong but something about Claude's demeanor made him feel a little unnerved.

Claude squinted, trying to get his memory to unfreeze. "Are you my brother?" His eyes widened, "My father? Uncle?"

Numair stared at him. "No. Do I look like I could be related to you?"

"Maybe not. Maybe. What do I look like?"

"Alright Claude, what are you playing at?" Numair asked. "Pretending to be insane isn't going to help you in Corus."

"Corus?"

"Yes, Corus, that place that we will be traveling to soon so you will go on trial. Coming back to you now?" Numair said impatiently.

Claude shrugged, it wasn't at all but this fellow seemed to think that it should.

"It is becoming clearer, right?" Numair said in a low voice.

"Yeah…No. Not really. No," Claude answered. "I'm hungry though. Do they have food in this Corus place?"

"Corus is a city." Numair stared at him.

"So they'll have something to eat?"

"Alright, that's it, give me your head," Numair said.

"It's kind of attached to me at the moment," Claude replied. He smiled in a childlike manner, like nothing he said mattered and that didn't matter at all.

His lack of inhibitions made Numair nervous, usually Claude was very much tightlipped. "I just want to look over it and see if you smacked it or something," Numair explained as he ran his hands over Claude's head.

Claude reached up and felt his own hair with his finger tips. "I certainly have long hair, don't I? Or do I have short hair?"

"What do you mean?" Numair asked, still trying to locate any sign of injury on his skull.

"Well, my hair would be short if I am a girl or long if I am a boy, you see?"

Numair turned Claude's head so he would have to look him in the face. "What do you mean 'if you are a girl'?"

"You're right, it is rather easy to tell." Claude rubbed his hands over his chest. "Definitely male."

If Numair hadn't been so concerned he would have laughed, "Boy, what is wrong with you?"

"What is wrong with me?" Claude replied.

"You're insane," Numair muttered, but wasn't serious. He hoped anyways.

"Well, if I am that would be the first thing that has made the least bit of sense tonight," he said and let out a laugh.

"You're laughing," Numair said.

"It would appear that I am."

He narrowed his eyes, "You never laugh."

"Why not?" Claude asked lightly.

"Alright, I'm going to have to get my Gift working on this," Numair said, disregarding his question and he thought deeply. "Can you lay back for me? I'm going to try to figure this out." He closed his eyes and placed them on Claude's temples. Neither moved for a long length of time. The room filled with an unnatural silence.

The door swung open, breaking the silence with a crash. Kel stepped through the doorframe. "Numair, everyone is waiting-" She saw him sway and break away from Claude. "Numair?"

He didn't seem to hear her as he lifted his hands from Claude's head slowly, he stared at him in wonder. Claude's green eyes flicked open, "Did you find anything?"

"No. There is nothing in your head."

"What's going on?" Kel asked, looking back and forth between the two. She stepped farther into the room and Dom walked out from behind her.

"What's going on?" he said to Kel. "Aren't they ready?"

"Are you ready?" Kel asked Numair.

Numair shook his head weakly.

"What's wrong?" she said.

Claude opened his eyes and blinked slowly, he sat up. He hand his hands over the sheets and blankets, lost in his own thoughts.

"I'm not sure what's wrong," Numair replied to Kel's question, "But there is something very wrong."

"Are you going to have to stay here longer at Haven?" Kel asked, her face expressionless.

"Because that would be a bad idea," Dom added.

Numair looked from Kel to Dom and back to Kel. "I will take him to Corus, as we planned."

"Will he be alright?" Kel said.

Numair looked over his shoulder at Claude, who was now running his hands over the wood of his bed frame thoughtfully, as if looking for something in the wood. Numair hesitated before answering, "I believe so."

"What happened to him?"

Numair shrugged, "I have no idea. If you hear anything, be sure to write me. It could help."

"I will," Kel answered quickly.

Dom snorted, "Why would we want to help him? He's a Scanran officer, in case you've forgotten."

"Shut up Dom," she said, shooting him a look.

"I was just saying," he murmured.

"Don't worry, I will tell you if I find out anything," Kel said to Numair.

He nodded and walked back to Claude, "Come on," he said, "We're leaving."

"Where are we going?" Claude asked.

"Corus, like I told you," Numair said, "We're leaving now."

"Now? I don't even know you." Claude threw his head back and laughed. "Or do I?"

"Get up," Numair said, gripping his arm and pulling him to his feet. Claude let him drag him to his feet, he was dressed in the loose white clothing of the infirmary. He looked ghostlike with his pale skin, blond hair, and white clothing. "Let's go."

Claude stared at him for a moment, "To Corus?"

"Yes," Numair answered. "We can get you some boots on the way."

"Is it far?"

Numair nodded sharply.

"I don't think I want to go," Claude said.

"You have to," Numair replied. "I am not going to negotiate with you."

"I don't want to negotiate. I just don't want to go."

Numair's dark features formed a frown, he sighed. "Come on."

Claude didn't move.

With another deep sigh he grabbed Claude and pushed him toward the door. "There is a lot about yourself that you don't know," Numair said as he shoved him forward.

"Stop, stop," Claude whispered, but made no other attempt to resist. His head was pounding and he couldn't concentrate on anything. They made it out the door and toward the awaiting horses, leaving Dom and Kel alone in the infirmary.

"That boy was messed up," Dom observed, "What do you think was wrong with him?"

Kel bit her bottom lip thoughtfully, "I hope he's alright."

"Kel, he's the enemy. He can't have your sympathy."

"I know, I know," Kel replied, "People who are suffering has never been my favorite thing. I just have a soul I guess."

Dom rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah."