A/N: Hey everyone, I'm finally back. I'm not going to bother making any excuses for my absence, but I do want to touch on a topic, which has come up quite a few times in reviews. Many people wonder why Kel's name is The Kraken and not The Rose or something else of that nature. The reason I named Kel The Kraken has to do with the books. If you go and look in Squire Tamora talks about how war is considered The Kraken, since it is deadly and terrifying. That's what I want Kel to be in these stories. Many people have suggested that I name her The Rose instead since they are both beautiful and sharp, but a rose still doesn't encompass what I want and besides it would fit someone better who uses romance against there enemies, by making them fall in love with them before they kill them and that's just not Kel's fighting style. Besides Kel is no beauty queen, we can see that from the nicknames the local villagers call her and how her sisters talk about her before she even considers becoming a knight. Hope that clears things up! And now onto the story.

P.S. Don't forget to review!!!

Alanna knelt on the ground and picked up a small doll with black hair and a torn pink dress. Tears formed in her eyes as she remembered how her daughter didn't play with dolls like other girls and how she preferred her father's way of life, from his code books to sneaking around the Swoop playing pranks on the maids. It saddened her that Aly was not like the other girls, for if Aly had been like the other girls life would be so much easier. Unfortunately, she was like her father, a spy at heart, but being a spy was perilous work. It was dangerous and you were unable to trust anyone. She wouldn't mind so much except that Aly was also like her in the fact that she was not content to go to the convent and become a rich, fat Lord's wife. No Aly was like Alanna determined to follow her dreams, but Alanna couldn't let her. It was hard enough with George being a spy. She just wished that Aly had picked a dream, which was easier for her to understand, anything but being a spy. Because if Aly didn't have that dream then they would not be where they were now. Of course if Alanna hadn't been so persistent in Aly choosing a different dreaming, but instead nurtured Aly's dream they probably wouldn't be here either.

"What's wrong love?" George gently questioned as he knelt down near her and brushed away her tears.

"This is all my fault George! If I hadn't been so stubborn, this never would have happened!"

"No it's not Alanna. Look at me, don't blame yourself for this, even if you weren't stubborn Aly probably still would have done this because that is what makes a good spy, being willing to go somewhere in order to ferret out information and that's what she did. I wouldn't be surprised if she was collecting information right now about her captors."

"I know George, It's just so hard."

"I know," he softly replied before pulling her into his arms, "I know."

Alanna and George had not traveled very far when they stopped and set up camp. It was midday when they did so, but they were close to the Scanra border and they had decided it would be safest to cross it in the cover of darkness. Alanna was sleeping while George sat watch when suddenly he heard several horses coming their way. He quickly turned to wake Alanna, but she was already scrambling to her feet reaching for her blade. George pulled out his daggers and they hid behind the trees, waiting whoever approached.

George let out a sigh of relief when he saw it was Raoul and the Own. He made his way to the road and called out to Raoul. Raoul quickly stopped his horse and let a huge grin break out on his face when he saw both Alanna and George.

"What are you doing, here Raoul?" Alanna questioned.

"Jonathan sent me to help and to make sure you were home in time for the Gallan's challenge."

Alanna promptly swore as she remembered the fight

"How did you get here so fast Raoul?" George asked.

"It wasn't too hard. Henrik was able to guess where you would cross the border and we were able to follow some quicker roads up here. Lucky for us he was right. So what's the plan?"

"We were planning on waiting for night, but I think we need to rethink this now that you're here. It won't do any good if Scanra decides to declare a war because he finds the Commander of the Own and a third of the Own wandering around their backyard, now would it?"

"Actually it's only a fourth, I left some of my men in Corus and besides I already have a plan if you'd be interested."

Raoul soon explained his plan and George and Alanna quickly agreed.