A/N: If your Friday night plans could be going to an arts district block party or going to your alma matter for homecoming, which would you choose?

This is a real survey, people. I need to nail down plans for this weekend.

Raider: You're back! I'm going to skim your questions...thank you so much for all the reviews! LOVE checking my email and seeing it blown up! Kane was on a sinking ship. Splinters happen. No, there is no background on Roman's parents reacting to Clara...I'll need to remedy that. Fan art for my story...are you volunteering? ;) If anyone wants to make fan art, let me know in PMs. We'll discuss a way for me to get it and potentially make it the story covers :). About Lina hiding info from Scout...I never thought about it but I'd say...yeah, probably. I mean, she hides info from everyone. The ending of this entire series proves she's willing to hide important information from Scout...did I just give a spoiler to the new readers? I don't think so...Elizabet getting her voice and using it to rat out Kane...yeah. I used to tell the little ones in my family when they were babies that the day they started talking was the day their parents stopped letting me watch them. I'd be screwed. Every family needs a Halt :) Kane carrying Lina...yeah. Like how I circled back? :) Hey, not ALL my bad guys escape.

TheRanger'sDaughter: Glad you're back to reviews :) Hope you catch up soon! I am typing this in response to your reviews of Search chapters 12 and 13...I did read them and this is the chapter I have posted since your reviews. Scout being a girl ranger...no. I don't do the girl ranger thing.

Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan.

Lina took off her corset-tightened tunic and soft trouser-like leggings so she wore only a thin tan shift all Battalion ladies wore. The bottom half was severely wrinkled from being constantly tucked into her leggings, but that didn't matter. Gabby sent a maid for supplies and gently ran her hands over Lina's bare skin, making mental notes of wounds that would need to be addressed.

"You didn't want to examine me for a bunch of scrapes, did you?" Lina asked. Gabby shook her head.

"No, but I'd best do a few bandages so Kane doesn't get suspicious."

Gabby washed her hands in a bowl of water. She listened as Lina made herself comfortable for what would be a longer examination than necessary.

"But while we're at it, do you have any sharp pains?" Gabby asked.

"Just my lame foot. I came down on it hard. Don't worry, I already made sure it isn't broken."

Gabby nodded. She'd treated patients Lina dressed in the field before. She was an excellent first-line medic. "I hope I'm not keeping you from anything."

Gabby took a wet cloth and pressed it against Lina's arm. She felt Lina's hand cover hers and gently work the cloth away. "I'll wash my wounds. You ask what you need to ask."

Gabby nodded and dropped her hands away. She felt Lina's fingers on her wrist. Lina guided Gabby's hand to her shoulder. "I know you're more comfortable when you're touching the person you're speaking to."

"Thanks," Gabby said sheepishly. "Lina…Kane's asked me to marry him."

"I know. I was there when you two told his parents, remember?"

"Yes, but now he's asked me to elope. I'm going to Hibernia to watch over Kineta and he's been assigned as an escort. See, my mother highly disproves of our engagement."

"I'm not the right person to ask about the morals of eloping," Lina told her. "But if it makes you feel better, my mother didn't approve of my engagement to Liam."

Gabby took a deep breath. "I want to marry Kane in Hibernia. It'd be ideal if Halt and Pauline came to be there…for both of us. I'd like for my little sister and older brother to come, but that's asking too much. Lucy has to live with our parents still and Roman's got Clara to think about."

"So what are you asking me?"

Gabby tensed. "Lina, please let me check your foot. I know I can trust your judgment but…"

"I understand," Lina assured her. "I like to always be working too." There was some shift of motion as the Battalion lady removed her boot and then guided Gabby's hand. Before allowing the examination Lina folded Gabby's fingers back and, with the index, outlined the unnatural shape. "This is all normal. It's how my foot healed when I injured it."

Gabby nodded. "Amazing you didn't lose it."

"I know. Now, what's your question?"

Gabby sped through the examination. "I'm…not whole, Lina. I can't see. I know I'm not the burden my mother thinks I am, but I'm still a burden. I don't want to hold Kane back from anything."

Realization swept into Lina's tone. "And you come to me because I'm not whole either."

Gabby swallowed. "No sense in the two of us pretending we aren't different."

"Agreed," Lina said. "But the situation is different for us. I became injured during my marriage."

"Still," Gabby pleaded. "Things weren't the same. He didn't leave you, but…"

"I get it," Lina assured her. "Gabby, you won't hold Kane back any more than any other wife of a Royal Scout. It isn't like Kane has to be there watching of you every moment of every day. You're too independent for that. In fact, you're more suitable to be a serviceman's wife than others. You can handle yourself. Others go running for help every time they cut their finger."

Gabby shrugged. "But I'm just…different. He'll move up in rank and start being invited to official ceremonies and I'll embarrass him."

Gabby felt Lina's hand on her cheek. It was still damp from the cloth she used to wash her scrapes. "No more than I embarrass Liam at official ceremonies."

"You don't embarrass Ranger Liam. He isn't that shallow."

"And neither is Kane," Lina promised her. "He loves you dearly, Gabby. Sure, there will be things you two can't do that others do, but there are things you two will do others can't. It will work out."

"How do you know for sure though?"

Gabby felt Lina's thumb trace her cheek. She wondered if this is what normal mothers did to comfort their children, or if it was uniquely Lina. Gabby's mother had always been awkward about touching her since she lost her sight. She'd never done something like this. "I don't Gabby, but you and Kane love each other dearly. Don't let that slip away."

Gabby smiled unsurely. "But what if he could be happier with someone else…someone that can see?"

She felt Lina's hand squeeze hers. "I don't like bringing up my Hibernian life so I'll keep this short. Gabby, you and Kane both lead challenging lives. I've seen people suffer a great deal because they refused to be together even though they loved each other. They kept claiming it just wasn't fair or right…and both of the couple was so unhappy and miserable everything they feared became true anyway. Don't let that happen to you and Kane."

Gabby nodded as the words sunk in. "Thank you, Lina."

Gabby grinned and returned the gesture as she felt Lina hug her. "I'm happy for the two of you," Lina whispered. "Truly."

Gabby pulled back. "You said your mother didn't approve of Liam. How did you handle it?"

"When Liam and I got married I very much believed she was dead, but before that we just sort of snuck around. My mother was fairly absent but when she was around we'd slip off into the night or behind tapestries in corridors."

Gabby laughed. "Sounds romantic."

"It was something but I'm not sure if romantic is the right word."

Lina dressed while Gabby neatly arranged what she hadn't used. "Lina…" Gabby said slowly. "This conversation…"

"Strictly between us," Lina promised. "Don't worry, Gabby. I've greater secrets to keep than your nervousness."

Caitlyn stood at the docks with her father. The moist breeze coming in off the water made her hair damp but she didn't care. "Papa, are you sure you have to go?" Caitlyn asked.

"Yes," Liam told her. "Be good for your mother, alright?"

Caitlyn hugged her cloak closer. It was cooler here by the water. Mason came back down the gangway and joined them. "Our horses are settled, Liam," her father's apprentice said. Liam nodded.

"I'll see you in a year, Caitlyn," Liam promised as he kissed her forehead. "Be safe."

Caitlyn narrowed her eyes and watched as he went up the ship. "Don't worry," Mason assured her. "He's one of the best Rangers in the business. He'll be fine."

Caitlyn cut her eyes back to Mason. He may as well be her brother by now. "Be careful, Mason," she told him. "Don't let anything bad happen."

"Good bye. Try not to let anyone drown you while we're away."

Caitlyn smiled and watched as the two gray-green cloaked figures boarded the ship and went below deck. She sighed and walked four ships down to where Ace was signing a form for a leather satchel. Caitlyn waited patiently until he was finished before approaching him. "All this way for such a small package?" she asked.

Ace nodded. He didn't really look like a prince at the moment. He wore a cloak that marked him a royal healer's apprentice but other than that he had on simple traveling clothes. With no crown, no marked tunic, and his insignia ring tucked beneath his shirt on a chain, he could be anyone. "It's important medicine," he assured her. "A little can go a long way."

"Why don't you have a guard that shadows your every step like Scout?"

Ace shrugged. "I do well enough on my own. Besides, I'm not the one who will one day be king."

Caitlyn hugged herself against the sudden chill. "I should like to travel independently one day."

"You're just fourteen. Don't worry. I doubt Liam and Lina will force you to keep an escort much longer."

Caitlyn shook her head. "Not soon enough."

"So eager to leave home?"

Caitlyn shrugged as they walked. "I don't like being the youngest. Scout gets to do everything but I have to wait."

Ace just smiled. "Sort of like William and Rosalina. William's the oldest, Rosalina's the only girl. I'm the odd one out too."

Caitlyn smiled. "But you're a prince."

"Yes, a prince who is unneeded. William's the leader, Rosalina's the figurehead."

"I guess that makes sense, but you have the brains."

They came to Ace's horse. The younger Araluen prince didn't ride a battle-ready horse like his older brother nor did he ride an elegant horse bred especially for speed like his older sister. Ace's horse was one that didn't make it to the ranks of battle. The stallion was a good animal but not quite broad enough to carry the hundreds of pounds of weight of weight a knight would bring. Ace just took the reins and led the animal down the street. Caitlyn liked that they'd be walking a little longer. She loved horseback riding but since there were two riders and one horse no doubt she'd be on the back. As the back rider she would be prone to never ending bouncing no matter their speed. Her tailbone was still sore from the trip down.

The crowd pressed harder. Caitlyn looped her hand through Ace's arm so they wouldn't be separated. "What's going on?" she asked.

"Not sure," Ace replied. "There were several merchant ships make port so they're probably just trying to get their shipments in order."

But then the crowd pressed even more. "Make way!" someone shouted. "Make way for the king!"

"The king?" Caitlyn repeated. "What king?"

"Not ours," Ace said. "Here, take the horse and wait here. I'm going to get closer and see what's going on."

Caitlyn obeyed. Really, what choice did she have? Ace disappeared in the sea of bodies. She made out large red and white banners peeking over the people. Curiosity spiked. Caitlyn was too short to mount Ace's tall horse on her own so she climbed on top of a crate in the alleyway. She was confident she could keep control of the large beast once she was actually riding. She sat with a straight back in the saddle, just as her parents had taught her. The stirrups were too long for her but that didn't matter. She had no intention to actually navigate anywhere.

With the extra height she could see above the crowd. A tall man with dark almond-colored skin and straight black hair walked formally from the dock. Around him were lethally-uniformed guards and escorting them were two Araluen men. Both of them wore official uniforms and were the ones calling, "Make way!"

She spotted Ace. He'd done a good job melting into the crowd. He stood just a few rows back watching the newcomers. Confusion seemed to be etched deeply into his face. The horse paws the ground nervously but Caitlyn kept him in place. The strangely dressed group mounted waiting horses. The bearers of the red and white banners were far less extravagantly dressed, Caitlyn realized. Their costumes are just that; costumes. Caitlyn knew foreigners dressed differently but the blue robes bearing golden thread embroidery couldn't be travel clothes.

The 'king' looked straight at Caitlyn. He pointed to her and said something but the words are lost in the wind. The guards all turned to her as well. Caitlyn bit her tongue, wishing her parents had taught her how to appear stony and neutral as her heart beat rapidly. The almond-skinned man with black hair nudged his horse towards her direction. Caitlyn turned Ace's horse the other direction and nudged his sides so he'd go forward at a walk. She could already see Ace pushing his way through the crowd to rejoin her.

"Stop!" the man shouted. Caitlyn's heart raced. She didn't stop the horse but instead turned in her saddle. People were clearing for the man at a much faster rate than they did for her. He'd even left his guards.

Caitlyn pointed to herself as though this were the first time she'd realized he was trying to get her attention. The man nodded several times. Caitlyn narrowed her eyes as he came closer. He said something again…'amar' or something like that, but Caitlyn didn't like how close he was getting. She looked back to Ace. He was trying to talk to one of the guards but the almond-toned men were already on defense.

Their leader, the 'king', was almost to her. Caitlyn heeled the horse so he quickly pranced forward. When she saw a guard drive his fist into Ace's stomach she heeled again. She wheeled the horse around back towards Ace but there were too many people. Ace shook his head to her. "Go!" he shouted. Caitlyn wanted to do something…anything besides run but she was outnumbered. And really, what chance does a teenage girl stand against so many trained grown men? She reined the horse again and was soon flying down the path towards Araluen Castle.