Disclaimer: Um, I've done enough of these by now that you should know by now that they aren't mine…

Author's Note: Hehe, I loved the reviews for the last chapter! I was really kinda worried about it but it seems everyone really liked it. So, since this will probably be the last bit of free time that I'll have until Friday I've decided to update now!

Chapter 19:

"Ade," Dani whined. "I want to try Em's shocker." Adyr shared a look with his best friend and shook his head.

"It's not that simply Dani, it took Em months of practice to be able to use it properly."

"I can do it," she insisted. He gave her a skeptical look and Dani pouted, quite pitifully, until he rolled his eyes and held out his hand for Ember's shocker.

"You are going to be the death of me," he muttered as Ember laughed and handed over his weapon. Adyr held it up so she could see.

"It's a bit like a Mord-Sith's agiel, but while they feel the pain of the agiel you won't feel the pain of the shocker. However," he cautioned seeing Dani practically bounce with excitement. "You use your magic to power it. Depending on how you want it to work you let a different amount of power flow into it to power it. Understand?"

"Aye," Dani replied reaching for the shocker. Adyr reluctantly handed it to her and led her to the practice range. This area of the practice courts was set aside just for those learning how to use the shockers. They would practice by holding the shockers against a board that had been magiced to light up according to how much power was being released.

"Alright, try a little shock first, a warning," Adyr instructed. Dani nodded and pressed the shocker to the board. It lit up slightly, a green tinged color. Adyr nodded.

"Now try a little bit more, this time we want it to turn blue. Blue means that you'll stop them, it causes a person to fall to their knees." Dani focused and the board turned a light shade of blue and the light got brighter. Ember stood to the side with his mouth open in shock, but the other two were focused only on each other. Aydr gave her an encouraging smile.

"Good, now more, a red. Red will knock them out." Dani narrowed her eyes in concentration. The board began glowing a brilliant red.

"That's good," Adyr praised smiling.

"Are there more?" Dani asked pulling the shocker away. Adyr nodded seriously.

"Just one, black; death." Dani looked down at the shocker in her hand.

"It can kill?" Adyr nodded.

"Aye," he seemed to be picking up some of Dani's sayings. "That's why the training is so extensive for this. You wouldn't want to accidentally kill some one." Dani handed Ember his shocker.

"That was awesome," he told her respectfully. "It only took you minutes to master what took me months." Dani blushed and looked at the ground.

"Well, I'm supposed to learn stuff like this on my own," she mumbled shrugging. "I'm sure if I wasn't the Elementress it wouldn't come as easy." Ember grinned and ruffled her hair, a habit that he, Alkaid, and Adyr had picked up from Richard and Kahlan.

"I highly doubt that shortie." Dani scowled and playfully smacked his arm.

"Don't call me shortie," she retorted stalking off with a laughing Adyr behind her.

**********

"Elementress," a messenger called as she walked toward her rooms with Adyr. They turned and the messenger bowed to her. "Master Tarrin says he needs to speak with you right away." Dani frowned.

"Did he say what he need?"

"No," the out of breath messenger said, shaking his head. Dani turned to Adyr and gave him an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, I have to go." He grinned.

"That's alright. You're a queen now, I expected interruptions like this. I'll come find you later." Dani smiled and nodded.

"Definitely." Adyr bowed and left, probably to go back and find Ember. Dani dismissed the messenger and ran to Master Tarrin's room. She like running, it was a good way to relieve stress - and being queen was very stressful. She entered swiftly, not waiting to knock and stopped when she saw Richard, Kahlan, Zedd, and Master Tarrin all looking at Rikar, who looked like he bore grim tidings. She sighed as she thought about what this ment and hoped that Alkaid would eventually move past this disappointment. She walked over and sat down directly in front of Rikar.

"You have something to report?" she questioned, knowing full well that he did. Rikar bowed and gave her a solemn nod.

"Yes Elementress. You requested that I follow Alexander Veridane and report if I saw that he had any hand in the attacks going on in the caves." Dani nodded and gripped the arms of the chair tightly. "Well, I saw him go into the room of another elemental and leave a note. I went inside after he had left and read the note." He pulled it from his pocket. "Here it is…" Dani took it and read aloud.

"The last person failed but you must not. Master Rahl expects the queen to be eliminated so he can gain control of the Elemental's Caves. Do not fail him in this. You have one week.

-Master of the Elements"

Richard and Kahlan shared worried looks and Zedd held out a hand so he could see the note. Dani handed it over as she lowered her barriers to feel the emotions in the room. Worry; worry was a big emotion coming from everyone; anger, probably toward Alex for betraying them, for threatening their lives. Hurt, that was coming form Tarrin, he had known Alex the longest. Dani rubbed her eyes and willed herself not to think of Alkaid. She looked around at them all.

"We'll call the assembly together today. The attacks can't keep going on," they were in agreement on that. "We'll have to force him to declare sides; make him take those who are loyal with him." Richard put a hand on her arm.

"You don't have to say anything," he told her reassuringly. "We'll take care of the logistics, you just be ready to take his powers." Dani nodded and squared her shoulders.

"I'll let you handle it," she agreed. She wasn't sure how he would do it, but he was the Seeker - he could do it. She believed in him.

*********

Eh, short, but I don't have time for anything longer. I'll try to move it further along next chapter but I wanted to confirm, officially, that Alex is for Darken Rahl. Weird, when I first wrote his character I originally planned to have him be against DR. Hmmm…oh well. Read and Review! Please!

Phoenix