Author's Note: I'm sad that I'm almost done writing this, then I just have to get you guys all caught up. sob.

Thank you to all the reviewers:
dares to dream
Sazerac
Mikoda of Pirate's Swoop
Clear Blue Rain
ladyxxknight

Also a great big 'thank you' to Sweet Sassy Sarah for the great Beta work!!

I am Not Tamora Pierce

~x~J~x~

"Have you found anything yet?" Jax was worried as he looked into the blazing blue fire that burned in a small metal cask that looked like a portable blacksmith's forge that they had put into their hay loft. Within the fire was an image of his sister and friend, Corri and Gale, looking back at him and Jamey. Marcus sat with a solemn expression on his face after being berated by Jamey all day and Eli sat near him with a thoughtful look in her eyes as if she was deciding Ash's location.

"She hasn't even been gone a while day." Corri sighed and glanced over at her patient who was as impatient as Jax.

"We don' 'ave any ideas neither," Gale told them and looked back at Corri. "What d'ya' think Cor'?"

"I don't know," She told them all honestly.

Has Camden found anything out?" Jamey asked.

Jax saw the door behind Corri and Gale slam open and shut gain before the tall man that entered shut and relocked it. "No," Camden snapped and sat by Corri."The closest thing to a story I can find is that Ash befriended some young lady here at court who has and arranged marriage and a lover in the country, Lady Meriann, And that Ash and Lady Meriann went to look at some lands of Lady Meriann who boasts to having some of the greatest rose gardens in Galla."

"I didn' think she talked t' any'un 'bout 'ere," Gale pondered to his self.

"She doesn't talk to anyone out side of us, Jamal, or Graham." Camden's brows knit together and his already dark eyes got even darker.

"That's not true," Corri told him, "she also talks to Prince Rorick."

Camden looked incredulous before a sour scowl pulled his features down. "Evidently I don't know my betrothed as well as I thought than."

"So in other words..." Jamey prompted trying to get Ash's group to decipher the missing assassin's actions since they worked with her so much.

"Y' think she migh' of run off to do somethin' she couldn' tell us 'bout an' needed a story?" Gale looked over to Camden.

"Or she might have been taken and they started a story to help prevent suspicion from us." Corri looked over to Gale to confirm this.

"She wouldn't have just run off on us," Jax told them all seriously.

"They couldn't have taken her," Camden shot back at him.

"She wouldn't just leave us without a reason," Corri said.

"What if they were going to start picking us off like flies one by one?" Jamey tossed into the conversation, "What is Marcus's slip gave away all of us and they are just starting to weed us out of the garden?"

All the people cast hard looks at her, "She's the best fighter," Corri said. "She knows everything that is going, I haven't been leading all the spying, she has. She would know if something turned against us. And they could take her down, she could fight in twenty to one odds and win."

"But a surprise attack against several mages?" Eli made her presence known. "If they found us they would want to start picking off the top person. The leader, and send the rest of us into chaos. I mean if you want to rip up a rose bush, you don't start by clipping the leaves off, they're useless unless they're gathering information." She pointed at Jamey, Corri, and herself. "The stems would give them thorns, and another one would step in to protect the rest." Eli then nodded to Marcus and Jax while pointing to Gale and Camden. "They would want to take out the roots. Kill the roots, Ash, and kill the whole plant, us."

Camden was shaking with anger and his fists were clenched. His teeth nearly broke the flesh of his lip as he bit down and the nails tore into his palms making his hands bleed. Jax's eyes were open with realization and he took deep breaths as his hand wrapped around his dagger and his blue Gift began to glow around the Blade. Gale sat in silent anger, nothing other than his hard eyes gave away the emotion of hatred burning in him. The three men that were closest to Ash, her brother, her best friend, and her betrothed were already to charge into a battle on her behalf.

"What d'we do?" Gale asked out loud.

"What can we do?" Jamey looked to Corri for orders.

"Corri, where do we go?" Jax asked as his hand twitched to his side so that he was ready to move in a moment. "Corri, orders?"

Corri's forced calm broke as her temper rose. "I don't know!" She glared at everyone on her side of the fire and on Jax's."I don't know! I don't lead these things I give those who do the information! That's it! I don't know!" Corri shoved her brown hair back, "Gods, how does she deal with all this! I can't make these decisions on my own."

Jax was taken aback by his sister's sudden break down, "Corri--"

"I don't know!" Corri snapped at him, "Don't ask me! I'm not Ash!"

The words had been said and all of the members of their group were cut by them. They didn't get along with Ash all the time, especially Marcus, but they all knew that in her silent and controlling way she kept everything running properly. Ashtyn ran the hits, planned the trips, and kept everything running smoothly.

"Mithros, its true. All the men who trained back home with us always said that Tortall's Tormentor wasn't a joint position like ma wanted it to be." Jax's face was that of a philospher as he recalled all the times Ash ran the 'family business'.

"That's not true," Eli began but stopped.

"Yes, it is. I'm not cut out to be the assassin." Jax laughed, "All this time, I've lived in her shadow. Tossed into the abyss she leaves behind." He broke into almost hysterical laughter.

"Jax... are you alright?" Corri asked carefully she was under the impression that although Ash and Jax took care of the assassin work, Ash was in control and the true 'Tormentor'.

"This is great. I'm free as soon as we clear our names. I hide out in Olau with Eli and live out my days as a true mage." He laughed again. "She can have it, she can have it all."

Corri was shocked to hear about Eli and Jax like this but this couldn't be happening now, "Enough. Camden, what should we do? What would Ash have us do?"

Camden had been silent through this entire exchange, all these people, Ash's family, didn't realize all the burdens they placed on her shoulders and it was him that helped release her of these responsibilities and lately he hadn't been there for her. Their time spent simply being in each other's company had been cut down drastically. This could even be the cause of her disapperance. Could she have left because of all this...

Camden's thoughts were interrupted by a screech from Jax's side of the flame. Marcus yelped as he was pulled over the edge of the loft that he sat dangerously close to. Eli was on her feet and had a dagger pulled out and was prepared to fight as Jax and Jamey scrambled to their feet.

"What's wrong!?" Camden demanded.

"What's happenin'?" Gale looked closer at the fire.

The group that was in the loft ignored them as Eli peered over the edge after hearing a body hit the floor and a string of curses and pleas being said. Eli's eyes lit up with a sudden flare of relief. "Jax, go save him please."

"What?" Jax asked and looked over the edge of the hay loft with Jamey by his side. The Jax groaned and left the loft by climbing down a support beam.

"You worthless little bastard!" Corri heard and sighed in relief after hearing Ash's voice.

"Ash?" Camden was almost touching the fire after shoving the other two out of the way.

They all heard another yelp from Marcus and cursing from Ash but a few moment later Ash climbed up into the loft with Jax and an injured Marcus behind her.

Marcus ignored the looks the other people gave him as they took in his crooked nose and bleeding mouth, as well as the large bruises covering the side of his face. The audience now looked at Ash and only saw her right fist have any signs of a fight.

"Did you even try to get a hit on her?" Corri asked.

"'everal 'imes." Marcus answered but his words were distorted from his swelling lip.

"Ash, why did you leave?" Camden ignored everyone else and focused on his betrothed.

"I had to. I couldn't stop myself Camden--" Ash looked at him and the last traces of red and black in her eyes gave way to the brown.

"When you get back, Ash. Not now." Camden swallowed hard and sat back.

Ash's brows pulled together but she focused on her sister. "I'll be home tonight or tomorrow morning, I have a story and and an alibi, don't worry, I'm going to need a bit of healing before I leave, too."

"You think I'm just going to giver you a night's sleep with the Gift so you trot yourself back?" Jax looked at his twin like she grew a third head.

"No, I plan on galloping," Ash said soberly and held out her hand, "Now if you please, and don't try anything else, I'm watching." She blinked a few time to shift her Sight to watch what spells were being used in the room. "And if you try anything else, you'll look like Marcus."

Jax sighed and held his hand out to grasp his sister's and allowed his blue Gift to seep into her skin."I'll speak to you later, Corri. Let me get these two healed and her sent off."

After Jax and Corri stopped the connection through the fires, Ash was healed and sent on her way with a fresh mount and provisions. Marcus had been healed and sent to bed, Jamey went to make sure he got there and then went to fetch him food.

This left Jax and Eli sitting in the loft by themselves. Jax deep in thought lying back on a stack of hay, and Eli sitting nearby with her hands folded over her stomach.

"I can't take it anymore, Jax."

"What?"

"I'm through with this. This has gone too far for me. She'll kill me."

"Elizabeth, what are you talking about?" Jax sat up on his elbows and noticed tears in Eli's eyes. "Ash won't touch you." A red flare brightened in his eyes at the thought

"It's too much, Jax. Your sister, the assassin trackers, Marcus, all of it." The tears now began to leak out of her eyes, "I don't want to die right now."

"You won't, I swear I won't let you get hurt!" Jax was now on his knees holding Eli's hands to his chest. "I understand if you want to leave Galla, but we could send you back to Pirate's Swoop, or get Camden to take you back Balthasar and hide you there--"

"No, Jax. I can't handle this assassin business anymore! I'm leaving."

"Elizabeth..."

"Come with me." Eli pleaded suddenly as she wrapped her arms around Jax's torso. "Please."

"I--I..."

"Jax, I know you want to. Please Jax, I need you."

He looked down into her green eyes that had tears streaking down her cheeks and the unruly red curls hanging in her face. He pushed the red locks out of her face and pressed a soft kiss on her head, "I'd follow you to the Peaceful Realms and back."

"Thank you, Jax, thank you." She pressed her face closer to his chest. "But what about everyone else?"

"They can deal without me, without us." He smiled down at her. "You're all I need."

"Are you sure, Jax?"

He kissed her lips, sweetly at first then more passionately, "Of course I'm sure. I shouldn't have let you come here in the first place. Ash can handle this with everyone else. You and and I are leaving."

"When?"

"Tonight."

A/N: hmmm...well I don;t like hjax for this but hey, thats just my opinion, I couldn't convince them to stay.

Don't for get to review!

excerpt:
"This court finds Lady Katelyn Marcoy of Larstspur guilty on the grounds of treason against their majesties,"