Author's note: Okay, as my Biology teacher would tell you guys you went above and beyond my expectations. Wow, It's a good thing I worked on the next chapter all day so I could post again. No more deals for a while for you guys though,you're killing me. I'm so happy and yet so sorry that you guys got that many reviews in so fast.

YOu might, and thats a big might, get another chapter at the end of the week. It depends on how fast my litttle mind works :D

I would like to my fabulous beta team, xxTunstall Chickxx for all her support and knowledge of the mighty comma, hehe. And Sweet Sassy Sarah who stays up late and helps keep me from losing my mind, or speeds the process up, I'm not sure which it is just yet. ;D

Please READ AND REVIEW!!

I am not Tamora Pierce

"It can't be true." Tory paced in front of her father-in-law's desk. Dark shadows were under her eyes, fine silver hairs had found their way into her dark brown locks, and creases of worry were inlaid around her eyes.

Once twinkling eyes that had lost there sheen looked up from his work. His grey hair was receding, his position of spymaster has obviously been taking its toll on him lately. "I wish it wasn't, but that's how it's turning out."

They had been searching almost nonstop for Katelyn. The last sighting of her that came from someone other than her siblings was from a girl in the Landlhere family from Port Caynn. All they got from her though, were names confirmed, 'Kate and Jarret', that they were great fighters that could take on full grown spidrens, and that they were very secretive. Last thing they knew was that it had been several weeks since this Landlhere girl had seen Katelyn.

And now a problem had been arising. Tortallan delegates and supporters had been assassinated in foreign courts. This news didn't bother Tory the most though, it was that whoever was killing these people was a rising assassin. The name of this assassin had gotten to George's second in command, a young noble from Runnerspring and he reported it directly to the Lord Provost so Tory had no time to look into it before anyone else got their hands on it.

Tory kept going over that meeting with the Prince and his advisors over and over in her head as she paced.

X.x.X

Tory sat at a lower part of the table next to George, the only advisor still remaining from King Jonathan IV's rule. Keladry of Mindelan, Knight Commander of the King's Own, a true leader behind those quiet hazel eyes. Next to her sat Faleron of King's Reach, Chief advisor who took over for Gareth the Younger of Naxen. Balduin of Disart, the current new King's Champion, sat on the prince's right hand side. Lindell of Runnerspring, soon to be George's replacement, sat across from Tory, the Royal Assassin.They all sat there to council and aid the Prince.

Prince Roald of Conte, had yet to be crowned King after his father's passing to the Peaceful Realms, and Queen Thayet was still in heavy grieving and was in no condition to be there. The meeting went quickly and Tory really had no part in anything this time. except when she added that she was still looking for signs of Kate, because her activities often worried some of the advisors.

That was when Lindell began telling his newly found thoughts to them. Evidently he had been putting in some extra time searching for information on the assassination of the Tortallan delegates and supporters. "They know it's a woman. The first strike was in Galla. Two life sources were caught by a detection spell but we can't get any information off it because it was so well hidden it took three mages, four weeks to find. But what has been really scaring them is that only one essence was found." He took a breath and continued. "I have begun to wonder about your daughter, Lady Torrianne. We know how well she is trained. And that you posses the knowledge to remove the essence from yourself."

Tory's eyes narrowed as she listened to the young nobleman, wondering how he was so talented in spy work, but he kept talking. "The Shadow, as this killer is being called,onlystarted to appear after Lady Katelyn vanished."

"What are you saying, Lindell?" Tory asked.

He cleared his throat and spoke to the Prince. "I believe that our Lady Katelyn Cooper of Pirate's Swoop and Larstspur is The Shadow."

"That's an outrage!" Tory hissed. "Your Majesty, this is an unjust accusation and is enough to condemn an innocent person to death."

Roald held a hand up to stop the brewing argument. "Lindell, do you have solid proof to back your beliefs?"

"It took a lot of work but yes, Your Majesty, I do."He reached into a coat pocket and withdrew a small leather bag. He then took a dagger out of the bag and set it on the table.

A black blade with a startling black glass hilt now sat in front of them all. It took every bit of self control Tory had to not show any emotion.

She'd made that dagger and several more like it and given them to Kate.No one knew about them either, not even George, Alan, or even Dany. They were all untraceable, she had trekked to many nations to get the supplies needed. Tory had broken into forges in Carthak, Tusaine, The Yamani Isles, and even Scanra, leaving them free of any mark she might have made, to make the blade and hilts. And Kate knew exactly how to make more just like it.

"This was found in The Shadow's first victim." Lindell said almost smugly.

"And what have you found from this piece of evidence?" Her voice was sharp but she knew that he wouldn't find anything unless Kate had been careless.

"Well, nothing yet but it gives us a place to start." He looked back down to the knife. "But, I think we need to put an end to this right away, your majesty. The Shadow is slowly getting closer to you and your family."

"But you are accusing Katelyn of being the Shadow." Tory's fists were clenched in her lap, and the anger in her eyes was obvious.

He looked at her with irritable sureness. "As of right now, yes."

"Your Majesty, please tell me this isn't enough evidence." Tory looked to Roald.

The Prince looked down to the dagger, then up to his assassin. "I can't let this go any further, and I can't put a death warrant out without any solid proof. I will sign a warrant for the execution of The Shadow that I expect you to carry out. Lady Torrianne, but I don't believe Lady Katelyn is this criminal."

X.x.X

The room was then dismissed and now Tory paced in front of George, as he tried to piece everything together. So far, he kept coming to one conclusion. It was highly possible, and most likely that Kate was The Shadow, but there was no solid proof.

"Tory, go relax for now. I'll work this out somehow. You go find Alan. You two should go to The Swoop, or Larstspur, or better yet, go check on Thom at Olau for me. Just find a way to get this out of your mind for a while. She'll be fine."

Tory nodded, giving in. She was not as irrational as she was when she first found out about her daughter going missing. She left and went to the suite she shared with her husband.

"Jason!" She called to what seemed like no one. "You haven't spoken to me in weeks but I know you're listening. You always do."

Out of nowhere, a cold presence appeared laying on her bed. His dark hair looked more tousled than normal and his eyes looked darker than the last time he was around, like a shadow was cast behind them. Then his entire being looked more transparent than usual.

"Jason. What's wrong?"

He rolled his tired blue eyes. "Your daughter. She shoved me out, after locking me away for a while."

"What else have you learned about her?" she asked.

"What else do you want to know?" He locked his fingers behind his head. trying to hide the fact that he was buying time.

"Don't start Jason. Just tell me." she growled.

"Relax, Tor. She's fine." He sat up and motioned for her to sit next to him. After she did he began. "She is in Galla. She's healthy and well both in mind and body."

"No." she whispered and put her head in her hands, resting her elbows on her knees. "No."

He wrapped a cold arm around her shoulders. "She's okay Tory."

"Have you talked to her at all?"

"Yes." He hesitated, and thensaid carefully, "I tried at least. She is very...strong willed."

Tory nodded.

"She refused to leave, but she knows who I am."

Tory looked horror struck but, Jason saw the question in her eyes before she could ask it. "No. She has no clue who The Abyss was."

That put Tory at some ease. "How far in is she?"

He looked down at the floor. "She's fully instated."

Her fist clenched and her teeth made an audible snap. "No. She is.. The..."

"The Shadow." he supplied.

Tory nodded, she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud.

Jason noticed that tears pooled in her eyes. "Yes, she is The Shadow, Tory. I'll be right back, don't leave." He began to fade out of sight, leaving her with the heart wrenching news.

A few minutes later, Alan rushed through the door with Jason's transparent figure behind him.

"Lass." He took one look at her and sat down next to her, pulling her into his arms. "Jason told me everything."

"What are we going to do Alan?" she said with her head buried in the crook of his neck.

"How many people know?" he asked Jason.

"Only you two and that's because you had it confirmed by me." Jason told him.

"But Lindell has it pieced together." Tory told them, her anger finally slipping through.

"We'll find her, warn her, and then if need be, we'll hide her." Alan smoothed the hair out of her brown eyes, noticing the subtle flare of red growing. "Nawat, Aly, and the kids are coming soon for Midwinter. Aly and Aleea will help search."

Tory nodded and looked up into her husband's and best friend's eyes, both of them saw how red they were, and not from tears or lack of sleep. "If Lindell gets any closer, I will kill him."

"Tory," they both said at once.

"I mean it." She let out a breath. " And then I'll kill every single one of them at the disgusting camp."

A/N: I couldn't let you all forget about the The folks back at home now could I? :D

Let me know in a review, pm, email, whatever and get an in depth excerpt but here is one just for reading...

Janelle wasted no time at all in attacking Kate. In one quick motion she pulled a throwing dagger from it's sheath and threw it right at Kate's throat.