"Are you sure that this what you heard

"Are you sure that this what you heard? We can afford to make no mistakes, that was the fault of my master, Duke Roger, he was hasty in his actions."

On the floor below his master's feet, the young man gasped, it was only a few who called the very powerful in the court of the Dark Squire's who called the supreme Dark Lord by his real name.

"I assure you, my ears were not mistaken, I was of course prepared to stay longer, but I had all the information I thought you would need. numair is keeping the book so that he can learn more but King Jon has forbidden anyone to preform any of the spells." Stroking back his mousy brown hair the shape shifter got to his feet, "may I take my leave?"

"Yes, yes you may," came the eery voice above his head. "But be warned, you are very valuble to this task of mine, do not stray far, or I will have to find you, and you know how taxing I find tedious job like torture." The threat was lightly put, but the hidden danger was clearly there. The master smiled softly, "take your leave, dear Jenslaw of Stone mountain, you can't escape now."

Thayet enveloped her fiery haired friend in a sympathetic hug, "are you sure you're all right, Alanna?" She held the King's champion at arms length for an examination, her usual gusty, youthful look was gone from her face and Alanna's pale cheeks were tightly drawn, her lips chapped from biting.

"Last night I had one of my visions again, this one was stranger then usual though. There was a young boy he s walking down a wooded path close to a stream, when he stops and looks into the water, he reaches and pulls out a ruby picking it up he tosses it up and down laughing, then jokingly he places over his eye, then there is a flash of white light and I can hear a voice laughing, it is one so familiar I cannot place it. Oh but it troubles my Thayet, that ruby, something is not right."

The queen clasped her friends hand as they headed back to the castle, "don't worry dear friend, what you are about to see will bring a smile to you I'm sure."

On the practice court Keladry of Mindelin stood surrounded by an assortment of pages and squires alike. She flew into a set of moves native to the Yamani isles. At her instruction the boys found there own room on the court and began to imitate her movements. Next to the female squire a blonde haired blue eyed boy stared at her with awe.

"Who is that one?" Alanna asked of the starstruck squire.

"That is joran of Stone Mountain, he was responsible for a group of bullies whom kel and her friends were in a permanent battle with until last year, when he switched gears and decided he loved her." The Queen laughed, "Ah spring love I don't doubt, has the year passed so quickly all ready?"

"Unfortunately not, there is still the matter of the dark squire weighing on our minds. For now I feel it would be best if we simply did not speak of this to anyone but those who are all ready informed, I will tell George and Miles, and you should tell Buri, but no one else should know, that is crucial." The knight smiled and seemed to brighten as a page ran up to them, out of breath.

"I am to tell the lioness that Sir George of the Pirate's swoop and Miles of Oleau have arrived." He bowed hastily and turned, running back in the direction of where ever it was he had come from.

"George and Miles!" Alanna called running as if she were but a squire herself. Thayet laughed and tore over the hill after her friend, laughing for the pure joy of being able to walk.

The Dark Squire stood over a bed, where the crippled body of Inar Hadenfra lay. The Squire's eyes were emotionless at the body, striken with convulsions of pain.

"Tell me Inar," the cold voice was smooth as silk, "why did you bring me back?"

"When the young boy found my ruby, I came to the castle, only to find that all of my former companions had been eliminated," The man coughed and gasped as if there was an invisible hand grasping his soul. "I tried to bring back Roger, but he was too far gone, he gave me his magic, more then any mage should ever have and he said your name. Seeing that there must be a reason I brought you back." Again Inar his now thin shoulders heaving. "You have more magic then Duke Roger or I, use it wisely master." With a shudder Inar gasped and went limp, The Dark Squire watched the magic, a deep crimson colour fade out of him. Turning to leave the room with a smile, more magic then Roger's? This was not good for the realm of Tortall, with a high pitched laugh that whined through the room, the dark squire strode out of the room.

"Our next step," the king started as he looked over the table, where once again his advisors were settled, this time with everyone present, "must be to find out who the Dark Squire is and what it is he wants to do. It would also be a bit of a bonus if we knew where they are in Tortall. For they can't be too far." He looked over his group with a pleased fatherly air. "I think, no I know that we can catch this group, it can't be as bad as the immortals can it?"

His champion looked over and sighed with a pessemistic air. "Thank you for the pep talk Jon, but I don't know if that will work for me today. As far as I'm concerned the Dark Squire will most likely be next to impossible to catch. Think of it, he's had a long time to plan after his master failed, and twice, for yes I'm sure this is Roger's influence. The Dark Squire has had plenty of time to make sure he get's this right."

Thayet shivered, just the thought of Duke Roger sent chills up her spine. Alanna had exposed Roger's plans to kill the Queen, and then the rest of the Royal family to the court, and he had been killed in a duel, just the thought of it reminded Thayet of the part she played in the castle, she was at just as much risk as the previous queen had been.

"Listen," Put in the always friendl voice of George from the back. "If this Dark Squire has as much power and magic as legend and history tells us, don't you think it would be kind of hard to hide such great powers wouldn't it? I mean I know that I'm not an expert at such things but –

"That's perfect!" Raoul pounced on the idea, "Numair, I know Daine isn't here, but couldn't she find out from the animals if they've sensed anything anywhere, and if they can pin point it or not?"

Jon didn't looked convinced. "I thought when I started this investigation I made it clear to you that I didn't want it going outside of this room! It's not safe, what happens if somehow they take Daine, or something and she's forced to reveal what we're up too?"

Thayet looked at her husband, sometimes… "Jon, the sma thing would happen to Daine as it would if it was any of us. She's stood by this kingdom through thick and thin, half of the battles wouldn't be ours if we didn't have her by our side. Jon, we can trust her, in some ways I think she has a stronger sense of mind then many of the men sitting in there saddles, with the title of knight of Tortall riding on there backs." Her green eyes flashed a look at Jon, an unspoken request.

He knew better then to refuse. "Alright, Daine knows, and the animals of the kingdom I guess, but I draw the line there, no one, and I mean no one else must know, it is mandatory that it stays that way."

"A compremise, I love it!" George called from his side of the table.

"You sir will kindly hush your mouth!" A firey red head set an even fireier glance at her husband.

***

"Just one more day of this and you should be resoted to your full self again," Numair smiled down at his Queen, " want to show you something though." He reached over to the paper covered slab of wood that served him as a desk. "This," he said, "is the book that almost got you killed the other night, I'm almost sure of it." He passed the worn, dark book to Thayet.

The pages were yellowed and fading, but the text was clear and sharp. She opened the first page and closed the cover again, what had once been a dark maroony coloured binding, was now a midnight blue. She laughed to herself and opened it again. This time the cover appeared a crusty, woody green. With a questioning look at Numair all was explained.

"It's been enchanted, theh changing symbolizes that the insides change as well. It's a subtle but meaningful warning. It's a subtle message from the books creater that though knowledge stays the same, the way it's read, or displayed is never the same. Now here's Daine with the information from our animal friends, well her friends anyways."

A young women with soft brown hari and eyes appeared laughing. "Hello Thayet, Numair is only sour because yesterday when he was showing off for me., he attempted to jump on cloud's back, and Cloud moved so Numair ended up with a faceful of mud, not to mention horse poop!" Diane's eyes which had been filled with mirth darkened suddenly and she looked at her fiance and her queen. "I talked with the birds, sparrows mostly, they're the travelers. They say that there is a spot in the inner part of the city, close to a building I'm sure George will recognize, they say for weeks now a strange source has ben coming from it, it's unlike any of our magic, here Numair can you help me?"

Thayet watched as the male mage headed over to Daine and placed his fingers on her temples and they both closed their eyes. After a few minutes Numair opened his eyes, it was like he was returning form a long slepp, he seemed startled that Thayet was still with them. The sleep it appeared had not treated him well, he face was drawn, and paler, well paler then usual anyway. "Numair, Numair, what is it?" The queen's motherly concern took over enven though her charge was a few years older, not to mention a few feet taller then her.

"That magic, that the sparrow's sensed is unclean magic, it is the magic of tow, people, maybe more, combined together together. It is dangerous, possibly even fatal. During Jon's coronation period when you first came here Thayet, I sensed this magic for the first time. When Roger and Thom's magic combined. Thom died soon after, and I know that one of the magic's holder's will soon, if not already will pass away."