The next night was the night Yule was scheduled to take his Ordeal. It was the third night of midwinter, and another ball was held.

Jon, Alanna, Raoul, Gary, Dodson, and Cedric walked into the banquet hall together to the usual tumultuous applause. However, for reasons the Squires didn't yet know, all of their knight masters wore poorly-hidden scowls. The council sat at the high table. Dodson and Cedric both agreed that they would wait with their knight masters until Kelly and Samantha showed up.

"It's midwinter! Can't we wait?" they heard Gary ask with askance.

"No," Alanna and Raoul replied in unison.

"Four thousand? That can't be," Jon mused. "…Islands…Spy…Surrounding the palace…battle…Traitor?"

Dodson and Cedric both leaned inconspicuously closer to the table, enabling them to hear the conversation.

"We must scout the enemy's position," Raoul rumbled.

"We leave tonight," Alanna concluded.

Shocked, Dodson and Cedric looked at their knight masters. Jon looked back at them, eyebrows raised.

"Where are we going?" Dodson breathed.

"Not we," Jon corrected, and stood. "I need to find Lord Wyldon. Would you boys stay here please?" He walked away, responding formally to the greetings he received.

"What's going on?" Cedric demanded Raoul suspiciously.

Raoul smiled tightly and ushered them into a corner.

"You see boys, someone in the palace must have been giving the Copper Island and Carthaki renegade troops information about our armies. They're going to lay siege, and we didn't catch word until now. Jon, Alanna, Gary, a company of soldiers, and I are riding out to scout and possibly delay them."

Dodson scuffed his foot on the ground.

"What about us?" he asked quietly. He didn't want to leave Jon, Alanna, Raoul, and Gary alone.

"You boys stay here, under Wyldon's guidance."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Both Dodson and Cedric's faces were stoically set as they readied their knight master's supplies and horses. Bitterness set in their hearts, preparing for the expedition they would not be a part of. Grimly, Raoul and Alanna came to collect their horses. The squires followed behind, leading Jon and Gary's mounts.

"Be good," Alanna advised as Dodson and Cedric watched them ride out. They didn't exchange any other parting words.

Cedric and Dodson trudged back up to the palace. It was nearly midnight. The ball had ended early, due to the fact that four of the leaders were leaving. Only ten people remained in the Hall when Dodson and Cedric arrived.

"Boys," Wyldon nodded curtly and made his way over to them. "I…I'm sorry. I sent Kelly and Samantha back to Cavall."

Dodson's head shot up. Cedric looked at the floor in shock.

"Why?" croaked Dodson. "We didn't even say goodbye."

Wyldon's brow furrowed in irritation. "Perhaps Raoul wasn't frank enough with you. A siege will be laid upon the castle before the month is out. I don't want them here for that."

Cedric still stared resolutely at the floor. His head spun. What had Raoul said? Traitor…that's it. Sammie wasn't here because…

"Yes, twenty four hundred men. I see them with my own eyes. Celebration in three months. No guard, no worry."

"Goddess…"he whispered.