A/N: heh heh...I'm finally back and I have decided that it is about time that I finished the semi-cliffhanger that I started...

***Back at camp***

One of the figures slowly raised something into the air and before anyone could react, an arrow tipped with a burning rag sped past the pages and landed straight into one of the tents. Alex swore and yelled for everyone to take cover as seven or more armed Scanran came thundering into the clearing, slashing at tents and supplies and lighting things on fire with their torches. They were dressed in heavy furs, metal armor, and helmets, some carrying broadswords and other wielded double-sided axes. Four of the riders surrounded the first years, who raised their daggers and swords in defense...of course, a dagger wasn't going to do much against a broadsword.

One of them aimed a blow at Alex but he was able to block in time. He yelled as the blades crossed and stepped back from the impact. The rider swung his sword several more times, but he was just playing with the teen. Finally, Alex broke the normal pattern of fighting and swung his blade lower than the Scanran was prepared for and cut the warrior in the side. The man grimaced from under his metal helmet and starred at Alex with a new gleam of hatred in his eyes. The boy swore to himself and tried to defend as the blade of his enemy crashed down on his own and he fell to the ground.
The next thing he knew he felt a sharp, pounding pain in the back of his head and he fell face forward into the dirt unconscious. The Scanran who was behind him raised the shield he had used to knock Alex out with and swung him over his broad shoulder.

Then the four warriors who were surrounding Phi and the pages broke their formation and all of a sudden charged the girl who, without any weapons, was quickly captured. One of the men rode past the group and hoisted Phi up onto his saddle as if she were a rag doll and put a knife to her throat so close that she felt a trickle of blood run down every time the horse they were on jolted.

The pages were frozen in their spots, having no clue what to do in order to save their new friends. Only Devic reacted and he actually managed with the help of two of his friends, to tackle one of the footmen to the ground. They quickly bound his hands and feet after removing all of his noticeable weapons, and Devic put two others in charge of sitting on the man's back so he wouldn't be able to move. The boy watched in horror as the rest of the make-shift Scanran army rode off into the forest and he felt a wave of despair flow over him like he had never felt before, not even when his older brother had died in the last war. He sunk to the ground and stared at the path the enemy had made, heading north, away from Tortall and to the Scanran boarder as the remains of their tents and supplies began to smolder on the cold ground.

***Back at the Palace***

Tom finally came around just as the sun was rising over the far-off mountains. He blinked and realized that Kel, Tobe, Merric, Owen, Esmond, Numair, Daine, and Duke Baird were all hovering above him. He quickly sat up and blushed, not liking all of the worried attention that he was getting. The duke smiled happily at his awakening and leaned him back down on the examination table. Tom blinked several more times before looking up at everyone, "...What happened?"

Kel looked the most worried and her face was pale, "You came to my room last night and you were about to tell me something important...about Phi and Alex."

"I was?" Suddenly a huge wave of memories swooped down on his and he sat up again, this time panicked, "They need my help!"

"What is going on Tom?"

"I had a dream...but it wasn't a dream...it was like I was there, with them, it felt real..."

The duke's expression darkened, "That is often how a seer feels after a strong vision..."

Esmond, tired of all the beating around the push, chimed in, "What did you see Tom?!"

His voice was shaky and full of bottled-up emotion, "I saw...the pages camp being raided, by horsemen with long swords and axes. They set the tents and supplies on fire, and then...Alex tried to fight but was struck down from behind...and... Phi. Phi was defenseless and was captured by one of the riders...her neck was bleeding..."

Owen went pale and Merric muttered some kind of prayer. Kel looked Tom straight in the eye, "Was the King's Own there? Or Master HaMich, was he there? What happened to the other pages?"

Tom looked confused and lost for a moment, but continued, "I couldn't see either the King's Own or HaMich...and the pages. It was so odd. I could see them, but I could also feel what they were feeling at the time..."

"...What were they feeling Tom..."

"They felt...lost, scared...unprotected...mad at themselves for not saving Phi and Alex and at...the knights for not saving them in time..."

Kel turned away and sighed, looking exhausted even though she was just asleep four hours ago, "All right. It seems clear to me that the only thing we can do is ride out and find Dom and the King's Own and find out what happened to HaMich..."

Tom stood up shakily, "I'm coming too."

This time Numair stepped in, "Oh no you're not. You are much not worn out from last night. You are in no condition to be doing any traveling."

Daine offered her input, "Numair's right Tom. I remember how tired I was after I tried my first real magic...I couldn't get out of bed for a day..."

Tom ignored them both and walked out of the room he had just made it to the side door when the front one slammed opened and King Jonathan and Alanna stepped into the room. The knights quickly bowed, but the king put them at ease with a wave of his hand, "You, Thomas, are not going anywhere. It is far too dangerous. Alanna will lead a rescue party made up of which ever of Tortall's knights are ready for the venture in two hours. But Numair is right. You aren't ready for such a trip, and I don't intend to allow you to go."

The teen looked back at the king with a gleam in his eye that frightened even Kel, "I'm going whether you allow it or not."

The king sighed, obviously not accustom with ordering people around against their will, "I order you as the King of Tortall to remain here in the Palace."

Tom turned back to the door and stepped out of the room, "I'm not one of your subjects..."

He closed the door shut with a slam and forced his legs to run down to the stables.

A/N: Sorry this one is kinda short but I am really busy tonight!