I don't own any of the Lioness, the Immortals, and the Protector of the Small characters. They belong to Tamora Pierce.

=Essence of the Forbidden=

=(The King's Ball)=

Her arms were tired. She felt the fatigue surge through her, but she couldn't stop.

Not if she wanted to live.

She blocked another sword, and sliced with her other. Why am I here? she asked herself as sweat beaded at her brow. She barely saw the dagger that flew at her. She shifted her weight and flipped over a man. Grabbing his back, she forced him to be her shield. At least now, she'd get some rest.

Kill as much as you can.

She recalled her master's words and shivered. She didn't want to kill. She didn't want to hurt anyone. But…

She heard her targets swift movements. It was almost time to complete her task. Crying out, she shoved her "shield" into the group of men before her and ran toward her mark.

You do as I say, or I do to your brother what I did to you.

NO! She had done the stupid thing and admitted her Achilles' heel was her brother. She should have known better, but she was only a child. She regretted everything now, but she couldn't let her brother suffer the way she did…no matter what.

She swung her blade at the two men who pressed her. They fell.

It would be over for the day, just as soon as she preformed her last task.

===

Daine had flown to the corner of the room where she had hidden a bag of clothes. There was something abnormal about the intruder…the figure felt like something familiar, but she didn't know what, exactly.

She couldn't tell in her current form. But…she could tell if she were another animal. Dropping the bag of clothes in her hand, she shifted into the shape of a wolf.

In her new form, smells that she hadn't smelled before, became apparent.

Of those aromas, the strongest odor was fear. It flooded the room, almost suffocating her. But there were small, simple strands that laced the fear. It originated from the clothed figure.

===

Alanna danced just outside the figure's blades and analyzed it's movements. She had seen something very similar to those acts before. It was too fluid--uncharacteristically quick--as if it were enhanced by magic… or something else.

Her mind flashed back to when she and her old squire Neal had traveled the realms. Alanna cursed. It can't be…

George glanced at his wife while pulling out another throwing knife. "Happy thoughts, my dear?" he managed to yell over his shoulder.

Alanna shook her head, not in the mood to jest. "Get as much people as you can get out of here." Alanna's voice was unexpectedly dark. George absorbed her words and glared at the figure. He knew something was up, and he hated not knowing what.

"What is it, Alanna?"

For a second, the Lioness turned and grinned at her husband. She blew him a kiss before she darted toward the figure.

===

Daine leapt and managed to sink her teeth into the figure's flesh before something rammed her from the side.

Daine skid back and shook her head. Glancing up, she saw a creature: a human and cat mix. The cat licked the back of her paw and languidly smirked at Daine. The animal mage didn't know why, but that act really made her angry.

She shakily stood, and circled the cat, her eyes watching it's movements. Suddenly, the cat jumped up, then turned, yawning as it made it's way out of the ball.

Cat's…They always have a mind of there own.

Daine turned to see where the figure stood.

===

Alanna picked up another sword from a fallen knight as she advanced to her opponent. She called upon her magic. A light purple mist formed about her and the unknown person, making sure that no one else would be a part of their fight.

The figure grinned, that much Alanna could see. "What are you doing here?" Alanna yelled as she weighed the blades in each hand. They were a bit heavier than she was used to, but she couldn't help that.

The figure shook off her mask, revealing long white hair and eyes that seemed to be filled with turmoil.

Alanna was amazed. She had heard rumors of this girl, the young assassin. She was surprised to see how young.

The assassin bowed her head slightly. "Good evening, my lady," she said politely, then took up a stance.

Alanna did nothing, keeping the swords at her sides. "You're that girl from the Wild Dragons," she stated softly. "Cedar, they called you. Cedar the Demon." Alanna saw the assassin wince. "What are you doing here?"

Cedar cried out and attacked. Her sword swung toward the Lioness' shoulder. Alanna pivoted, bringing her own blade to meet the assassin's. It met with a loud clang that nearly caused Alanna to lose her sword.

"Pretty good for an old lady," Cedar said.

"Pretty big mouth from a child," Alanna retorted.

Cedar sprang back and retook her stance. She circled the lioness slowly.

The assassin threw her blade at Alanna. As the Lioness dodged, Cedar took the opportunity to ram her other blade at Alanna's throat. Alanna smirked as she shifted and let herself fall on the floor, the first lesson she learned as a fighter. She then swung her leg, and tripped the Assassin. Jumping on top of her, the lioness, plunged the blade into the assassin's arm.

===

Cedar bit her lip as the pain filled her body. Her job was almost done.

===

Daine's nostrils flared.

The smell that escaped from the figure became clear, overpowering and intoxicating. Daine could smell it, the slight hint of immortal's blood. More specifically, dragon's blood…

===

Cedric felt pain tear through the flesh at his arm. He nearly dropped the crying baby out of surprise.

The Lady glanced at him, an irritated look marring her face. "What are you doing," she hissed.

Cedric shook his head. "It's nothing. A bug bit me," he lied. He knew instinctively that something was happening to his sister. He wanted to help her, but his first job lay with the child.

The Lady turned back to the door that she was about to open. "Well, quit it. We're about to go before the Master. He won't be pleased if you hurt that kid before he does."

Cedric was taken aback. The Lady never revealed any information unless she needed to. "Is the Master going to do the same thing to this child as he did with my sister?"

The Lady's face grew dark. "I hope not." Grinning sourly, she added, "I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy."

=End Chapter=

Thank you for the reviews so far. Sorry I didn't have any Kel action going, but I promise that she'll be back in the next chapter. Oh, as for couples, I don't really have any in mind, except for George and Alanna. I like me the George and Alanna ^_^. If you have any suggestions, feel free to voice your thoughts.