"What do you mean, he will trick me?" Kel accused. Carefully she lowered her voice for fear of being heard. "I don't care about what he does to me. The treaty is all that I care about."

Remia shook her head vigorously. "Think about the talk he just gave you! When will you be most vulnerable? How could he trick you? Tell me now, what do you think is going to happen to you?"

Kel sighed and rubbed her temples. "I don't know…Maybe he'll kill me, or sell me as a slave. He already told me that he didn't care about me, or if I live. He said…" Slowly, her jaw dropped. "He said that he didn't want revenge yet, because I have nothing to lose right now. But if my friends tried a rescue…" Her stomach rebelled as she registered what Maggur had said. A sick, foreboding feeling enveloped her.

"Exactly. He has already deceived you, Keladry. How far will the treaty last if your companions defy it? Then, he will have you, an aspiring legend and a savior of your country, in his hands, and also those who tried to rescue you. I have already foreseen of what is to come, Keladry. You must--"

Remia stopped as she heard the door to Kel's cell creak open. With what fragile strength she possessed, she jostled Kel through the small egress between their cells. As quietly as she could, Kel crouched next to her cot. A servant sidled into her room warily.

"A message from King Maggur to the prisoner," he said hurriedly, and produced a note.

Kel snatched the paper from his grip and grabbed the torch in his hand. Earlier that day, she would have meekly waited for the man to hand them to her, fearing to flout the contract. Now she brandished the torch and scared him out of the room. Scowling, she read the letter from Maggur.

My DEAR prisoner,

If you would like the peace treaty to remain intact, I will require some answers on your part about King Jonathan and his advisors. Innocent things, really, considering I have already surrendered the war. So tomorrow, when I ask you my questions, you had better answer. I am warning you in advance, because I will tolerate no opposition tomorrow.

King Rathausak

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

For the hundredth time, Nealan of Queenscove tried futilely to escape from his window. He finally realized that it was powerfully locked from the outside. Swiftly he walked to the door of his rooms and peered through the keyhole.

"Curse you! Let me out, in Mithros's name! Why do you do this?" He pounded his fist on his door, trying to intimidate the guard stationed there.

"I can't let you out, Sir Queenscove. King's orders," replied the soldier of the Palace Guard.

Scowling and formulating an escape plan, he sat on his bed and waited for the evening bell to ring. As he stared at the locked door, his mind began to wonder.

Flashback

That was it. The announcement had come out that Kel would be sacrificed as part of a peace treaty with Scanra. That night, the night of her ball, was branded into Neal's memory for all time. Kel had been so calm when they led her out of the room. That was when the mild, easy-going, quiet Raoul had been so distraught that he publicly said his farewell. All of Kel's friends had joined him. After she left, Neal, Merric, Owen, Raoul, Alanna, Faleron, Dom, Seaver, and Esmond had become so riotously drunk that they almost forgot the whole thing. When they awoke (with unbearable hangovers) all of them went into a state of denial. Finally, that wore off, and all eight of them tried to conduct a rescue of Kel. When the King got word he forbid it, explaining that it would ruin the peace treaty. Since then, all of them had to stay in their rooms at all times except for meals. When they wanted to practice or exercise, they had to get special permission. Still, wherever they went, a troupe of guards followed them. That was how Neal's life had been since Kel was taken away.

End flashback.

The evening bell was tolling. With a groan Neal rose off of his bed and waited by the door, tapping his foot impatiently until the guard let him out. As usual, he was escorted to the dining hall by four guards, and sat in his usual place. Now days, Alanna, Raoul, Neal, Owen, Merric, Dom, Seaver, and Esmond all sat together, encircled by the guards. Those who saw two of the King's best friends, one being his champion, ensued everywhere they went with guards, thought it was very peculiar, but held their tongues. Many people had celebrated Maggur's surrender since the day of the ball. Kel's friends did not.

"I tried the window, the door, my magic, even tried running away on my way down here. Nothing works." Alanna flung up her hands in frustration. Raoul bent over and whispered something in her ear. The Lionesses eyes lit up and she started muttering something under her breath. Suddenly, she glowed with violet fire and stood up.

"Let me through," she commanded the guards. They shifted weight uncomfortably, terrified to defy the Lioness.

Raoul stood up also and joined his friend. "I don't believe you heard the champion," he said softly to the soldiers. He looked over their heads and winked at a squad of the King's Own, rivals of the Palace Guard. Grinning, they stood up and stealthily snuck-up behind the squad of Palace Guard soldier.

"Now MOVE!" Wolset yelled.

The Palace Guard soldiers jumped like scared rabbits and let Alanna through. Raoul returned to his seat.

Alanna, scowling, made her way towards were Jon, Thayet, Gary, and Cythera sat. She stopped in front of Jon.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, pointing to where the guards surrounded the knights. "Locking us up like we're criminals! I can tell where I'm not wanted, Sire. I'm not staying here, and there is nothing you can do to stop me. I am also bringing Raoul, because he is my best friend. Neal, because he is my former squire. And all of those other knights because they are Neal's friends and he would pine without them. Goodbye!"

She stomped back to her guards, said one word, and all of them glowed faintly purple. The soldiers stared as they were lined up against the wall, against their will, by Alanna's magic. Alanna beckoned to all of those sitting at her table. They stood up and walked out in a line behind Alanna and Raoul.