Kel staggered to her feet and gulped. She wondered if her perception of an empty castle was an illusion. Bitterly she wished she could have her griffin-band at that moment. Finally she mustered enough courage to peek around one corner. When she found no guard waiting to ambush her, she tried another corner. Nothing. Finally her pursuits led her to Maggur's study.

I don't want you. I want for your country to not have you.

Maggur's words rang through her mind and propelled her forward. She needed to know what was going on. The Scanran King's quarters were puzzlingly neat. She had expected him to be the messy type. Luckily, piles of papers were stacked neatly on his desk. She rummaged through them. A leaf of paper dropped to the floor. Curious, Kel bent down to see it. After reading it, she felt sick. Before her were the orders that could possibly lead to Tortall's downfall. Even if Tortall had been able to stave off Scanra's earlier advances, now Kel's people were relaxed, the war having ended. She cursed.

Let me guess…your amazing heroes will be: Lord Raoul…Oh I hope so. Duke Baird's son. A company of knights…and the King's Own?

Swaying, Kel dropped to her knees. Her world spun. If her friend's had started a rescue, they would meet Maggur's entire army head-on. It was too much. She fainted.

Kel awoke groggily. Someone was sponging her forehead. She opened a weary eye and saw a man of about her age, with short blond hair and mysterious green eyes. She scrambled away from him.

"Don't touch me!" she barked on Scanran. Innocently he lowered his hands.

"You need not worry, Keladry. I won't hurt you. I have information for you. Maggur and his armies have left. They will soon meet up with your friends. You don't have much time!"

She drew a sharp breath. "Who are you?"

"My name is Peiden. I was once in Maggur's army. Needless to say I deserted, at great risk. But now you must get up, and go!"

Kel stood and shook her head to clear her thinking. She wasn't sure if she could trust Peiden. "What could I do to stop them, anyhow?"

Peiden boldly rested his hand on her shoulder. His gaze was captivating. "We kill Maggur Rathausak. It must be done. You're the only one to do it, anyway. Or would you prefer the Lioness, Lord Raoul, Sirs Nealan, Merric, Owen, Faleron, Seaver, Esmond, and Sergeant Domitan to die?"

"We?" Kel repeated.

"We."

(a/n: sorry sorry sorry sorry! I was going to make this chapter WAY longer but I kept getting distracted so I guess I'll have to have 10 reviews before I update again!!!!!)