Kel and Peiden stealthily snuck out of the castle, wary despite their seemingly empty surroundings. Peiden had gathered haversacks, supplies, and rations while Kel inspected the extra horses at the stable.

"Do you really think we should bring horses? They may be too loud," Peiden asked her.

She nodded distractedly, running her hand over a dun gelding's withers. "Maggur and his army are all on horses. If we want to catch up, we ride." She led the dun and a gray out of their stables. "Here, take the gelding. He's better suited to you."

Resignedly Peiden took the lead rein into his hand. They quickly tacked up and rode into the forest. Kel let Peiden lead. He knew which way Maggur had gone. They rode for the better part of the night. Finally Kel called for a stop.
"We can't be far now," she mused, and signaled to dismount.
"I say we go on foot from now on. It's too risky otherwise," advised Peiden.
Kel nodded mutely and removed her horse's tack. Peiden did the same, and slapped his dun's rump with a loud smack. It bolted, headed towards the stable. Kel followed suit, smacking her mount. As she watched it gallop away, she remembered that Dom's extra steed, Storm, was the same color. A wave of homesickness overcame her. She leaned against an elm, head buried in her arms.
"Keladry, what's the matter?" Peiden whispered, concerned.

She took a breath and faced him. "I just miss my old friends so much."

Wordlessly Peiden embraced her in a tight hug. Kel stiffened, then relaxed, comforted in his strong arms. Suddenly a vision of Dom, her lover, popped into her head. She pulled away from Peiden.
"Sorry," she mumbled. "It's just, I have--you know--someone back home."

He reddened. "Oh, pardon. I didn't know."

She patted him on the arm. "Let's get going."

They walked for another hour or so, stopping once to have a snack of apples and cheese. Finally they spotted the fires from Maggur's camp. Quietly they crept in to investigate.
"There you are, Keladry!" Boomed a voice behind them. Startled, Kel turned to see Maggur and his escort of ten guards looming over them. "Peiden, thank you for bringing her."

Kel looked at Peiden in shock. He shook his head in horror, and averted his gaze. Four guards roughly dragged him away.

"Well, Keladry, you played right into my hands. Now, I can say you tried to escape, therefore flouting the agreement. So, I get to go to war. This is exactly as I planned!" Maggur let out a hearty laugh. It echoed through the trees, creating a desolate, despairing feeling in Kel's stomach.

"That's not true," she growled. "You ruined the treaty! You were going to attack Tortall without provocation!"

Maggur smiled menacingly. "Yet no one will back that up. Firing squad! Kindly bind the Lady Knight to an execution post."

(A/n: *sighs* YES, I was going to leave it at that, considering I LIKE reviews and you guys almost never give me any L ! But that would be mean, PLUS I'm still grounded and my mom isn't home AND I've been sick for 3 days so this is a perfect time to write more. Plus I just want to.) (p.s. thanks to the people that DO review!!)

Kel didn't struggle as 8 men tied her tightly to a post. Instead, she stared at Peiden with grief and disappointment. Again he shook his head and mouthed: "I didn't do it!"

"Firing squad…ready!" Yelled Maggur.

Kel lifted her head to look at him. Hatred burned from her gaze. "Someone will give proof that it is your fault of the deaths to come. Not fault of mine, not fault of Tortall. Someone has to!"

"And who would dare do that?" Maggur hissed. "Firing squad…Aim!"

(A/n: I changed my mind. I want at LEAST 10 reviews before I finish. Hehehe)