Hey… um… I've had writers block for a while… a long while. This is set at the time when Kel was a squire in her first year. She has come back to the palace for a while.

All characters belong to the honourable Tamora Pierce except for the ones you don't recognise. Hope you all enjoy this.

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Veil Of Innocence

            Kel had just dropped her bags into her room when she was hit by what felt like an avalanche. She tried to get up but was hopelessly pinned down by Merric, Owen, Faleron and the others. Prince Roald stood solemnly at the door and next to him was Neal with a wry smile on his face. "Interesting…" He drawled.

"Thankyou for the remark Neal. Now could you save me from these Neanderthals?" Kel said sarcastically. She tried to get up but then fell down and surrendered to giggles. The others slowly got off her only to hug her to death as soon as she stood up.

"So anything interesting happen while I was away?" She asked.

"There is an interesting rumour about a female newcomer. She is related to the King somehow. She is an experienced fighter and will be training with us. She is 15, 5'10, and has very long hair." Neal said with a misty look in his eyes.

"Anything else we need to know?" said Cleon, "Like what colour her breast band is?"

"I think they said it was black," said Neal, feigning a look of innocence.

Everyone promptly found something soft to pound him with, Kel choosing her pillow.

Neal stood up after being knocked to the ground. "Imbecilic children!" He said as he brushed himself off.

"We may be younger Neal but I assure you our minds as mature as yours, perhaps more so," Roald said.

"Since your related to this newcomer shouldn't you know something about her? Why haven't we heard of her until now?" Kel asked.

"She is… different." Roald looked at loss for words.

Neal cocked his eyebrow, "Now I'm interested, why is she so different?"

"First of all she is Fathers cousin. She owns the Duchy of Blackstar, where all the black pearls are mined, so technically she is a Duchess although she hates being called by that title..."

"But isn't she too young to be a Duchess, she is only 15 of course!" Cleon protested.

"True, but her father died in a fight against killer centaurs when she was 7 years of age and her mother tried to raise her with love but Lady Jezebel died when she was 11. So she put her head soldier in charge while she went on a journey to find out everything she can about the world. She only arrived back there 2 weeks ago. Now she is arriving here tonight and will be formally announced as the Duchess of Blackstar on the 4th day of Midwinter," Roald said.

"That still doesn't explain why you think she is different," Kel pointed out.

"I was getting to that part," Roald said. "She was born with a power but it is different to the gift or even wild magic."

"What else could it be?" Faleron asked.

"She has elemental magic, the power of fire to be more precise." Roald said to his bewildered audience. "It is a part of her, it's like she is fire. She can mould to anything she wants. Last time I saw her she had just learned how to control her power, although that was 7 years ago, she would have changed greatly by now."

"Well that was… interesting." Kel said. "Anyone want to go to the practise courts?"

All of the males groaned but got up to go to the practice courts.

"Hey Roald!" Neal called as they were walking towards the sword rack. "By any chance, would you know the girls name?"

Everyone just laughed and slapped him on the head.

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A lone figure crouched on the edge of a cliff overlooking Corus; the wind swept the hair from her face as her deep red eyes glittered in the distance, surveying the city like a hawk watching its prey.

As she stood up she unbuckled her dark cloak, revealing the elegant garment underneath. She was wearing loose black pants with a sleeveless black tunic, which had symbols in silver thread. There were splits in the side seams of the tunic to allow plenty of movement.

As she slid her sword back inside her sheath that was situated on her back, she whistled five short notes in quick succession.

A hawk swooped out of nowhere to land on her gloved, right arm. It nuzzled her hair as she stroked his mane of feathers.

"Do you have anything for me Xavier?" She asked in a soft voice that sounded sure of itself.

The hawk made a small sound and turned its head towards the castle centring its gaze on the training grounds.

Focus her gaze to where the hawk was directing her. She noticed a group of Squires training with staffs. Unusually there was a girl also training with them.

The young woman smiled slowly, red eyes glinting, "So they have finally allowed females to take their shield," she whispered.

She walked to her unnoticed horse with Xavier perched on her shoulder.

The black mare pawed at the ground, eager to get going.

She stroked the mare's white marking underneath one eye. "Calm down Whitestar, we will be setting out soon."

She proceeded to open a pouch on her saddle and take out a piece of raw meat. She then handed it to the hawk who chewed on it daintily.

She vaulted onto the saddle and nudged her beloved mare forward, the hawk transferring to a specially made perch at the peak of the saddle.

"It's time to return home guys." She said softly as they went towards the road that led to the capital of Tortall.

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A/N- Well I hope you all liked the first chapter. Reviews would be welcome! Who is this new person? Is she a threat? Is it a she?  Lol…

Can anyone guess what her name is? Come on… there was a big hint in her Duchy. ~_^

If you see anything that you think is wrong tell me and I will fix it or explain in the next chapter! Um… like other people I don't like criticism but I guess it is all right as long as it's constructive. Oh well… got to start the 2nd chapter.

Everything belongs to Tamora Pierce except for the characters you don't know.