Sorry for not continuing the story, I started the chapter but kept delaying, thanks to Midnight Knight for waking me up in order to finish the story. Murg… I can't write long chapters.

Okay. In this chapter, you will learn the name of this mysterious woman. Some things about her past may also be revealed.

Enjoy and keep the reviews coming! I like making my friend Queen of Vegetasei jealous. Hehehe.

Italics- [ ]

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Chapter Two

"Look! A pretty lady an' 'er horsy ridin' through these streets of scum," slurred a piteous man, presumably the head of the ragged pack of drunken fools behind him, " Maybe we should lead 'er ta heaven a lil early boys…"

The five-odd men situated behind him chuckled and started to some closer. The figure on the horse positioned herself on the saddle so that she was crouching on the tips of her toes. A dagger slid into her hand unnoticed by the drunken fools.

The leader lunged at her lunged at her. She somersaulted over him and as she stretched out to land, she kicked him firmly in the kidneys. He went down and her horse put a hoof on him to keep him there. The men stared at her, bewildered, it took a moment before they realised she was waiting for them to make the first move.

Two came up to her at once holding crudely made stakes. The one-eyed man went to jab her stomach whilst the one with the scar aimed for her thigh. She jumped up and twisted 180° slamming each foot against both faces. She landed with her back against them and gutted scar face before lodging her dagger into the one-eyed man's throat. Picking up his stake, she threw it into a charging man's chest. Another ran towards her and as he struck she dropped to the ground and elevated her self onto her hands. Her legs went around his neck and after a shortly lived scream he sank to the ground, his neck broken.

The last one remaining started to turn and runaway but before he could get more than a couple of paces ahead she slammed into him from behind. As she turned his face towards her she noticed that he was a youth, no more than 15. She hesitated before she realised he was gaining consciousness. With the words [leave no witnesses] drumming in her brain over and over, she decided to give him a quick death.

She laid her hand upon his weak heart and the area around it started to glow. His breath stopped in an instant as she removed her hand to reveal a black scorch mark across his breast. She had burnt his heart to a crisp.

She walked back to he horse, taking time to dislodge her dagger from the one-eyed man's throat. She remembered the figure under her horse's hoof and pulled him up by his ragged hair.

"No mercy…" she breathed as her red eyes glinted in the soft moonlight. She slit his throat.

~~~~~

Kel awoke before the crack of dawn as per usual. She was still sore from a week of riding to Tortall. She contemplated going back to sleep and awaiting the morning bell when she heard a shrill sound coming from her left ear. She sat up in pain and glared and Crown who innocent flew off her pillow and onto Kel's desk where and empty bowl of grains and water lay.

"Oh," she said sheepishly, "whoops."

She stood up and went to the lines of birds on her desk. Kel carefully took a palm-full of grains and put them into the bowl, as an afterthought she added some dried berries as an apology to the birds.

Too awake to go back to sleep, Kel fetched her practice glaive from the wall and proceeded to do a complex series of jabs, twists and lunges; one of the most difficult pattern dances she knew.

After ten minutes of rigorous exercise she set down her glaive and went to bath herself. When she was ready she walked out the door, only to bump into Neal as he also made his way down to breakfast. His touch did not cause waves of desire burning through her anymore, he was back to being a normal friend. Utterly grateful, she turned and looked up at his face, which was filled with its normal morning dreariness.

"Good morning Nealan" she said sweetly, "Ready for another day of training at the practice courts?"

At that, Neal's head shot up and looked at her with pleading in his eyes, before swiftly changing to one of obvious annoyance.

"Okay, number one, only my least favoured Aunt calls me by that name and two…" his eyes changed back to pleading mode, "Please… no practicing today!"

"Practicing? Who said practicing? Not practicing again! Oh no! The horror of the practice courts!" Cleon piped up from behind.

Neal's left eye started to twitch as he trundled along, making it a humorous situation. Kel stifled a laugh, remembering just in time to keep her Yamani face blank. She slung one arm around each boy and together they walked towards the mess hall.

~~~~~

It was around the time of midday, when all the most of the Squires were to be found on the practice courts. Sounds of metal and wood could be her clashing in quick succession; joyous laughter and groans were heard across the wide expanse of training space.

Kel was sparring with Roald when they heard the palace guards sound the horns for a person approaching the main gate. All at once, most squires, Kel's group included, dropped what they were doing to head to the main entrance to see what was happening.

Raoul of Goldenlake was to be seen heading to the gate at a quick trot, Dom right behind him. They both had wide smiles on their faces.

Kel was puzzled at their behaviour as they signalled the guards to open the gate. The squires arrived just as the gate was opening.

The stranger outside the gates waited patiently for the gates to open, he appeared to be openly staring at the audience awaiting him, his face unseen thanks to a well-worn cloak hiding it from view.

He trotted his horse forward as the gates just finished opening, heading towards Raoul and Dom.

The figure withdrew the cloak from his head and took the entire thing off in one swift motion. To the Squires surprise the figure was not a male as previously thought. It was a female rider.

Kel stared dumbfounded at the beautiful creature before her. She had a slightly tanned complexion and her stance bore a regal tone. Her hair lay in wavy masses across her back, almost reaching her knees. It was held in a clasp, which appeared to look like a dagger. Her body was taut with muscles along every area, but her body was not so muscly that she would be considered masculine. It was clear that she was a well-trained fighter and athlete. Her facial features were smooth, however an unsightly scar marred her face, running over her left eye leaving a trail of healed skin.

The female scanned the crowd of onlookers before her eyes came to rest on Kel. A shiver ran up Kel's spine when she noticed that her eyes were an unearthly red in colour. They were a deep rich red that seemed to hold deep secrets and pain. Kel broke contact and looked at the floor. When she lifted her gaze again, the figure had now shifted her attention to Raoul and was now about to speak.

"Hello Raoul, it is a great pleasure to see you after all these years," she said softly yet clear enough for everyone to hear.

Raoul bowed slightly in acceptance. "It is a pleasure to meet to also Duchess Liathano of Blackstar, may your stay in the palace be pleasant," he replied before pulling her off her horse in a bone-crushing hug…

~~~~~

Well… what did you all think??? At least you all found out her name. Oh by the way, she was named Liathano because it meant child of flame in her mother's language.

If any of you recognise the name it comes from the main character from Kate Elliott's series "Crown of Stars", which is yet to be finished *grumble grumble*

However the pairing of that name with Blackstar is mine…all mine!!! Muahahahaha!!!!

Okay… so I am a little strange… I am just so happy at getting the chapter finished! *cries with tears of joy streaking down her face*

Ahh the happiness!

Reviews would be welcome; I'll accept criticism as well, as long as it is constructive. And please tell me if I have gotten something wrong, right now my books are in my room and my Brother is sleeping there…i.e. the place will be impenetrable until he awakes.

~Lia