"Look out!" Kel hollered.

The sergeant she had addressed glanced up just in time to duck an arrow headed his way. He gave Kel a grateful thumbs up in response, before sending one of his own arrows flying towards his attacker.

That man was not lucky enough to have anybody point out that death was whizzing his way at high speed with feathers. He fell instantly.

Kel returned her attention to the battle. Her Group had stumbled across a nest of rogues a couple of days back, and they were still rooting the survivors out. As the head of her Group, Alun Taylor, had put it, there was nothing quite like opponents trained in stealth.

"Look out!"

Too late, Kel realised that the shout had been directed at her. She readied her bow just in time to have her world darken unexpectedly.

"And she was found, just like that?"

"S'pose they meant to use her as a hostage, or something."

"I'll never understand rogues. Every time I think I'm close to predicting their next move, they go and do something completely unexpected."

"I daresay that's the point," said a dry voice.

Kel blinked slowly, sleep deserting her. Voices in my head? she wondered. Perhaps I've finally cracked, like they all said I would.

She was sixteen, and probably should be less used to being called mad. Keladry of Mindelan had been eleven when she had left page training, as the second female page in living memory. With Lady Alanna's insistence that she continue to fight, she had opted to join the Riders. It was hard work, but she didn't mind that. Here, at least, there was nobody trying to drive her out. Here, at least, she didn't get the comments. Oh, she got the occasional "a woman's place is in the home" drivel, but nothing on the same scale as she had received at the palace.

On occasion, she slipped into a daydream or two about what would have happened, had she stuck with her fantasy of becoming the second lady knight. But Kel was too sensible to let thoughts of adoring Scanrans as she vanquished their despised warlord cloud her mind for too long.

"Why her though? There are far more valuable hostages."

Kel winced slightly as her head throbbed. That was certainly true. Whilst she was an efficient and capable Rider, there were better. She wasn't a Commander, or even a leader.

"That's right; assume everybody's as uncomplicated as you."

She decided she'd had enough eavesdropping, whether the voices were inside her mind or not. Her hands trembled slightly, but they found the edge of the bed. She gripped both sides tightly and pulled herself up into a sitting position. Her vision swam momentarily, but when it settled, she found herself presented with three people she'd never expected to see in her room. Or expected to have anything to do with her, she corrected, realising she was actually in a healer's tent.

Closest to her was the sergeant she had warned earlier that day – if, that was, they were even on the same day she remembered. He flashed her a comforting grin that, had she been standing, would have made her go weak at the knees. She managed a smile in return.

The man next to him she recognised as Evin Larse, leader of the Second Rider Group, with a reputation as a ladies' man. Up close, Kel could understand why women would flock to his side. Blond hair flopped into twinkling, long-lashed blue eyes. His mouth looked as though it could easily break into a smile at any moment. When his eyes locked with Kel's, she felt as though she would willingly do anything for this man.

The third figure made Kel start in surprise. Although she'd never met the woman before, she knew her as well as she had known Alanna the Lioness. Commander Buriram.

"Mindelan." The Commander stood. "You're to come and find me when your legs work again." She left the tent.

Kel glanced slightly nervously at the two men. Evin got to his feet, winking at Kel. "Well, looks like the lady's spoken. I'm somewhat easier to find than the Commander."

"A magnet for girls, is our Larse," muttered the sergeant, elbowing Evin good-naturedly. Evin flashed them both a grin and followed Buri out of the tent.

Kel was beginning to curse her inability to think of anything to say that wouldn't make her sound like a complete babbling idiot when the man drew his chair up to her bedside.

"Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle at your service," he informed her with a grin. "I appreciate the warning with the arrow. Sorry I didn't manage to reciprocate."

Kel shrugged. "I doubt it would have made any difference. That's what comes of being so tall, I'm quite a target."

That got another smile out of him. Kel almost felt sure that her insides were beginning to melt. "Remember anything?"

"Not since the last time we met," Kel said truthfully. "Did a lot happen?"