6. Helpless

It bothered me that the snow had begun to hide the other side of the river. Accompanied with the approaching dusk, everything was becoming dark smudges and the royal tent a faint red smudge. It had been a good two hours and a half since she had left. A good two and a half hours longer than I was comfortable with on this side of the Araki river. Standing guard on the fort wall, I waited and strained my eyes for any sign of movement and cursed the thickening snow. Any time now, Keladry should be returning.

A string of ear burning negatives reached me. I turned to see Lady Alanna sprint up the steps. My stomach knotted. Clutching something around her neck, she formed a ball of violet flame in her hand. Snowflakes hissed as they landed on it. Closing her eyes, the Champion raised the flame and passed it in front of her. I had no idea what she was trying to do, but something clearly wasn't going well as she repeated her earlier comments.

"What's wrong?"

"I wasn't entirely sure a moment ago." Alanna shot daggers over the wall at the Scanran camp. "Someone has a dampening spell in this snowstorm. A very subtle one, but effective for as far away from the capitol as we are. I couldn't contact Jon."

Not a good sign. Dread began building in my heart.

"Has there been anything happening over there?"

I shook my head. "Nothing since the boat came for Kel."

Alanna was silent. All the pieces fell together.

"You don't think -"

"I think exactly."

I leapt down the stairs, closely followed by the Lioness.

By the time the officers of the Third Company Fort had gathered, the snowfall had turned into an all out blizzard. A person could hardly see three feet in front of his face in the gray/white of early evening. Every minute weighed heavier and I knew we could do nothing until the storm broke. How convenient.

I've never seen my cousin so deadly serious or Lord Raoul so coldly infuriated as we gathered in the main room of headquarters. Hard to believe that only a day earlier we were all here in hopes of peace, Keladry included. What little evidence that we had, was laid on the table - the bracelet King Maggot had given to the lady knights.

"Neal, you inspected the one given to Kel, correct?"

"Yes sir. I could sense no spell on it."

Alanna carefully picked it up in a gloved hand. Washing it in purple light, she held her amber pendent in her other hand. A moment later, she threw it down, eyes with a fire of their own.

"That is because there was no spell. Not any we expected or that Neal could see. Maggur used Blood Bonding. I've only heard of it, supposedly the techniques were lost hundreds of years ago."

Anger boiled within me. "What did he do to Kel?"

"I don't think this effected her by itself." Alanna poked the thing with her finger. "Legend says that it is activated with a certain word woven in with the blood from the person who would activate the magic." She looked up at her former squire. "There is no possible way you could have known this. Don't blame yourself."

Lord Raoul sank in a chair with a groan. "We all blame ourselves. We should have seen something like this coming. The offer of peace was too perfect."

I couldn't restrain my outburst. "Aren't we going to do something?"

My commander grimly shook his head. "There is no way we can cross the Araki river in this snow storm. It's just about nightfall. Trying that tonight would be suicide."

I cursed beneath my breath. Why now? Why did my happiness with Keladry have to be cut so short? Why us?

"First thing in the morning when we can see the shore, we'll surround their camp."

Alanna growled. "They planned this - they knew everything, about Kel, about us, about the snow. We were played like fools."

Neal stood by the window and looked out at the wall of white. Swallowing, he said, "Played like the stupid Southerners they claim us to be. Of course they knew the weather - they live here. But why Kel? What's she got to do with this prophesy of the Maggot's?"

No one could answer him.

Running a hand through my hair, I couldn't help groaning at the feeling of absolute helplessness. It made me mad, depressed, and heartbroken all at once. For a wild moment I pondered trying to cross the river on my own but knew I would be no good to Keladry as a block of ice. By the time the storm broke the camp would be empty. The snow would wipe away all trace of where the enemy had gone. It was a perfect plan. Suddenly the room felt too small. I had to leave. Giving a short nod to Lord Raoul, I all but ran from the building.

Keladry's room looked just as she had left it. Jump and the three sparrows that had accompanied her looked up at my sudden entrance. Jump tilted his ragged ear at me, sensing something was wrong. I was used to speaking to the animals after spending so much time with them. Taking a deep breath, I said,

"Kel's been kidnapped."

The birds took to the air peeping wildly around my head. Jump growled and marched towards the partially opened door with what looked like the intention of hunting her down himself. I pushed the door shut before he reached it.

"It's a blizzard out there. No one could make it across the river. We can't do anything."

My own words finally hit me and I collapsed on the bed. Nothing I could do. Without thinking, I cursed. Whatever came out of my mouth had all four animals staring at me in astonishment. Rolling over, I pressed my face to the pillow, catching the unique sent of Keladry's hair. Last night had been one of the best in my life. It felt natural to simply hold her, play with her hair, talking about life. Now...

A knock at the door made me sit up and hold out my hand for the still agitated sparrows. They landed in a row as the door opened. Neal stuck his head in, eyes worried.

"You alright, Dom? You looked like one on some insane mission."

"I'm strongly considering one right now."

His eyes widened and he glanced over his shoulder before stepping inside and closing the door. "You're joking."

I hadn't really even thought about it, but now that my mouth was open it sounded like the best thing to do.

"Neal, you know as well as I do that there is no way we will find anything once this storm is over. Maggur is long gone. We can't do anything except wait for a ransom - if that's even what he's looking for."

Neal stared at me, face unreadable. I continued, thinking as I talked.

"A whole battalion couldn't make it into those mountains in the winter. He knew that. His whole peace treaty was fake. He's going to be as stuck as we are. But he has the advantage of knowing his territory. Kel may be Tortall's second lady knight, but King Jonathan won't sacrifice the war for one person. Kel herself wouldn't allow it."

I paused, staring out the window. The sparrow named Nari, who was the chief of Keladry's flock, hopped up to my ear and nibbled on the edge in a friendly way. I smiled at her, then at Arrow and Quicksilver. Jump's tail pounded the floor. All five of us turned to look at my cousin.

Neal stared back, then shook his head. "You can't!"

I stood and looked around the room of the woman I loved. "I can and I will. If you try and spell on me, my friends here will distract you so that it'll backfire on you."

"Mithros, Dom! You know you could die out there. You'll be thought a traitor, leaving your post."

I couldn't help smirking. "Been there already. As I recall things turned out fine. You were there."

He glared at me. "That was different."

My own anger flared. "Different in what way? Because I was ordered by Lord Raoul? I would have gone anyway, just as you did. You of all people ought to understand. I love her!" The shock of what I said caught up. Swallowing, I repeated, "I love her. Neal, you would do the same in my place. I'll give my life, if it means she can come back to those who love her."

My cousin bowed his head. When he looked up, there were tears in his eyes.

"I would go if I could, but -"

"Yuki is waiting for you in Corus."

"Kel is in Scanra."

For a long moment we stared at each other. Finally he reached out and pulled me into a fierce hug. Pushing me back to arms length, he mock-glared,

"If either one of you comes back without the other, I'll curse you all the way to the Dark Lord's gates."

I smiled weakly.

The snow did not let up for three full days. The fourth morning was nothing but blue sky and a thick white blanket that reflected the sun brilliantly. Cruel beauty that kept me from the one I cherished like my own soul.

We surrounded the camp, but as expected, found no one. We did find a mute slave girl in the royal tent, clothed in nothing but silk scarves with only two fires burning low. She cringed in fright when I cut through the curtain that hid the back of the tent. Kneeling on the floor, she touched her forehead to the ground. Lord Raoul gently coxed the girl to her feet and wrapped his cloak around her. She did her best to answer his questions, but could do little more than flutter her hands or move her head in confirmation or denial. Her blue eyes flashed hatred at the name of Maggur. I was glad to know we shared the same opinion.

Alanna used her purple flames to melt the snow behind the red tent to reveal hoof prints in the mud that headed Northeast. We managed to track the prints to a rocky pass eight miles away. There the evidence faded over loose rocks.

Upon return, I gathered the final provisions I would need to survive the harsh mountain winter. Earlier I had hidden my packs in Keladry's room, confident that no one would disturb them for some time. I double checked seed and jerky for the animals feeling sorry and relieved that I could not take Peachblossom. We reached a truce through Keladry, but I wasn't sure how he'd act on his own. Taking a horse into bare mountains would be harsh. Double checking my cloths, food, blankets, tent, and other miscellaneous items, I pulled on my thick, quilted leather jacket and gray hooded wool cloak. The sparrows fluttered to my shoulder and sought refuge tucked behind my neck under the hood. Jump wore a special jacket Kel had designed for him in cold weather. I couldn't help laughing at the sight we made.

I had waited for early morning to sneak out of the barracks, hoping to give myself enough lead time to disappear once my absence was discovered. I had a feeling people had been watching me once the news was out, waiting to see what I would do. Even if they guessed my intentions, I would not allow them to stop me. Neal waited by the gate, accompanied by another figure. My heart sunk.

"Sergeant Domitan, you realize the consequences of what you're doing?"

I saluted. "Yes mi'Lord."

Lord Raoul's eyes were shadowed. "Do you realize that they will be multiple times worse if you fail to bring her back?"

I blinked in surprise. "Sir?"

My commander smiled and held out his hand. "I asked you once to keep her safe. The three of us know that there is something bigger going on here than just a kidnapping. The kingdom of Tortall may not be able to save her in time, but I'm sure you can. Bring her back."

I smiled in return and took his hand. "I'll bring her back, or send her back if it's the last thing I can do in this world."

Neal pushed the gate open wide enough for me to slip through.

"May the gods all bless you, cousin."

Crossing the raging river was a challenge with only one man poling, but I managed. When I grounded the boat, I thought I heard a horse nearby, but saw nothing. Passing the scarlet tent, a dark form caught my eye. With the most innocent look I've ever seen on a horse's face in my life, or have ever seen again, Peachblossom casually walked over. We stared eye to eye, evaluating each other. The war horse nickered and lowered his head to lip my sleeve. It seemed that we were united by a common goal. He carried packs and wore a simple saddle with a green ribbon tied around the stirrup. I shook my head good-naturedly. Peachblossom must have also made a treaty with Neal.

"You know it's going to be hard out there. Not a lot of food."

Peachblossom snorted indignantly and I shrugged.

"Just making sure you know what you're getting in to."

I turned towards the pass where the trail had been lost, my strange rescue party following. With the sparrows conversing softly behind my ears and warming my neck, Jump sniffing the path ahead, and an ex-rival plodding loyally behind me, for one glorious moment I felt like I could take on the world.

"We're coming, Keladry."