Disclaimer: Anything that you recognise as being Tamora Pierce's belongs to her.

A/N: Thank you everyone who reviewed! It was really encouraging, and I appreciated all of the feedback.

beckythorn13, Girlfromtheshadows, Darking Queen, Roherwen, Tortalls Wildchild, DestinyHunter, fell4adeadguy, Equestrian-babe101, Aindel S. Druida, soccerchick08, b2okworm1, KelDomForever, surfergurl16, UM, AnnaWeb and Kit49 - LOL, my barrage of complaints and comments about the cliffhanger. Sorry! :) I can't stand it when other people do that and apparently I keep doing it myself. But thank you all so much for reviewing!

wildmagic1621: Thank you! I see you're a D/N and A/G person too. They're my favourite TP couples by far.

TheWildMage: Sorry, just a short-ish update this time. :) Thank you for reviewing!

Goddess Of The Moon: There's no fluff at all in this chapter, I just realised before. But I promise there'll be more. I'm obsessed. :S Thanks for the review!

Narm's Briton 44: There will definitely be more fluff later on. Can't wait for more of your fluffy fics!

Daine the Wildmage: Thank you, your review was really encouraging. I love DN fluff too. Even though there isn't any in this chapter. But there will be more. :)

Simi: Thanks for reviewing, you've been really supportive since early on. Hope this chapter clears up some stuff.

Whisper: -Claps hand over Whisper's mouth to stop the scream- :) You've been one of my most encouraging reviewers, so thank you heaps for sticking with the story so far.

Sayadaine: Thanks for reviewing, I'm so relieved that you like it so far! Yes, I'm definitely a DN person, lol, and I'm always glad to find other people who are too.

Ami4: Stringing people along, and annoying them with cliffhangers, I think, lol. Thank you for sticking with me! And for reviewing! :)

If I left someone out, I'm really sorry but I did appreciate your review!

"Renwald Verran."

King Benjamin lowered the heritage log and sat down heavily at his desk. Daine looked from the ruler's shocked face back to the ancestral portrait. To those strikingly bland, ageless features. Sir Renwald was an absolute ringer for the late Renaikev cousin. His kin, surely? She'd been mentally comparing the faces since they'd carried their booty up from the cellars, and there was no mistaking the similarity.

So the aloof Captain was a member of the long-lost royal family. She chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully. But whether he was behind the Blazewing plague was another question entirely.

Queen Lijana shared her hesitation. Walking to stand by her husband's side, she carefully picked up the volume and examined the likeness. "He must be a Renaikev," she agreed. "But we don't know for sure that he's involved in this, love. We've made so many wrong turns already; we can't simply accuse him without proof."

"Precisely," said a tall blond man, stepping forward and bowing shortly. Daine recognized him as Sir Renwald's aide in the Queen's Guard, Sir Marrin. He was a quick-tempered, brusque knight and she did not like him overly much. He continued hotly, "With all due respect, your majesties, you have all been rather hasty with your condemnation in recent times. The wild mage Treylrawne was innocent of wrongdoing, Daionarus also. My master has done nothing to merit your suspicion. For as long as he has served Raillenden, he has done so with faith and loyalty. He is an excellent leader, sire, and a devoted citizen."

The king raised a hand for silence, and Sir Marrin reluctantly paused in his exultations.

"I have no intention of hurling idle accusations," his superior stated coolly, eyes hot. "I am well aware of Sir Renwald's record of service and the debt to which we owe him, Sir Marrin. However, at the very least, your commander has lied by omission. I highly doubt that he is unaware of his lineage and, as such, he came to the Isles under false pretenses. Should the truth be to the contrary, I will offer him my sincere apologies after he has been questioned." He looked around. "And after he has offered his apologies for his absence. Where is he?"

Sir Marrin dropped his gaze then and shuffled restless feet. "I presume he had business with the Guard, your Highness."

King Benjamin eyed him sternly. "His king has requested an audience with him. I expect my knights to understand their priorities." He turned to a younger warrior with a merry face and nut-brown curls. "Alain. Find Sir Renwald and ask him to appear before me, please. Now."

The man's wild hair brushed the ground with his exuberant bow. "Aye, sire. I will fetch him at once. No man will ever have walked faster than I. I will be gone and returned so quickly, you will think it an illusion. I..."

"Alain."

"Milord?"

"If you don't leave this room at once, I will have you locked in the stocks until Midwinter."

Alain left the room.

"Fool," Sir Marrin muttered disparagingly.

"But an honest fool," the king returned pointedly.

The other man flushed with anger, but restrained his tongue.

"Da," Azassandra spoke up quietly. "Sir Renwald...well, he's never really done anything out of order, has he?"

Despite her words, the princess looked doubtful.

Daine recalled their first day in the Isles – the battle, and the impossibly clean appearance of both the Captain and Prince Braydon afterward. She couldn't hold back a frown. Something wasn't right at all.

"I've personally always found Sir Renwald to be respectful, your majesties," one of the other assembled knights volunteered. "If a little...distant. He's..."

"Mean," a small voice piped up unexpectedly.

Startled, they all turned toward the sound.

A tousled dark head appeared from under King Benjamin's desk, and a hereto silent warrior exclaimed in surprise.

"Aydie!"

The man shot forward and lifted a bundle of white pinafore and grubby bare feet into his arms. The little girl, undaunted by the gathering of important big people, grinned about cheerfully, revealing one missing front tooth.

Daine couldn't help but smile back, despite the gravity of the situation, and she noticed similar responses from her friends. Indeed, only Sir Marrin was able to maintain his surly expression in the face of such piquant glee.

Cradling the beaming child, the warrior spoke to his king ruefully. "Sire, I'm terribly sorry. My daughter has a tendency to leave the nursery to explore." He tried to scowl reprovingly but only managed a loving head shake. His adoration for her was clearly visible.

King Benjamin did not look in the least perturbed. "Ah yes," he said, reaching to shake the tiny proffered hand. "I believe I've encountered Mistress Aydie in her travels before."

"No doubt, milord," her father replied resignedly, carefully passing the babe into Azassandra's outstretched arms. "She's been a wayward one ever since she was a wee mite." He grinned wickedly. "Takes after her Ma."

Queen Lijana laughed. "I'll tell Rachael you said that, Aimon!" She looked at Aydie affectionately. "Now, what were saying about Sir Renwald, young one?"

"S'mean," the child told her, nodding vigorously. "He kicked Bobbins. Real hard."

"Bobbins?" the queen asked, confused.

"Aydie's kitten," Azassandra explained.

"Tortoiseshell, twelve weeks old, extremely mischievous sense of humour," Jardan related, gently tugging one of Aydie's hair ribbons.

"Uh huh, and he kicked him," Bobbins' outraged protector repeated.

'Good' came a comment in Daine's head. She started, then relaxed as Zek leapt to grip her shoulder. 'Bobbins ate all my dinner last night,' the aggrieved marmoset explained at her enquiring glance.

She hid an utterly inappropriate smile. Jardan, overhearing, chuckled aloud and Zek, sensing a sympathetic presence, left Daine to curl about his neck.

'Traitor' she told him idly, before turning back to the light interrogation.

"That was a very unkind thing for him to do, Aydie," King Benjamin agreed. "When was this?"

"Couple of days ago," Aydie continued blithely. "T'was after he talked to Lady Lucia for ages 'n ages in the rose garden."

Daine's brows arched. Beside her, Numair began to frown thoughtfully while Alanna, Onua and Thayet exchanged speculative glances.

"To Lady Lucia?" Queen Lijana asked warily.

"He meets with her a lot," their tiny informant chattered, thrilled by all the attention. "He don't like Bobbins, but he's got lots of friends. I always see'd him with Daion...Daion..." She looked to her Da for help.

"Daionarus," he supplied slowly, gaze fixed on his king and queen.

Any trace of amusement and airiness had disappeared from the room. As the tension shimmered, Daine realized she was holding her breath and let it out in an audible sigh.

"Was Sir Renwald talking to Daionarus when you saw them, Aydie love?" the queen prodded, kindly but urgently.

Sensing the new seriousness from her companions, the child was a little apprehensive. "N-no. He was helping him."

"Helping him? What do you mean?"

"Like Lucia helped me when I fell down. She made my arm all better."

King Benjamin's jaw was set but he kept his voice deliberately soft. "You mean he was using some of his magic on Daionarus? Is that what you saw, little one?"

Burrowing back into her father's arms, Aydie buried her face against him. Then she nodded.

"Right." The king took a deep, slow breath. "Thank you, Aydie. It might be best if you went to see Bobbins now, child. He'll be missing you. Aimon?"

The warrior nodded, keeping his furious expression from his daughter. "I'll take her back to the nursery, milord. Then I'll return."

He bowed the best he could with his now-sleepy armful and quickly left.

"Gods damn it, I knew it!" hissed the king, the instant that the door closed.

"Everybody stay calm," his wife ordered, fists clenched.

"I'll be calm when I have that bastard's head on a stake," Jardan countered, fury radiating from every inch of his body. As he strode toward the door, Zek chirruped in dismay and took refuge on a large bronze urn.

Thayet hesitated. "Are you so sure of what she observed? I mean...perhaps Sir Renwald really was trying to heal Daionarus..." Their queen's voice trailed off as King Benjamin shook his head sharply.

"That's not possible, your majesty," he refuted grimly. "Sir Renwald doesn't have the Gift. Or so we've been led to believe."

"I'll kill him, Gift or no," Jardan snapped, pulling away from Azassandra's restraining hands. "I swear to Mithros he'll die for this." His voice rang with cold promise.

"Jardan!" the princess protested. "I agree, he should be punished for what he's done, but it's foolhardy to challenge him alone. We don't know the extent of his power. The Blazewings are proof of what he's capable of."

"Where is Marrin?" her father asked suddenly, scanning the room intensely.

It took a moment for his words to register. Then they all turned, searching fruitlessly. The sour vassal had gone, likely slipped out during the commotion.

Face thunderous, the king pushed past Jardan and wrenched the door open, almost knocking over the incoming figure.

Panting with exertion, the knight Alain straightened and sketched a speedy bow. "Sir Renwald, sire, he's nowhere to be found!"

"Blood of Mithros!" the royal swore. He spun furiously around to face his remaining commanders. "Find him! Search the grounds and question the Guard. Have the Riders arrived yet?" He fired the question at the hapless Alain.

"No, milord," the young warrior uttered, taking an involuntary step back.

"Damn it, I requested their return days ago!"

"That's not all, your majesties," Alain said loudly over King Benjamin's wrath. "It's the Guard. They've...well, they've gone too, sire."

The room went deathly quiet, only the king's loud breathing audible.

"He's taken the Queen's Guard," was the eventual, disbelieving response.

"It would appear so, your highness."

The door opened carefully and Sir Aimon edged back in, brows knit in black anger.

The king met his gaze. "Exactly how many able troops do we have on hand, Aimon?" His voice was too calm, too even.

"When the Riders arrive..."

"And if they don't?"

"The Queen's Guard..."

"Either coerced away or turned traitor."

Not daring to speak, Daine watched as the knight's expression changed. The edge of worry on the hard, battle-worn faces sent up a flurry of wings in her belly.

"I want a headcount," King Benjamin ordered, eyes gleaming. "Every available warrior and mage in the vicinity. Have them brought here at once."

"Are you certain that he'll attack?" Azassandra asked, face pale.

Her father nodded resignedly. "Yes, I am. Marrin went scurrying to him with the latest report, no doubt. He'll be aware that we know now. Yes. He'll attack."

Daine swallowed hard. The feeling of fear before a battle was not uncommon, but this was different. Something was going to go wrong. Something terrible was going to happen before the end, she knew it.

Queen Lijana, as white as her daughter, turned to the Tortallans. "There's a peasant market taking place about a mile down the south road. We'll send troops to direct people to safe holdings. May I ask you to assist? Azassandra, you too, love. We don't know the urgency, but we can't take chances with defenseless lives."

"Of course, your majesty," Alanna nodded, hand at her sword. "We'll go directly."

"Thank you," the king said sincerely. "You don't know how we appreciate your aid." He smiled mirthlessly. "And if you see my honourable son or Lady Lucia about, ask them to return to the palace, would you please? I have a few questions for each of them."

Reaching absently for Zek, Daine turned back at his parting words.

"I am sure that you will regret coming here. I can only hope that you all live in order to do so."