A/n: Here was what I was leading up to, to those who suggested that Thom suggested that Thom go after Tia I'm afraid I can't do that as you will all find out and Alanna wanted to kill Tia and her baby because she was practically lying to Thom, the point is Thom doesn't know that Tia is his sister so he can't make the same decision Tia had about still loving her half-brother.

Chapter 9: Plotting Against Those You Love

Thom was angry he got no answer to his questions about Tia, the only thing that could be called an answer was his mother's reply, "Tia went far, far away to do some things I doubt that she will return."

What did his mother do to Tia? It was clear she did something that mostly regretted doing but Thom couldn't help but feel left out of the scheme of things.

Justin rummaged around at Tia's desk looking for the paper saying what supplies would need replacing and what supplies wouldn't, as he was looking through one of Tia's desk draws he came across a secret apartment and opened it inside were many letters addressed to Tia asking her to spy for Tyra or be a general, the letter that caught Justin's attention was one telling Tia that her loyalty was in doubt and King Jonathan could only tell the nobles that if she did something treasonous that she would definitely be hanged, that letter interested Justin immensely if the Tyran letters to Tia were authentic and Tyra's king did want Tia as a spy then that was the most likely spot were Tia would have gone.

Justin felt jealousy and revenge stir within in himself he had and idea that would teach Tia to never give him the chance to express his feelings.

Tia rode on pushing Epona's endurance to it's max, they had been riding for serval days now with little rest and little food, Tia couldn't believe how long it took just to ride to Tyra's capital ironically enough called Tyra.

Tia reverently hoped that Thom was all right and vaguely wondered what lies her mother the Lioness was telling Thom.

It didn't take much to get past the border forts and patrols because as soon as the saw her Shang regalia they let her past with no questions.

She came to a trot as she approached the Tyran capital, as she roamed past colorful stalls selling everything from clothes to miniature ships in glass bottles, Tia decided to take a rest as Epona was now panting heavily.

The inn that Tia chose was very ironic it was called 'The Shang Pegasus' shaking her head Tia went round the back hostlers immediately took Epona and began taking her to stall, one of the hostlers said, "He's been expecting you."

Shocked, then realizing that in the letters sent to her from King Maen told her if she wanted to be one of their top generals she could meet an agent at the Shang Pegasus inn.

The hostlers took her to a table at the back of the inn and sat her down near a man wearing a fine weave black robe that concealed everything but his mouth and hands, Tia felt unsure about her reasoning to go to Tyra.

The man smiled, "You don't recognize me do you Tia?" the man said in a slightly mocking tone of voice.

"Lokii? Is that really you?" Tia felt exited for the first time in ages.

"Yes it's me, I see your still wearing that ridiculous pendant." Lokii said in a more serious tone of voice, "I see you come to be a general, so lets get to the point which do you want to be a field general or a general that sits at the palace doing nothing but write up plans?"

Tia had thought about this before arriving and she had decided to be a desk general as they called it, the reasoning behind this was simple: she didn't want to fight friends and family.

She made up a show of thinking after a few minutes of this Tia said, "I'll be the general who sits at the palace thanks Lokii."

"You're sure?" when Tia nodded, Lokii looked quite shocked, "I never took you for a safe girl Tia."

"'Well there are surprises around every corner.' " Tia quoted meaning every word as she remembered with brief heart ache: Thom.

Lokii looked at Tia for a moment and bent down and rummaged in what appeared to be a sack and pulled out a sealed envelope that had the Tyran royal seal: a castle surrounded by marsh and handed it to Tia with the words, "Read it and be at the allotted time and place or the King won't be pleased."

Tia understood and got up and asked the innkeeper where her room was, he told her and Tia went into her richly decorated room and opened the envelope inside was a slip of grubby paper saying:

The palace NOW.

Tia decided to pretend she hadn't read the note until tomorrow so she and her horse Epona would get some well-deserved rest.

Thom was annoyed when he was told to go back to Tyra as he services were no longer required as Captain Odin said, so here Thom was riding toward Corus feeling annoyed that he was forbidden to look for Tia, Thom decide to tell King Jonathan about the whole situation hopefully he would feel sympathetic to his cause.

As soon as Thom was done unpacking his stuff he went to the king's office and found the king taking his midday meal, feeling at last hopeful he asked Jonathan if he could tell him some things when he nodded, Thom began his story.

"You see your highness I was-am involved with a..." Thom stopped unsure if he should continue, "You may continue." Jonathan said now paying full attention.

"Umm... I was involved with Tia the Shang Pegasus and um...I'm now rather attached to her and she left...just like that I think mother-the Lioness had something to do with it."

Jonathan was puzzled by this Alanna had told Tia that she was her mother and Thom her bother yet they still appeared to be lovers, she would be involved though...if Tia did something stupid that probly would make her do something equally stupid but there was something else Thom still hadn't said: where had she gone?

"Thom?" Thom looked up from his shoes, "Yes sire?" "Where did Tia say she was going or where your mother said she went?" Jonathan asked politely.

"She didn't say but my mother thinks and hopes that she went to Tyra." Thom said timidly, "You may go now Thom." Jonathan said.

Thom left only to ponder why the king was so interested in the whereabouts of Tia.

King Jonathan himself pondered why Tia had left and what Alanna had done or said to make her go and why Tyra? Tia herself knew that is she did anything treasonous she would be hanged; Jonathan left those questions for later pondering and went back to his paperwork.

Tia sat at her desk, her new desk that the king had supplied he mentioned briefly that she would have to speak with him privately later but Tia was content: she as out of the hornets nest that was that Tortallan palace and her 'I'm going to kill you' mother but there was someone she oh so desperately wanted to talk to, to be with just one last time after all she did have his child.

Tia decided to attempt to write a letter to her beloved it was brief but straight to the point saying what she was doing and why, not the whole truth of course just that Alanna claimed that she was to young to have a baby along with that news, she hoped it would get there fast enough.

Justin sat at Tia's old desk reading her old mail, more letters of 'come and be a spy for Tyra' or 'be the top general' Justin had tired of these too quickly and just put them in the bin, the last letter was addressed to Thom and since he was gone Justin didn't see the point of sending the letter to him and decided to read it.

When he finished he had an evil smile upon his face: he now had evidence to get back at Tia, he put the letter back in its original envelope and put it in another envelope marked 'URGENT' and addressed it to the king with a letter saying that he Justin had known it all along, little did he know that should Tia return to Tortall when that letter had been read by the King of Tortall she would be brought before a magistrate court to plead her case if there wasn't enough supporting evidence she would be jailed and the next morning...hung.

A/n: I hoped you all like it as I had lots of fun editing it with my sister and I can't help but wonder...who knows where this is leading? Only me my sister know.