The sun was beginning its descent in the western sky. Lana had rushed quickly through the area of the city where the Dove's Crossing was located. It was in far too good of a neighborhood for her to be seen in during any part of the day. Had it been the middle of the night she could have taken her time because any who saw her knowing what she was would have assumed she was on an assignment. As it was she took care not to be seen, too much was at stake. Lana had finally found a way to begin implementing her final strike against Lord Tallmont.

It had taken her eight years of struggle to build enough contacts in the underworld to gain the information that she currently had. There was to be several shipments of young children over the next two fortnights. She had already missed two of the five in dealing with Marlyne. That had been unexpected.

Lana had gone to Jerome's family holdings only to say her goodbyes. The road ahead of her was becoming increasingly dangerous and she did not truly believe that she would be alive at the end of it. She had tried to make peace with her sister over the past eight years but at only ended up exasperated with Marlyne's growing childishness. Lana had wanted one final try. Luckily for both of them she had tracked her down.

As Lana reached the outskirts of Rior's Holding, an area of Haven known only for being more dangerous than any other, she slowed her pace. The sun dipped deep into the sky and the already shadowed area descended into gloom. For once she was grateful for the darkness. Tonight she would finally begin her trek towards justice.

Sleekly she moved through the refuse on the streets. She rounded several corners before coming to a yellow painted door.

: This is finally it.

The thought ran through her mind like a lively tune on a gather day as she knocked four times on the door.

A toothless old man with a rough patch covering his right eye opened the door a crack.

"Ah, Night ye be late for this," his speech was slurred from too much drink. Or at least that was the appearance he gave. Lana had learned long ago never to trust appearances. He hobbled to the center of the room instructing her with a careless flick of his wrist to follow. The stench of the room was overwhelming.

"I know. I trust that my timing isn't an issue." She dropped a sack of coins on the table next to his half eaten rancid meal.

His left eye grew very round as he picked up the sack. The patch covering his right was flipped to the top of his head as he opened it revealing the shiny gold color within. Stuffing a slice of the slightly green meat into his mouth he muttered, "For you Night never. I wouldn't want to be too hard on the prize of the Seven Alleys." His face broke into a toothless grin.

"I did not come to discuss the past. Do you have the information for me or not?" Her voice was calm but the underlying steel directed in her tone caused the man to step back several paces from her. His grin disappeared.

Reaching into the folds of his tunic he pulled out a piece of paper. "Here, all the information ye be needing is thare. They be moving tha cargo tonight. Ye din't have much time if ye want to see them in action. They be working somewhare near the turning hours."

She took the worn piece of paper from his hands and started to move out of the foul smelling room. As Lana's hand reached the door she turned.

"I trust you realize that if anything involved in this information is incorrect or if anyone knows that I am the one paying you for this information you will not like the results. Since you conveniently have that eye patch already I just might make it a permanent and necessary item."

Before he could respond she left.

The piece of paper that she clutched in her hands was her first ability to stop her father. She was finally strong enough. All she had to do was get there in time.

The children were being shipped in an area not far from Rior's Holding. Not surprisingly really given that the tenants in these areas usually didn't care what happened as long as they got a coin or two to buy their silence. Her short quick stride carried her to the area in the span of half a candle mark.

The building the children were held was old. There were plenty of foot and hand holdings for her to lift herself into the upper floor. Though she heard the voices haggling over price below her she waited.

:If the gods are kind I will kill him tonight. Then I will gut everything he has built in his wretched lifetime so that none of his evil remains to pollute the air.

She crouched knives in hand waiting for the moment she could spring. As time passed the truth finally became evident. He was not going to be there tonight.

"Damn" the word came out clipped.

Though she had not expected Lord Tallmont to be there in the dark hovel there had been the hope that she could end her quest this night. Grimacing at her own wistfulness she stood readying herself to ride Haven of at least some of its scum.

"I told you the little one with the curly hair is only going to be sold for fifty coins. It ain't going down." A burly man's voice rose through the night.

"I won't go no more than thirty." Another insisted.

" Me boss. AHhhhh" Lana's knife pierced his leg. Another pinned his compatriot to the wall by his hand.

Before the she could disarm the remaining three men in the room one of them rushed toward her. Bracing herself to kill him she raised one knife to throw towards his heart.

As she extended her arm to toss the sliver of steel a brilliantly white horse broke through the room.

:Stop! He's bloody well on your side.

The enraged female voice could only belong to the beautiful creature standing before her.

With a sigh Lana mutter, "My apologies Lady Companion."

The young man reached her side. Though his outfit was far from the white shoot me suits characteristic of them he was unquestionably one of the Heralds. Turning to him she said, "Shall we finish this little dance my lord?"

The man gave her a startled grin. " Ladies first."

Two knives flashed through the air pinning one of the remaining men to the floor. "A pity then because I'm no lady" Lana whispered as her steel hit their marks.

The other villain, a scruffy boy just out of childhood turned and started to flee. The Herald started after him before Lana called out.

"It isn't worth it. Let him be."

"He might know something," the Herald said but started walking towards her instead of chasing the lad.

"He doesn't."

"How do you know? And for that matter what are you doing here?" His voice took on an accusing tone.

: Havens! This white puppy hasn't got toad's teeth for brains if he thinks I had anything to do with this. Lana thought irritably.

"Seeing how you Heralds are often too concerned with protecting your high and mighty outside the kingdom someone has to seek justice within it." Though she knew she should flee Lana was angry. No one had been willing to help her when she needed it. How was she to know that these Heralds might be slightly aware of Lord Tallmont's activities now. They hadn't when she had needed them. She hadn't even been able to find a Herald to listen to her tale. How dare this white puppy think he knew it all.

"What do you know of justice. Isn't this just vigilantism? And what in Haven's name do you mean by that," he huffed.

His companion whickered as if in warning. Unfortunately, he didn't heed.

" What do you know about this. Who are you? What are you doing here?" His questions came out in rapid fire without even stopping for breath.

"I know more about this than you will ever be cursed to know. I am nothing forget that you saw me Herald. I mean you no harm only scum like these," she kicked one of the unconscious men's forms. " I am seeking justice. That's all I want."

As she spoke something shifted in the amber depths of the Heralds eyes. Not pain really but understanding. Maybe something more.

"Then you should bring whatever you know to the Heralds. We can deal with this. We're better able to. You .."

"You know nothing!" Lana screamed and rushed out of the building confident that the Heralds would at the least free those children. Though she hadn't cried in years she felt the salt sting of tears cloak her eyes as she rushed blindly through the streets. Tonight hadn't been a failure but it was by no means the victory she had thought it would be.

In the run down building a young man stared after her into the darkness.

:We'll Tristan that little display certainly was tactful. Rather amazing young woman don't you think too bad she didn't give us anything though I can't really blame her.

There was an odd tone of knowing in the mare's voice that usually only crept up when she knew some rather juicy bit of gossip.

" You don't have to tell me Lyra, I know I messed up." He took a long look around the room. " At least these children will have a better chance than that woman. And the scum will get their justice."

:Somehow I don't think that this was the justice she was seeking.

"I have to agree with you but what makes you think that?"

:Woman's intuition?

The pair stared into the night together. One of them a tad more concerned than he should have been.