Disclaimer: All the characters in this fanfic are owned by the one and only Tamora Pierce. I own only the storyline.

Chapter 4 - GhostlyEnigma

"Alanna." Queen Thayet roared at the top of her lungs, the strong winds felt on the top of the palace aiding her voice with distance and speed. Knowing that Alanna would have heard her, she started to stress when her friend didn't acknowledge that fact.

Thayet turned and ran down the stairs, disregarding all rules of majesty and grace a woman of her status should show. She passed many people on her way through the palace and narrowly missed colliding with many more. Finally, she reached the double doors which lead to the courtyard. She was just in time to see her friend disappear into the night riding towards the capital. Thayet hung onto one of the double doors, tears of frustration falling down her face. She couldn't help it but she felt like kicking something. Thayet felt angry with herself for failing to stop Alanna from leaving.

Sir Nealan of Queenscove stared out into the courtyard as he watched a beauty of such elegance that he wanted to fall to his knees in reverence. To his eyes time seemed to have slowed as a beautiful maiden on a cream coloured mare rode towards the main entrance double doors of the palace. The lady was dressed in an emerald green flowing dress, skirts and folds of fabric whipped around her. Her hair flew in midnight black curls behind her as she rode on. The beautiful mare bearing her imposed the same elegant grace as her rider. Both rider and mare seemed to glow with a faint white brilliance giving Neal the impression of a goddess. The young knight was captivated by the maiden before him that everything else seemed to melt away.

"Alanna."

Neal snapped back to reality with that cry from the above. He looked up just in time to see the Queen leave the roof. He turned back to the City Gate where he had wanted to catch his former knight-mistress before she left. He swore under his breath as he watched Alanna disappear beyond the gate.

Suddenly, a hand slammed down onto his shoulder.

"Where did she go?" Roald asked, his tense hand still on his friend's shoulder gripping it tightly.

"Alanna?" he inquired. Turning around he noticed some of his friends standing there including Kel.

Roald shook his head "No, the lady who rode into the courtyard before on a cream mare."

Alarmed for a reason he knew not, Neal turned to view the courtyard once more to find the lady had indeed disappeared.

Roald asked some of the guards on duty whether or not they had seen where the lady had disappeared. All who were asked did not know. Neal suspected strong magic was afoot.

As her frustration continued to plague her while she stood outside in the courtyard, Thayet felt a strong firm hand grip her shoulder. She turned to find Raoul standing beside her, staring at the City Gate.

"She's gone, isn't she?" his voice was quiet as he continued to look at the gate through which Alanna had left.

Thayet nodded unable to get her voice to work due to the lump in her throat that had formed in her attempt to not cry out in frustration. She heard Raoul sigh.

Thayet finally got a hold of herself and swallowed down the lump in her throat. "Please bring her back."

Again Raoul sighed. "This is Alanna we're talking about. No matter what anyone says, she won't listen. The only person who can undo what has been done is...

"Jon." she said with him.

Thayet clenched her fist in further frustration. "He refuses." she hissed through clenched jaws.

"I know."