A/N: The last chapter took place about right after Trickter's Queen for those who want to know.

I'm only doing this once so read carefully...

Disclaimer:I only own Lyrin, Jaroon, Marcus, Kitora, and anything/anybody you don't recongize.


Chapter 1

8 years later

"Remember my advice my dear daughter Lyrin and keep safe on your journey." Anders of Mindelan gave his daughter one last hug good bye. The whole family had come out to say good bye to Lyrin before she left for Corus to start her training to become a knight. Ever since she had been a little girl, she had always loved to hear tales about the Lioness and the stories told by her aunt Kel of her life as a page and squire. She had decided that she also wanted to become a knight and her father had not tried to prevent her. He had always encouraged her.

Lyrin smoothly mounted her horse Pip. Even though her lack of height, she never had any trouble mounting any sized horse. Still, her parents had given her Pip for her birthday last year and he was a small gray horse with delicate legs.

The sun shone brightly on her long reddish brown hair as it waved through the air. It settled smoothly in the cape of her cloak. She gazed with her grey green eyes one last time at her home, than turned Pip around and headed south to Corus which was to be her new home for seven years. Her escorts in Mindelan arms trailed quietly behind her as she set Pip at a gallop.


"Ah my boys, you're going to love training. But I won't tell you any more about it and you can't make me. Nope you can't. I know your tricks and am not going to fall for it. You'll have to figure it out by yourselves. You'll understand when you start"

Raoul of Goldenlake's smiled merrily at the twins. They always made him smile and laugh whenever he sees them. They were smart boys. He did not need to worry about them. After all, he got through training just fine.

"Aw, please father. Tell us at least one thing! It's can't be that bad could it?"

Jaroon opened his light brown eyes wide, giving an innocent look up at his father. Marcus even went on his knees in a kneeling positing holding his hands clasped as if begging.

Raoul laughed. They were playing with him again, but he wasn't going to fall for it.

"Nope. You can't make me. Now run along and get your horses saddled. I want to leave as soon as possible." He gently pushed the boys in the direction of the door. They gave him one last pleading look before they went outside. Raoul shook his head. They're probably going to be doing that the whole trip to Corus. He laughed again.

Once everything was packed and the horses were saddled, Raoul and his two sons said their last good byes and started out the gates.

"Father, what's training like?" Jaroon asked innocently.

"It's", Raoul started. "Wait a minute, didn't I tell you that I'm not saying anymore anymore?"

The twins grinned at him.

"Of course I did. Not stop asking and let's get moving."

Raoul kicked his horse into a gallop, the twins on either side of him, then slowed down to a steady trot after a while. It wouldn't do to tire the horses down when they haven't even gotten very far.


Kitora was whistling and saddling her horse when a light hand fell on her shoulder. Her shang training from her mother took over and she neatly flipped the person over her shoulder and raised a knife to his neck. He chuckled and held up his hands in mock surrender.

"Well, now I'm really sure you're prepared." It was her father. Kitora smiled and helped her father up.

"What was that for?" she scowled. "Haven't you tested me enough?"

"Ah, but you do like it don't you?"

She tried to keep her face straight but a smile was starting to tug at the corners of her mouth.

"Well, I suppose so…."

"Aw, come on. Admit it. You like throwing your poor old father to the ground every time."

Now she couldn't hold it in anymore. She burst out laughing and soon was rolling on the ground.

He waited until she stopped laughing to say, "Well, I just wanted to make sure you're ready to go. Your mother should be coming out any minute now to leave."

Kitora looked up startled.

"Mother's coming too? Since when?"

"Your mother has decided to come with you in case the King Jonathan decides to make a fuss again and put you on probation for some reason of his. She's there to make sure that doesn't happen. She decided on that this morning." He plucked a stray piece of straw out of her hair. She scowled and flattened her hair with her hands. He grinned.

Then, her mother entered at the stables. Kitora quickly got up and dusted herself off. Luckily the floor wasn't too dirty or else she would have to go back inside to get changed into cleaner clothes.

Her mother raised her brows when she saw Kitora but made not comment.

Instead she said, "Ready Kit?"

"Just a minute Mother. I'm almost done saddling Moonbright."

"Alright, I'll meet you outside then." Then, she walked back outside.

Kitora then noticed that her mother's horse wasn't in his stall. Obviously some one had already readied him.

When she got outside, sure enough, the golden war horse was there and all set.

Her mother was talking to a servant. The servant nodded and then she mounted her horse.

Her father gave her a last hug.

"Good luck Kitora. I'll miss you around the house. It'll get mighty lonely with your brothers and sister gone and now you too." He pretended to look forlorn.

"No you won't. You'll be happy to have the house all to yourself and mother. And I will be coming back next year anyway. It's not like I'll be gone forever."

"Why you…." She dodged a playful swap. "Now get going. Your mother's waiting."

"Alright." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, mounted Moonbright and headed to where Mother was mounted on her horse. Kitora waved dramatically back at her father as she was passing through the gates.


Now, just click that little blue button down there in the bottom left corner...

Oh, ya. Can anybody guess who Kitora's parents are? Hehe..

And can anybody tell me what "OOC" means?