Ambrose and Ghada had been known as hero's amongst the blue team now. Their battle scene was told over and over again, each re-telling becoming more and more exaggerated.

"They're making us sound legendary," said Ghada, finding all the attention tiresome.

Cecil laughed, still glad of the fact that his friend was alive.

"Well you two were pretty impressive out there. I must admit half of us thought you wouldn't make it and were ready to charge into the stadium when that time was apporaching."

Ghada took this information in with awe, glad to have such good team mates.

"How's your back healing up?" asked Cecil reaching to take a look for himself.

Ghada immediately stopped his hand from lifting up the back of her shirt.

"It's healing fine," she said in a comforting tone.

When Cecil and her other team mates had found out she had been whipped on the way before the battle there had been pure outrage. All asked her to tell the story once they had heard it from Ambrose, but Ghada didn't feel much like it. She had a difficult time as it was not letting the nurses near enough to attempt to help heal along the wound. If she had her cover would immediately have been exposed, and she shuddered to think of what the punishment would be now that Slade was in charge.

The officialy tournament began in three days time and Ghada hoped to make a full recovery before that time. Her arm and Ambrose's hurt chest had been tended to and both had taken it easier during training. Landis when Ghada had time to meet him had hugged her in a firm steady grip she couldn't escape from and declared he would have murdered all of the mercenaries himself had she not done such a good job in defending herself. Ghada smiled at her old tutor and was glad that it wasn't him down there which would have happened originally.

"I got a message from Hester the other day," said Landis, "She wants to come down to watch but I'm afraid that won't be possible as violent as everything is getting. If Slade new what her connection was to you she'd be in danger."

Ghada looked at the pained expression on Landis' face. He hadn't seen his wife in over 4 months and he was missing her terribly Ghada knew. He just tried to hide it.

Errol strolled by and stopped when he saw Ghada talking to Landis. Slowly he walked over trying to make his prescense aware so he wouldn't interrupt anything.

"Haven't you heard Emlyn? Slade's called another meeting."

Errol looked as though he wouldn't be able to tolerate another meeting, as lately Slade had taken to calling them every second day, and many of the knights found this very tiresome indeed.

"Interrupting our training if you ask me," he muttered as he walked away.

"I suppose you better be on your way then," said Landis his eyes following Errol's retreating figure.

"Yeah I guess so," said Ghada strolling off and giving Landis one last departing smile.

The main hall was full by the time Ghada entered it. Many of the Knights looked bored and acted like they didn't want to be there. And as usual Slade and Knox were not there yet. They had seem to taken a liking to arriving late whenever they called for a meeting as they had abused any way possible of having the important rolls as judges.

Ghada found Cecils pale figure in the ground and squeezed her way through the crowd and mustled herself between Cecil , and Calix who was surprisingly standing next to him. She found this an odd combination as Cecil thought Calix a stuck up pretty boy but didn't dare show this in anyway, while Calix thought Cecil a know it all, who would never shut up.

"Know what this meeting is about?"

Ghada directed her question at Calix since he was the one closest to Slade.

"I don't know what that crazy old man is up to anymore," he replied looking steely eyed ahead.

"I hope he hasn't brought in any wild demons next that we'll have to face in round 2…" said Cecil, now believeing that Slade could do anything he wanted these days.

The crowd was finally silenced when the half hour late Knox and Slade entered the hall, walking with a very haughty air indeed. They looked very pleased with themselves when they looked out at the angry and discomforted faces of the young knights.

"As you know we have called a meeting," said Slade staring down his audience to try and hold as much power over them as he could.

"I have decided that many of you might see the tasks ahead and decide to give up as I have made them a little more, ah, challenging for you. So I have decided to give out prizes to the winners of the competition so my little knights will be motivated to please the crowd. We don't want everyone to give up now do we?"

Slade glared down at the knights making it sound more like an order than anything.

"We have to make sure you play for eighteen days, so we can't have you all dying on day one, or worse yet wanting to die on day one. So I have arranged for a prize worthy enough to motivate any man. Instead of just a title, you will receive an estate, quite a bit of money, and someone to keep you company if you know what I mean." Slade laughed dryly.

"To show you I don't boast I decided to bring in some of the prizes today. Knox bring them in!"demanded Slade.

Knox nodded and headed towards the doors. In walked around twenty women all whom looked scared or very angry to be there. Many of the knights started to poke one another and laugh loudly trying to draw the attention of the woman they liked. Slade's eyes lightened at this finally thinking he had convinced them.

"The ten knights who get the farthest all get a prize. Of course different amounts as tenth place isn't the same as first now is it?" he said this finding Calix in the crowd, almost as if he was singling him out and just speaking to him.

Calix stared back determined not to look away and he ddin't have to wait long for Slade to tear his eyes off of him to continue talking.

Ghada wanted to see what the poor captive girls looked like and to see what state they were in, and so pushed her way towards the front as she was too short to see. Looking down the line she saw the faces looking around confused and frantic as if plotting an escape right there and then.

Allf of a sudden one girl caught Ghadas eye. She stood in the middle of a small group and Ghada hadn't seen her clearly before, and clearly neither had the other knights. Lots of attention went towards her when she was pushed forward to be shown off also.

Ghada gasped at the familiar wavy blonde hair and fair complexion.She stood tall, slim and elegant looking in a green silky dress which complimented her very nicely. The girls blue eyes seem to meet hers for awhile but then looked away again uncertain.

It was Amaryllis, Ghada was sure of it. Ghada had finally found her sister.

As the girls were lead out Ghada half wanted to scream and shout making sure Amarlyills knew she was there and that she wasn't alone, and the other half wanted to run after her full sprint and escape with her right at the very moment. Ghada decided against both options, as it would be very stupid to make herself known towards Amaryllis as it would put them both in danger. And the place was too well gaurded to escape so they would most likely be slaughterd on the way out. Ghada knew there was only one way to get her sister back and out of here safely and that was to be in the top ten of winning the competition.

Slade looked down at the small knight and his lips curved slightly to the side to give him a very snide look.

"Ah I see we've finally motivated our young knight."