A/n: To solve the question about George. In the last book of the Song of the Lioness series George gave up being the King of Thieves to serve Jonathan, and I'm pretty sure Merric became the new King of Thieves. If that's not what happened it's what happened in this story; I think a lot of people were confused by that so I thought I'd clear it up.

Chapter Eleven Framing Treachery

She gritted her teeth and pushed it away.

The pain dulls; it always does. The thought of her knight master's words pushed back the tears. If Kel said it did, then it would. For now, she wouldn't cry for him.

But you co-

She shut her mind out, "I won't abandon my shield," she whispered softly.

A cruel laugh made her spin, "I'd think that now that you're bound to that shemale it'd be easy for you squire," Bray made the word sound like an insult despite the fact that he was decorated in his master's colors.

Yvenne's fists clenched, "Do you want to make that a formal challenge Bray?"

"I wouldn't waste my time on you," he looked at his nails, cleaning them with his dagger.

"You mean you're scared," she laughed slightly. "I understand why you would be."

His eyes shot up angrily, "Why? Is your boyfriend gonna fight for you? Or maybe your partner Keladry?"

"Lady Keladry is a knight of this realm, and I will have you treat her with respect!" Yvenne's hand shot to her side, reaching to unsheathe a sword that wasn't there.

Bray's lip curled into a snarl, "You were going to attack me."

She glared and refused to answer. He wore no sword; it looked like his only weapon was that dagger. He had a size advantage, as always, but something in the way he moved told her he'd been idle the past year. She could handle him, if it came to that.

"I won't give you the chance," he whispered vehemently, springing forward, dagger gripped firmly in his right hand. She easily evaded his lunge, spinning out of the way and stirring his anger. His second attack caught her hard in the right side as she cursed wildly, the blade making a deep gash in her side. She grabbed his wrist as he went by and yanked it backward as hard as she could. She was rewarded with a sickening crunch, and the knife slipped to the ground. In one swift movement, she had it in her hand, and that quickly it was over.

Bray faced her with angry eyes, obviously he'd lost.

"If you ever so much as lay one finger on me ever again I swear to all the gods that I will gut you like the swine you are," she warned in a low voice. "We're not children anymore Bray, I will pass my tests, you can be sure of that."

He scowled deeply, "I shouldn't waste my time on whores anyway," but he didn't give her a chance to respond before he walked away.

She watched his fading back, weary from loss of blood. She tried to move when her vision began to fuzz but something held her where she stood. Was that an image?

She stumbled back when it took its horrifying shape.

There was the Prince, speaking in hushed voices with a knight Yvenne didn't know and then, in the next second, the Prince was bleeding on the floor alone. Without thought, she turned and ran toward her knight master's room.

She stumbled into the room, the bloodied knife in her hand, only to see Alanna speaking softly to Kel. She turned to the two and with wild eyes proclaimed, "Someone's hurt the Prince!"

Alanna's eyes immediately fell to Yvenne's hand, "Yvenne, you're going to have to come with me," she mumbled.

"Alanna, you can't think-" Kel protested.

"That was the dagger I scried," she cut her off.

"Yvenne wouldn't ever," Kel began again.

"I know, but until I have more evidence I'll have to take her into custody," Alanna tried to smile at Yvenne but couldn't meet her eyes.

"Custody?" Yvenne inquired with blank eyes, "What's going on My Lady?"

"The Prince has been stabbed Yvenne; Bray found him. He's accusing you," Kel told her much more calmly than she felt.

"What?" Yvenne's jaw dropped, "But I-it's not-I was-"

"Come on now, don't make this difficult," Alanna took her shoulder.

"My Lady!" Yvenne called back, "Don't let them take my shield!"

Kel closed her eyes and tried to breathe. This was the hardest she'd ever had to work to keep her Yamani calm. All she wanted to do was find Bray of Stone Mountain and make him pay and pay dearly.

"Lioness, I didn't-"

"You can tell the Lord Provost Yvenne," the strain in Alanna's voice was obvious despite her cool tone.

"I-" Yvenne fell to the ground, and Alanna spun.

"Goddess," she whispered and began to search the palace with her magic for Neal. When she found him, she bid him come and help, then set to work on Yvenne's wound.

In another few minutes, Neal was by her side, "She likes to get stabbed doesn't she?" he asked dryly.

"Shut up," Alanna scolded. "Can you pick her up?"

He nodded and did so, "Where are you taking her? To Kel?"

Alanna shook her head, "To the Lord Provost; she has a trial for treason."

Neal barely kept his hold on the girl in his arms, "You're joking. That little rat was telling the truth? You have to be joking."

"Unlike some, I don't joke about these things," Alanna's crisp tone meant she was worried, and it silenced Neal and gave them both time to think.

---

"You're kidding," Dom shook his head in disbelief. "Of course he would-"

"It doesn't matter," Kel mumbled wearily. "All that matters is we find a way to get her out of there. She can't fail their tests Dom, no matter what. Men can fail, women cannot, not yet."

"I know," Dom found her hand and squeezed it reassuringly, "We'll get her out of there; I promise."

She smiled and thanked him, "Let's start going over what we-"

"Lady Keladry of Mindelan?"

She sighed, "Yes, Sir Raoul of Goldenlake?"

"You've been summoned as a witness to the defense of your squire in the matter of treason."

"I will be there," Kel responded formally without turning around.

"Kel?" Raoul put a gentle hand on her shoulder, formalities finished, and she turned, "You all right?"

"I'm fine; Yvenne's the one in trouble."

He nodded, "I know, but this must bother you. We-" he threw his head toward Dom, "know you too well by now."

"She'll be fine; I have confidence she won't fail. She wants her shield too much. How's the Prince?"

"Baird and Neal got him through the worst of it. He was banged up pretty bad but all in all he should be fine. He's not up and about yet though."

"Thank Mithros," Kel murmured, "And how is the King?"

"He-" Raoul winced. "You know his temper; he wants heads to roll and doesn't much care about whose or how many just so long as someone pays. If you wanted to plead to anyone I'd got to the Queen."

Kel thanked him, and he made his departure.

"Are you going?" Dom questioned when Raoul shut the door.

"Going where?"

"To see Queen Thayet."

"Not quite yet, first I need the whole story from Yvenne," Kel bit her lip slightly, the only sign of her nervous contemplation.

Dom hid a smile, how easy it would be to kiss those lips. He didn't even try to banish the thoughts anymore. He was in love, and he knew it, "They won't let you see her."

"They might not, but I've got to try."

"I'll go with you."

"No," Kel shook her head. "I'd rather not drag more people into this than is absolutely necessary. It's bad enough Yvenne and the Lioness' names are going to drug through the mud, there's no need for yours to be too."

"And you don't worry about your name?" Dom's voice was barely louder than a whisper.

She had to laugh at his intense eyes, "I never had a name to begin with; therefore, I have none to destroy."

"You have a name with the men you fight with," he countered.

"And I earned it with them; something like this won't destroy years of work," but neither had to point out the obvious lie.

"You are incredibly brave," Dom complimented.

"Thanks," she covered a blush with a mask, and the two began to discuss incidents that could help Yvenne's case.

---

"Where were you on the night the Prince was stabbed?" the prosecutor was asking Bray.

"I was just walking around the palace, thinking. I had the night off because we were to be leaving soon," he responded with a smug smile.

"Describe what happened when you came upon the Prince."

"I saw him lying on the ground in a pool of-" Bray turned his eyes, "blood. Then, I saw a girl in Mindelan colors standing over him. When I got closer, I saw that it was Yvenne, and she had this insane glint in her eyes.

"I didn't think; I grabbed the Prince's dagger and ran at her. I cut her right side, but she grabbed my wrist and broke it. Before I could regain myself, she set off running. Instead of chasing her, I headed straight to Duke Baird to tell him of the Prince."

"And you're sure it was this girl?" the prosecutor pointed to Yvenne, but Bray didn't even have to look to nod and answer.

"Yes, I'm sure it was she."

"Thank you," the prosecutor sat down and the defense rose, "So Bray, you were just casually strolling around the palace and happened to stumble upon the Prince?"

"Exactly."

"Lucky," the defense laughed. "You say you saw Yvenne there; you're sure it was she?"

"Yes."

"You have no reason to want Yvenne killed do you? Say, because she's a girl who wants to be a knight?"

"Objection, this is irrelevant!"

"Sustained, we're questioning the defendant's innocence, not the witness'," the Lord Provost answered while the prosecutor sat.

"So you attacked Yvenne?" the defense forged on.

"Well yes, wouldn't you in my position?" Bray inquired innocently.

"Well, I suppose I would," the defense nodded. "But this wasn't your first time stabbing Yvenne was it?"

Bray's eyes bulged.

"Objection! Also irrelevant and that accusation was never taken to court."

"Sustained, you better watch your words and remain on the subject matter," the Lord Provost warned, and the defense nodded and looked back to Bray.

"So you went straight to Duke Baird, didn't stop anywhere?"

Bray shook his head, "I knew I had to hurry."

"So when Sir Gavin of Lancaster says he saw you walking in the wrong direction after the Prince was supposedly stabbed he would be incorrect?"

"I-" Bray thought quickly. Gavin was no fool and correcting him would not be wise, "came from that direction. Maybe the times were confused. They're all approximations anyway."

"You're right, Duke Baird, the most skilled healer in all Tortall must have judged the wounds incorrectly. No further questions."

Bray could only gape.

---

"What really happened Yvenne?" the defense smiled at her, and she stopped squirming. "I was with Sir Aiden of Greenshire, Lady Keladry of Mindelan had given me a free night because we were to leave in the morning. I was leaving, heading back to my room to see if My Lady needed me for anything when Bray came behind me. We had words; he insulted my knight master, and he attacked me. He got me across my right side, and I grabbed his right wrist and broke it, freeing his dagger. To protect myself, I took his dagger and told him to never touch me again. As he was leaving, I had a-a vision of the Prince. I ran to Lady Keladry to warn her, but the Lioness was already there. She told me Bray was accusing me and because I had his dagger I needed to come with her," Yvenne had decided Bray must have stabbed the Prince, waited for a bit, hoping he'd die, then headed to Duke Baird to tell him. Once he'd accused her, he'd left and gone to find her, in hopes he could start something. She cursed herself. Kel and Alanna were right; her anger did get her in serious trouble.

"So you didn't stab the Prince?"

"No!" Yvenne spat vehemently. "Why would I?"

"Good question. So, you didn't even see the Prince?"

"Besides in my vision? No."

"Bray of Stone Mountain attacked you?"

"Yes."

"I have no more questions My Lord," the defense sat, and the prosecution stood.

"So, Lady Keladry had given you the night off?"

"Yes," Yvenne's mouth was dry; she looked to Kel for encouragement but found only a stony mask.

"And you were heading back to see if she needed anything? Even though she'd given you the night off? That's a good squire," a few knights in the room chuckled; they understood how precious nights off were.

"I-" Yvenne blushed. "Sir Aiden and I had a- somewhat of a- fight- So, I was going to see if Lady Keladry had anything for me to do to keep my mind off it."

"I see-" he nodded. "And…on your way back you had a vision? Can you explain that to me?"

"Well," Yvenne sighed and looked down. "I was looking at Bray's back and suddenly, my vision got blurry, and I saw the Prince. He was lying in a puddle of blood, that's all I saw."

"Do you get these visions often?"

She shook her head, "No, I have a crystal that generally helps me see them, but Master Numair says that I should be able to eventually control them on my own."

"Uh huh, convenient to know the Prince was injured and be holding the weapon in question without being guilty."

Yvenne wanted to fight back, but he finished and sat down, allowing her to step down. Aiden didn't even look at her as he was called and took the oaths.

"Yvenne was with you the night of the attack was she not?"

"Yeah," his voice was rough, and Yvenne lowered her eyes. His parents were there; they really were simply a dream.

"The whole night?"

"Most of it; she left maybe a few hours before midnight."

"Not long after the Prince was stabbed, assuming Lord Baird's analysis was correct. Not long after, but after nonetheless," the defense pointed out to the people. "You and Yvenne have been friends a long time, have you not?"

"Since her page years, five, almost six years," Aiden responded.

"And have you ever noticed any treacherous behavior out of her?"

"No!" he answered quickly, finally meeting Yvenne's relieved eyes. "She wants her shield more than anyone I know; her one wish is to serve Tortall and its rulers faithfully. She would give her life for this realm and its Prince. She would never think of taking anything from them, especially not life."

"Thank you, that's all," the roles switched, and Aiden hid a scowl for Bray's slight sneer.

"You and Yvenne are lovers are you not?"

"Objection! That's irrelevant!"

"Overruled, it questions the witness' validity and the defendant's alibi," the Lord Provost answered coolly.

"Thank you," the prosecutor smiled at the judge then turned back to Aiden.

"We-" Aiden met Yvenne's eyes, "are-were-I don't honestly know-"

"You don't know?" he chuckled softly. "Very well, you don't know, but you are very close to her are you not?"

He nodded, "Yes."

"So you would have reason to protect her-say, make up an alibi for her?"

"I have reason to protect her yes, but make up an alibi no! I wouldn't lie about this."

"What you're saying, is that Yvenne is not worth lying for?"

"Objection! His emotions have nothing to do with the issue at hand!"

"Overruled, they're very relevant."

"I-" Aiden couldn't lie to the court, but…Yvenne.

"No further questions," the prosecutor stepped back and let him step down.

He had to look away when Yvenne mouthed, 'Thank you,' and then, 'I'm sorry,' to him.

---

Over the next few days they questioned Alanna, Raoul and Numair, but it was when the defense was calling their last witness, Keladry of Mindelan, that commotion broke out in the courtroom.

"Lady Keladry of Mindelan, Yvenne is your squire is she not?" the prosecutor inquired.

"Yes," Kel took calming breaths and focused on nothing but keeping her Yamani mask intact.

"So you let her have that night off-" the door burst open to admit Neal, followed closely by Duke Baird.

"Sir Nealan I would-" the Lord Provost stopped when he saw Duke Baird enter.

"Prince Roald just awoke," Neal started, and Kel noticed the terror in Bray's eyes.

"You're going to come with me," Alanna and the King entered. Everyone rose to curtsey or bow, then turned to see the Lioness pointing, not to Yvenne, but to Bray.

"My Lady?" Bray tried to act surprised, but it was clearly terror resonating in his voice.

"The Prince seems to have this strange idea that it was you who attacked him, not Yvenne," Neal told him sarcastically. "Funny what happens when the victim awakes."

"Your Majesty," Bray bowed low to Jonathan, "surely you don't- she's a female and a thief. You can't possibly believe-"

"Are you calling my son a liar?" Jonathan demanded mildly, though vengeance echoed in his eyes.

"He called my father one; I don't see why he wouldn't insult Tortall's heir too," Neal's eyes glowed green fire when he stared down at Bray.

"I-not at all-just-I'm being accused for something I didn't do," Bray protested.

"Quit whining," Alanna cuffed him, which ceased his speech, "My Lord," she bowed to the Provost. "I think we're through."

"Glad to be of help," he smiled sourly. "Court adjourned."

"Oh, Lady Keladry, take your squire up to Stone Mountain and arrest his father for treason. I doubt he acted alone," Jonathan instructed, and Kel bowed from her new position next to Yvenne.

"Your Majesty."

Jonathan nodded to Yvenne, and she smiled, grateful for the apology in his eyes even though he'd never voice it. She laughed slightly when Jonathan managed to cuff Bray nonchalantly as they exited. He was in good hands; the thought made her smirk.

"Well, we've been off for quite awhile. What do you say for a ride squire?" Kel asked, looking at Yvenne. She smiled happily and nodded.

"Let's go."

---

Unfortunately, it wasn't that easy. There were reports to be filed, permissions to be granted, assets to be seized, and men to gather before they left.

The instructions made her dizzy, and she was more than glad to fall into her own bed late into the night. Kel hadn't been easy on her; she'd gotten a lecture about tempers and then been put to work with numbers and directions.

She changed sleepily in the dark then jumped into bed. When she was almost asleep, she felt another presence in the room and shot up, "Who's there?"

"Me," a small voice answered, and she sighed and threw a ball of magic toward a nearby candle, lighting it.

"You scared me, why were you just standing there?"

"I was watching you," he answered and took a seat on her bed.

"Oh," she blushed slightly and turned her eyes toward her hands.

"I'm so glad you're out of there," he whispered and hugged her close.

"Aw come on, Lady Keladry didn't keep me that long," she joked.

"Not funny," he scolded softly, and she giggled.

"I wasn't scared; I knew some way or another I'd get out. I guess Bray was hoping Prince Roald didn't see him, but his plan to frame me backfired."

"Still, that was," he shuddered, "awful."

"Really? Because I thought it was enjoyable."

He glowered at her in the dark, "But Yvenne, the Lord and Lady of Coltsbrook are here."

"What?" her face paled so lightly she was sure she would glow in the dark of the room.

"They say she's here, in the city, training. They're going to arrange a meeting, but you say-"

"They won't find her," Yvenne answered swiftly.

"So it is as you say, then why-"

"I don't know," she cut him off again.

"But none of it matters. This whole thing has made me realize I want to be with you. I can't imagine a world where I wasn't allowed to be close to you," he brushed a hand over her face, and she bit the insides of her cheeks to keep the tears in.

"Lady Keladry and I are headed with Captain Domitan and his squad to Stone Mountain in the morning," she told him crisply.

"Then don't waste the night," he mumbled and kissed her neck.

"Ai-" but when he pulled back and ran his hands down her hips she couldn't deny him.