Disclaimer: This is depressing, people! I own nothing, nothing at all! – Except for the plot, this is all mine!

Wake-Robin – Glad you liked it!

Allimba – Sorry about the cliffhanger, but it makes it more exciting!

Gwen of Helmsgrove – I was pretty close to make Dom the guy in the cloak! :) Thanks for adding me to your favourites list!

Anyway, on with the show!

Kel gasped. How could this be? This wasn't right! Behind her, Kel heard Dom's sharp intake of breath.

The man in the cloak was sitting with his back to Kel and Dom on a bench with his hood pulled back. His hair was dark brown and curly but cut short.

Next to him was no one else, but the king of Tortall himself.

The two men were talking in low voices and no matter how much Kel strained to hear, she couldn't quite catch the words. Cautiously she pulled back her head and together with Dom moved along the other side of the hedge till they were close enough to understand the voices.

"You are sure of this, Pers?" The king proclaimed in Common. "Yes, your majesty." The man addressed as Pers answered with a strong accent Kel couldn't place. "His highness is calling to those with the Gift and they are rallying near the capital." Kel heard the King sigh heavily. The news couldn't be good.

"Very well, I will address my court straight after dawn tomorrow. Earlier is impossible. I will meet with my spymaster and discuss the situation. We will need to elect a strong person who is willing to take the responsibility. I sadly can't thing of anyone from the top of my head..." The king trailed off.

There was silence. And in the silence, Kel heard the steps. They were soft and seemed to fall lightly. They were approaching the centre of the maze from the opposite direction. Dom crouched down and carefully pried apart some leaves of the hedge and looked through. Kel followed suit.

They could see the bench from an angle, which allowed them to see the faces of the men. The king looked tired and his usually sparkling sapphire blue eyes were dull. The news he had received must have done more bad than good because he looked exhausted.

The man Pers was still young, not much older than Kel and Dom. His nose was very straight and his cheekbones were high. He was tanned from the sun and his eyes were a dark chocolaty brown. His shoulders were broad and he held his head high and moved it with the vain elegance of a cat.

Under his cloak, Pers wore a grey blouse with a very rumpled tunic of an even darker grey. His breeches were black and he wore dusty black boots.

Looking to the left, Kel saw a shadow of a man. She poked Dom in the side and motioned towards it. Dom's eyes widened. Turing back to Kel he mouthed, "What do we do?"

Kel shrugged helplessly. They watched the silhouette move forwards until it was just to left of the men. It seemed to be part of the darkness around it.

It was tempting to jump up and yell at the king to get down, but Kel controlled herself and instead held her breath as the shadow stepped into view and said in a lilting voice, "Hello Jon."

The King jumped to his feet. "George!" he said, "Thank the Goddess you came! I need you advice more than anything right now!" George of Pirate's Swoop and the King grasped hands in greeting and after the king had introduced George to Pers the men settled down again.

"How is the situation with Tyra?" George asked. "Bad!" The King rubbed his eyes, "They are gathering." George sighed. "This is faster then we expected. I also bring bad news. Our spy in the capital has been caught." The King groaned. For the first time Kel saw him as an ageing man.

Pers had been sitting quietly lost in his own thoughts. Now he spoke up. "Begging your majesty's pardon, but I think that you must send someone in. Someone with experience of battle, but who can go unnoticed." George nodded, "Aye, that is a wise choice. Not a spy, though, more a fighter who can keep a cool head in a crisis. And while he sneaks in, you too gather your forces and meet Tyra. You have to mobilise!"

The king nodded. "Secrecy is the key as well as speed. Advice me, old friend, who shall we send?" He said to the baron next to him.

George sat silent for a long moment. A cool gust of wind breezed through the maze, making leaves quiver and Kel's dress flutter.

After it had past the Baron of Pirate's Swoop said quietly, "Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan."

I'm so evil ... oh well, you'll survive! Now ... REVIEW!

Wolfy