Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns it all except for a few unfamiliar characters that I might add later in the story.

Summary: what if Keladry of Mindelan was not founded in the castle after she defeated

Blayce? What if others were injured and they couldn't find her? What if they left her alone injured in the dark castle to be discovered by Scaran warriors.

A/n: this is my first story please review and constructive criticism is welcome as well as any suggestion what so ever.

The welcoming party headed back towards Steadfast, and the only mage available to scry for Kel's body, Numair.

The trip lasted two days at a slow trot, a cloud of sorrow hung over the group that was only lifted several times during those long painstakingly silent hours. One such event occurred when Dom was in his thought again.

He was once again thinking about Her, and doubts filled him mind once again with her cause for death. Was it is fault, Should he be blamed, Would she have lived if he spent the time to go look for her?. These questions beat at his already depressed mind unmercifully.

While his mind was in the clouds, dark clouds, he stopped paying attention to the road assuming that his horse would be fine in guiding him. The one thing that he didn't anticipate happened.

The man ahead of him pushed a tree branch out of his way, Dom was still in the clouds so he trotted right in to it with enough force so that it flung him completely off his horse and in to a puddle of mud. He groaned which caught the attention of the other riders. As soon as they saw him laying in the knee high puddle of mud they all bust out laughing, the first laugh they had in days.

Under any other circumstances he would have been laughing as hard if not harder then everyone but not with the death of his friend still fresh in his mind. If anything it made him more depressed as he climbed back on his horse (A/N: name?) covered from head to toe in mud.

After two days of gloominess they finally reached the magnificent fortress. When they were finally close enough that the guards could recognize them or more importantly The "Giant Killer" at the head of his forces. The massive gate swung open to admit the weary and depressed party.

There was a small crowd awaiting them as they came in, the ones that could not come to meet the heroes at the shore. They were all congratulating the Scaran trespassers for a battle will fought and a job well done.

They used the best supplies the fort had to prepare the best "feast" the fortress could. Every one rejoiced at Blayce and his killing machines dying as well as his evil body guards. Yet there were some who couldn't forget the sacrifices they had made. Two cousins in particular seemed to move away from the celebrations. They seemed immune to the joy that filled the fort. The cloud of gloom was washed away from most peoples mind through several cups of wine, the best they had up north.

Four people in the entire fort did not get drunk that night,

Numair, in preparation for a scry to find a lost body,

Neal, for a best friend that was lost, and could have been saved,

Dom, for a potentally lover and an outstanding fighter and comrade,

Tobe, for a lost mistress, and his first friend.

The three last ones all felt as if something precious had been lost, a one of a kind gem that was could not be replaced. You could find something similar but it would never fit just right into the groove in their hearts. All of them felt that a party was overdoing, it they were at war and had just lost a friend, comrade, and mistress they all felt that it was disrespectful to her memory.

All three of them went silently to their separate quarters in order to let the held in tears fall and to allow them selves to cry to sleep. Not knowing of the danger that was yet to come.

The Scaran looked once again upon the fort, he heard the party and knew that the next day would be the perfect time to lead an attack, everyone was drinking. The guards even had a cup of wine near them.

It was pathetic, all of it, the slaughter tomorrow was going to be easy everyone, even the commanders were going to have hangovers and not be able to think straight. They were still at war 'oh well all the better for us' thought the Scaran general as he headed back into the woods and towards his camp. Once he had taken over Steadfast the real war would begin. 'they won't see what's coming, until it is too late' thought the general with a grim pleaser and smiled with the thought of all the commanders he could torture.

I am sorry I can't update more often right now my life has got even more hectic (If that is even possible) I will really, really, really, try to update once a week. But the more reviews I get the more influenced I will be to update faster (hint, hint) Thanks to everyone who reviewed and please tell me what you think SO PLEASE REVIEW I NEED OPIONS, IDEAS, AND ANY CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISISM!

Red rose of love: about Kel's glaive Derek left it behind because it was to heavy and big to bring along. Peachblossom is back at the inn where Derek first walked in and he is being cared for in his tired state. Thanks for the review

SarahE7191: I didn't even consider the possibility until you brought it up and now I am definitely considering the idea. I really right now just know the basic plotline so I may put that in. Thanks for reviewing

Nelarun: Thanks I am glad you like it please review again