Disclaimer: Don't own anything 'cept the messenger at the end, and the plot.

A/N: And the plot thickens! I decided I needed time for the next chapter with Ria in it to take place, so I made a chap with Alex! Enjoy!

An Old Acquaintance

Delia of Eldorne stood in the prison garden. She tripped over a rock and cursed. 'Why am I doomed to spend an eternity in this place, while my enemies live in comfort!' Delia thought, something she had contemplated again and again over her years in prison.

Suddenly she saw a person standing at the entrance to the garden, a door that only the guards have a key to. She shaded her eyes against the glare of the sun to see who it was. The person looked vaguely familiar.

Alex gazed at Delia with disdain. What had he seen in this girl that would make him willingly accept her as a partner. Of course it hadn't been his decision, it had been Roger's, but looking at her now, Alex knew Roger had made the wrong choice in her. Delia was a mess, with bags under her green eyes, her hair ragged and uneven, unhealthy pale skin, and an unnaturally thin face and body. She looked so far from the beauty she had been so many years ago, Alex laughed at the hilarity of it all, and a flicker of recognition lit in Delia's eyes.

"Alex, is that you?" She murmured with uncertainty, crawling up to reach out towards him.

"You stupid wretch," He kicked Delia away. She was nothing but a beggar now.

"H-how are you alive? The Lioness killed you." She panted.

"I saved myself, and that's all you need to know. In fact, you know too much already. That's why I came." His face and words were cold, and he started to move towards her, hands clenched.

"B-but how?" Delia scrambled backwards madly.

Alex let out a chilling laugh, "By making a deal with Chaos itself. I made a deal with Uusoae herself, the Goddess of Chaos."

Delia was now quaking uncontrollably. Something was wrong with the garden, it had gone ice cold where the weather had been warm a second ago, and a feeling of insane power filled the air.

"B-but why m-m-me?" Delia stuttered.

Alex grinned, looking like someone insane. "You know too much. You must die."

And with that rushed forward with speed that Delia could not match, and grabbed her. He took her head in his hands, and whispered, "Any last words?"

Delia opened her mouth to say something, "N…"

And with a flex of his muscles, Alex tightened his hold on her head…and crushed it like an eggshell.

Alex flung the corpse down, straightened his tunic, pulled his face to look again cold and heartless, and strolled out of the garden like it was a nice summer's day.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

A messenger ran to the King's office at top speed, stopping only to show the guard at the door the black token in the messenger's hand that signified urgent news, and ran into the office.

There King Jonathan stood sat in his chair, talking with Alanna the Lioness, Raoul of Malorie's Peak and Goldenlake, Gareth the Younger of Naxen, and the new training master Douglas of Veldine.

"Sire," the messenger panted, "Urgent news!" The king signaled he was listening, so the messenger continued. "The Commander at the prison in Wellam told me to tell you that Delia of Eldorne is dead, sire, murdered. They found her lying on the ground, with her head smashed…like an eggshell."

A/N: Thanks for your wonderful review: and there are 2 princes, Roald has 5 children!

Flame of Night: glad you liked it! I am a trickster myself(hence the name, Aly the Trickster) so of course I would put a trickster in the story. Who do you think I am?(jk)

Kenobi-girl1: I will try t get the new chaps up as soon as possible!

'Lanna Lioness: glad you like it! I am also glad you think this is the best one of the Neal's daughter's stories, I try my best. I am going to keep writing till at least Ria is a squire…and I will try to update as soon as possible!

robster639: I'm glad you like it enough so that you want me to update, and I of course will as soon as possible.