A/N – Alright kiddos the time has come for another chapter. I believe…dun dun dun…that the next chapter is either the last or second to last chappie! I haven't decided yet…mwahahaha. I hope you guys like it…I hope I hope I hope. I am also hoping that maybe I could get like at least…20...reviews b4 I post the next one. I know im wishing for a lot but I think it could happen. Anyways, thank you all from the bottom of my heart tear tear Oh and not for beta reader…im posting it now…then ill re post it in the event when I get them from u…no rush as u can see. Oh and everyone give a round of applause for newly highered beta reader clap clap clap cause I know my grammer stinkith very badith. Luv ya all.

Chapter 11:

Dom couldn't believe what he was seeing. Blood was not supposed to grow into a larger and larger blob. Not to mention, Kel must have been in this clearing, there was no where else she could have gone. From his squatting position in the snow, Dom looked up at the sky, it would be very dark soon, how long had he been there?

"Can you imaging the look on the Kings face when he sees one of his distinguished woman knights hanging from the castle walls!" Dom heard a voice say from nearby. Careful not to make any noise, he slowly slithered closer to the voice.

"I'm a little more concerned about freezing my arsh off out here." Another voice, female this time, said shakily.

"Well then why don't you just start a fire then?"

"Ladies first." The man sighed at the woman's statement and began making a fire. With the added light Dom could make out a small hut surrounded by a circle of trees. There he listened, hoping their conversation would bring news of Kel.

"So Calisaya, what do you think they are going to do with her?" The man asked the woman, obviously Calisaya.

"I heard that one of our mages has learned a new type of battle magic. The troops are calling him the shadow mage. Anyway, I suppose that they are going to use it on her. And as you so excitedly mentioned earlier, Khmer, then they will hang her from the castle walls. I heard that originally that the shadow mage wanted the Lioness or even Numair," she paused at her partners look of stupidity, "their most powerful mage! I swear you can't keep anything straight. To continue, the shadow mage wanted them but their magic wouldn't be influenced by this new magic."

"So we got this lady knight."

"Keladry, yes."

"She's very pretty, for a member of Tortall."

"Well she won't be after tomorrow. I have no idea what this mage has in store for her, but I'm sure it wont be pretty."

IIIII

"Where they hell have you been! We have been looking for you and Kel for ages!" Neal said catching his panting cousin in his harms to slow him down. "Alanna was almost about to go frantic with worry." He smiled at the opportunity to dis his former mast…uh…mistress.

"I heard that Meathead," Alanna remarked slapping Neal upside the head. "You have news sergeant?"

Dom shifted his hands to his knees and continued to pant, "Kel…new magic…"

"What's going on here?" Raoul asked coming up to the suffocating sergeant and slamming him on the back.

"Thanks."

"So continue what you were saying."

Dom swallowed, "Kel has been captured. The Scanran's have her in a hut about a mile or so away. They are going to kill her and display her body on the walls surrounding the castle."

"Are you sure about this Dom?" Alanna asked shakily.

"They have a new type of battle magic. It sounds bad, guys, really bad. We need to save her."

"We will, just calm down." Dom's emotions boiled. Calm down! Kel was going to be murdered and he was not going to sit by and calm down.

"No! We need to go right now! You don't know what they plan to do! Don't you…" In mid sentence, or scream, Dom fell to the ground in an unconscious heap.

"Thank you Neal." Alanna said letting out a heavy breath. Neal nodded, bending down near his cousin. "We know we have to hurry and come up with a plan quick. They wont do anything till tomorrow morning, the night is already hear and no doubt their mage has used a lot of strength in the battle today."

"But do you know that for sure? We are gambling with Kel's life here." Raoul looked at Alanna with a concerned look.

"If they plan to kill her tonight and put her body on display they wouldn't until later when there is no one, not even thieves, on the streets. We have at least an hour. Neal, wake Dom up. We need whatever information he knows." Neal placed his hand on Dom's temple as his eyes opened, scanning the woods.

"Ow, my head." Dom groaned sitting up.

"Dom, we need to know all that you heard. People, we have an hour to plan. We will send out spies in that time that will alert us when they make any movement. I want all of you, after our plot is set out, to get as much and as good of rest as you can. Don't worry yourself into getting no rest, Kel deserves our full strength and by Mithros we will give it to her."