A/N: This skips into the past to explain why Kel is betrothed. Hope you all enjoy this! Please go read and review my new one-shot "The Promise" which is also KD :)!

Disclaimer: I claim no ownership of any characters (minus Aiko), cities, worlds, lands, etc...

"Aiko Neffari," the Speaker adressed. Aiko dressed in a long, black robe stood without a sound. "The court has, upon examining all supplied evidence with fastidious impartiality, deemed you guilty of Necromancy. As this is prohibitted by Iles Laws, you wil be sentenced to..."

The Mage nearly rolled his eyes. "The court has deemed you guilty..." The Mage had practically confessed to it – no, infact, he'd actually stated it clearly. He saw nothing to hide; they hadn't the guts enough to sentence him to prison or even to death... his black robe magic was no small thing.

"As of dawn tomorrow you are bannished from the Yamani Iles, ne'er to return as a citizen. You will be provided with a boat shortly before daybreak... use it well."

Yamani's, the Mage thought fondly. Only they would wish their criminals good tides. He'd miss the Iles, this was true, but he wanted more than just an apprenticeship with Saiyaku. Here he was seen as gifted, but a lower noble. The Mage was often spoken to in near-demeaning tones, and he was not one to tolerate it.

There he'd be among the best. And better yet, he'd beat the best. The Emperor's magic was paltry – practically non-existant when compared to the Mage's.

The Mage knew it. And the Mage knew Kaddar knew it.

Emperor Kaddar would worry about the throne.

And he had better, because the Mage had every intention of taking it.


The Messenger regarded the King with some contempt. Mighty Tortall's idiot king had blanched over the contents of the letter. Surely, they shouldn't have been that shocking. Rumours of Carthak Imperial power weakening had been spreading for weeks over Tortallan soil like the ashes of a fire not quite snuffed out.

The King reread the note disbelievingly, handing it to the red-haired knight behind him, the Champion, who read it before passing it to another. The Messenger wished the Master hadn't insisted he wait for a reply.

Finally, The King answered. "Tell your Master I have no way to seal the alliance. All my children are married or betrothed."

So the Master was right again. The Messenger smirked, "He said there was another he'd accept... If you have another message for him by morning you know where to find me."

With that he strolled out of the room.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­


"You did what?" Raoul asked.

"You heard me." Jon glared.

Raoul shook his head non-sensically. "I can't have! I could have sworn you just said you had betrothed Kel."

"I did."

"You're not serious!"

"I am." Jon replied grimly.

"You can't do that, Jon!" Raoul's knuckles were turning white with rage as he restrained himself. He turned to Alanna. "Can, he?"

"I can. I just did. The contract is signed."

"YOU BASTARD! YOU CAN'T JUST GO AROUND CONTROLING PEOPLE'S LIVES! I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE THE MOST POWERFUL KING IN THE ENTIRE BLOODY MORTAL REALM! YOU CAN'T DO IT!" Raoul's voice quietened with a deeper anger than they'd ever seen. "I'm not going to stand by and let you use her like this! She's not your bartering chip, Jon. She's your knight! Not your daughter, not even a ward – she swore by Mithros and the Goddess to give her life before yours, and this is how you repay her. You disgust me!"

"It was never my intention to use a lady knight this way."

"Oh, I can just see the remorse oozing through you're filthy skin." Raoul replied sarastically.

"YOU THINK THIS IS EASY FOR ME? YOU THINK THIS IS EASY FOR ME?!"

"WHY NOT? YOU'RE A COLD, SELF-ABSORBED BAS..."

"Enough!" Alanna's voice cut through. Raoul might have been too angry to see the pain and guilt in Jon's eyes, but she wasn't. "Kel agreed, Raoul. She signed the contract herself."

Raoul's he paled. She couldn't have – wouldn't have.She loved Dom. He loved her...

"Why would she do that? Why wouldn't she just tell you to find someone else."

"Raoul," Alanna said sadly, "there is no one else. He asked for her."


Wrapped in darkness, the Spy heard every word.


A/N from Erkith: I think I'll save an apology for "tardiness" lol funny word because I'm always writing one! I really do feel bad about it. Especially after I got all those nice reviews :D

If there's anything you'd really like to see in the plot, I'm open to suggestions as well as pairings. Also, how do you prefer Dom (dead/ alive?). Please review.

Any questions are welcome. Email me or ask in a review.