Chapter two

Mara picked up the brooch and placed it in her pocket.

"Let's go to Mapstone," Mara said softly. Karigan just shook her head. A million things were going thru her mind. Why had the brooch rejected me? Am I relieved? Or sad? They walked down the hall to Mapstone's office. Mara knocked on the door.

"Come in," she said from the other side. Mara opened the door and they walked inside. Mapstone sat behind her desk, buried in paper work.

"What is it?" mapstone asked as she looked up from her work. Mara brought out the brooch from her pocket and sat it on mapstone's desk.

"Another brooch rejection? Who is it this time?" Mapstone asked as she picked up the brooch and exam it.

"Mine, captain," Karigan said, finally since entering the room.

"Yours? Tell me you are joking," mapstone said as she stood up slowly.

"She is not. Its burns her everything time she picks it up," Mara said.

True Mapstone's ability said. She sat down abruptly and staring at the brooch in her hand. No! This cannot be happening. I am losing a senior rider! No! no! she thought. Mapstone looked at Karigan.

"You know what this means. You can't stay here anymore, so you will have to go home to Corsa," Mapstone choked out, "so start packing your things."

"Yes, captain," karigan said.

"What about other riders?" Mara asked.

"we will tell them while karigan is packing," Mapstone said. She walked over to karigan and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I am sorry to see you go, but now you have your freedom to do what you want to do."

Karigan sadly smiled. The only thing I can do now is to help my clan. I have to marry she thought as she left the room. She went back to her room, carefully avoiding other riders all the way.

She was packing up her things when a knock came to the door. She walked over to it and opened it. Alton was on the other side. Karigan and Alton's friendship took a while to repair. It was only a couple of month ago when he forgave her. She invited him. He took one look at the bag that she was packing and automatically knew.

"It's true, isn't it? That you are no longer a rider?" he asked as he looked at her. She nodded and he started on a tirade.

"Why you, all of the riders? You have done so many things for this country. Does that count for nothing?" he screamed at her.

'I have no control on destiny. I don't know why the gods decide to take me from the message service, but I will never question them. I have done my duty to this country, so I suppose they want me to do the duty to my family," karigan said as she continues packing her bags. She shoves the last of her stuff into the bag and closes it up. She looked at Alton.

"I wish you didn't have to go, not when we just repaired our friendship," he said, very sadly. Karigan placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I can't stay. I would only get in the way, and I think it is better if I leave anyway," she said, thinking about Zachary and Estora. "Perhaps, if I do the trades here, I will come and visit." Alton cheered up a bit and asked to accompany her to the stables. They went to the stable and got Condor. Garth was there, waiting for Karigan.

"I am sorry to see you go, Karigan. You were one hell of a rider," he said as he put a hand on her shoulder. "I will miss you and I am sure Fegal will to." The younger rider was on a message run for Mapstone.

"You will him, right?" Karigan asked as she hugged her friend.

"I will," Garth said as he squeezed her then let her go. Karigan mounted Condor.

"be safe," Alton said. Karigan just nodded and nudge Condor into a trot. When she was pass the river, she turned back and looked at Sacor City. Shaking her head, Karigan turned her eyes to the road. She urged Condor into a run and began her trip home.

Back at the palace, Mapstone walked the King's study. The weapons outside the door nodded at her then knocked on the door.

"come in," Zachary said from the other side. The weapon from another side opened the door and allowed Mapstone to enter.

"we lose another rider today," Mapstone said carefully. Zachary looked up and at her. Something in her voice made him nervous.

"who?" he asked carefully.

"Karigan. I don't know why," Mapstone said. Zachary looked at her, then down. Perhaps it is better this way.

A/N: How am i doing? Review please.