Thank you to all reviewers! Seriously I really appreciate it. Any feed back is appreciated. If your going to flame try and be a little sensitive but I'd like to know why you don't like it. Sorry to anyone who doesn't like the new way I'm writing. It's gotten a bit more serious and less slapstick.

I'm sorry for the wait on update. My computer has a virus. It's a miracle it's letting me type now.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or setting. I can still dream.

"My Liege," Numair kneeled in front of the king.

"You know I don't like the titles part of being royalty Numair," the king smiled at his friend

" How is Daine?"

"Saving squirrels and the like. As much as I'd like to talk about my lover, John has an idea about Alanna's were abouts." replied Numair.

"Where is he?"

"Helping getting Raoul out from under a rock apparently," Numair sighed. Jonathan sighed with the wizard. It was situations like this when he needed Alanna. What if they were invaded at this moment. Gary would run around drunkenly shouting. Raoul would be under a rock, and Gary as much as he admired the knight just couldn't compare to Alanna.

"We need here back. I've had threats from Carthak. Something about an ancient treaty. In short we may have an unofficial war on our hands. We need her here now." Jonathan said. Numair nodded in agreement.

"Well, John said Alanna talked about being pulling before she disappeared. Well there have been other cases of people being entering or in her case dragged to other realms. Like Daine or the Immortals. Technically, though it has never happened Stormwings could use their magic to summon her." Numair explained.

"That does sound possible. Would it be possible for the Carthak to do it? It would weaken us if they wanted to attack." Jonathan asked Numair.

Nuamir shrugged. "With magic almost anything is possible. Wild Magic is not the only magic that is virtually unknown. But tonight I was hoping I could have your help with tracking. Assuming she is in another realm, we will need the strength of the Dominion Jewel. We shouldn't even think about bringing her back until then."

"Tonight? I'll need to cancel a few things but if it means finding the Lioness then I must. I will have to tell the court something though."

"Say that Alanna is under-cover in Carthak. And it must seem as if she is missing so the Carthak's do not suspect." Numair advised.

"Clever. No one here must know that she's not there and no one there must know that she not here." He thought. Jonathan always admired Numair's advice.

"Exactly, we should meet at Ballor's Needle'. The higher we are the easier it should be to find her."

The two left the throne room to inform the rest of the court to stop the search.

Meanwhile

Alanna was sleeping upstairs. He wounds from prison were draining her fast. Her 'gift' as she called it did not work as well here apparently. Niko was sitting with the girls and Briar was upstairs watching Alanna. Niko had noticed the time Briar was putting in with their visitor. Watching her, practicing with her even though he was no match for her. All the children were. Daja was still sulking now that Alanna was beating her easily. Alanna said that now she knew the younger girls style it was easy. That didn't make Daja any happier.

Alanna had evolved from a prisoner to a friend in a way. She still leaped back when they used their magic. The same way the four of them watched her in amazement as her purple fire surrounded her. She was new and different. He could almost hear Briar heart beat faster when she entered the room. He could just imagine him upstairs. Almost touching her, but afraid of her waking up. None of them had been in love. Or if they had they'd been rejected.

Niko knew how the boy felt. It was hard he never meant to be a teacher. He was just supposed to deliver them to the temple. Now he was watching them become stronger than him, though he would never admit it to them, and watch them turn into adults. He could see it in Rosethorns and Larks eyes as well. Rosethorn had denied but her could see her wipe her eyes as she stalked away from him. Lark had collapsed in his arms when he asked.

He turned his attention to the girls whose whispers had turned into yells.

"Hush, you'll wake our guest." He told them sternly. They looked at him sheepishly. Tris nudged Sandry.

"We think we may know how Alanna got here."

Sorry for the cliffie. I promise an update soon.