SORRY, SORRY, SORRY !

Everyone has the right to hit me if they want for not updating sooner

Mid term break is not what it says it is. In my case its just another excuse for teachers to pile on the work, English coursework tey do and TWO languages tey learn…..

Someone tell me what I was thinking keeping two on ! TWO !

Anyways that's my stressed out rant over with so ill get on with it

Some nice reviews and some constructive ones as well

As per usual I don't own Study series, Valek, Commander, the rest n stuff…. Unfortunately *sighs*

Laters

Whiney Smurf XD

Read Review ENJOY!

Valek's POV

After Brazell's crimes were uncovered and punished, life went on much the same as it had before Yelena ever became food taster. The Commander governed over Ixia with the same steadfast belief in his morals and views, the soldiers trained every day at the specified times, the seasons came at the same time they had every year since the dawn of the world. Life was good for a lot of people. However, life was not easy for some people, as life would not be the same way it was before. For some, such as Ari, Janco and Maren, life got better. As my new seconds, more privileges were available to them now. Sammy was no longer fetch boy but head cook in the kitchen, but the best improvement was for a young man named Byron. Although in one of the most deadly jobs in the Commander's army, he was happy. Being a food taster was better than being dead. My life would never be the same but I was learning to deal with the separation better; I hadn't bitten the head off anyone for a few months now at least, but Ambrose is fast becoming a nuisance. Every time I am anywhere near him and something bugs me, he looks ready to flee the room. I mean honestly, what does he expect me to do, go on a killing spree? Well, maybe that would have been true a few weeks ago….. That gorgeous Sitian beauty was very rarely in my thoughts during the day but I never kept her out of my dreams every night. I smiled at the images of my most recent memory…

I lay on a beach, no idea where, watching as the sun set below the far horizon out to sea. Looking around, I spotted her standing a little while off, staring at the same sight. As I reached her, I wrapped my arms around her stomach, her butterfly pendant glistening in the setting sun. Looking up, she smiled at me, her emerald eyes shining with so much love. We simply stood watching the sun set, our hands entwined with each others, the gold of our wedding bands reflecting the golden rays of the sun. A sudden bump against my hands made me smile. Ever so slowly, I rubbed my hand over Yelena's stomach, over our unborn child. Hopefully the first of many….

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Come in!" The door to my office opened, revealing a very nervous looking Byron. He was the same age as me, if not a few years younger, roughly the same height and build as well. I was pleased with his work and progress. A fast learner, dedicated worker, I had no problems with him. And the best bit, he was definitely from Ixia.

"Yes Byron? What is it?"

"A message from the Commander sir. He asks to see you right away, says that its urgent." Curious as to what could possibly be so important that the Commander would send the food taster to see me, I got to my feet and followed him to the war room. Strange, I thought the Commander was dining in his office this lunch time; he had no guests. I voiced my thoughts to Byron. His answer surprised me.

"General Kitvivan showed up not too long ago sir, along with General Chenzo. Their daughters were kidnapped a few weeks ago and the Generals recently found them 5 days ago, unharmed with no recollection of having gone missing. They merely woke up in their beds one morning having lost a fortnight from their memories."

"They remembered nothing?" I was shocked at how two girls could lose two weeks of memories and act like nothing had happened. I was going to ask him more but we had reached the war room. I could hear the sound of raised voices from inside. Judging by the look on Byron's face, this wasn't a good sign. I soon found out why.

"This is an outrage! There is no possible way that it could have been one of our own men!"

"I mean no offence but if you say they got in and out without a trace then there's the possibility of it being an inside job. We cannot rule anything out at this moment in time."

"My little girl could have been raped…. Or murdered!" At this I could just about hold back a smile. Kitvivan's daughter Kyra was at least 26 and he still called her a little girl. I walked over to the Commander's side, Byron standing behind us both. Ambrose raised his hand for silence. It fell around the room immediately.

"I understand your concerns, both of you. But we must investigate all avenues of investigation. A letter has been sent to the Sitian council inquiring about whether or not it is possible for magic to have been behind this. I have yet to get an answer back but hopefully I…." The Commander trailed off, looking at a point just over Chenzo's left shoulder. Everyone in the war room turned to see about 5 Sitian soldiers, two quite scary looking warrior type men, both of whom I knew to be of Sandseed origin and two young men who bore a striking resemblance to a certain ex-food taster, one in particular. However, they where not what had captured the Commander's attention. The honour rested with the Third Magician Irys Jewelrose. I was the first to recover.

"Irys, I must say it is a surprise to see you here. To what do we owe this pleasure?" A pained expression came across her face at my words, but vanished just as quickly.

"I come here in answer to Commander Ambrose's request for help. But alas it is no pleasure for me to do so." At this everyone started talking at once.

"What help can you be?"

"How do we know you are not involved?"

"SILENCE!" The Commander's voice rose above all others, once again setting quiet in the room.

"Irys, I don't understand."

"It would seem we have the same problem. The daughters of some of our councillors have been going missing also, each turning up in exactly the same circumstances. Unfortunately, the last young woman to be taken has not yet been returned and we have received word which concerns your government also." Irys passed a letter to the Commander. Looking at it he began to read it aloud.

We know that our brothers' actions in the northern territories has attracted the attention of a certain advisor to the traitor Ambrose. However, we know have something more precious to Valek than the beloved daughter of a General or Councillor. If he truly cares for said person then he'll do what we ask:

Kill the traitor that betrayed the people of Ixia.

If not, then these ones will be the first two of many

The Royal Brotherhood.

Once he finished reading it, everyone's eyes turned to me. I was just as confused as everyone else. I looked to Irys for confirmation.

"They want me to assassinate him?" I pointed at the Commander who seemed to find the whole thing amusing. Irys nodded, a grim expression on her face. Ambrose spoke up.

"What makes them think that he will co-operate?"

"They have Yelena." Those three words stabbed through my heart like a poisoned spear. I grabbed the nearest chair and sat down before my legs gave out completely. Collapsing in front of the Generals would do nothing for my reputation. Something from the note kept replaying over in my mind, something that didn't feel right to me.

"What did they mean by 'the first two of many'? Who else do they have?" The men behind Irys, who had remained silent throughout this whole thing, visibly flinched at my query.

"No-one" Shock ran through my heart, a sudden thought making my blood run cold.

"Then she's …?" A sad nod was my only answer.

"And it's…?"

"Yes Valek. Yelena's almost 4 months pregnant with your child"

I know! I wait soooooooo long to update and then I go and do that to you.

What can I say, I'm evil. It is one of my worse habits.

If you want to know how this turns out then I'll need some reviews….Again, I'm evil!

I'm working on it so hopefully I'll have the next chapter up soon so that you wont have to wait as long.

Read, review and please try not to the me too much!

Whiney Smurf XD

PS. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

Here's a rose for everyone who reviews!