Hi guys, sorry it's taken me so long to update. I've been sick and I've also got a fair bit of school to catch up on, so there will probably be another gap between this chapter and the next one.

I am sorry but I've got to get caught up with school.

Thank you very much Shang Leopard and Tishica I got your reviews but they didn't show up on the site and wouldn't let me reply to them…I did delete my Authors Note so I'm wondering if that had something to do with it……..

Anyways please review and let me know what you think of this one!

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I woke very early the next morning before the sun had appeared and well before the birds had woken. We had to be at the docks before light to load some more cargo, so the early wakening was needed.

Slipping my feet out of the warm bed to land on the cold floor was a wake up. I rose carefully as to not wake Pounce and walked to the dressing table. I lit the lantern and watched my reflection in the mirror.

The uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach was still there, twisting and turning.

I am really here. This is really happening. This is who I am.

I picked up the knife that was lying on the dresser and cut my long hair. It would be a hindrance, even with the spikes. I would not have the time or energy to do anything with it.

I watched as the long strands fell to the floor and then studied the person in the mirror. The blonde hair was above her shoulders and framed her face. It didn't look like me.

I sighed and started getting dressed, strapping the knives to my thighs and across my kidneys.

I had just finished pulling a plain loose tunic over my dark breeches when my door opened and Anna slipped inside.

She was surprised to see me awake and ducked her head.

"I was comin' t' wake ye' Mistress." She explained.

She was about the same height as Tyron and I, a tad shorter mayhap, and had light brown hair and bright green eyes. "Commander Domain told me t' fetch ye', ye' are 't leave in an hour."

"It's alright Anna, and I'm Beka." I really wasn't used to the titles.

She smiled. "Aye' then, Beka it is."

We stood in silence for a moment and by the way she fidgeted I guessed she had sommat else to tell me.

"Would ye' do sommat for me Mistress..ah Beka?" She turned a scarlet colour as she asked.

"Of course."

"Would ye' bring me back my Tyron? He….I…." She stumbled over the words for a moment afore she gave up and took a deep breath. "I know that you can't be just looking out for him, and he's perfectly able to look after himself…"

I understood what she was saying. She wanted him to live.

"I promise to do my best Anna, I don't want any of them to…." I trailed off, I knew that some of us wouldn't come home alive, but I couldn't help hoping we'd all make it.

She nodded and offered me another understanding smile before she left.

I sighed deeply, grabbed my belt and tied it around my waist, it felt odd to have a sword on either hip and daggers instead of my baton and a couple of knives. I tucked two daggers into the top of each high top boot and left my room.

Pounce trotted beside me, he hadn't said a word all morning, but having him near me was helping to calm my growing nerves.

I headed to the dining room where Giles, Mary, Dom, Tyron and Myra all sat. They nodded to me as I entered and I took a seat next to Giles.

"Is everything ready?" I asked as a maid dished eggs and bacon onto the plate in front of me.

"Yes, everything is set. Once you get to the docks the crates on the wagon waiting out the front will be loaded onto the ship. Most of our people are already there with the boat and the few left that are going will act as guards to the wagon." Giles answered as he watched us over his tea cup.

Dom stuffed more egg into his already full mouth and nodded. Myra and I scrunched up our noses in disgust.

He looked at me and shrugged. "You never know the next time you'll be fed."

"You're disgusting." I stated.

He gave me a toothy grin and returned to his food.

After breakfast we headed to the front yard where the horses, wagon and men waited. There were only nine guards but too many would look suspicious, three were mounted, four would walk and the other two would sit on the wagon.

"Now you be careful, my dear." Mary grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face her. "You come home again, I'll miss you." She had tears in her eyes but they didn't fall.

"I'll try." I whispered as she pulled me into a hug.

She gently pushed me back but still held onto me. From a pocket in her dress she pulled out a hair pin. It was blue and black and shaped like a rose, the petals were blue and the leaves were black.

She pushed it gently up into my hair above my left ear showing my birthmark. I was about to point this out but she beat me to it.

"Your mother would have been so proud of you, child." She whispered to me, brushing a strand of hair from my eyes. "You have nothing to be ashamed of Beka, there is nothing wrong with who you are. Always remember that. Don't think of your difference as a curse child, it is a gift that you can use how ever you wish. We are proud of you and we love you, no matter what happens."

I nodded wordlessly as she smiled sadly and kissed my forehead. Giles hugged me and told me to be careful. I don't think he's a man of many words.

We said goodbye to Myra and Anna and mounted our horses. Pounce leapt up in front of me and curled up against my stomach. Giles rolled his eyes as Dom kind of deflated.

"The hair ball is coming?" He guessed. I nodded and he groaned.

Chuckling to myself as I pulled up my hood, we made our way through the city towards the docks.

The streets at this hour were pretty much deserted so our ride was quiet and peaceful.

Upon our arrival at the docks it wasn't hard to guess which boat was ours. Apart from a few fishing boats there was only one large boat there. Not to mention the people that were on it. Dressed in black and carrying crates up the ramp was also a good give away.

The boat itself was huge, much larger then the one we took to Port Caynn anyway. The crates that were being loaded were filled with food, water, charms, other healing supplies and weapons.

Everything we might need for war.

Another smaller boat would follow us and make weekly trips back here with the worst wounded and to top up on supplies if it was needed.

We slid off the horses and I pushed the hood back as we approached. Everyone stopped and watched us, they bowed their heads and I realised that most of them hadn't seen me yet.

"Keep going, the quicker we get away the quicker we'll get home." Dom called and they continued with what they were doing.

"You know your going to have to give the orders sometime." He muttered to me as we walked up the ramp.

"I know." I replied as we walked up the stairs from the main deck to the captain's cabin.

Tryon and I went over the many maps spread across the large wooded desk in the quarters, which Dom had informed me were mine. While he went and kept a check on the loading.

The island wasn't huge, but you couldn't see one side from the other either. It was relatively flat but was covered in forest. There was a small bay on the opposite side of Father's camp where we could anchor the boats and would be protected from rough seas in a storm.

The first wave of attach would be to our advantage, giving us the upper hand to start with. After that it would just be a matter of keeping it.

We exited the cabin and returned to the main deck. I glanced up at the look out to see it was empty.

Tyron and I parted as he went to help Dom and I climbed the set of stairs that lead to the small deck above my cabin.

I watched the people under my command as they took the crates and barrels down to the hold.

Then out of the corner of my eye I noticed movement on the docks between the buildings. I squinted at the dully lit building and into the shadows. A flash of steel glittered for a second and then disappeared.

A watcher. I thought only for a second before cursing quietly and swinging myself over the rail and landing on the main deck.

One of Father's watchers.

I darted between crates and people, down the ramp and along the dock and just as I was about to step onto the main land an arm reached out and grabbed me around the waist.

It was so fast I didn't see it coming.

I whipped around in my captors hold ready to knock them out cold only to find myself staring into the familiar dark eyes.

"Rosto?" I breathed.

He grinned. "What's the hurry?"

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Well? How was it??

I don't know too much about boats, so sorry if it isn't to clear of a picture of what it looks like.

I know this one is shorter then the others, and it was kind of rushed. But as I said at the start I'm really busy.

Pretty please with sugar on top press the button and tell me what you think, and hopefully it'll show up and let me reply this time…….

Until next time.

xXAngelStormXx