Chapter 32: New Crisis

After a week on the road, the Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan and her squire, Adalia of Pirate's Swoop, were fast approaching the town of New Hope.

Kel and Adalia had split off from Third Company two days ago, with one squad that was under Kel's command for the duration of their time at New Hope.

Adalia was observing Kel take out her spyglass and sweep the area, focusing on something in the distance. She was talking to Sora, who was excited to be going somewhere they hadn't been before.

All persons in the party were eager to get off the road and wash off the layers of dirt that they had accumulated since their departure from Corus. Adalia flicked hair out of her eyes and attempted to win a bet. "Are we there yet?" She whined to her knight master.

She saw Kel tense and clench her jaw, but the knight said nothing. Adalia had been suspicious that Kel knew of the bet she had going on with the soldiers – that she wouldn't be able to annoy Kel so that she lost her temper – and it seemed as though she was keeping her temper to make sure Adalia lost. It wasn't fair. Adalia would bet one of the soldiers saw fit to inform Kel because they knew she would want to make sure she lost. At least it was fun taunting Kel without any unsightly backlash. It was almost worth the five silver nobles for that joy. Ok, maybe it was worth it. Especially since Adalia had a sneaking suspicion that Kel was imagining strangling her.

Adalia was trying to think of another way to annoy Kel when the party rounded a corner and came into view of a fortified village. The main settlement was astonishingly raised forty feet above the rest of the ground, and was surrounded by a large wall covered in countless battle flags and shields. In the area around the centre of the village were farms and houses, which were protected by a smaller outer wall that surrounded all the houses, also decorated with battle flags from what looked like Scanran origins. As they approached the outer wall, a trumpet call rang out. The guardsmen had noticed the squad, and were being cautious.

Kel nodded to Caleb, who trumpeted the call for friend. The gates swung open, and Adalia was surprised to see that there was a welcoming committee. No doubt they had been informed of the Protector of the Small's impending arrival.

Steve poked Adalia in the middle of her back. She turned her head to glare at the men following her, but they wouldn't look away. They held out their hands, and Adalia sighed and fished into her belt purse, taking out their winnings. She placed the coins in their hands and then turned back to be inspecting the faces lingering at the gates. It was fun while it lasted…

Accepting her disappointment, Adalia followed Kel's lead and dismounted from Sora. An old woman approached with a raised eyebrow. "Lady Kel. I thought we had weaned this mothering out of you by now."

Kel grinned genuinely, "Headwoman Fanche! You know, the funny thing about that is that the King placed me here, so I'm stuck here until the Third take out the bandits."

The two women shook hands and Fanche turned to Adalia, "Hello squire." She smiled slightly as she scrutinised Adalia, and then gestured to a young man, "Kalum will show you to the bathhouses and then the barracks."

Adalia followed Kel in a different direction to the woman's bathhouse, all the while attempting to take in every detail of the sprawling town. People all over were waving cheerfully to Kel, even stopping in the street for a short chat. Kel didn't get annoyed with any of them, even though she was travel weary.

.xXXx.

It had been three weeks since they arrived and nothing had occurred that warranted Kel's commanding skills.

It was extremely early in the morning, and Adalia was trailing behind Kel. Kel had forced Adalia to help her give lessons to the children who wanted to learn the staff – it was one of her ways to get back at Adalia for being aggravating on the ride to New Hope.

"This is good isn't it, Adalia?" Kel asked brightly.

Adalia groaned, "Shut up."

Kel smiled and continued, "Yes, all this fresh air is brilliant."

"Shut up."

Kel chuckled, "I don't know why you would rather be in bed. Who would want to miss the time where lots of people are asleep? The streets are empty and there is room to breathe."

"Shut up."

Kel shook her head, still grinning, "Really, you should be more happy about waking up early. You have been doing it for at least five years. Training the children is fun to do, not to mention it gives you a chance to go back over the basics…"

Adalia groaned and glared at Kel, saying angrily, "Why won't you shut up!?"

Kel was going to respond pleasantly, but a trumpet sounded from the outer gate. There were people approaching New Hope. Kel shared a look with Adalia, who was suddenly wide-awake, and they took off running towards the gate. They were a fair way away, being on the raised ground, which was the centre of town. Kel bit her lip, "Adalia, could you call Hoshi and Anika to us? We could ride them bare back."

Adalia nodded, and at that moment an answering call came out, trumpeting friend. The two kept running; it could always be a trap. A few minutes later Hoshi and Anika came cantering around the corner, having jumped the paddock fence.

A short time later, Kel and Adalia were at the gate, which was being opened. They were both shocked to see most of Third Company, with Dom and Numair at the lead. Only Dom and Numair rode in, and went straight to Kel.

Adalia saw a pale Numair and immediately felt that something was wrong. Before either could say anything, Kel said, "Dom, what's happening? Did you get the bandits? Numair, why are you here? We haven't had any news at all."

Dom looked grim, "We got them two weeks ago, a week after you left our party. That hasn't been the problem… hmmm. You've really had no news?" He seemed nervous.

Kel shook her head. Adalia had the distinct feeling that something really bad had happened. "No, Dom. I just told you. We've had no news for the entire three weeks."

Dom looked pointedly at Numair. He cleared his throat and said miserably, "I'm here because Rye was kidnapped."

Kel and Adalia's eyes widened. Adalia went white, "What!? He is a damn mage! How the hell can he get taken?"

Numair's hand went through his rumpled hair, "I know… Adalia, do you remember the black robe mage I had a duel with; Justin Grenike?"

Adalia nodded mutely, horror rising.

"He was extremely mad that I won… I just didn't know how mad until a few days afterwards. We had always had a rivalry, but it wasn't unfriendly… obviously it was, but…"

"Get to the point Numair." Dom said.

Numair sighed, "He kidnapped Rye. The thing is, he's demanding I give him my magic, and then he'll give Rye back."

"But you can't do that! He could take over all of Tortall with both your magic combined!" Kel cut in.

Numair nodded minutely, "I know that. That's why we are going to take him on. The problem is that he has hired a guard and has mages with him, backing him up. I've had a look at the place, it is an abandoned house, but it has every kind of protection on it. There is no way we are getting in there. With all those mages hanging around, by the time I break one section of its defences, they will have created more to back it up." He was miserable.

Dom said, "Third Company is going to attempt take out the guard, which is at least forty strong; they have set up camps protecting the house from different directions. The King wants Kel to Command one side of the assault."

"So, if we aren't giving Numair's power over, how are we going to rescue Rye?" Kel asked.

Numair looked at Adalia, "There is only one person who could get through the magic defences without getting killed."

Adalia knew exactly what he was getting at. Violet eyes glinted with determination and fury; "I'll get Rye back. I know I can. While I'm at it I'll show Justin what happens when he messes with Tortall."

Numair looked relieved, "Thankyou. I told Jon you would do it."

Adalia nodded, her face set with determination. "I'll save Rye."

.xXXx.

Well, that's the end. Sorry it's such a short chapter. I also label it the worst. I had (still have) the most horrible writer's block ever – I think my brain has gone on holiday – so I am extremely sorry about how crap this chapter is. It luckily managed to get the main point across – crazy mage has kidnapped Rye because he wants to take over Tortall (or be the most powerful mage in the world), quite possibly both.

Seriously, it was either post this crap or throw my laptop out the window and abandon the story. So there we go. The good/bad thing is this story is getting closer to being finished! I swear the next chapter will be a million times better than this. Writer's block sucks. Don't attack me.