Warning: There are subtle references to explicit violence and a situation involving non-consensual sex. I do not describe the act in itself but am describing the aftermath of the sacking of Corsca.

Once over two thirds of the city was secured, Zachary bade the Light Horse and several of the companies to establish a line of defense while he moved forward. Ignoring several attempts by his guard to hold him back, Zachary finally consented to allow Fastion to go ahead of him and also saw fit to disperse the gaggle of aides that followed him like a hound after its master.

Karigan held her position begrudgingly as she watched Zachary approach the city. He disappeared from view, his form obscured by the smoke rolling off of burning buildings.

She waited for what seemed to be an indeterminate amount of time.

Her pulse quickened as she kept her gaze fixed on the damaged oak doors of the city's gates, a tiny voice reminding her that no news was good news.

Brienne shifted her eyes to her queen and observed the tightly clenched fists that held Condor's reins. 'The king is a veteran of war, my Queen. He will be prudent and not put himself at risk.'

Karigan gave a curt nod but continued to glare at the damaged city, almost as if she dared it to take away her husband and liege.

A trickle of wounded soldiers began to make their way out of the gates, some supporting others as they slowly traversed the open plain. Karigan's brow furrowed as she ordered one of the aides to arrange for a site to take the injured to. Healers were already hovering nearby with their mounts but no definite plans had been made for the casualties considering the supposed instability of the area. The nearest copse of trees provided an adequate area for the small supply train that had followed the army to set up a sort of field hospital.

Condor shifted uneasily beneath her as the battle cries intensified, prompting her to soothingly stroke her fingers through his mane. Her jaw clenched as she looked away, the need to charge into the fray warring frantically with her vow to stay disengaged.

Brienne spoke urgently, 'Majesty, look!'

Karigan whipped her head back up and watched another Green Rider gallop at a breakneck speed out of the gate, narrowly missing the foot soldiers who leapt out of the way. She bit her lip, willing the Rider to carry their message to one of the rear commanders. But the Rider made a beeline towards her.

It was the young girl who had spoken to Karigan before she had departed, but the look in her eyes did not speak of fear, only of regret and pity. She opened her mouth to speak but abruptly closed her mouth as she saw the blood drain from her queen's face. Brienne lost her patience watching the exchange and barked at the girl, 'Deliver your message Rider!'

'The k-king asks that you attend to him, at the G'ladheon residence,' the girl stuttered, casting her gaze down at the ground in abject misery. Karigan choked on a sob and dug her heels into Condor's sides, Brienne's cries for her to wait not reaching her ears. She weaved her way through the injured soldiers, bursting through the gates and clearing a pile of fallen stone from a damaged balustrade. Her face blanched once more as she took in the utter destruction and carnage of the streets she once knew.

Bodies were almost stacked on top of each other in the streets; some of fallen soldiers but many of the residents who once lived in the unrecognizable and charred remains of the city quarters. Karigan covered her mouth with her hand, almost gagging at the stench of bodies lying in the sun. She urged Condor forward, coming through to an open market square that once boasted a booming textile trade.

Here, Sacoridian soldiers were using the broken awnings and tents of the vendors to lay those who were too wounded to walk out on their own. A few civilian survivors lay amongst them, their blank faces staring ahead with no emotion.

Tears began to slowly trickle down her face but she resolutely kept Condor going forward, directing her mount through the streets on a route she knew by heart. The wailing and mournful cries rang in her ears as she passed piles of rubble that were once the homes of her neighbors. She stopped in front of the gates of her childhood home, allowing a Weapon to take Condor as she dismounted numbly and slowly walked towards the front door of the mansion.

Karigan reached out with one hand to grasp the knob, noting the splintered wood that indicated it had been opened by force. Steadying herself, she opened the door and pushed it open hesitantly. The front hallway had all but been emptied of its furnishings and had not seen a proper cleaning in some time. There were piles of last autumn's leaves that lay in the corners of the room while cobwebs clung to the ceilings and stairwell.

She took a few steps inside, noting the trail of footprints in the layer of soot that covered the once spotless floor. Following instinct, she followed one rather large trail to the familiar kitchen where she had shared so many memories with her father, her aunts, and finally her husband.

Here there was some light cast by the blazing fireplace, highlighting the small group of individuals who had their faces and bodies turned away from her, all looking at some point on the floor. Panic seized her as she realized she could not find Zachary's face.

Karigan pushed through the throng of people and abruptly stopped as she beheld the almost still body of her father, his head propped up by Zachary's careful hands. Her husband looked up at her solemnly, meeting her tear filled gaze with a direct look. She looked at him, a pleading question in her eyes, but Zachary only softened his gaze, smiled, and gently nodded his head. Karigan swallowed a relieved sob as Stevic breathed shallowly, a rasping noise emitting from his lungs but thankfully without the tell-tale gurgle of blood.

She sank to her knees next to him and reached out with a trembling hand to brush the hair from her father's face. Upon feeling her touch, his eyes fluttered open and met hers. 'Kariny?'

Karigan shook her head slightly, 'No Da, its Karigan,' she said shakily.

Stevic smiled gently, 'Have you finally come to visit again?'

She bit her lip and wiped at her eyes, 'I have, but what sort of trouble have you gotten yourself into?'

Stevic tried to lift a hand dismissively, 'I . . . had an . . . altercation with the point of a sword, specifically that of one of my ship captains.'

Karigan tilted her head in confusion and looked at Zachary, who answered quietly. 'It seems that your father found the informant, who recently had been relaying the news of the escaped children.'

'. . . little . . . swot . . . thought he'd get the better of me,' Stevic chuckled.

'Fastion discovered your father here incapacitated, and the captain upstairs trying to take advantage of one of the remaining maids,' Zachary said lowly.

Karigan lifted her gaze, 'And where is she now?'

The king dropped his gaze and only whispered, 'She is alive. The captain was dealt with.'

Stevic's eyes watched the couple and he tried to speak again, 'What has happened?'

Karigan looked back down at her father, 'Da, why is there no one here besides a few maids? Where are my aunts?'

Stevic frowned, 'The mansion . . . was too exposed. I sent them off to friends in the city, told them to keep their heads down. They are safe as far as I know.'

'Why not send the staff away if no one lives here?'

'Two of the girls, sisters, don't have a home,' he said simply, 'I had them put with a family but was trying to get them smuggled out. Young women in the city know not to show their faces. I got the younger one out but the elder was still hiding up in the attics.'

Karigan looked about her, 'Is she still in the mansion?'

It was Donal who stepped forward, 'Yes, Majesty. Fastion took her to another bedroom and has been watching her since.'

The queen looked back down at her father and peeked underneath the blanket that covered him from the neck down. There was a deep gash across his side that had been packed with liniment and gauze, but the healer that hovered nearby assured her that there had been no organ damage. She looked back at the king, 'What is the next course of action?'

Zachary sighed and looked up at his staff, 'Use the mansion as headquarters for now. Have all messages diverted to this location and establish a suitable perimeter.'

The assembled group all clicked their heels in unison and dispersed, disappearing out the door or into the other areas of the house. Karigan sat back and held Stevic's hand, looking at the pallet that he lay on with uncertainty, 'Would he not be more comfortable up in a bed?

The healer who was minding a kettle of hot water shook his head brusquely, 'This be the warmest room in the house and I have better access to the storeroom, which miraculously has not been damaged.'

Stevic squeezed her hand, 'Would you go check on Tara for me?'

Zachary reached out and stroked Karigan's cheek, 'I will watch him, love.'

She nodded and released Stevic's hand, standing up and carefully taking the offered basin of warm water from the healer. He looked at her sadly, 'The deed was not done but he still left marks on her. I imagine she'll take some comfort from your presence.'

Karigan clutched the porcelain basin to her chest and asked, 'Send Brienne up when she arrives? I know she'll give me an earful for leaving her but I'll need her help.'

The healer nodded and turned back to tending the fire. Karigan offered a smile to Zachary and walked out of the kitchen, noting that someone had dug out some candles and lit the wall scones in the approaching darkness of late afternoon. She carefully climbed the long staircase and nodded to the Weapon posted at the top, who pointed her to one of the guest bedroom doors.

She knocked almost timidly and waited as Fastion opened the door, ushering her in. It was a feat of strength for her to lift her eyes to the curled up figure that lay beneath the covers. Fastion took the basin from her and set it on the small stand where a stack of towels lay. He regarded the individual in the bed with an uncharacteristic expression of worry and helplessness. 'I do not know what to do. She knows I will not hurt her but she has not spoken or moved since I brought her here.'

Karigan laid a land on his arm and spoke under her breath, 'Perhaps you could leave us for now?'

Fastion inclined his head and quietly vacated the bedroom, shutting the door with a barely audible click.

She slowly approached the side of the bed that Sara stared out from and spoke softly, 'Tara?'

There was no answer as that unseeing gaze bore into the faded wallpaper.

Karigan kneeled near the edge of the bed and hesitantly placed her hand on top of the counterpane. Tara's eyes shot down to the hand hovering near her person then to Karigan's face as she cringed.

'You remember me, yes?' Karigan soothed, 'You are safe now.'

Tara's dark eyes stared into hers, 'Is he gone?'

'Dispatched by Fastion,' Karigan replied grimly.

Tara continued to stare at her queen, 'And the city?'

'Mostly secured,' Karigan assured her. 'But I have only just arrived myself.'

Tara's eyes fell as she absorbed this news but she did not speak. Karigan watched her a few moments before asking quietly, 'Would you like anything? Something to eat?'

'Can I bathe?' came the timid request.

'Of course, then we can see about a change of clothing,' Karigan responded gently, reaching out to brush a lock of hair from Tara's eyes that had abruptly filled with tears as her face crumpled. Alarmed, Karigan reached forward and held her as she released her sorrow, fear, and rage at a situation that she would take a long time to come to terms with.

It was several hours later than Karigan returned downstairs, tired and emotionally drained. Fastion had found Brienne, who took up a position near Tara's side at the queen's request. It was true that Brienne was more than irritated with the queen's previous actions, but it had dissolved and morphed into a protective rage when she saw Tara's bruised face.

The large kitchen table, usually a place of companionship and laughter, was covered with a large print of the city, block by block. General Isleigh looked up from the map and acknowledged Karigan as he held his left arm in a makeshift sling. Most surprisingly of all was the presence of Yolandhe, who was in conversation on the floor with her father. The healer bristled at the intruder who was keeping his patient from rest but Yolandhe simply patted the young man on the cheek and continued her conversation with Stevic. General Isleigh looked up and gave the sea witch an almost fond smile as she sipped her chipped mug of tea.

Zachary stood in the open doorway, only in the trousers and long-sleeved undershirt he wore under armor, highlighted by the late afternoon sun as he gazed out into the back courtyard. A light cool breeze blew into the room, strangely smelling of the heather that grew east of the city and of a pungent wood smoke. An emerging spring mingling with that of a broken city.

Karigan picked up an overturned chair and sat down wearily, accepting a mug from an aide as she stared off vacantly into space. After a few minutes, Yolandhe grabbed another chair and carefully sat down next to Karigan. 'And how are you faring my dear?'

'Better than some I suppose,' came Karigan's half-heartened response, as she held a hand to a throbbing head.

'You look rather pale, I do hope you haven't neglected your appetite,' Yolandhe said with a touch of motherly concern.

Karigan took a sip of the comforting tea, 'I haven't felt much like eating since yesterday. Too much tension in the camp.'

Yolandhe wrinkled her nose and looked up at Zachary, who had turned around to gaze at the pair of them. 'It is your particular responsibility to look after each other, it is important that she take care of herself,' she said reprovingly.

Zachary gave a faint smile, 'I can certainly understand the disinclination to eat but now I understand you are right, my lady. I will certainly endeavor to do as you instruct.'

'Good', Yolandhe declared with satisfaction. 'Now, on to other matters. My weyr flight leaders report that all vessels in the harbor have been destroyed. Even the unmarked ones. They felt it was best not to take chances that some of those rats jumped ship.'

Zachary nodded, 'There are no reports of Amberhill in the city, were the weyrs able to ascertain his whereabouts?'

Yolandhe sighed, 'Not quite. His flagship was sunk but no one can say for certain if he went down with it.'

General Isleigh spoke gruffly, 'The curmudgeon would not die so easily.'

'Agreed,' Zachary spoke resolutely, 'And thus we will continue to search while the city is cleansed. Have a Rider sent back to Sacor City with news of the army's defeat. Advise all to be on their guard these next few weeks.'

Karigan ran a finger along the rim of her mug, 'And us?'

Zachary walked over to her slowly and took her free hand, running his fingers across her palm. 'You shall immediately go back to Sacor City while I start the rebuilding of the city's basic services.'

Her eyebrows slammed down as she looked up at him with a startled expression. 'So soon?'

He sank down in front of her and placed his arms over her knees, 'I need you back in the capital to help with the fallout of this mess. And as Yolandhe said, you need to recuperate and take a bit better care of yourself.'

Karigan slid her mug onto the table and glanced back at him, 'Practical I suppose, but I am only a little tired. I hardly need to be confined to a sick bed.'

'You've had a tired and drawn look long before the events of today,' he reminded her softly. 'Yolandhe has recently confirmed some suspicions I had held.'

The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, 'Oh? Am I too thin? I assure you my appetite will pick back up.'

A tender look came into his eyes as he brought her hand to his lips. 'Of that I am sure. I had almost not noticed myself but think clearly my love, when was the last time you had your courses? It has been the better part of two months. I think you are carrying our child, Kari.'

Karigan's mouth parted slightly as her eyes widened and her head tilted. 'Come again?'

You knew I'd do this. I just wanted it to be a surprise to her. I have a plot twister in regards to the 'time' she has been a true married woman and the contraceptives.

She has been so pre-occupied with this war; she wouldn't have noticed the signs. Which of course are not standard for every child-bearing female.