DISCLAIMER: See previous chapters, so GET OFF MY BLOODY CASE!

Hey everyone, I'm back! (yay)

I've been really out of it lately, what with Verse and Prose, Commonwealth Essay (which I continue tomorrow) and the like. Maybe I'll put in an Author's Note chapter when I get my essay back and write it in for all of you to get a bit of feedback (it's a short story really, not a boring essay). Tell me what you think about that one.

For the record, my abysmal Harry Potter fanfiction entitled 'A New Life' (which I wrote when I was twelve I'll have you know) will be shortly removed from the site, so if you want to read it, you had better do it soon.

I'm sorry to say that I will be temporarily putting 'Returns and Mistakes' on hold, at least until I finish this particular story. On a happier note, 'a Rider from a Lady' will be soon finished, giving way for the third part entitled... you actually thought that I would tell you? Wait and see. Actually, I think that this may be the last chapter.

Shout outs this chapter go to two people. To the yet nameless cousin of my beloved beta 'Stealth Jade Jr', for being my first guy reader, and to 'Shadowface', for being my first guy reviewer. I'll check up on the Author's Note chapters, but for now, let it go. I'm still wondering about what kind of guys actually read Tamora Pierce books, let alone read fanfiction. Not that that's a bad thing or anything. I like comments from all around.

Song of the Chapter: Invitations by Secret Garden (it's an instrumental piece, but it's the one that I figure skate to, and I have a few competitions coming really soon, so I need to get ready).

By the way, I slipped in a bit of Macbeth in there. How many of you can see it?

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The rest of the summer passed quickly for the Rider trainees. Soon they were back in Corus, in time for the fall and winter social season, much to Buri and Alanna's dismay. Thankfully the Lady Knight left soon after. Unfortunately for Kel, she took Neal with her.

The rest of the training weeks at Pirate's Swoop had pass more or less uneventfully. The Rider trainees improved quickly and, to the joy of the trainers, none of them dropped out.

Kel was uneasy for the rest of the time. Most of the others were constantly stealing glances at her, as though calculating her worth and placing her. It substantially unnerved the tall girl, who had yet to accept her obvious talent for leadership and commanding.

Most knights and squires were in the northern fiefs fighting raiders, bandits, and Scanran armies. Though Kel knew that her friends from the palace would be returning shortly for their Ordeals.

It hurt Kel whenever she though of her friends' Ordeals. She was happy for them, that they all made it through the training for eight long years, and would soon become knights, but whenever she passed the stairwell that led to the Chapel, it burned her heart that she wouldn't be with them to suffer with them and to encourage them, and sympathize with each of them.

In the palace, when the trainees waited, only desk knights, the monarchs and the pages remained, along with one or two squads from the King's Own. Unfortunately, none of them held Neal's cousin.

oooooooooooooooo

That evening, all seven of the trainees, Kel, Brekke, Colleen, Flanna, Quinn, Conner, and Trysten were eating their meal together in the Rider's mess. They would be assigned to a group, or to several groups after the meal that night, and each of them were waiting to find out if they would be split up or not. They had grown substantially closer over the weeks at Pirate's Swoop, following the attack, and were now closer then most families, all seven of them.

Kel absently pushed meat around her plate, lost in thought. She wanted desperately to be put with her friends, though she knew that she would accept wherever she was placed, and with whomever.

She was thinking deeply as the others talked quietly. She was exactly where she had wanted to be, in a position to fight and defend herself. Well, not exactly where she had wanted, that would have been as a soon to be knight as Lady Alanna's squire, though the Riders were a more than acceptable substitute. Though the more she thought about it, the more she wondered if this was truly what she wanted. She had spent more than six years being told that she couldn't do anything, and to give up trying, to be a calm and docile wife to whatever lord or noble her parents chose. 'What's done is done' they had always told her, 'There's nothing more you can reach'. Maybe they were right. Maybe she didn't belong as a fighter.

Don't think like that, Kel. Brekke's voice came to her.

How do you know what I was thinking of? Kel countered.

It's written all over your face, Keladry. You belong here; this is what you're meant to do. Keladry, listen to me. You are the Protector of the Small. That title wasn't given lightly by a number of unknowing peasants. This is what you were born to do, and you will be a real hero to all women if you do succeed. Brekke's voice was calm and reassuring.

What do you mean by that? Kel asked stubbornly.

Brekke let out a mild sigh beside her, then spoke aloud. "Because you stuck it through when no one else would. Listen to me Kel, and listen well. You tried openly for your shield when no one else had the courage, not even Lady Alanna." Kel opened her mouth to protest that Lady Alanna was the first girl to try out for her shield, and didn't have the opportunity.

Colleen continued for her sister. By now, all of the trainees were observing the talk with interest. They all knew Kel's story. "She's right Kel, and Lady Alanna would be the first to admit it. Her page training was easier, far easier than yours was."

"Lord Wyldon kicked you out, we know." Brekke took up again"But you didn't give up, not at all. We saw what you did for your squire friends in their second year. And you know exactly what you did at the age of fourteen, even if you refuse to admit it even to yourself. Fourteen, Keladry, and already you had a title for yourself. Not one born to you, even but one that you earned yourself, thirty times over."

"And then," Colleen said, gazing at her earnestly. "Even when the Convent left you with nothing, you still didn't give up without a fight. you went through all of that and you're a Rider now. Maybe it's not what you wanted. Maybe it's not a title as glorious as being a Lady Knight, but it certainly isn't something to laugh at. You belong right here beside us and leading us, Kel. You fought hand, tooth, and nail to get here, and all six of us, and everyone else you knew would walk to the Black God's Realms and back before we saw you give this up, just because of what the convent Daughters told you." Colleen's face was devoid of any sympathy. Kel knew that she was serious.

Flanna's voice was kinder"Kel, we all want to see you finish what you started. Please don't leave us now."

Kel's gaze fell back to her plate, and she hid an embarrassed blush. The rest of the trainees, recognizing her acceptance of what they said, resumed their previous discussions.

To anyone who had known Kel previously, her thoughts about not belonging would seem strange, but after six years of being forced to doubt herself, it would take a long time to regain her sense of self respect and self confidence that had once been her strongest and most admirable point.

Suddenly, an unearthly voice, unlike anything she had ever heard before filled her mind. Keladry of Mindelan, Protector of the Small. There was a tone of desperation, of insistence in the notes. You have to come to me tonight. Too long have you shunned your destiny. Come and claim it for yourself. Kel was confused. Obviously this was something magical. She glanced around, but no one showed any indication o having heard.

Suddenly an image flared painfully in her mind, such that she clasped a hand over her mouth to keep from crying out in pain.

"Kel" asked six concerned voices at once, but she couldn't hear them. Her mind was fixed on the focusing image displayed in her mind.

A middle aged man, Scanran or Gallan in appearance was bending over an old fireplace, gazing into the empty space where a fire had burned moments before. She could hear behind him the cries of children. Boys, girls, Scanran, Gallan, Tortallan, Tusaine, Tyran, every race in the Eastern Lands, though primarily Tortallan. Slowly, he reached to his belt and drew a long ornamental dagger, already stained dark red with old blood.

As soon as the image came, it left her. Kel sat up straight, the pain in her head gone. Brekke sent her an alarmed glance, and opened her mouth to speak, but at that moment, Buri and Onua stood up, commanding attention from the trainees and the few scattered Riders on leave in the mess.

"Trainees, I know that you have been waiting for long weeks to find out where we have placed you." There was a murmur of assent, and even the full Riders looked up in interest. Buri continued, "First of all, we wish to tell you the new arrangements of the Riders. We have reduced to twenty groups of eight each. That's nearly the same number of groups, but less Riders in each group."

Onua picked up"We believe that loyalty is the best quality in all fighting groups, Rider, army, King's Own, or knight groups. We don't want to split any of you from each other, as you have shown considerable talent in working as a group. We have given the seven of you the title of the Eighteenth Rider Group, Sarge has aptly named you the Queen's Hope."

There was a collective gasp through the trainees. They always split trainees to learn from different groups. Brekke's excited voice rang through the other three's minds.

Don't complain, Colleen said, equally excited, I don't want to leave any of you.

"However" Sarge had now stood up. "We have named Keladry of Mindelan as commander of the group, viewing her talents, and her previous practices as such. Though we have assigned an experienced Rider commander to instruct you lot for the first three months of your careers. After that, you're on your own, so make sure you learn carefully. Dismissed."

The trainees excitedly ran from the mess hall, to the outdoor practice courts. They all sat together under a shaded tree in a secluded corner.

"I can't believe it." Calm Flanna was agitated, "I wonder why they put us on our own."

"We might be switched groups after a spell though." Quinn reasoned. "Maybe this is to try us out as the 'Queen's Hope'"

"I wonder who our supervisor will be." Conner was thoughtful.

"Congratulations Kel, on reaching commander status." Brekke said brightly. "I know you hate to admit it, Protector, but you really have a knack of getting us out of a tight situation. Remember that, Tyne" Kel laughed slightly, as did the others, hesitantly. Brekke explained what she had discovered about Kel's defeat of the Scanrans at her Convent. They also laughed and smiled at the red faced girl.

Colleen was the only one who was quiet and pensive. "You know, I think that if we're to live and fight together, Brekke, Kel, Quinn and I should tell you about our bond." Colleen looked at her three friends, who each nodded, then at Flanna, Trysten and Conner, who looked nothing short of utterly confused.

Colleen began to explain about her gift and their experiment. Kel's attention fluttered as the same unearthly voice filled her mind.

Protector of the Small, Keladry of Mindelan. This time it was more insistent. You shun what you were born to be. The Gods must intervene and set back the path that should have been trod by you. you must come soon to claim your destiny. Fate has pulled tricks on the Gods and led you astray. Now you must regain your proper destiny. Come soon.

The voice faded and Kel focused back to the conversation at hand in time to hear Colleen's last words.

"And now I believe that it would be best if we were to tie you to all of us, to closer knit ourselves." Kel nodded absently. Flanna, Trysten and Conner looked briefly at each other, then turned to Colleen and nodded.

Brekke smiled, the reached to her belt, businesslike. She pulled out a short dagger, then laid it to the skin of her palm. "This may hurt, but as none of you have any substantial enough magic for this to work, we must do this through blood. When you cut, you have to place a piece of yourself in the blood. Memories, Feelings, anything that's you." She pulled swiftly back with the blade, leaving a thin cut which seeped red liquid through her palm.

"This is the exact same magic performed by the Bazhir tribesmen to commune themselves with the Voice." Colleen reassured them. Slowly, the blade was passed around, and each of them hesitated then cut. Everyone reached around and clased palms with the others around the circle, until all of their bloods were within each other.

In her own blood, Kel laid along with her Convent memories, also the new ones she had acquired as a Trainee, among her friends and now blood brothers and sisters.

When they joined hands and Colleen infused it with the spell of binding, shining with her blue and green Gift, Kel felt a myriad of emotions and feelings reach her. Some were familiar, and some distant.

They broke and Brekke reach around the circle, healing the wounds, though leaving faint scars as memory of their bond.

Suddenly the ethereal voice came louder and stronger in Kel's mind. Now is time. You must come to me now. I will lead you properly. The Gods have intervened for far too long.

Kel stood up as Colleen and Brekke had begun to explain the effects of the bond. "I have to go for now." She managed to gasp out, keeping hr voice as neutral as possible.

The others looked confused and slightly suspicious, but smiled at her to leave.

Kel hurried from the practice courts, not having the faintest idea of where she was headed. To her amazement, she was drawn inadvertently to the Palace, to a small side door.

Out of site of the guards and her friends, she tore off at a run to the door and raced inside. Once inside the Palace, she slowed her pace slightly and walked along the corridors, closing her eyes and letting the subconscious pull guide her around corridors and down flights of stairs.

She had entered an old abandoned cold room, and was halfway down the length when she stopped. Directly in front of her was a tall stone door, forbidding looking. Her eyes widened as she realized what she was looking at.

"The Chamber of the Ordeal." she whispered to the darkness. What was she doing here?

It took here a moment to realize that while she had been momentarily stunned, her legs had brought her to the door, and she was reaching out for the handle.

Quickly, she snatched her hand back. No, squires died in the Chamber when they weren't ready. She wouldn't join them, just on some foolish suspicion.

The air seemed to sigh around her, and Kel felt her hand forcefully drawn to the brass doorknob. Against her better judgment, she grasped and turned it, flinging the door open.

What in Mithros' name am I doing here? She asked herself as her legs brought her of their own accord up the steps and into the Chamber. She jumped as the door slammed itself shut, leaving her in darkness.

Well, Protector, you finally came. It seems to have taken a great deal of persuasion on my part. The Chamber seemed to laugh on all sides. Kel was nothing short of terrified for her life and sanity.

"It was you" she said. "You brought me here."

That I did. It was high time that the Gods set Fate straight. She has a twisted sense of humour, if this is the result. Thankfully, you are here now, and I can show you what you need to know.

An image formed in front of Kel, on the floor of the Chamber. She bent over to see it better.

In front of her was the same man she a caught an image of before. He was a short nothing of a man, hardly worth anyone's while. Another man, taller and broader was walking up to him and bowed, as a servant would greet his master.

"My lord, Blayce. I have brought more for you to use." The man's speech was slow, and the accent suggested Scanran heritage, though the tongue was Common.

"Very well, Stenmun, you may leave." The small Nothing Man waved the servant away.

Kel's image expanded, and a number of dark objects came into view behind Blayce. They were tall and metallic, and there were at least a dozen of them. Kel's eyes widened in horror as she recognized the Killing Devices, one of which had been brought to Corus to be studied by scholars and mages.

However it was the dark pile that lay between Blayce and the monsters that drew Kel's attention. Laid on the ground carelessly were a dozen small still figures, children covered in a dark liquid which looked horribly like blood.

Kel bit back a scream of shock and terror and stepped backwards into a wall, closing her eyes. The light disappeared and the ethereal voice returned.

You see? The voice asked Kel. This is what you must strive to destroy. The gods were forced to intervene, and as you were the one destined to defeat this force, I had to summon. Now you may understand fully your destiny and you will achieve it.

The voice disappeared, and Kel felt a presence leave the Chamber. It would not do well to argue now. She noticed that a small doorknob had appeared on one of the walls. Slowly and trembling, Kel reached out and opened the door.

Stumbling out of the Chamber, Kel was surprised at what awaited her. Her new Rider-mates were all waiting outside in the Chapel for her. She gasped in surprise.

"What are you lot doing here" she asked.

"We know what you did in there." Brekke said, ignoring her question. "We saw what you saw through your mind."

"I can't believe it Kel," Flanna said, "Some unprepared squires die in the Chamber. You never had any training."

"What does this mean" Quinn asked carefully.

Kel looked around at all of her friends in turn, each of which looked at her utterly confused and a little afraid of the Rider girl who had emerged from her Ordeal unscathed. Respect radiated all around her, as did fear and confusion.

"I don't know." Kel sat on the stairs. "I really don't know what they want me to do.

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TO ALL MY REVIEWERS:

Yay, that's over. That was the last chapter of 'A Rider From a Lady". The next and last part of the story will be... "A Commander From a Rider"! It will run essentially parallel to Lady Knight, except in the places where the King's Own comes in, it will be the Riders instead, see?

The next part may be a bit in coming out, because I have to nick my best friend's copy of Lady Knight in order to reread it.

I absolutely had to put in something with the Chamber of the Ordeal. I mean if in Squire and Lady Knight, Kel's destiny was so important that the gods (namely the Chamber) had to intervene, then it would be pressing enough in this story, see?

I've lost a bit of my flow in writing, so it may take a few chapters to get it back. Apologies in advance for less-than-good writing.

peace and see you all soon.

Alanna