-The Spy, who loved me -

Akono sat beside Aly and looked at her worriedly.

"You ready? " Aly nodded to her and held up her hand to Sivan, signaling him to be ready. And she signed to the two men-at-arms by the door. "If her tries anything wait for my signal boys. Don't attack off orders; if you do he won't ever talk.

"Take off the spell. " Aly said showing no fear, though a part of her was shaking like a little girl who'd seen a ghost.

Akono raised her hand and the spells over the man's mouth dissolved. He breathed hard and gasped for air, and turned his head around trying to figure out why he couldn't see. Once he realized he was blindfolded, the man stayed completely still.

"Why did you people silence me?" He asked his deep voice, which seemed extremely familiar.

"A simple safety precaution." Aly added wryly, she would not let this man manipulate her.

"Will you at least remove these two guards behind me, you do not need them lass."

"A wise man once told me that even the finest spies needs protection, even if it's from themselves." The man smiled, a smile she felt as if she'd seen about a million times.

Suddenly the man's body shot into the air like a bullet. It seemed as if he had undone the spell-corded rope at his wrists. Sivan, and Aly's other guards, flinched and strained but remembered her orders.

Aly stood, and wondered why a man in his position would dare to try a stunt like that.

"I can't believe that you'd quote me back myself, my little Aly." The stranger removed his blindfold, and revealed an older but revived face, which was framed in creases. A pair of greenish-hazel eyes gleamed back at her, as he pushed a strand of salt and pepper hair from his face.

It only took a second for Aly to realize who the stranger was, and as soon as she did, her face lit up with a vast smile.

"Da!" She ran to the man and gave him a tight hug, which squeezed her ribs.

"Duani, I don't think hugging you prisoners is very smart." Sivan said raising an eyebrow and giving her a distant look of annoyance.

Aly left her father's grasp, "You idiots! This is my father!"

There wasn't a face in the room that wasn't confused and they began whispering amongst themselves.

"Excuse me, lads can I have a moment or two alone with my daughter?" Sivan, Akono, and the men-at-arms stood their ground. Aly raised her hands and signaled: "Boy's get out! I want to be alone with my father." She motioned them out, and soon only Sivan remained.

"I do not trust this man, Duani. I chased him down across the docks, he knifed one of my men."

"Sivan, I'm a big girl, I can handle myself."

Sivan shot a harsh look at George Cooper and then strode out of the room.

"Da! I can't believe you're in the Copper Isles! Why are you here!!" George Cooper smiled at his daughter, and put his big hands on her shoulders.

"Well, I got a letter not only from Nawat, but from the Queen of the Copper Isles, that both begged me to come and visit you what was I supposed to do!"

Aly laughed, "Remind me to thank Dove later." She thought happily.

"Well where's Myles? You know you're no the only reason I came to visit!" She smiled once more; her father adored his only grandson.

"Myles is with Gichio back at the Nest. We can ride down there, and while we do, you have to tell what you did to Sivan to make him so fussy! George Cooper raised an eyebrow.

"I think that can be arranged."

-&-

An arrow let fly by his ear; a whoosh, beside his head. Another was being aimed beside him, at the enemy men-at-arms who had spears aimed at Nawat and his men at the top of the fort's walls. Suddenly, Nawat raised his hand in a single raka salute.

One by one his men's flaming arrows released and the enemy's men fell to the ground each with at least two arrows in their hearts. The Queen's Fletcher's and Archers had killed at least 30 men all at once with only about two rounds of arrows. The revolt's had sent 33 men to attack Taniar Castle.

Nawat would have been proud of his men, but he knew not to be arrogant too soon, or even ever. The revolter's had kidnapped about three raka mages and forced them through a blood oath, the mages could have anything up their sleeves.

He signaled for his men to put down their weapons. He raised his own bow. He grabbed a solitary Stormwing arrow from his bow bag. He aimed it at the enemy's last remaining, as he did each of them stood and raised their hands in the air and cried out. He nodded to his men on the ground, who grabbed the three men remaining men and took them inside the fort. He asked the rest of them to send a message to the enemy's commander to send men to take up the dead men's bodies.

He grimaced, "So many men dead…" He whispered to himself.

A messenger came up on the platform beside him, and put an arm on him shoulder.

"Nawat, Llesenia says that George Cooper came to visit your wife and nestlings yesterday."

Nawat smiled, "Thank Roderick."

"Oh and the three remaining men are waiting in the servant's hall. Two of them are the mages Albus Carolyn kidnapped."

"Thanks."

Nawat walked down the stone steps, past the garden and through kitchen to the servant's hall. Sure enough there were three men sitting with their hands tied to the tables, and their mouths gauged.

"Saul, Wingtip, why did you gauge them!" Nawat asked frustrated.

"We didn't want to hear them yelling." Saul answered obliviously knowing; he'd said the wrong thing. He absently mindedly starred at his feet.

"You don't do that! The poor men just say their friends die, what were you thinking?" Nawat said, taking the men's gauges out, he then took a stool in front of them.

"Two of you are mages. Aren't you?" Two of them nodded.

"What exactly did they make you take a blood oath to?"

"That we would serve them until the rebels won."

Nawat's eyes became dark. He realized that these men would die if he beat their leaders. He would be the reason they were going to die.

"Why did you agree, do you support there cause?"

The second mage looked at him, the raka man's dark eyes strained to hold back much-wanted tears.

"Sir, do you have children?" He asked Nawat, who nodded.

"A young nestling, why do you ask?"

"Would you do anything for them?"

"Of coarse I would, who wouldn't for their child." Nawat said thinking of Myles back home, and his beautiful hazel-green eyes, and smiling face.

The man took a deep breath, "They threatened that if I didn't swore, those men, they said I'd never see my daughter again. And because of this stupid war I may not see her see again anyway." Tears flowed down the man's cheeks and face, and the other mage handed him a handkerchief, as Nawat stood up.

"Make sure these three men, have a good meal." He beckoned to a servant making his afternoon rounds. As the men left with the servant, he walked into his office. There sitting upon the old oak wood lay a single letter titled: The Crow's Queen.

-&-

My dear Nawat,

I'm so happy you can come home soon, but I don't think my heart can take another month without you. My father arrived yesterday, which I must thank you and Dove for. We've had a wonderful time together. Myles still misses you, and he loves his crystal blanket. It keeps him quiet while I do my work, and he looks so cute when he plays with the dangling crystals. I cried last night at my desk; I'm worried for you…

Your crow friend scared me last night, when I was in my office! She snuck up behind me and I screamed. I hope she gave good reports. I keep my necklace close to my heart and squeeze it when I think of you. I love you Nawat, and it scares me to think you're in battle and could die any minute. Please find a way to come home soon!

I send love from, Queen Dove, Usliam, Da, Sivan, Chenoal, and little Myles.

And of coarse, love from myself. Enough love that even you're strongest crows and a Stormwing couldn't take to in Taniar.

Alianne Crow of Pirates Swoop

Nawat read the letter over and over again. He had thought that her father would put her out of her worried mood, but it hadn't worked. He was scared for her, when she wasn't even in danger. Her calculating mind couldn't think straight when he wasn't around, but she still managed to get work done. "Aly amazes me everyday." Nawat thought quietly as he began to sleep.