Fear gripped Zia's heart like a vice. How had the Skilaens managed to scale the slippery canyon wall unnoticed? And how many had outflanked them, exactly?

"Quickly!" Jay's voice rang above the clashing of swords and clanging of weapons. "Complete the last phase of the plan. Find your partner and finish the plan! Aim at our rear!"

Zia was just about to turn back to find Ed to make a quick and desperate attempt at completing her plan when her attention was caught by a very large man heading straight for her, carrying a large spear. Zia stood ready to meet the man in her battle-ready stance: bent knees, sword in the middle of her body, her feet ready to run, swing, or block, whichever came first.

She quickly found out which would be first. The man jabbed at her with his spear, aiming for her stomach, using its length to his advantage. Zia swung her sword just in the nick of time to keep it from impaling her. It was a close call, but the worst it did was make a small, unnoticeable tear in her tunic. 

The man swung the spear like a sword and Zia stopped it with her real sword.

The man had an interesting fighting style with his spear. He wielded it more like one might a sword or a mace. He spun it around his head like a baton and his fighting seemed more like dancing than fighting. And while he was very graceful, he wasn't very powerful. When the next swing came whooshing towards her head, Zia held up her sword. The wood of the man's spear caught on Zia's sword, and she gave a big tug. The spear was ripped from the man's grasp, and Zia used his confusion to throw the spear off her sword and bring the sword down in a cut across the man's thigh, causing him to cry out in pain. Zia then kicked him in the chest and the man tumbled backward.

Sure that her opponent was down, Zia run as fast as she could from the battle to where the rest of her company was gathered, facing the enemy in what had previously been their rear. They had taken care of most of the men from the direction of the Skilaen camp, but there were still approximately one hundred twenty men. They were slowed down by the piles of dead and wounded men, which would buy them a little time, but not much.

Now it was time to worry about the men in their flank.

As she looked for Ed, there seemed to be less people in her group than before she thought, and Zia desperately hoped that she was just imagining it.

She found Ed, who was holding another bottle of spirits and their bundle of clothes. "Are you ready?" Ed asked.

Zia nodded and took the bottle of spirits that he offered to her. She unstopped the cap and poured it over the fardel of cloth. Zia took a quick glance around their circle, seeing that the other groups were doing the same.

Once it was soaked, Ed held the bundle in his hands, ready to throw at the enemy while Zia stood with the flint and steel, ready to light it as soon as Ed gave her the word. Zia stared hard at the approaching men. There were about fifty of them by Zia's count, but it was difficult to see, as the only source of light came from the torches that the men held. 

Zia glared at the soldiers in disgust. All she was trying to do was keep the Skilaen army from killing thousands of innocent people. Was that too much to ask? Apparently it was.

"On my signal," Jay's voice shouted out of the darkness, bringing her out of her thoughts. "One... Two..."

That's when something caught Zia's eye. Something in the enemy lines flapping in the wind. Something silver glinted in the light of their torches. Zia looked more closely. Her eyes widened, and she couldn't help the gasp that came out of her.

"Thr-"

"STOP!"

The sound that escaped her lips sounded like it belonged to a large wild animal more than a small eighteen-year-old girl. It bounced off the Pass walls, sounding like a band of lions roaring to each other. The sound was so surprising, it made the one-hundred twenty-some men approaching behind them halt, looking for the source of the loud noise.

"What? What is it?" Ed asked. Her other companions staring at her like she had grown a third arm seemed to be wondering the same thing.

"Don't fire!" Zia shouted as soon as she saw the Captain. "Don't fire. That's not a Skilaen army. They're Otarians."

Jay reeled back. "What? How can you be sure?"

Zia's answer was cut off by the battle cry of the remaining men of the original enemy. They were less than a hundred meters away now, and they had gotten past all the bodies. They were getting into formation, readying their attack.

Zia explained quickly, "They march under the Otar crest, the Silver Dragon."

"What?" Jay said. "Are you certain."

Zia nodded. "Yes! Now get these men turned around before they kill our reinforcements!"

Jay looked at Zia in a way one might look at another when one is concerned about the other's mental state. But he gave the order for the men to turn around and fire anyway.

The men were confused as to what was going on. They were used to definite, straight forward commands, and this was anything but. First the Captain ordered for them to fire at the army behind them, and now he was ordering it again, except those now behind them were originally the ones in front of them.

Zia saw their confusion. She was about to say some words of clarity, but the enemy was getting closer. "Just do it!" she shouted.

One by one, flaming bundles roared to life and were flung through the air to the enemy lines.

The approach of the enemy stopped short as the bundles of flame flew right towards them. Their ranks broke and they scattered, trying to put out their clothes and avoid those running around with their hair aflame. 

The flaming clothing took out another thirty men, leaving the enemy with about ninety men left to fight.

When they had finally managed to put out the fires, the remaining Skilaen men gathered together. Zia could almost see the wheels in their heads turning as they tried to decided what to do next. Zia desperately hoped that they would opt to run away in terror and tell their comrades left behind to retreat, stop the war, and live the rest of their lives out in peace.

But of course no such thing happened, for such things only exist in the sweet imagination of our fanciful minds.

The Skilaens once again formed their ranks and started to advance.

That's when the reinforcements arrived.

The large, polished oak doors in front of the General opened wide, and the commanding chief officer of all King Holen of Skilae's armed forces marched into the King's throne room. The General dipped his head in a short bow. "You wished to speak with me, my lord?"

King Holen sat in his elegant throne made out of yew wood. It was carved to be graceful and beautiful, and it was indeed, but the thing that sat upon it was anything but. The Skilaen King's hair had long since departed from his head, leaving his golden crown as the only thing on his shiny head. He did, however, have plenty of facial hair. His bright red beard covering most of his face and his matching eyebrows that had fused together were the only evidence that the King had ever had any hair. His face was wrinkled like a piece of leather that had shriveled up in the sun. When he spoke, however, his voice was powerful and demanding, like one might imagine a King's voice to be.

"Yes, General, you're finally here," Holen said.

"I came as soon as I heard, your highness," he replied.

"Have you sent off the real attack through the Westfell Pass yet?"

"We leave at first light, your majesty." The General shifted his armor, some part of it digging into his skin.

King Holen looked closely at his commanding officer. He was shorter than one might expect of a general, and he was very fat. He had bloodshot eyes and a rat's nest of hair that was oily enough to be a fish. No, he definitely did not look the part, and if it hadn't been for the General's genius in battle strategy, King Holen would have gotten rid of him a long time ago.

"And you're sure this plan will work?" the King asked.

The General nodded. "Trust me, Your Majesty, I am sure of it. My spies tell me that they've only sent one small group to deal with our first wave of men. Even if by some miracle they manage to survive, they will never suspect that we would send another force in so soon."

King Holen narrowed his eyes. "You better be right. How many men are accompanying you?"

"A thousand," the General answered. "It will take longer to get such a large number through the Pass, but it will be worth it when we flank those putrid Otarians and destroy them."

The King smiled. "Good."

"And how have negotiations gone with King Donathan?"

"Horribly."

"Wonderful," the General smiled, showing his yellow teeth. "They still refuse to hand over the Golden-Eyed One?"

The King nodded. "Donathan the fool firmly claims that there is no Golden-Eyed One, that it's just an old wives' tale."

The General grinned sinisterly. "Sounds like all is going according to plan."

Zia had never seen such incredible fighting. The reinforcements slammed into the wall of Skilaens and had the remainder of them completely wiped out in just five minutes. They swung their spades with perfect control, speed, and power. They didn't hesitate to end the enemy's life, but they mercifully made the end as swift and painless as possible. Each movement was graceful yet deadly. If one of the men so much as saw a Skilaen it was goodnight enemy solider. It was a beautiful thing to behold for those who could appreciate all the hard work and hours of dedication went into producing each strike.

Some of the Skilaens who had been at the rear of the army had escaped and were running back to their camp, but they were closely followed by the spade-wielding men of Zia's company's reinforcements. They could deal with the rest of the army, no doubt.

"Who are they?" Ike gave voice to Zia's thoughts. 

Ike, Jay, Percival, and Zia were standing to one side, recovering their lost breath and watching their reinforcements deal with the rest of the enemy camp.

"They are the most highly trained fighting men in all the world," Jay answered in awe. "They are the Trodaithe."

"Never heard of them," Ryker said loudly with a snort. Zia hadn't even realized that he was there.

"That's a good thing," Percival said. "They are only known to a few of the kingdom's most trusted servants."

"Then how do you know about them?" Ryker asked sardonically.

Percival glared at the muscular man. Ryker was much bigger than Percival, but he wasn't very smart or quick, and before Ryker could even blink Percival had him in a headlock and was roughly rubbing his fist into Ryker's head repeatedly.

"Ow, ow, ow!" Ryker protested. "Let go of me!"

Percival gave one final hard rub before pushing the large man away. "Still wondering how I know about the Trodaithe?"

"No," Ryker said angrily as he gingerly touched his head.

"Good," Percival said with the closest thing to a smile Zia had ever seen on his face. "And don't you forget it."

Ike snickered. "I should go collect Elaina. I'm sure she's worried out of her mind about me..." He stopped short at the look Zia gave him. It was a smug look with her eyebrows raised, as if to ask, Aren't you going to continue?

"... getting her out of there," he finished quickly. "I told her I would get her when the battle was over."

"Whatever you say," Zia said, trying to look innocent, but unable to keep the smile off her face.

Ike turned redder than a ripe tomato. If his face had gotten any warmer he would have had smoke drifting out of his ears. His ears were purple from embarrassment. Desperate for an escape, he muttered something and took off running down the Pass.

Zia glanced up at the sky as she smiled and rolled her eyes when she saw the sky streaked with beautiful hues of pink and orange. She had lived to see another day, and she would be eternally grateful for it.

"Captain Holden!" A Trodaithe riding a chestnut colored horse trotted up to meet them. He wore a black tunic over his chainmail and matching black breeches. In one hand he held the reins to his steed and in the other he held a gleaming spade. The weapon was made of polished steel and was encrusted with jewels. It was indeed a beautiful weapon. On his sleeve he had an emblem of the Otarian Silver Dragon. But it wasn't the normal, graceful flying figure that was on all Otarian shields and banners. Instead of peacefully flying through the air, the Silver Dragon was in a speedy dive, flames emanating from its mouth and smoke drifting out of its nostrils. 

This is wrong, Zia thought. The Silver Dragon is the dragon of peace. What reason would he need to use his fiery breath?

"Yes?" Jay answered.

The Trodaithe saluted. "I am Abner Goolik, sir, director of the Trodaithe."

Jay saluted back. "Very pleased to finally meet you, Abner. You certainly know how to appear in the nick of time."

Abner didn't smile, but merely nodded. "I am glad indeed we got here when we did. If we hadn't, I'm afraid you would have been slaughtered. You appeared to me like a single rabbit trying to fight off an army of foxes."

Zia felt her pride swell within her. So far she was not liking the director of the Trodaithe. "We were holding our own fine, thank you."

Abner looked distastefully at Zia for the first time. "And who is this little girl?"

"This 'little girl,'" Zia growled, "is the one who created the plan that shrunk our enemy to half its original size."

Abner scoffed. "Please. A girl come up with a plan to wipe out an enemy of that size? That kind of complicated thinking is completely beyond a woman."

Zia was shocked, hurt, and angry. Even Jay's eyebrows rose in surprise at the man's rude remark.

Zia tightened her grip on her sword. Through clenched teeth she said, "Are you certain it is not a woman's lack of knowledge but your own that disgusts you? Because I am quite certain that you disgust me."

Jay's eyes went round and seemed to want to leap out of his head. He tried to shake his head in warning, but it was too late. What had been said was said. All the others could do was stare in shock as the events that followed began to unfold.

"Why you insolent little wretch!" Abner raised his spade above his head in the intent to end her life. He brought it down in a swift motion that would have killed any normal girl, but Zia had never been a normal girl. She raised her sword up to meet the spade, catching it between the hilt on the edge of her sword. 

Zia's vision went red. She threw the spade back at Abner. She moved so quickly it was like she was in a dream, or the world had slowed down around her. She grabbed the Trodaithe's horse by the neck and swung herself up. She aimed a kick right at Abner's chest, but he saw it coming and grabbed her leg. Her momentum sent him sideways off his horse, and his grip tightened on her leg. They both went tumbling off the horse and into the dirt, their weapons thrown from their hands.

Abner got up first, collected his weapon from the snowy ground, and ran towards Zia with his deadly spade in his hand. Zia looked around for her sword. It was a meter behind her, completely out of her reach.

Abner raised his spade, bringing it down a second time. Zia reached up and caught the staff part of the weapon in her hands. Being sure to avoid the axe-like blade, Zia pulled it closer to her, bringing Abner along with it. Using her legs, she kicked him in the chest and catapulted him over her head.

Zia rolled backwards onto her feet, closer to the Trodaithe and her sword. She picked up her sword with lightning speed and pointed it at Abner on the ground. She moved the tip to the exposed soft spot on his neck. A small line of blood came dripping down his neck as she pierced the soft skin.

"If I ever hear you say one unkind word about a woman again," Zia panted in fury, "I promise I won't hesitate to press this sword a few inches deeper. Do you understand me?"

Abner didn't respond, he just stared at her in a mix of fear, shock, and anger.

"I SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!" Zia roared with rage. She pressed the sword a little deeper into his neck.

The Trodaithe glared at her with pure hate and loathing, but after a few moments of silence, he spat, "I understand."

Zia withdrew her sword. She hadn't realized that the others around her had gone silent. They were all staring at her in a mixture of awe, fear, and shock. Even those who had been further away were staring.

Trying to ignore the stares, Zia sheathed her sword. "Remember that it was a woman that had you at her mercy and decided not to kill you even after your horrid words," she advised Abner as he slowly got to his feet. "Then perhaps next time you'll be a little slower to judge one by their appearance." And with that she stalked off, knowing nothing but that if she didn't get away from those looks of terror and fear she might lose it entirely. 

It had been four days since the reinforcements had arrived, and since Zia had attacked Abner. The weather had taken a turn for the worse. The temperature had dropped dramatically and the clouds had gathered overhead, but no new snow had fallen, thankfully.

Yet.

They had lost three men in their fight with the Skilaens, and the remaining ten of the company would have started on their journey home with the Trodaithe, but they all agreed that it was only right that they gave those they had lost a proper burial.

"We really should start our journey home," Jay said to Zia, Elaina, and the remaining men as they gathered around the cooking fire for supper. "The King will be anxious to hear that the mission was a success. And the Trodaithe are the best warriors in the kingdom. They'll be needed at the front lines."

The Trodaithe had made a camp about a hundred yards away from the rest of the group. Jay had explained that Trodaithe were very secretive and private and that they preferred to stay with their own people.

"Is the war really that bad?" Ike asked worriedly.

Jay nodded gravely. "Abner"- Jay ignored the huff and eye roll that Zia gave him- "has informed me that the negotiations with King Holen have failed tragically. As a result, the war is bound to take a turn for the worse. The Trodaithe will be needed to hold back the armies. If they get past our defenses, Otar will be destroyed."

"Aye," agreed Archibald, "it's high time we made our way home."

"Are we all in agreement?" Jay asked.

All the men nodded and gave their consent. Only Zia stayed silent.

"Brilliant. We leave at first light."

Jay was about to turn to go, but Ike said, "But what about Elaina? We promised her we would take her home."

"I agree," Heath said instantly. "We should get her home as soon as possible." Then after seeing the glare on Zia's face, he added, "I'm sure her family is horribly worried about her." Zia's glare deepened.

Jay sighed. "Oh, yes, I forgot about that. Well, I'm sure we could-"

"I can take her with me." All eyes turned to look at Zia.

"What do you mean, 'take her with you'?" Heath demanded. Zia could tell by the look on his face that he did not like where this was going.

"I'm going to keep going down the Pass," Zia announced.

There were many raised eyebrows and odd looks, but it was finally Percival who spoke. "Why? There's no reason to keep going; our mission has been completed."

"I'm not entirely sure," she admitted. "Call it a hunch. I just... have a feeling. I feel that I need to keep going."

"We didn't come all this way for feelings," Percival told her.

"I never said you had to come with me," Zia said defensively. "I will take Elaina, return her home, and then return home myself. It's not like I am going to Skilae to live there. Think of it as me bringing up the rear. You know, just to make sure everything is alright."

"Why wouldn't everything be alright?" Elaina asked, speaking up for the first time.

"No reason," Zia said, getting frustrated now. "It's just to satisfy my own curiosity."

"Curiosity killed the cat," Percival warned.

"I know," Zia growled. "But I'm going either way, and none of you are going to stop me."

Jay had been silent through most of the exchange, but now he spoke slowly. "If you think it would be worth the trip, then I trust your judgment. But I don't think you should go alone."

Zia instantly protested. "I can take care of myself."

"It's true," Archibald put in helpfully. "Not just anyone can defeat a Trodaithe." He smiled pleasantly at Zia and sent her a wink.

Archibald had been the most awed at Zia's actions a few days ago. He had even asked her to teach him her fighting technique. Under normal circumstances, Zia would have been flattered, but she still wasn't proud of what she had done. Sure, she had been defending her honor, and the honor of all women, but she had acted out of anger and selfishness, something that reminded her all too much of Daxtor.

"I know," Jay said, "but I also know you wouldn't keep going unless you really believed you needed to, and that worries me."

Zia was surprised and a little pleased that Jay held her instincts in such esteem. At least someone was listening to her- unlike Heath.

"That being said," continued the Captain, "I will be going with you."

There were some shouts and protests from the other men. They all tried to get louder than each other, but it was Percival who won in the end. Who knew that the sullen, stubborn man could make such a loud noise? "Not happening. No. The King needs you at his side. You are his best battle strategist, and if what Abner says is true, he's going to need your expertise."

"I agree with the angry grump," Ike put in. "Pa will want you home as soon as possible, Zia. He didn't even want you coming in the first place."

"I concur," Heath nodded. "Zia, if you really think it needs to be done we can send someone else-"

"Oh, so you don't think I can do it well enough on my own?" Zia snapped. She was instantly on her feet, too angry to be seated any longer. She had been easily angered since her encounter with Abner, and this was no exception.

Heath blinked, instantly on the defensive. "That is not what I said-"

"Well, I will have you know, Heath," she said as she got close to his face, "that I am perfectly capable of managing on my own!"

"Don't you think I know that?" Heath said, raising his voice. "I've known you for twelve years, Zia. Don't you think I know you by now?"

"Obviously you don't!" Zia shouted. She could feel her face turning redder by the second. "Because if you did, you wouldn't be so against this!"

Heath groaned angrily. "I'm trying to protect you, Zia! I'm trying to protect all of us! Why can't you see that?" Zia knew he was no longer just talking about her continuing through the Pass, but about Elaina as well.

"I don't need protecting!" she growled. 

"That's not what I saw when I saved your life from that smuggler!"

"I would have done something on my own had you not interfered. I'm not a helpless little girl anymore!"

"I know you're not!" Heath said.

"Then stop treating me like I am!"

Heath and Zia glared at each other for a long time, both on their feet and only a few inches apart, their chests heaving from their shouting match. The rest of the company watched in stunned silence, none sure of what to do or say.

 Finally Zia broke away from their angry staring contest and addressed the group as a whole. "I'm going the rest of the way through the Pass. I'll be taking the smuggler's loot and Elaina with me. If you have any objections, I dare you to try to stop me." She glared angrily at Heath as she said this, and she stormed away. It wasn't long before Heath stomped off in the other direction.

"Is it jus' me," Archibald said slowly, "or is there some tension goin' on between those two?"

"Wow," Ryker said sarcastically, "nothing gets passed you, does it?"

Zia stood with her bag on her shoulder and her horse's reins in her hand. She stood apart from the rest of the company, not talking to anyone. She hadn't said a word to anyone since she had announced that she was going to keep traveling down the Pass, not even Ike.

Elaina stood by Zia's side, a few possessions in a bag Zia had lent her and an old cloak of Ike's around her shoulders. It was warmer than the cloak Zia had given her, but Zia suspected that that was no the reason why Elaina had accepted Ike's gift.

"I appreciate you doing this, Zia," Elaina said. "I can't thank you enough."

"Think nothing of it," said Zia, speaking for the first time that day. "I'm happy to do it."

Elaina smiled and grabbed Zia's hand. This took Zia by surprise, and she almost drew her arm back. "When we return to my village, my father will want to meet you. He will want to thank you for bringing me home."

"I don't know, Elaina," Zia said slowly. "I am not one for that kind of thing."

"You will think about it, though?" she pled. Her eyes were big and wide.

Zia sighed. "I will consider it, but I make no promises."

Elaina smiled like that was the greatest thing she had heard all day. Then her smile slowly disappeared. "I have to say, I will miss all of you. You've been very kind to me, even though I am the enemy."

Zia reeled back slightly. "You're not the enemy."

"Oh, but I am," Elaina said sadly. "Now that the negotiations between our countries have failed, both of our Kings will not take lightly to people from our countries consorting with one another."

Zia snorted. "How is King Holen going to find out? King Donathan will know, of course, once the others return and give their reports, but you're just a small village girl. If anything of what I've heard about King Holen is true, he won't even bat an eye at the mere name of your village."

Elaina smiled sadly. "Yes, you're probably right. You are fortunate indeed to have a fair and just King." She hesitated, then added in a voice barely above a whisper, "Is it terrible of me to wish that King Holen were dead?"

Zia was shocked by the question, but what she said in answer shocked her even more. "When I was a little girl, my 'father' beat me. He used to hit me, kick me, and I could never figure out why. I tried my hardest to please him, to avoid being beaten, but he always found something wrong."

Zia's voice was full of emotion. She had never told anyone about Daxtor. Why was she doing it now? But once she started to couldn't stop.

"Ike's father rescued me from him one night, and I've lived with them ever since. He was sentenced to death by King Donathan, and that was the happiest day of my life. Before he could be executed, however, he escaped. It's been twelve years since I last saw the man I once called 'father', and in those years I've never understood why he did what he did to me. But I do know that wanting justice is not a bad thing- so long as you are prepared for justice to be served to you."

Elaina spoke quietly. "So that is how you came to be Ike's sister. I am truly sorry."

Zia was about to laugh and ask if Elaina was sorry she was Ike's sister or about Daxtor, but before she did she thought, "You knew Ike was not my brother?"

Elaina nodded. "You are too close to the same age to have been borne of the same mother."

"But how did you know we weren't twins?" Zia pressed. "Sometimes twins don't look identical."

"Yes, but twins have a special bond, and you and Ike don't have that bond. The bond you have is... different."

"You are very observant," she commented, and the Skilaen girl smiled.

"Did you inherit your eyes from your father?" Elaina asked.

"He is not my father," Zia said out of habit. "And no, I did not. I must have gotten them from my mother."

"What was your mother like? Surely she would not have allowed such bad fortune to befall her beloved daughter?"

"I don't know. I never knew my mother."

Zia paused. Why was she saying all this? She had never discussed her past this much with anyone, not even Ike or Heath, or even Arch for that matter. Of course, they already knew everything so there wasn't much to talk about. But Zia couldn't help hearing Heath's warnings about this girl in her head. She pushed those warnings aside, still too angry with Heath to pay them any heed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't say such things. I'm sure you have much more important things you'd like to talk about."

"There is something that I have been meaning to discuss with you," Elaina admitted. When Zia signaled to her to continue, she said, "Why does Heath not trust me?"

Zia started. When Elaina's question finally registered through her head, she sighed and said, "You really are observant, Elaina."

"Is that why he does not trust me? Does he think I'm trying to pick around for information?"

Zia hesitated, considering if she should answer honestly or not. "Yes," she said slowly.

"And you agree with him?"

Zia couldn't have looked more guilty. "I'll admit, I did. But I don't anymore," she added quickly.

"Are there other reasons he does not trust me?" she asked as if Zia had never spoken.

"I suspect there are," Zia said while thinking. "I suppose it's jealousy."

Now it was Elaina's turn to reel back. "What would Heath possibly have to be jealous of?"

"Well, for years it has just been the three of us- Ike, Heath and me, I mean. It's no secret that Ike's taken a liking to you." Zia paused to smile as Elaina turned a lovely shade of pink. "It's my belief that Heath feels as though your presence will interfere with our friendship."

"He needn't worry about that," Elaina said. "I would never dream of coming between such close friends."

"I know that," Zia promised, "and Ike knows that, but Heath still needs time to figure it out. He's always been a little slow."

Elaina giggled. "Well, he'll have nothing to worry about now that I am leaving."

Zia nodded. "I know Ike will miss you."

Elaina blushed and nodded. "I will miss him as well. I hope our paths will cross again. Perhaps after this dreaded war is over."

Zia smiled. "I'm sure Ike would like that very much."